tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85171294832609308022024-03-05T15:13:14.790-08:00becoming maggie bluewww.maggiebluedesigns.etsy.comAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-56492041582598654672017-10-15T10:34:00.003-07:002017-12-01T06:23:56.720-08:00Moving In: Our Little Homestead<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
I know it's been forever since I posted. (Literally forever.) I blame it on Instagram. It's SO easy and quick to use. But, it doesn't allow you to really give details about what's going on. I would like to go back and fill in the blanks of the rest of our travels, but for now I'll do a quick recap of the summer and pick up in the present.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17425114_10207502931205928_7703583545400688104_n.jpg?oh=db713d5bd4236090e9bd6e69a9df660d&oe=5A1A90C3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: one or more people" border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/17425114_10207502931205928_7703583545400688104_n.jpg?oh=db713d5bd4236090e9bd6e69a9df660d&oe=5A1A90C3" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
After Jon's accident in the spring, we had to stay put and let him heal. It took months until he was finally able to drive and even longer before he could do strenuous things...like...hook up a camper. We did manage to get out for a final two week trip in the camper, and it was amazing. We loved living on the camper, and we loved traveling. But all good things must come to an end (for now) since we made some farm promises to the kids.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19437670_10208169394867103_1932827635871803518_n.jpg?oh=2632531ee9acfb738052d4b2f232c17e&oe=5A16B998" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: car and outdoor" border="0" height="303" src="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19437670_10208169394867103_1932827635871803518_n.jpg?oh=2632531ee9acfb738052d4b2f232c17e&oe=5A16B998" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19429823_10208163336995660_2057413688984861179_n.jpg?oh=4afe690f0ec14a1b390d4e480e40a62c&oe=5A46CBCD" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image may contain: 2 people, people smiling, outdoor, nature and water" border="0" height="400" src="https://scontent-ort2-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/19429823_10208163336995660_2057413688984861179_n.jpg?oh=4afe690f0ec14a1b390d4e480e40a62c&oe=5A46CBCD" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
During the healing time we were able to sneak away to look at homesteads, and we managed to find the one we wanted. It took a ridiculous amount of time to close...more than 60 days...but close we did. Everyone loves it, it was a unanimous choice, and being there is like being home. (Which is good, since it is)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUtLLjlZ8anRBo6Khb2ubIudQJbrhq8X0OIz6PcZKx4_zPuNCO03a-d9UDRxmoG-M4dFPCUOzjXGB1XfRCKz7RFKEzERYR3hLkrA1mmDOKBNWMaTK10Nm3eEZYZKUa8kh3_HjzevEYNQ/s1600/IMAG3208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoUtLLjlZ8anRBo6Khb2ubIudQJbrhq8X0OIz6PcZKx4_zPuNCO03a-d9UDRxmoG-M4dFPCUOzjXGB1XfRCKz7RFKEzERYR3hLkrA1mmDOKBNWMaTK10Nm3eEZYZKUa8kh3_HjzevEYNQ/s640/IMAG3208.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After traveling to Alaska, Georgia and Florida for a month, it was finally time to move in. We've been in the house for about two weeks Unfortunately, because of bats, no one will be moving upstairs any time soon...so once again we're all sleeping together in one tight space. (Thankfully we like it that way!) Most of the bats are gone, but their grossness remains, so all of the ceiling and insulation above the upstairs bedrooms will have to be removed and replaced. Once everything is clean and new, the kids can move into their long awaited bedrooms. Yes, that is bedrooms...after sharing a bedroom on the boat for two years, and on the camper for another two...both kids are ready to have some space to call their own.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HMy6vCwMa2MpSnswv29KpxCAKxriyZK03iRpg_TabNhlexL8JdggA44c6xQYz2q4Z3gm5g0usEYx4VhYEAahS3ICVso9HlY39ZYsx6stcx9ibF1itmjc3yXgBP0BgChRY_zUpy8CwL4/s1600/IMAG3209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5HMy6vCwMa2MpSnswv29KpxCAKxriyZK03iRpg_TabNhlexL8JdggA44c6xQYz2q4Z3gm5g0usEYx4VhYEAahS3ICVso9HlY39ZYsx6stcx9ibF1itmjc3yXgBP0BgChRY_zUpy8CwL4/s640/IMAG3209.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
