Celebrating 20 years on Skyline Drive

I am so impatient! :0) I promised myself that I wouldn't post this on my blog until I had the film photos back....but yet, here I am! Posting away...
Anyway, my sweet hubby and I celebrated our 20 year anniversary last week by taking a little getaway to Skyline Drive, VA. We love the mountains, and the outdoors, so this was a trip that both of us really enjoyed!

One of the reasons I wanted to wait is that the pictures of us together are on the film, not the digital....but I will at least post some scenery pictures and pics of my sweetie now.

We started at the Front Royal end (Northern-most end) of the drive, and worked our way South where it joins the Blue Ridge Parkway. The picture above is taken at the first stop on the Drive.

My hubby and I both agreed that the Northern most end was so beautiful! We picked a wonderful time to go as it was not crowded, and was so relaxing!

We met and saw people from all over! Germany, California, Oregon, Texas, S. Carolina, Florida, and lots more... We are fortunate though as we can get there in 3 1/2 hrs, so it is not a lengthy drive for us.

One of the neat things along the drive besides the scenery, was the wildlife! There was everything from little chipmunks and skunks, to bears! (Unfortunately my bear pics are on the film camera) It was thrilling for us to see the bears, and on Sat. morning, we even saw a mother bear with THREE cubs!

Mostly though, there are deer! We saw them everywhere from the parkway, to the campground, and in the woods while hiking.

As you can see here, the ones in the campground were totally oblivious to us! :0) They loved eating the acorns that had fallen from the oak trees . The one pictured above is a buck!

The first day we were there we visited Luray Caverns, of course the pics are on film and will have to wait...but that was such a neat trip! Maybe I'll create a separate post just for Luray.

We got up early the second morning and took a hike down to see the Dark Hollow Falls pictured above. They were pretty, but the park ranger said that they are suffering a drought there, and that the water level was way down. The water from this fall comes from a spring, so it was able to keep functioning. It was about a 3 mile hike total-and coming back was kind of steep. It was about all this out of shape lady could muster! :0)

The picture below is taken along the trail to get to the falls.

But, it was soooo worth it. It was very pretty!

At the southern-most end where the Skyline Drive ends, the Blue Ridge Parkway begins. The picture above is taken from the Blue Ridge Parkway. We did hop on there for a few miles-just to make a quick visit-and it was lovely as well. We had actually been on the Blue Ridge previously, but on the other end (Meadows of Dan, Mabry Mill areas).

While there, we visited this pioneer farm-complete with live chickens- and did a self-guided tour.

We plan to go back in the spring because our children want to go and see it all, so maybe the falls will be bursting with water by then!? And maybe there will be little speckled fawns....yep, I'm definitely ready to go back!

Got my cake and gonna eat it too! :0)

My birthday was yesterday, and my family blessed me richly by making me a very special dinner. The kids did most of it, but Daddy and Mommom were there to lend a hand when needed...

We had a delicious main meal of steak and chicken on the grill, with mashed potatoes, and corn. Dessert was a huge 4 layer cake that the kids did alone! It was yellow cake, w/caramel in between the layers, and chocolate icing. (Like a mocha) Then, if that wasn't fabulous enough, my daughter made homemade raspberry sherbert (with raspberries from our bushes)! It was delightful! A picture of me getting ready to enjoy is above...

Below is a picture of the two chefs in the process of creating!

Glorious!

We had a glorious sunset here the night before last! My daughter captured these shots of it.


It reminded me of a quote by Oswald Chambers, "We look for visions of heaven and we never dream that all the time God is in the commonplace things and people around us."


When I looked this sunset I just stopped and thought how beautiful it was, and then thought-Wow! If this is that gorgeous, what will it be like in heaven?


I can't wait to find out!

If you don't know for sure that you're going to heaven--you can! Follow this link to find out how!

http://www.turningpointonline.org/site/PageServer?pagename=howto

Blessings,

Sharri

No Small Potatoes!

Over the weekend my husband and son (above) dug up the potatoes that they grew in our garden. To our surprise and amazement, some of the red potatoes were huge! Also, from one red potato plant, they got 11 lbs of potatoes!


