Fire in the sky

This was our sunset last night. Absolutely gorgeous. The whole sky looked like it was on fire.

Apple picking

There are apple orchards aplenty here in Central Virginia. Over the weekend, we ventured out with some friends to a nearby orchard. It was a hot day for apple picking (over 80*F), but it's hard to complain too much, especially when the orchard is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains!

Part of the B family!

C and the B girls picking some apples. These little girls were too cute!

Don't they look delicious?

A sure sign of fall

Husband's first time apple picking

Husband and his new friend M (if you look closely, you can see they are holding hands!)

I'm a pro apple picker!

J and R, (who is probably running in this picture. Kids have BOUNDLESS energy!)

Part of of the Blue Ridge Mountains

Richmond, VA

Recently Husband had some military business that had to be taken care of in Richmond. I tagged along for fun. We stopped at the Virginia War Memorial and Maymont Park. The Memorial is very moving. It lists all the Virginians who have given their lives serving our country from World War II through the ongoing war in Afghanistan. It was sobering to see all those names, and realize that they were from one State! My eyes filled with tears and my heart filled with gratitude as I read the names of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the cause of freedom.

Part of the Memorial

Downtown Richmond (from the Memorial)

After the Memorial, we went to Maymont Park. What a fantastic place! They have a small aquarium with fish, turtles, eels (nasty, ugly creatures!), blue crabs, and river otters. We had a great time watching the otters swim. Husband enjoyed "playing" with a blue crab: the crab's claw would follow his finger as he moved it along the glass!

The park also has a petting zoo/farm animal area and a wildlife exhibit. The wildlife exhibit had deer, a bear, a fox, a bobcat, and birds of prey.