Personally, I am a little excited about it too....but also sad. It means a chapter is closing on our life. But, it also means chapters are opening. We have a homestead! A beautiful mountain oasis in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. I literally sit on the front porch for hours being amazed by the beauty around us. Especially now that it's fall, the leaves fall all around us. We have half a dozen apple trees, and equally as many mountain springs flowing down our part of the mountain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIqgAD35Z9mwizkJ9VGuy9pfhD2DZPCeh26NkAaG0y4gRwsjzlFBZ2shza3dsc9CgeYsDz_VAe2oBnk4-kzOhGMPVc9pM134h1pvVG1L70LXkSI_S1miZCFW7gkbYZCCWg41jofj8CE/s1600/IMAG3203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxIqgAD35Z9mwizkJ9VGuy9pfhD2DZPCeh26NkAaG0y4gRwsjzlFBZ2shza3dsc9CgeYsDz_VAe2oBnk4-kzOhGMPVc9pM134h1pvVG1L70LXkSI_S1miZCFW7gkbYZCCWg41jofj8CE/s400/IMAG3203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This spring will mean ducks and chickens, maybe some goats...and then who knows. This is just a continuation of the experiment....if the kids want to try something, we will. And when the kids are done farming, who knows, maybe we'll turn our farmstead into our home-base and start traveling again. I love that our lives have become a place where anything is possible...and in the meantime, it's nice to have a home again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_1q1x-HKIXWcDv1geoEsPwCKERL9BkUSCq-0ZntJ83Iv0WncawrkG1ppHdOJLWpQcR9KBoMJhH2FplFZkv4F7yvMX1tALxp9X3ABRHzyc3UWN52dJx5ma1MKOvVpWuAsiHBEj0r-ryw/s1600/IMAG3197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_1q1x-HKIXWcDv1geoEsPwCKERL9BkUSCq-0ZntJ83Iv0WncawrkG1ppHdOJLWpQcR9KBoMJhH2FplFZkv4F7yvMX1tALxp9X3ABRHzyc3UWN52dJx5ma1MKOvVpWuAsiHBEj0r-ryw/s400/IMAG3197.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The view of our farm from the top of the property.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-62052138515227341812017-01-10T08:54:00.000-08:002017-01-10T08:54:33.988-08:00Growing Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6rhqN9jWC_qGzH-qMUwyPzg4Epc2EX-he5Y0DiEhTJLoLdZJoofoQNbfB8LB5ZygxNcgNLldlMMftP60Nns8V7a5z0YZ0YNUVA96csUZaeu7tNsps1e_fAsYd7AFd9Xi_3EcYaXpbwA/s1600/b128023214c1f479be49659f390d4559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV6rhqN9jWC_qGzH-qMUwyPzg4Epc2EX-he5Y0DiEhTJLoLdZJoofoQNbfB8LB5ZygxNcgNLldlMMftP60Nns8V7a5z0YZ0YNUVA96csUZaeu7tNsps1e_fAsYd7AFd9Xi_3EcYaXpbwA/s400/b128023214c1f479be49659f390d4559.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This poem makes me think of Luke, at exactly this age. He is so full of ideas and dreams...huge, seemingly impossible plans...and he believes that he can accomplish them all. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>If only we all still felt that way.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This is an age of magic and wonder, of growing and trying. Right now he's loving planning inventions and grand treehouses. He still loves when I read to him. He's adventurous and outgoing. Kind, but impatient. Suddenly he's got a voice, something to say about everything...ready to fight, love or laugh. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Nine will be a good year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="Image may contain: 1 person, indoor" aria-busy="false" class="spotlight" height="400" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15895334_10206995350516728_6107147550935086927_n.jpg?oh=93eca98e0ebdd2ee32acb687ed0c9e54&oe=58DA0575" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-31991620514414961042016-09-07T15:38:00.000-07:002016-09-07T15:38:00.166-07:00Majestic Redwoods<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG30JLeiV7vXGPvOZ8wWT8-6kjg6WTYdmjwOkYuua6aaNTehSc6_MHy_9B098IQl_JfHZIzTY0wLjVlIFZevoGoQUt9vEC1iaBWf7j6BY3Jsc2gGxmK4PQa62iTDUttA-rueD72XVLJQ/s1600/IMAG1533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGG30JLeiV7vXGPvOZ8wWT8-6kjg6WTYdmjwOkYuua6aaNTehSc6_MHy_9B098IQl_JfHZIzTY0wLjVlIFZevoGoQUt9vEC1iaBWf7j6BY3Jsc2gGxmK4PQa62iTDUttA-rueD72XVLJQ/s400/IMAG1533.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Oh my goodness.<br />
<br />
The redwoods really are as awe inspiring as you'd think they'd be.<br />
<br />
It makes me so sad that only 5% of the original forests are left. It does make it feel sometimes like we simply can't fix the damage we as humans have done, and are still doing to our planet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidZ3Gz94D9xGF8vMy2Cx0N3tQ5gmTqToX1Yg7MvgJyi1x14xC9awCjurSltNrQoXr1q5btk2YhrbFGe_OCi4omoJtoDe3Qle5DKRpvfJW8ZBpqN8SdhsKdo796TaQ8BesJeoJWgK8H68/s1600/IMAG1524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidZ3Gz94D9xGF8vMy2Cx0N3tQ5gmTqToX1Yg7MvgJyi1x14xC9awCjurSltNrQoXr1q5btk2YhrbFGe_OCi4omoJtoDe3Qle5DKRpvfJW8ZBpqN8SdhsKdo796TaQ8BesJeoJWgK8H68/s400/IMAG1524.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1m7Hd8IvgXMSoVIU-cQRkILo_HP8pzBkhP6_ZFh4bVP9eaPI957vbBoPTloWsa8zfiFvgwTJEsXDbfgvjPQVX-REQpZJ8kiKSeAQp4g3sjXojrwvsKc92_dN6dWZJAGTu9-i7Q5hnq0/s1600/IMAG1570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj1m7Hd8IvgXMSoVIU-cQRkILo_HP8pzBkhP6_ZFh4bVP9eaPI957vbBoPTloWsa8zfiFvgwTJEsXDbfgvjPQVX-REQpZJ8kiKSeAQp4g3sjXojrwvsKc92_dN6dWZJAGTu9-i7Q5hnq0/s400/IMAG1570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ9Q7R3p_09idMYD9OraBFqT6yX3o_rJyfJVfGT8xXiLOAoVtddqOj9yWFQRzFnG_TpvOWb2qUswiAF2vSCZhoMC7O-_HI_lLAhfOTsdSsGF33NKolZhVpxXruE2jwMWpmdUMvYuJ7AM/s1600/IMAG1534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQ9Q7R3p_09idMYD9OraBFqT6yX3o_rJyfJVfGT8xXiLOAoVtddqOj9yWFQRzFnG_TpvOWb2qUswiAF2vSCZhoMC7O-_HI_lLAhfOTsdSsGF33NKolZhVpxXruE2jwMWpmdUMvYuJ7AM/s400/IMAG1534.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
