Hagood Mill, Pickens, SC

2011.2.19

We went to Hagood Mill in Pickens to see the waterwheel that drives the mill, making grits and cornmeal. It was really interesting. You can see in the video how it works. They pour the corn in the funnel up top and it makes its way through the machine. When it comes out onto the screens, the first bucket to the right catches the cornmeal because this screen is super fine. The second bucket catches the grits as the screen is a little less dense. Then the last small bucket catches the scraps I guess you would say and they feed these to the animals.

Here are the girls inside the mill.

They have vendors around the land showcasing their products. Everything is handmade. There were ladies quilting and knitting. These hats were made out of wool and mule hair. That was as close as we got to admiring the hats, but had to return them to the display as they were $50 each. She said she had several months in these hats, so she really is not making anything off of them even at that price.

This is at the top of the area where the water is piped in from up the river. Then it flows on this channel to the actual waterwheel. This little boy started following the girls around so we just included him in our pictures. I think his name was Blake.

We went with Papa and Grammie. This is us waiting on Papa....he found someone he knew and grew up with at the bee and honey table. I thought we were going to pass out from hunger waiting on him.

This guy was running the mill machines. He took up with our girls and I felt like we got special treatment. He did a little history lesson with Blaine on quill pens and writing. She got to write her name and then he did it for her in fancy type. He was very talented.

They also had a blacksmith, a lady whittling canes and her husband carved things in different woods as well as makes spoons and played them. It was pretty interesting!

The Dreads

2011.2.15-16

Blaine asked me one night to braid her hair. I thought she meant one big braid, but she wanted little dreads. Blaine never lets me braid her hair so I was excited and willing to do it.

The next morning we took it out and with fear of her hair ever possibly sticking up I figured she would die when she saw it, but she was cool with it. She did say it was too boofie so we tamed it with a little water on top.

Funny thing....Blaine had told her teacher one day that her hair was too boofie so Ms. Woody told her the same thing this morning. It was funny!

Phoebe's 8th Birthday Party Sleepover

2.4-5.2011

Phoebe had 10 friends over for her birthday sleepover. I had sort of planned out the night because you know I try to be structured, but it turned out they had just as much fun playing randoms games together. I was very pleased to see the ones that did not know each other get along so well. Especially, since it rained and my outside activities were eliminated from the "plan".

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The meal was breaded chicken with cheesy pasta...aka, chicken nuggets and mac & cheese!

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Another unplanned event was the human train. The girls got to playing and pulling each other around by the feet, so Bucky made them "hook" together and pulled them all. They said this was the best part of the party!

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After the human train, the girls gathered to paint their picture frames. Everyone was going home with a painted frame with a group picture of the party. They are all very creative!

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After painting, they all found their spot for the movie: Sleepover! We fixed popcorn with m&m's and capri suns. The kicker - Phoebe was the first one to go to sleep DURING the movie. How not normal is that? She is always the last one to go to sleep, and while a movie is on? What's that about?

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We made room for everyone to sleep. We moved out the desks and file cabinets which made just enough room for all the girls. Notice, you do not see Phoebe? She is up top on the far left, still passed out!

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Group picture before breakfast!

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Chef Bucky serving pancakes, "Would you like regular or chocolate syrup with that, ma'am?"

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Phoebe's tree house cake! I worked on this thing forever. Bucky engineered the structure and I researched how to work with fondant. I tell you, watching tons of The Cake Boss was a huge help and was my inspiration for even attempting this type of cake. I ran out of time so there were no windows or a door, but everyone got the gist of it: Tree house with grass and a sandbox underneath.

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Phoebe was very excited to get some actual gifts to open even though she requested money when asked what she wanted. She was saving up for a DSi!!

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Our sweet baby girl on her actual birthday! Happy 8th birthday, Phoebe!