Sweet Baby Boy

Remember Heath? Here's some shots from his official portrait session today.

Thomas Knob Shelter

Thomas Knob Shelter Jigsaw Puzzle

Words to Live By

Words to Live By Jigsaw Puzzle

"From what we get, we can make a living. What we give, however, makes a life."

Carrie

Carrie Jigsaw Puzzle
I've been working all day on my portrait galleries for my indefinately under construction website. This is my friend, Carrie, on her 10th birthday.

Blue Mountains

Blue Mountains Jigsaw Puzzle

Today I got to be the Minister of Fun AND a "Trail Angel." Briana, Dylan, and I delivered a food drop to friends who are backpacking on the AT (Appalachian Trail) this week. In turn, they invited us to share their dinner of Hobo packs with them. Before dinner, we enjoyed hiking two more trails at Grayson Highlands: the Twin Pinnacle Trail which leads to the highest points in the park (and a breathtaking 360 degree view encompassing the peaks that we hiked last week) and the Big Wilson Creek Trail where I managed to drop my camera battery in the creek and took an icy, bone-throbbing plunge to recover it.

Have you ever heard of "Letterboxing?" Briana and Dylan have turned me on to this hobby which is an intriguing pastime combining navigational skills and rubber stamp artistry in a charming treasure hunt style outdoor quest. There are 2 letterboxes located in Grayson Highlands and today we found the "Between the Pinnacles" box. We picked up a "Hitch-hiker" from the box and have decided that we want to send it on its way in a new box that we are going to place. We will have to create a unique stamp for the box, first.

Here is the view looking north from the Big Pinnacle:
So that's why they call them the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Who can explain how this tree can be growing on top of a boulder?


Examining the contents of the Letterbox.

I'm a Winner!

This ad ran in the Richmond Times-Dispatch yesterday.

They will display a framed print in the Glory Days Grill in Richmond.

Charleston Potpourri

Flowers in Her Hair Jigsaw Puzzle

Some random shots form Charleston:
First, My beautirul niece, Kylie Marie

What a thoughtful, great city to build this for her wilted visitors! You have to feel the heat and humidity to appreciate how wonderful a walk through the fountain felt!

Charleston is famous for its bounty of intricate ironwork.

This magnificent live oak is in Anne's yard on Sullivan's Island. Anne believes that it may be the oldest one on the island.

Charleston Revisited

Blooming Charleston Jigsaw Puzzle

It's been a whirlwind trip to Charleston for the McPhersons to celebrate our sister's retirement. Isn't she radiant?


Congratulations, Lilless! I'll be working on your slideshow tomorrow.

Smile!

Smile! Jigsaw Puzzle

I'm smiling because we are leaving for Charleston in a few minutes! My first beach fix of the summer. McPhersons are gathering to celebrate with Lilless on the occasion of her retirement from teaching at the Medical University of South Carolina. It's not likely that I will have internet while I'm there, so don't go away! I'll be back Sunday.

Menagerie

Midnight and Promise Jigsaw Puzzle

Babies are SOOOOO cute!!! No matter what size or what kind. Today, Agape and I rode down to Ennice to see a new foul.






And Agape was thrilled to "practice" riding before she goes to Camp VA Jaycees. (I took a short ride, too, but it ain't purty, so you're not going to see it here!)



Here's some more babies:


And here are our resident babies, Mata Hari and McMuffin McPherson (though they are not really babies any more.) Aren't they just the epitome of the Lazy Days of Summer?




Last, but not least, we got to see the US of A's multi-billion dollar babies streak across the clear evening sky, but I don't have a picture of that. The space station and shuttle were but a mere bright speck in the night.

Yum!

Yum! Jigsaw Puzzle

I'm sharing my anniversary dinner dessert with you tonight, fresh from the Petticoats and Petit Fours Tea Room.

Wilburn Ridge Ponies

Wilburn Ridge Poni Jigsaw Puzzle

Another shot from Grayson Highlands last Friday.
Just a puzzle for you because tonight I'm too tired AND way too hot!!

Fun at Byllsby wth the Special Olympics Team

River Running Jigsaw Puzzle

It was fun, but I am way too tired to talk about it!

Tea Time

Tea Party Jigsaw Puzzle

Today is our wedding anniversary (#34) and David's birthday. We have a cherished tradition of celebrating with Ken and Kay since our anniversaries fall on the same week. This year, Kay planned a mystery trip for us to Salem. We relaxed a short time at a lovely little duck pond park, then went to the Petticoats and Petit Fours Tea Room for dinner. We had a delicious meal, a delightful hostess, and a completely charming experience. Now I want to take all my little girl friends up there for a tea party. This place was the motherload of stuff that little girls dream of!

Here's a few pics. Click here for more.

Rooftop of Virginia

Rhododendron Jigsaw Puzzle

That's where we went today: to Mt. Rogers, the highest peak in Virginia. Finally, after living here for 28 years, I have feasted my eyes upon the blooms at Rhododendron Gap, and it was, indeed, a sight to behold.
The view from Rhododendron Gap


and a few photos, of course!




The wild horses had taken over the Thomas Knob shelter.

Watching the storm roll in.