Family...So Much Fun!

What an eventful time we had at our family brunch gathering at Heather & Andy's on May 17th.

It seemed as if one thing after another happened throughout the day (besides the delicious brunch)

As always Heather was a gracious hostess putting up with a house full of crazy family for two days.

We were so happy to see Kate & Justin. Just one day before their year anniversary.

Yes, Brian is in most of our family picture- that;s because he's one of the family.

Lots of playing with the baby (Cassidy)

And with Benny (This was an uncharacteristically calm moment)

Oh- what better time to get a new kitty. 

Thank you Gabby for my sweet little mother's day gift!

Prim

Of course the after dinner phone coma

1-2-3-

4 phones! All at once.

Another big event was Justin shaving his beard off. 

Kate said he could grow it for a year if he shaved for the wedding- he did. 

Now it was time to part! 

Duck Dynasty double

 Kate happily helped!

We knew he was under there!

We wound up the day going to Gabby's musical "Company" with the Lake Plains Players.

More to come on that later. 

She was outstanding!!!

One of the many faces of Gabby

WV Vacation Part 2

Woke up to snow one morning, but that didn't stop us- we decided it was a good day to go caving.

Went to Seneca Caverns.

Early 1400's the Seneca Indians used the cave for shelter, storage and special ceremonies. Three hundred years later the first German settlers came to the area. As history goes, a man named Laven Teter rediscovered the cave in 1742 on a quest for water to supply his livestock and maintained ownership until 1928. The new owners opened it to the public in 1930 as a show cave.  

Very cool!

Also visited Spruce Knob, the highest point in WV

Mountain man

One side of the red spruce get the brunt of the wind and cold

More pictures to come later.

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

Thank you John Denver!

Ken and I took a weeks vacation in Canaan Valley, West Virginia.
Right- you've never heard of it because it's in the middle of nowhere...PERFECT!

View from deck

First of all Canaan is not pronounced like the one in the Bible. It is pronounced like Insane. 
What the locals say, you are if you live there, with an average of 200 inches of snow each winter.

We used the Armed Forces Vacation Network to book- very affordable :)
Stayed in a 3 bedroom condo (roughing it) with a jacuzzi and gas fireplace.

We did so many wonderful things I could never put them all in one blog. Let me start with a few.

The first Day was like summer so we set out for a hike in Canaan valley National Wildlife refuge.

It was a little uneventful- things were still pretty dead there as well as here at home. But, we enjoyed hiking in such a remote place. 

One of my favorite things we did was horseback Mountain Trail Riding. 

The resort backed up against a horse ranch with all kinds of animals.

Hillbilly

Blackjack

You know, one of those rides where the horse doesn't really need you, it's on auto pilot. 

We both had a lot of fun though. 

Ken's horse had serious digestive issues, I was right behind him :( 

We also visited a site called Seneca Rocks. 

It was really an awesome sight. Saw some people who had climbed to the top- amazing!

There was water everywhere, beautiful mountain rivers and streams.

Okay, enough for this blog- more vacation pictures to come later!

Flashy New Bikes!

Ken has been bugging me for over a year to get new bikes. 

I kept saying, "But we got rid of our bikes because we didn't use them!"

When we left SC we decided not to drag them along & sold them.

Well, He finally convinced me that we WILL use them, they will be good exercise for us, 

and a quality use of time. We love to hike- so a new adventure awaits us.

Ken did some "bike" research, after we got up off the floor from sticker shock- we decided which bike might fit our needs and wallet :)

They are Gravity, Dutch comfort hybrid bikes.

So, you all have my permission to ask us if we've been biking 

and stand by for some amazing blogs of our biking adventures.

Here we are- the first time on our bikes. Like kids at christmas!

Before and After

No- not a weight picture (I wish!)

I got a hair cut! I know some of you may say- What? she looks the same.
But, Those of you who really know my locks will see the change.
Lots more layers & bunches of bangs!


 

Alfred Hitchcock Comes To Mind

I was waiting to post these picture until I got some more interesting bird feeder pictures but- 

that's not been happening. So- look how cool this is!

Grackles from last Fall.

 Also a stray stealing cereal left for the birds (Maggie's not the only cat who likes cereal)

Fat little mourning doves on a cold winter morning.

I Love My Bird feeder!

Sensational Succulents

My succulents have been so happy lately. 

Obviously they have no clue that it is still freezing outside. 

The day I took this picture it was about 16* out.

We bought these cactus a few years ago and they were little babies. 

These orange flowers pop out a few times a year.

I bought the ones above from Ikea about a year and a half ago- also so tiny!

They need a lot of sun and not much water- perfect for my inconsistent plant care.

The Honecker gave me a little Christmas cactus a few years back and I could never get it to bloom. First bloom- 2 more buds to follow!

I'm not sure what to say about this creature. We bought it in Charleston as a wee babe. It has taken on a life of its own. Who knows- it may walk around at night!

Anyway- he is thriving.