But, this post isn't about dwelling on the bad, rather it's about renewing the spirit. Crescent City and the surrounding ocean and redwoods have been revitalizing for us. The temperature seems to be permanently stuck in autumn, which has been wonderful! We've spent part of every single day in the glory of nature; hiking, swimming, beachcombing or kayaking. We've also chosen this place and time to start up school again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBiAMwI9CQTF5dNq32UN7w3YoqakPrrHEwxR62WIMWCHtB3TfCHmuCtrl1673G-Eg6P2z2s0I32BweXCOGt041tDX0e5f_SYhygbmLG0vJVSEkUrfp2gdUBFNQTdeExLbYPpOFDvaupI/s1600/IMAG0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQBiAMwI9CQTF5dNq32UN7w3YoqakPrrHEwxR62WIMWCHtB3TfCHmuCtrl1673G-Eg6P2z2s0I32BweXCOGt041tDX0e5f_SYhygbmLG0vJVSEkUrfp2gdUBFNQTdeExLbYPpOFDvaupI/s400/IMAG0933.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ele0vydlxzy9T39Vqn0kGke7lYHITmVCuYNzuUHbfcZ_hnPFLSjIJUQzmyhQHN7ekzoy4i21RAKyr0kSix6z1ckdy3kgeTsDkhZW-MLelqpAFpT3oIETuYg4aQ7E866fsZ_vqFQkMPA/s1600/IMAG0968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Ele0vydlxzy9T39Vqn0kGke7lYHITmVCuYNzuUHbfcZ_hnPFLSjIJUQzmyhQHN7ekzoy4i21RAKyr0kSix6z1ckdy3kgeTsDkhZW-MLelqpAFpT3oIETuYg4aQ7E866fsZ_vqFQkMPA/s400/IMAG0968.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7sQaPwL0rQm8mNTMI4jxq_asD6LucSEC2CXhXfekL2ATs4xs73TtIz4C3X3i25RvLu-GkGhO6HkN88Oq3KnruMME93u9fJ4dHsL2sZWVq6sArLfgvyZFFR41mfg4_CJyXcXlYCVLWa4/s1600/IMAG1520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7sQaPwL0rQm8mNTMI4jxq_asD6LucSEC2CXhXfekL2ATs4xs73TtIz4C3X3i25RvLu-GkGhO6HkN88Oq3KnruMME93u9fJ4dHsL2sZWVq6sArLfgvyZFFR41mfg4_CJyXcXlYCVLWa4/s400/IMAG1520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlrLarhxrlp1M5U0eeJS1vmK0DowlX76vsHoupoT4p0QdfsT5hfOiAgGYUNmRmwR6oH2M3FJfR09aVJtf_56ILrz6i5KXD4hvaMbcBFAvh4z2QSyfm2ZDXaeimL9_8uxcKWI30JYJp0c/s1600/IMAG1516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlrLarhxrlp1M5U0eeJS1vmK0DowlX76vsHoupoT4p0QdfsT5hfOiAgGYUNmRmwR6oH2M3FJfR09aVJtf_56ILrz6i5KXD4hvaMbcBFAvh4z2QSyfm2ZDXaeimL9_8uxcKWI30JYJp0c/s400/IMAG1516.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzxFASIaHEo2fNjR9TjEwASMoI2uHZrSxgRpgFxIxK_TNgxFfiQdZXx98h2ZwcDL5lFd9Ji1cRJ4EmfMA-pAY2ogd7VoN92CLUDxLLYjv5sYvNDqogn1_L9c74Uuru5AFe5XsrlJFWH4/s1600/IMAG0983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzxFASIaHEo2fNjR9TjEwASMoI2uHZrSxgRpgFxIxK_TNgxFfiQdZXx98h2ZwcDL5lFd9Ji1cRJ4EmfMA-pAY2ogd7VoN92CLUDxLLYjv5sYvNDqogn1_L9c74Uuru5AFe5XsrlJFWH4/s400/IMAG0983.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
As a homeschool mom, I LOVE the start of school. (Don't get me wrong, I love the lazy days of summer too!) But, there is something about beginning again that I just love. Cool mornings, warm drinks, sitting around the table together working on something...or snuggling up on the couch to read together. I am not someone who loves to have a strict routine, but a little bit of routine (every once in a while) seems to be just the thing we need. We are easing slowly back into the school year, a week at a time, adding a little more as we go.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqmL2UnofLD0k0PI9QSnisk0bOGuuG8_7KxwlV8vBiWI_xnwakNSdQ4vaopvXm_X7OeaxlsSWkjzjw8EGgCRr_rxuSTdVcDci4G_jzP_lIvYgNG6JjZuarfbz9Yot4x2Ey0dJssMWttI/s1600/IMAG1497.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlqmL2UnofLD0k0PI9QSnisk0bOGuuG8_7KxwlV8vBiWI_xnwakNSdQ4vaopvXm_X7OeaxlsSWkjzjw8EGgCRr_rxuSTdVcDci4G_jzP_lIvYgNG6JjZuarfbz9Yot4x2Ey0dJssMWttI/s400/IMAG1497.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This place has been magical for us, the kids built a teepee in the woods behind our campsite, and have slowly been building it up and working on it for the last few weeks. It's this kind of project-based, nature-inspired unschooling that I love the most.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vdgqwLE7rAWneqr-lxYGbAoHz31_h2eND6F89dK2yBi25GW9YjdMB6x25EuKIfctdzgT75cb1uxjq2oXODZsbC3UOODwJQOt0vSX5myLAz8a0QZGYTIZvpBTMDomut-3WjIpCL9V_ts/s1600/IMAG1563.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3vdgqwLE7rAWneqr-lxYGbAoHz31_h2eND6F89dK2yBi25GW9YjdMB6x25EuKIfctdzgT75cb1uxjq2oXODZsbC3UOODwJQOt0vSX5myLAz8a0QZGYTIZvpBTMDomut-3WjIpCL9V_ts/s400/IMAG1563.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So this year I've worked hard to streamline the more regimented parts of our schooling so that it takes up only the pre-lunch hours. The rest of the day is for playing, being in nature, working on projects, or anything else that we decide to do that day. I am a little afraid that in a different place we won't find everything so wonderful...but alas, as travelers, we must travel on and have faith that it is us, and not this place that makes us who we are. (But I won't lie, there is something magical going on here!