New Ventures.....

They say "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained" - So I threw my hat in the online business ring. Below is the link to our Facebook Page and I would love for you to share it or at the very least, check it out.

 https://www.facebook.com/TheNielsenNook/


Nielsen Nook is my way of supplementing my family's income, while creating one-of-a-kind pieces of art for your home. I have designed many pieces for my home and would love to share a little bit of myself with others.

All pieces are made from reclaimed wood. Some of this is from my family farm and has the weathered look that can only come from years of exposure. Other pieces are taken from local lumber scrap yards. This allows me to be as eco friendly as possible in my artistic endeavors. All pieces are sealed for the health and safety of your family, unless you specifically request that "barn boards" be left natural. If you have and idea for a quote or would like to see a specific type of hardware please feel free to privately message me and I will do my best to create something that fits your vision. 

I've always love quotes…weather it was a simple verse from the Bible, a song lyric, or a quote from an unknown author. In starting this shop, and deciding what exactly it was that I wanted to make and share with the world, the decision was simple. Sayings and statements that will lift someone's spirits, speak straight to their soul, bring a smile to their face... that's what I want. 

I have also created several original Barn Quilts for local families. I can take ideas from your family heritage and incorporate them into a 4'x4' or 8'x8' wooden "quilt" for display on your home, barn, or shed. These quilts are painted with high quality enamel and sealed to prevent discoloration from exposure. I can not ship barn quilts due to weight and size but will deliver them within a 20 mile radius of my home.

Grandpa Peepaw's 65th Birthday

We had quite a cold winter but we made the best of it. Whenever it was in the teens we tried to get out and enjoy every second. Here are a couple of highlights from December and January. We called up Grandpa on his birthday weekend and made a spur of the moment trip to visit him. We also got together with our friends Skippy and Katie and in true Auntie Katie fashion, she got them the best Christmas gift EVER! The kids got to pick out a fire bellied toad and bring him home with us. "Lava" as they named him is the newest resident of 814 Peggy Sue Dr. 

 

Building our snowman in the backyard in mid-December....he lasted until just this week when it finally got above freezing. He melted in less than 48 hours. That is a testament to how cold this winter has really been.

So proud!

OMG! A picture with mom in it!!!

Sledding with Grandpa Peepaw!

Who would have guessed that the weekend of his 65th birthday Peepaw would be out competing with his 34 yr old son to try and win the longest run on the sledding hill. They both out-sledded the little people. This is Jake with his trophy of a piece of grass.... he was so proud to hit it before his dad. :)

This little girl is a champ! She sledded hard and didnt' want to stop after several hours of trudging up the hill. Not to mention that on her very first run a teenager stepped into her path and Bean caught a shin to the face. She was a bit teary as you can see below, but after some famous daddy squishy hugs she sucked it up and drove on!

Special Talents

Yesterday while cleaning the garage, we ran across some old Army gear. Baleigh asked me if I would ever go back in the Army and I told her "no". She then said she knew why and I asked her to elaborate. She said that I needed to be home so that I could say bedtime prayers with them and make dinner. I told her that daddy could help with that so I didn't really need to be there. She shook her little head and said, "no, that wouldn't work. Daddy isn't so great at teaching bedtime prayers. His special talent is squishy hugs and carrying me to bed. So we need you here."

Its good to be needed. But I especially liked that she thinks her dad's special talent is squishy hugs.

Now that I am thinking about hugs, it makes me think of something else that the little Bean does. Whenever she sees Jake give me a hug or vise-a-versa, she runs up to us and yells "SANDWHICH HUG!" She then gets in between us and wait for us to squeeze her until she squeals. lol

She is quite the little thinker. She comes up with some of the funniest things and   will randomly break out a big word that cracks my co-workers up. The other day she came in to the office and announced, "Apparently my snow pants are NOT waterproof. Because my pants got soaked at recess and Mr Blakely INSISTED that I change into dry clothes" Seriously? What 6 year old do you know who reads the dictionary for fun while waiting for bedtime? Mine does. Its amazing to see the differences between a boy obsessed with animals and a girl obsessed with learning everything about everything.  She is a voracious reader and is very into the show My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.