We also grew Yukon gold potatoes and got quite a few, but I don't think that they weighed those...and they are not pictured.

(This one potato weighs just shy of 2 lbs!)

I thought these potatoes deserved a little blog space.

(not bad for bunch of city-slickers eh?)

Hee hee hee!

It Will Never Be The Same

For the rest of my life, the date 9-11 will never be the same. There are so many dates on the calendar that go by without much notice-unless you have a family b-day or anniversary....like February 8, or January 20, or March 16....

But for the rest of my life, 9-11 will always stand out. I have a friend whose 90+ grandmother has that date for her birthday. She refuses to celebrate it! She celebrates the day before or after, I can't remember which.

But ever since 2001, that date has carried with it a sobering impact. I did not personally lose any loved ones in the devastation of that day.
But something here in American was forever lost that day. The security we once enjoyed was breached, and cannot be regained.

I suppose this is what our past generation felt after the attack on Pearl Harbor. But for me, I didn't have that recollection, and this was a very shocking event.

One of the things that I think of when I remember that time in our history, is how America fell to it's knees before God. Our government officials standing up and singing "God Bless America". (And well they should!) People holding prayer meetings, and speaking God's name on t.v. and radio...

But how about now? I don't see God being recognized, consulted, or even considered. How quickly they have forgotten!

I remember thinking what a wake-up call this was for America. And how much good could come of it. But so many have fallen away, and back into their "own lives", and have forgotten the One for Whom we should live. The One to Whom they cried out so heartily to when they needed something.

And so today, I remember Him. I do not quake in fear, I live in faith. I do not feel hopeless, I look to the One Who is Hope. I do not forget-nor do I live in the past--I open my heart to His plan, and His leading. In Him is my security-for Eternity!

I remember Him today, and every day.

Princed Edward Island Reflections

What would a trip to PEI be without a stop at the world famous Green Gables? (And I do mean world famous--people come from Japan, and other places all over the world to visit, and even get married at Green Gables!)

A trip to this adorable little house, barn, gardens and grounds made for such a pleasant day! One stored in my memory banks, and taken out frequently to relive it.

Although the Anne of Green Gables book is a fictional work done by Lucy Maud Montgomery, the house is in fact a real house that had been owned by Lucy's relatives. She used to visit it during her childhood and loved it. And so she has introduced us all to it through her books.

Throughout this charming house they have period furniture, decorations, and even some clothing and other items to give you the feel of what it would have been like in Lucy's day.

Of course since Anne of Green Gables was fictional, she never really lived there. But, if you've read the books, and fell in love with them as I did... You can use your "imagination" and almost be able to picture the little red-haired imp there!

As a lover of the outdoors, this was a very nice day spent strolling about the grounds with my family. The scenery was lovely, and we even found some little squirrels that were quite curious and friendly.

This may well be the biggest attraction on the island for many tourists and is interesting for children and us adults as well. It's a "must see" if you visit the island!

Prince Edward Island Reflections-Meet LuLu

Yes, you heard me. Meet Lulu! :0)

I told you that our trip to PEI was an adventure didn't I?

One of the intriguing things about our trip is that it was sort of "unconventional".... The place where we lodged had a band of resident raccoons, led by....you guessed it!....Lulu!
Here she is in all of her glory!


And yes, she's as big as she looks. I think she must weigh around 30 lbs. She was quite friendly-although her possee was not. They were shy.
But, she would come right up to you! (I don't know if that's a good thing or not as it was a bit scary sometimes).But she was very laid back about the whole thing. Very unimpressed by these visiting Americans.

She would come to the yard every day around 5pm. You could set your watch by her. She would hang around at least until dark.

She was named by the owner, Phil, and he picked a winner of a name, it totally fit her! :0)

Snag!

Yes, it's true. I've hit a snag! I have been unable to continue my PEI posts or anything as blogger isn't allowing me to post pictures--and hasn't for a long time!
I haven't forgotten about it, but I am frustrated because I am unable to
complete my posts because of the picture situation.

Sorry!
Me