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1HvMoFZw3iGummUnrWu4GqeSzT5eMZJ8wZdBtSeKAIflY-mwSVpWoxzbKlTSeCw0QIRGD2mNDqb_5Hk8CWklldjGFV25UfJkQppcLOTH2OYkOTECaGt7FuetvMrTS-ag_cf9AS6PixY/s1600/IMAG1509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1HvMoFZw3iGummUnrWu4GqeSzT5eMZJ8wZdBtSeKAIflY-mwSVpWoxzbKlTSeCw0QIRGD2mNDqb_5Hk8CWklldjGFV25UfJkQppcLOTH2OYkOTECaGt7FuetvMrTS-ag_cf9AS6PixY/s400/IMAG1509.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6d2uoqpgYImGGtdJMOu3_H4n32E11XfWERySH7iN0wvbvRuEuwEEespmx7GcdoNJDB71pD9FCKVuIV3FcA1JBgr7KMeLbCqxAmMTbcrYYIgylUWFwwRrKHqVqtgTk7iZl-3F-jPHnls/s1600/IMAG1580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6d2uoqpgYImGGtdJMOu3_H4n32E11XfWERySH7iN0wvbvRuEuwEEespmx7GcdoNJDB71pD9FCKVuIV3FcA1JBgr7KMeLbCqxAmMTbcrYYIgylUWFwwRrKHqVqtgTk7iZl-3F-jPHnls/s320/IMAG1580.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-76760658716722686142016-09-04T15:17:00.000-07:002016-09-04T15:17:42.363-07:0050 Million Year Old Fossils...and they're all mine!<br />
I love seeing history in action. As a public school kid, I learned not to get too excited about learning. Just memorize the information so you can get the best grade, do NOT think about, do NOT get excited about it, do NOT question it. Learn it, take the test and move on. (And I was good at the game...I tested well, and then promptly forgot it all.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GjXE2J0WgeJXZI2JkAslpNGJZRlQl-5EdV2lvZUnphGSiWQE-fzZAz8QitCm55BmD1EgiS_4jDHTTLQ-yaHC3MdV-lv6GwNnTSFdNezVU9908eFszR7vRPvtns7vXStD_JD1oL_eD0w/s1600/IMAG1380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8GjXE2J0WgeJXZI2JkAslpNGJZRlQl-5EdV2lvZUnphGSiWQE-fzZAz8QitCm55BmD1EgiS_4jDHTTLQ-yaHC3MdV-lv6GwNnTSFdNezVU9908eFszR7vRPvtns7vXStD_JD1oL_eD0w/s320/IMAG1380.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It has taken me <i>years</i> to undo this. Actually it's taken years of homeschooling and 9 months of travel to realize that history is an amazing, exciting and very real thing. I have never enjoyed museums and battlefields as much as I have this year. (Thankfully, that seems to be true for my kids too!)<br />
<br />
As we were hoofing it across the country to get to Oregon in time for Laurel's birthday, we didn't really have a lot of time to stop and look at things. We did decide to stop for two days in Wyoming; we spent one day at Fort Bridger, and the second day at Fossil Butte National Park and Warfield Fossil Safari.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zLdzxc4-OjS8Zct_5P9lNCxa7K52ETCJ3O0wERgMxPjbN6Op6GvhfTBega5QRxIvBnrrqasGhzrC8hEKf4oDU7AzUkS6KBsnUzqy-p1WC_mHrge26KNl_AOFHWLvB6kWi-fIgXPUlJw/s1600/IMAG1353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zLdzxc4-OjS8Zct_5P9lNCxa7K52ETCJ3O0wERgMxPjbN6Op6GvhfTBega5QRxIvBnrrqasGhzrC8hEKf4oDU7AzUkS6KBsnUzqy-p1WC_mHrge26KNl_AOFHWLvB6kWi-fIgXPUlJw/s400/IMAG1353.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
Fort Bridger was a surprising distraction for us, we spent most of the day there. We toured the buildings, and spent longer than probably necessary in the museum. What can I say...we love documentaries, and they would just keep putting on a new one if you asked. (We connected the dots later that the song <i>The Story of Jim Bridger</i> was the SAME guy that founded Fort Bridger!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgKKgb6-iOJEq3hcvAwXzAOIq89AtArms24Xg9Ho1DnmlkDC3OfGdPDSoyyW-8T706e2K-5qD0_enJrGgLdIH9jOqnA9w_nqMgv0dqsNHPypLX_TzGvNFV4ErNgcDJQYBFHgBZn_mtx8/s1600/IMAG1357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgKKgb6-iOJEq3hcvAwXzAOIq89AtArms24Xg9Ho1DnmlkDC3OfGdPDSoyyW-8T706e2K-5qD0_enJrGgLdIH9jOqnA9w_nqMgv0dqsNHPypLX_TzGvNFV4ErNgcDJQYBFHgBZn_mtx8/s400/IMAG1357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The next day we set off to look for fossils at the Warfield Fossil Safari, not knowing what (if anything) we would find. First we started off at Fossil Butte National Monument to learn some history...what an amazing place! Beautiful, filled with information...it really gave a timeline to all of the changes in life and geology that has happened over the millions of years. We saw amazing fossils, cool documentaries and got to watch a ranger actually cleaning and finishing a fossil that was pulled out of the ground there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zbD6IvRZEBkLi3g33sYwuZZCUnqim-xcXC1FUwhODgw_i4M5dUaZKTwPBvmSiV9ak2YiVy_edXBJMXSBRG6mwDRM9wFsUAZbRrd5gVBFkuV-sgo_5KjX0-lhUPoaDBkItAUik2jvDoM/s1600/IMAG1365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zbD6IvRZEBkLi3g33sYwuZZCUnqim-xcXC1FUwhODgw_i4M5dUaZKTwPBvmSiV9ak2YiVy_edXBJMXSBRG6mwDRM9wFsUAZbRrd5gVBFkuV-sgo_5KjX0-lhUPoaDBkItAUik2jvDoM/s400/IMAG1365.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Onto Warfield, we drove and drove, not knowing where we were going (the GPS knew even less than us!). When we got there we were faced with looming cliffs, and handed a hammer and a chisel. George, the manager at Warfield was so helpful, showing us where to pull out rock, and how to chisel it open to find fossils. We hammered and climbed and carried...and with a little patience we all found 50 million year old fish fossils!