Forecast gone wrong; very, very wrong.

Last night we went to bed knowing that we would wake up to a dusting of snow. The forecast called for light snow, followed by mid-morning rain. By 8am, we knew the forecast was wrong, but we had no idea how wrong it was. It snowed all day, finally ending around 5pm. When it was over, we had about 6 inches of snow. So much for the "dusting" they called for.

Taken about 11am. This is our front yard and the road.

Definitely more than a dusting!

The poor tulips! I hope they still bloom.

Ice and water on some tulip shoots.

Robins mean spring right? Not so much.

I cut these daffodils from our flower bed on Saturday. I like how they looked in front of the window with the snow falling outside.

Because it was spring snow, it was perfect for making a snowman!

Duck lips!

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. 

Bottom Creek Gorge

With the end of summer looming (boo!), Husband and I decided to go explore nature. We headed out to Bottom Creek Gorge to hike to a waterfall (hiking to waterfalls seems to be our thing here in Virginia). It was a perfect day weather-wise with the temperature around 75*F (about 25*C), and we enjoyed a fairly easy hike as the trail wound its way through trees and meadows. If you ever find yourself near Bent Mountain, Virginia, check this place out. It's a little hard to find and out of the way, but I think it's worth the effort.

Taking the back roads

Last weekend Husband and I took a day trip to the Shenandoah National Park to drive the Skyline Drive and see the fall colours. Despite reports on various websites that the leaves were near "peak colour," this did not turn out to be the case! While some of the trees had fall colours, the vast majority were still green, while others had already lost their leaves. The drive was still beautiful but it left us wanting to see some great fall colour. (You can see pictures from that drive on my Facebook page).

Yesterday we drove some back roads around where we live, searching for great views and wonderful fall colours. Unfortunately for us, I think peak colour happened earlier in the week, so the colours weren't as bright as we would have liked. We did, however, see some amazing views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and, of course, we enjoyed spending time together. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe more fall colours, but apparently that is asking too much!

Happy Independence Day!

Thomas Jefferson once stated "The only birthday I ever commemorate is that of our Independence, the Fourth of July." According to what I've read and heard, Mr. Jefferson loved celebrating Independence Day. Because we live close to Poplar Forest, a house Jefferson had built as a retreat for him and his family, we decide to celebrate the Fourth Jefferson style. Today at Poplar Forest, we were able to travel back in time and get a glimpse of life during Jefferson's time. There were flax weavers, a potter, a blacksmith, a fife and drum band, a magician and a sword swallower (I found a new project: learn how to eat fire and swallow swords!). Definitely a fun way to spend the day!