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-lJTYRSOLHzxvYI6MzKZQXUHBFTZ87cBgeoWMe2DRsjeLbXkpCvLN3z8EwcD62AHVLcmcpEgMCaEVrjveocbR-JoALOHAcgD7BWqHFbpapnaInzSc4_88-Hf4Ys2FGIsRQwvn-fMTl4/s1600/IMAG1366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-lJTYRSOLHzxvYI6MzKZQXUHBFTZ87cBgeoWMe2DRsjeLbXkpCvLN3z8EwcD62AHVLcmcpEgMCaEVrjveocbR-JoALOHAcgD7BWqHFbpapnaInzSc4_88-Hf4Ys2FGIsRQwvn-fMTl4/s400/IMAG1366.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaPbAEjhrlEj6F-JEQM-EICm9amQnUpuwgv3ROKpzdOMP7llEmYnDXwy10-v1Up-5bszDne8kTUelcpwARICf4K-_xMbwC9OBy4YPvSY6Dl5aF3S1du5N-VgUF6ta2Z4N_i_SRNRN4Mg/s1600/IMAG1369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOaPbAEjhrlEj6F-JEQM-EICm9amQnUpuwgv3ROKpzdOMP7llEmYnDXwy10-v1Up-5bszDne8kTUelcpwARICf4K-_xMbwC9OBy4YPvSY6Dl5aF3S1du5N-VgUF6ta2Z4N_i_SRNRN4Mg/s400/IMAG1369.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoCULACGbMEY4a9dpsAkxzn1GYDA27ef19CCtDxgcvbR7gsOwWrurrHEugfZE3yl7F4ZBzYOSAxChhPzg3gMnTVodrqBBubGMImawXZQjI8Og6SRwC5iZqlAZJOOTXk5Nuhr3kgqgs_M/s1600/IMAG1373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnoCULACGbMEY4a9dpsAkxzn1GYDA27ef19CCtDxgcvbR7gsOwWrurrHEugfZE3yl7F4ZBzYOSAxChhPzg3gMnTVodrqBBubGMImawXZQjI8Og6SRwC5iZqlAZJOOTXk5Nuhr3kgqgs_M/s400/IMAG1373.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElP9YtXqCiA8obSxXzSLFuz1vhcywsZ6wgyMWJjdPQ77gGsnGTBpLl0QvM5vz15zJq8tDfFLfw0NRTgxoAsRtVTygqQ0WwBj06xgmqe7pg_4LiuSZXthyoOwlZEgJ7CCowjWCdyf45WE/s1600/IMAG1381.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjElP9YtXqCiA8obSxXzSLFuz1vhcywsZ6wgyMWJjdPQ77gGsnGTBpLl0QvM5vz15zJq8tDfFLfw0NRTgxoAsRtVTygqQ0WwBj06xgmqe7pg_4LiuSZXthyoOwlZEgJ7CCowjWCdyf45WE/s400/IMAG1381.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
It was truly exciting to know that you were the first thing that had seen that fish in 50 million years! We found dozens of fish, several that were in layers where there was a mass die out (due to temperature or salinity level probably). And while we were there George found a rare large gar in the cliff. (Exciting stuff!) By the time we left we were soaked (it rained and stormed several times), filthy (all that rock turns into dust), exhausted and super duper excited. In 12 years of public schooling I never felt one minute of one day the way I did driving away from Warfield that afternoon. I love that I am able to show my kids that learning is a <i><b>lifelong</b></i> pursuit...heck, I am glad that I'm finally learning it!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoX8cJBIcfUCTB01BCYpsz0jODRi2BtAtZo9DWpLBQW0TEdc7i-DKJM2l4RGRMLKkPVQAKpHdW5zSXqgycCpTiwqyhhRM43jiJHCtEkr-VpznJQre-UrT3y3sT29mRukbf_O8krY-KdE/s1600/IMAG1375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoX8cJBIcfUCTB01BCYpsz0jODRi2BtAtZo9DWpLBQW0TEdc7i-DKJM2l4RGRMLKkPVQAKpHdW5zSXqgycCpTiwqyhhRM43jiJHCtEkr-VpznJQre-UrT3y3sT29mRukbf_O8krY-KdE/s320/IMAG1375.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEnl_zUmRTsDhSmzj6TlCSTED2EndDJvNHSaZJPVF6AISdbPxeu3uJvG73EQ6fImc6jCZIRv2tEE7R5oCz7ziTM4O0PVL2PYrMnD5ghyphenhyphenPqRTsXT69dNoMSuW4Q2afFOVaNNGr8BDOlQ8/s1600/IMAG1379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXEnl_zUmRTsDhSmzj6TlCSTED2EndDJvNHSaZJPVF6AISdbPxeu3uJvG73EQ6fImc6jCZIRv2tEE7R5oCz7ziTM4O0PVL2PYrMnD5ghyphenhyphenPqRTsXT69dNoMSuW4Q2afFOVaNNGr8BDOlQ8/s320/IMAG1379.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-22234663823930844962016-09-03T14:45:00.007-07:002016-09-03T14:45:51.015-07:00New Experiences=Vomit<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Traveling full time with your kids, it's all about spending quality time together, living slow, and trying new things...right? </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tl0Yz1wic4LxyqNQXghUNWDi65NhG0tRocibqnSeep7exRgwcacoeli-WESWof1yMPWnCSDqFM_8q6bKWxtkOG4TaHZZHOqFju2c2z4ffqDVgxqgyBLzXFeeu9FyJiGvYVEIKizxy3M/s1600/IMAG1535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Tl0Yz1wic4LxyqNQXghUNWDi65NhG0tRocibqnSeep7exRgwcacoeli-WESWof1yMPWnCSDqFM_8q6bKWxtkOG4TaHZZHOqFju2c2z4ffqDVgxqgyBLzXFeeu9FyJiGvYVEIKizxy3M/s400/IMAG1535.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Well, sometimes new experiences are just gross. Such as, the balut egg. For those of you who are not-in-the-know, a balut egg is...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceWd_vm8sir80uVNKJ-YzUniWcSzYJ4or9ia0skATGEnBSXgos6kUGTs7W2h6mMO1kripgZ5CjsvDKjALeS70Fk4ZrqMl92sl7in1KNHkE9682HWjvX-p-zBgHt5zcv1w-c2rEg7hymw/s1600/IMAG1540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceWd_vm8sir80uVNKJ-YzUniWcSzYJ4or9ia0skATGEnBSXgos6kUGTs7W2h6mMO1kripgZ5CjsvDKjALeS70Fk4ZrqMl92sl7in1KNHkE9682HWjvX-p-zBgHt5zcv1w-c2rEg7hymw/s400/IMAG1540.jpg" width="387" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yuck, right?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My kids first heard about balut eggs in Ketchikan, and read about it later in a duck magazine. (Yes, there are duck magazines...it's a thing) So when we came upon a food truck at a Farmer's Market that had balut eggs, my kids could not pass it up.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6_FZCOQtVYEQsoKdqkAgbxc1hzuE09Q_tl7W_021d5-USPvLMz8CshUuBFsImoJ54UkxFViuBD639leUR31mYTvPXIrxqW_NSzpp8nd873dc3DLbg2ZHvnenCauLbeXr2zaqKm4B2f8/s1600/IMAG1536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin6_FZCOQtVYEQsoKdqkAgbxc1hzuE09Q_tl7W_021d5-USPvLMz8CshUuBFsImoJ54UkxFViuBD639leUR31mYTvPXIrxqW_NSzpp8nd873dc3DLbg2ZHvnenCauLbeXr2zaqKm4B2f8/s400/IMAG1536.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So we bought it, and brought it home. (Just in case anyone was going to throw up, I figured they'd rather do it in the comfort of their own campsite.)</div>
<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Jon cracked a hole in the top, and Laurel, Luke and Jon took turns taking sips of the "broth" which is supposed to be what you do first, before cracking the egg completely open to eat the yolk and tiny duck.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1EqXF879ovVALqhtu319MNPfNDbgFNOUA-9u-Yyf0IHBd07xTFiBiIpkxWL3TV-1qktBofvdiDxsR9iqw8TJLUoFiqXOo96zz9_5MeiHhobSg9Q2D6mfeLdnN06J3T0-bIZ5WKSSj-g/s1600/IMAG1548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1EqXF879ovVALqhtu319MNPfNDbgFNOUA-9u-Yyf0IHBd07xTFiBiIpkxWL3TV-1qktBofvdiDxsR9iqw8TJLUoFiqXOo96zz9_5MeiHhobSg9Q2D6mfeLdnN06J3T0-bIZ5WKSSj-g/s400/IMAG1548.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I use the term "broth" loosely...you could also call it warm-baby-duck-juice...blegh.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLjlu0Pw4kq-au0N3sLXU93LTE9QHoNF_vfLwhaIBqPEIYJD1CovgoLvNJch6D7wimfgGGsGwQlIyUJcVFa2rXpuwH4cCf-KDynyDhHmeW1T6hk0EIDo6uwpiZQHf-ujDHE56UTDM6xo/s1600/IMAG1551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLjlu0Pw4kq-au0N3sLXU93LTE9QHoNF_vfLwhaIBqPEIYJD1CovgoLvNJch6D7wimfgGGsGwQlIyUJcVFa2rXpuwH4cCf-KDynyDhHmeW1T6hk0EIDo6uwpiZQHf-ujDHE56UTDM6xo/s400/IMAG1551.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Then it has to be cracked open to reveal the yolk and tiny duckling...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xAPEByiAcypgsxPs9DavjmGMU3uItpvcMvaGkTke0ufBix6qsvpTPgxNYChgEc_aW3iESdUd3JDo7UorV5vXEBUzq2eWA5TxNtJ6HIZsLPhfWGPIy1LGIK9Zx3YklVL40iCy6jSNMNg/s1600/IMAG1553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xAPEByiAcypgsxPs9DavjmGMU3uItpvcMvaGkTke0ufBix6qsvpTPgxNYChgEc_aW3iESdUd3JDo7UorV5vXEBUzq2eWA5TxNtJ6HIZsLPhfWGPIy1LGIK9Zx3YklVL40iCy6jSNMNg/s400/IMAG1553.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Are you tempted yet?</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYLvSxOynCQAWUcSZtfO_DvjoFafxXv7XBNjL4s0Q4455qpSA_VozYP9YYqrKqwrx2wQObP2eCRcJPyZSyvaOv2hsnrjR0mDNR0L9FIWwdY0IVOZig1BGQoEXBn3atbjAg5IPgukbjAQ/s1600/IMAG1562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitYLvSxOynCQAWUcSZtfO_DvjoFafxXv7XBNjL4s0Q4455qpSA_VozYP9YYqrKqwrx2wQObP2eCRcJPyZSyvaOv2hsnrjR0mDNR0L9FIWwdY0IVOZig1BGQoEXBn3atbjAg5IPgukbjAQ/s400/IMAG1562.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh boy, it just gets better and better.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUEzX3MKQAu7ZFyomj2MkQmEracrDT1hjuIza3vNit-hzvF8yfrR9KLxS2-Xy-PPhl66DimVBDPY3VsVkhyphenhyphenPJdEapUHLH9g3hfb0onbu7sN97uPC-LEKqhLxfzC20n6zccpJTj_nKRYk/s1600/IMAG1561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUEzX3MKQAu7ZFyomj2MkQmEracrDT1hjuIza3vNit-hzvF8yfrR9KLxS2-Xy-PPhl66DimVBDPY3VsVkhyphenhyphenPJdEapUHLH9g3hfb0onbu7sN97uPC-LEKqhLxfzC20n6zccpJTj_nKRYk/s400/IMAG1561.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oh my, the reactions were worth the $2.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTrrMy44RRf6afMkofcrFGzdX3lo0U5SvgIrr6nLPzE9CSIA06_uwDL05Z1FIxRA18mBcetUDt2ivKfuBP36yK93W-xw26wo_BZmwIiv8pQdycm2K1VcTl-rUP37LvGziiX_MPLGOCSo/s1600/IMAG1554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTrrMy44RRf6afMkofcrFGzdX3lo0U5SvgIrr6nLPzE9CSIA06_uwDL05Z1FIxRA18mBcetUDt2ivKfuBP36yK93W-xw26wo_BZmwIiv8pQdycm2K1VcTl-rUP37LvGziiX_MPLGOCSo/s400/IMAG1554.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUiGJ97McfWEz_qwOaQo1x8D6J37XPU4aafbZUdmn2bWFZVnQXlhXr7eLAkbFwdhdHMBTiOxoHgGqpZah-o2OR_JP_0flLjbfZqSZypaLkbwLClvBs5FJRCHcdn5NAHE-xoEc-rG3zKE/s1600/IMAG1559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUiGJ97McfWEz_qwOaQo1x8D6J37XPU4aafbZUdmn2bWFZVnQXlhXr7eLAkbFwdhdHMBTiOxoHgGqpZah-o2OR_JP_0flLjbfZqSZypaLkbwLClvBs5FJRCHcdn5NAHE-xoEc-rG3zKE/s400/IMAG1559.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Honestly they all said it tasted fine, ok, or interesting...but two of them gagged, and one of them threw up. Want to know who couldn't hold his duck?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGNGmdp7zQF6o8flpsiKZBOMi6W6hxXGmlc4_MKJeVo09L4yZWCuwM39WsBKH1ItIdcv4FeijqNlKNeSVDVVbZHlPbi72ZG0S1vBAiNPUfEx00VDl5Ddet3rQJUJPztc4XnrIjkqgCuA/s1600/IMAG1550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGNGmdp7zQF6o8flpsiKZBOMi6W6hxXGmlc4_MKJeVo09L4yZWCuwM39WsBKH1ItIdcv4FeijqNlKNeSVDVVbZHlPbi72ZG0S1vBAiNPUfEx00VDl5Ddet3rQJUJPztc4XnrIjkqgCuA/s400/IMAG1550.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
THIS GUY. Yep, this picture is post-vomit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
How did it taste? </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have no idea. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love trying new things, but I have limits.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-83050604375939521122016-08-16T09:29:00.000-07:002016-09-05T09:31:00.550-07:00Girl Unscripted<br />
I have a girl who loves many things. The ocean, rabbits, ducks, the woods, crochet, reading, cooking. She wants more than anything to raise animals on a farm, have guinea pigs and a saltwater fish tank. She reads late into the night, no matter how many times we tell her she should go to bed. She is growing into the woman that she will become, and I both love and despair at her growing independence of thought and action...because it means, she is growing up.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN73VYARKj86YZmVgVBHj5SS03E9NiL1ZQS4xVq5rkgU3pbiNZkd4TutE7z5ZYVEHauNRuL4xS7JqUp16OHSKrx6reZGGuUgLJOwLBoNS5sL-7lBfQ9u3dJCkaatfqOq3Y59-s5Wl6nA/s1600/tumblr_ls8pn3A0ha1qzlzkro1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN73VYARKj86YZmVgVBHj5SS03E9NiL1ZQS4xVq5rkgU3pbiNZkd4TutE7z5ZYVEHauNRuL4xS7JqUp16OHSKrx6reZGGuUgLJOwLBoNS5sL-7lBfQ9u3dJCkaatfqOq3Y59-s5Wl6nA/s400/tumblr_ls8pn3A0ha1qzlzkro1_500.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<br />
I am riding the waves of her life, and realizing that even when it's rocky I'd rather be here then on the shore watching. I am thankful that at this time in my life I can devote everyday to growing with my kids. And what I've learned is that the older they get the more complex, interwoven, delicate and beautiful the relationship becomes. I live in those moments right now, and it is worth the work to make it as beautiful as it can be.<br />
<br />
Happy Birthday my girl.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0lSDLyGg_SdSIMgQVbFr0MoBMdsi46YL757l07lCrs3bGnsfA6BOhZrhrhItgda2Mlh-INvlNZT8SNKUCbiPx2kaTaf37rKP7zvVLy_zCFi3NzZXK5EwZISV04z7nrMib9vw5CeMCh4/s1600/_MG_8498-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0lSDLyGg_SdSIMgQVbFr0MoBMdsi46YL757l07lCrs3bGnsfA6BOhZrhrhItgda2Mlh-INvlNZT8SNKUCbiPx2kaTaf37rKP7zvVLy_zCFi3NzZXK5EwZISV04z7nrMib9vw5CeMCh4/s400/_MG_8498-Edit.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-84123808285634178212016-08-03T08:05:00.000-07:002016-08-03T08:06:23.156-07:00New England<br />
We played in the ocean.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9COWogo9mGxA0KgqLsz5yn3awZxz8fu30yeSlnidYN9dQ841jROWQGFc9N79ImqXFDeXkt2C5gDPesBAUFU4pr1I62OIjkpT9Z3qIy4Z6jlOOpbAeMEfBcDQoJyO0DfVWWOoWKhtFTc/s1600/IMAG0727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9COWogo9mGxA0KgqLsz5yn3awZxz8fu30yeSlnidYN9dQ841jROWQGFc9N79ImqXFDeXkt2C5gDPesBAUFU4pr1I62OIjkpT9Z3qIy4Z6jlOOpbAeMEfBcDQoJyO0DfVWWOoWKhtFTc/s400/IMAG0727.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdipoqH8wYkuYJxs3-8kQgvRLbw1jNUNERD8VwIsOJDhkjULeiHdJZ5_DYhmaMGc26r1x4zBCYVrL2wsKK5cDWJTrq6REdjZ8XDKIXPugC58g817YUfXNtCDtktNXa2VPATHf3TFITRk0/s1600/IMAG0744.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdipoqH8wYkuYJxs3-8kQgvRLbw1jNUNERD8VwIsOJDhkjULeiHdJZ5_DYhmaMGc26r1x4zBCYVrL2wsKK5cDWJTrq6REdjZ8XDKIXPugC58g817YUfXNtCDtktNXa2VPATHf3TFITRk0/s320/IMAG0744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65wfVS6uuJQ7IOKk0rBoYR-VpH0C21W1ykafvFtD9bVzKWlT5LuhIJf6FFS-ksoYXuxEGmBMKp7pRQvsxVWNqy0Rmed5OSP_URHIUPauMs-8ISRl_yhdNDLJGOzDQu7FJ_7fR5OW0cP8/s1600/IMAG0747.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65wfVS6uuJQ7IOKk0rBoYR-VpH0C21W1ykafvFtD9bVzKWlT5LuhIJf6FFS-ksoYXuxEGmBMKp7pRQvsxVWNqy0Rmed5OSP_URHIUPauMs-8ISRl_yhdNDLJGOzDQu7FJ_7fR5OW0cP8/s320/IMAG0747.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We had some fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGP1JGU2lK6nTOporxsyHo6wQycubg1Ktm6XBZxmRWTlXH3I00hUobH6IMMhZrlXhot6bVPHn-8nZCpQCFk6CXNo3iDCTuGw7svtOglylK6PLTx_vnnbqT5fQ10J3Mt_70j9YhC7r_0M/s1600/IMAG0766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGP1JGU2lK6nTOporxsyHo6wQycubg1Ktm6XBZxmRWTlXH3I00hUobH6IMMhZrlXhot6bVPHn-8nZCpQCFk6CXNo3iDCTuGw7svtOglylK6PLTx_vnnbqT5fQ10J3Mt_70j9YhC7r_0M/s400/IMAG0766.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q2sxn_pGNvap0iKE2-CBbCm-_0Dpj8RYeTQGCFFZZyLEtezuYMA4yYbV3bVVR0ZPr30cRBu_btAdcDAsVblAgjT95iKqcICaZfnroaAO5w0cue9bcvYiSOmecmqgS9FdwNcArNpw2WE/s1600/IMAG1130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q2sxn_pGNvap0iKE2-CBbCm-_0Dpj8RYeTQGCFFZZyLEtezuYMA4yYbV3bVVR0ZPr30cRBu_btAdcDAsVblAgjT95iKqcICaZfnroaAO5w0cue9bcvYiSOmecmqgS9FdwNcArNpw2WE/s400/IMAG1130.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigkEMZmwSOAtFnI5E7jWZOB463fpyWnEGwd9EbIIZ99sKNqb0nStbWVT7W7M34ViFsaGDzeu5Av7LDCkBUL2s0gcZb0k2kYMr-ih385ScirluKN8xTjvcSSRjjZBDb92NbGBkDFXHFsw/s1600/IMAG1098_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigkEMZmwSOAtFnI5E7jWZOB463fpyWnEGwd9EbIIZ99sKNqb0nStbWVT7W7M34ViFsaGDzeu5Av7LDCkBUL2s0gcZb0k2kYMr-ih385ScirluKN8xTjvcSSRjjZBDb92NbGBkDFXHFsw/s400/IMAG1098_1.jpg" width="395" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_tF26HnsYtzfH4w19N57l9Uf5-0VN8q1P-Tn5JXAvoCBqcHqjKYO75Kr0ctNdLEEBRJ-22PkXF7APVZrTxpf18HfYP_jo3Pv842A_aV-Ysyquj7IaKzmpH4uq-bpQENPS7V__Ly5cZQ/s1600/IMAG1137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1_tF26HnsYtzfH4w19N57l9Uf5-0VN8q1P-Tn5JXAvoCBqcHqjKYO75Kr0ctNdLEEBRJ-22PkXF7APVZrTxpf18HfYP_jo3Pv842A_aV-Ysyquj7IaKzmpH4uq-bpQENPS7V__Ly5cZQ/s400/IMAG1137.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_tXHeGVLP4Pvj0zGH5N8hzkhrsbQZST2QYgzPSwPoLUa0TT_jK78KNpmYiRRj_7p1UI0LhtWtr9_iiFgUc1EtqfxDt06_luuCCLjidgtxGORThCvDACK0AGvsYV013EA5YeVZoMVDOw/s1600/IMAG1138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_tXHeGVLP4Pvj0zGH5N8hzkhrsbQZST2QYgzPSwPoLUa0TT_jK78KNpmYiRRj_7p1UI0LhtWtr9_iiFgUc1EtqfxDt06_luuCCLjidgtxGORThCvDACK0AGvsYV013EA5YeVZoMVDOw/s400/IMAG1138.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31LsSNfkZWdO2pRsbNR9tLwLi99xVa9WqPIrLWV-e9JAEE4ysfAQXjLHo5kED1Wg2l9JOjPs0xxp7XNjJDScRoUQI7FIJEqf_Aoi1DDCLBu8oa5HQqgEjYAaFaZ4XWzkreRC0udhvlGU/s1600/IMAG1155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj31LsSNfkZWdO2pRsbNR9tLwLi99xVa9WqPIrLWV-e9JAEE4ysfAQXjLHo5kED1Wg2l9JOjPs0xxp7XNjJDScRoUQI7FIJEqf_Aoi1DDCLBu8oa5HQqgEjYAaFaZ4XWzkreRC0udhvlGU/s400/IMAG1155.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBIYzcDdDHoigE8ZobaZLtWnVUpz1hXRoY938kdgWbMRm_YJgdsoyCgSnNaY8HnQPN7DAmGKWxmwnNYYGqrrBJkJSFHDYbIBEQJWAEBGAnbMWnfUBFDKmKLsNmYGpKzHpfUh__fUGZUY/s1600/IMAG1158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBIYzcDdDHoigE8ZobaZLtWnVUpz1hXRoY938kdgWbMRm_YJgdsoyCgSnNaY8HnQPN7DAmGKWxmwnNYYGqrrBJkJSFHDYbIBEQJWAEBGAnbMWnfUBFDKmKLsNmYGpKzHpfUh__fUGZUY/s400/IMAG1158.jpg" width="250" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We learned some history.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsGwvOGanDiiVu-04I7q_9ZfC8EQSxDoQbwsGG8Ca9kEJBxRWwHaaSX0KLDykUZkRWrx689wqEKE8vZwAz3UwcM0E5hLf6VXFUAZACnkHwK5k7v14XT8OdSaUTPRGXRLq8j7-UM017Zo/s1600/IMAG1171.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNsGwvOGanDiiVu-04I7q_9ZfC8EQSxDoQbwsGG8Ca9kEJBxRWwHaaSX0KLDykUZkRWrx689wqEKE8vZwAz3UwcM0E5hLf6VXFUAZACnkHwK5k7v14XT8OdSaUTPRGXRLq8j7-UM017Zo/s400/IMAG1171.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIiclbd5oYVW2QOhOwmOQN3Soo-Lh-jlUoORHoDd1ObNrS6s3Cv45KRP4EX_1efsPeLZrgeqeNzMHhtbHeboZPI7ZZ2fgP5NS0bp5KPvgeeEK23lPvlLdnXfuxx-fDe2mKvnegCoTfkk/s1600/IMAG1177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiIiclbd5oYVW2QOhOwmOQN3Soo-Lh-jlUoORHoDd1ObNrS6s3Cv45KRP4EX_1efsPeLZrgeqeNzMHhtbHeboZPI7ZZ2fgP5NS0bp5KPvgeeEK23lPvlLdnXfuxx-fDe2mKvnegCoTfkk/s400/IMAG1177.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9S7zt_AUVdps9tif2wUUaVXSczWCv8CSWHR3ktG8msiTi9F9GqpxhYw01zdrPrR2FaEOO5gQ_zNxBgYXmamT4aTKHsrHpESqQ0C4KKHTZNIBZK13InHbpu74wFJBc6ZKkeBd706OfBxM/s1600/IMAG1178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9S7zt_AUVdps9tif2wUUaVXSczWCv8CSWHR3ktG8msiTi9F9GqpxhYw01zdrPrR2FaEOO5gQ_zNxBgYXmamT4aTKHsrHpESqQ0C4KKHTZNIBZK13InHbpu74wFJBc6ZKkeBd706OfBxM/s400/IMAG1178.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1yp8FSviP9nSYv_leYaYy6pADsIVISbG-k6FokUnZAJ9zmD7A3y_obf0CeNlDEOrdJQXs3SXIBJmebvKhwXbr6hmA1-jBuBQCXtYG7_eiH-73EXgAUe9eU1-gNKvs3iDQR0BUcIr_Ng/s1600/IMAG1183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1yp8FSviP9nSYv_leYaYy6pADsIVISbG-k6FokUnZAJ9zmD7A3y_obf0CeNlDEOrdJQXs3SXIBJmebvKhwXbr6hmA1-jBuBQCXtYG7_eiH-73EXgAUe9eU1-gNKvs3iDQR0BUcIr_Ng/s400/IMAG1183.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We went to quirky museums.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ed5td-ljSq2XUujw2TZq0954HNAhQsHc4J_1WUcYAMMZDgWdUpDm8XTfG9YwOHHQIRpO-sk63uD8tGXuhHEZFL6rh_hsQSzaWbZL1BKZPsZOPs6meQMeHWqG0xjC9dlnAZBHiw115yo/s1600/IMAG1199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ed5td-ljSq2XUujw2TZq0954HNAhQsHc4J_1WUcYAMMZDgWdUpDm8XTfG9YwOHHQIRpO-sk63uD8tGXuhHEZFL6rh_hsQSzaWbZL1BKZPsZOPs6meQMeHWqG0xjC9dlnAZBHiw115yo/s400/IMAG1199.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9aDaOm156DrtVb94l4BsKlE8oqfd9HguOt_aKIY_LUPJ6s_LNVPihMdL8CYSIEf4RPWSg1XVZ5JFF7MWq83nYCtnP3RIluDwgEdboc-wYX8CA-VLJvImfHtSvGg3p39EG7RreV4tmKU/s1600/IMAG1200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9aDaOm156DrtVb94l4BsKlE8oqfd9HguOt_aKIY_LUPJ6s_LNVPihMdL8CYSIEf4RPWSg1XVZ5JFF7MWq83nYCtnP3RIluDwgEdboc-wYX8CA-VLJvImfHtSvGg3p39EG7RreV4tmKU/s400/IMAG1200.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DoIuRttrmxL-vNGjJITnDnUp_8KhoSuLDgkFSwUV_zZqcR_BcylU_aaU5UIPM6xWvOB1gBBhyphenhyphenEBaynRawU6WXrZZu8H5o1FPEBJKvreUcUGINPGiFPTnrOKnaNJsJG9JVhmh8275J_4/s1600/IMAG1202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DoIuRttrmxL-vNGjJITnDnUp_8KhoSuLDgkFSwUV_zZqcR_BcylU_aaU5UIPM6xWvOB1gBBhyphenhyphenEBaynRawU6WXrZZu8H5o1FPEBJKvreUcUGINPGiFPTnrOKnaNJsJG9JVhmh8275J_4/s400/IMAG1202.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHX4RjpJBR6aP_qtNg5FtUh_6J5M8QM-ggQ-4tiIQg_kFGrKHdECL2vlUzlZBC4FTrZZ-aeGb2iSZvamzZbZCnnFFMuuoHVXH0hH1sSDFzwnKYQOXGI28Z_rD7molYsQ6gUPVNymwC7Q/s1600/IMAG1227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHX4RjpJBR6aP_qtNg5FtUh_6J5M8QM-ggQ-4tiIQg_kFGrKHdECL2vlUzlZBC4FTrZZ-aeGb2iSZvamzZbZCnnFFMuuoHVXH0hH1sSDFzwnKYQOXGI28Z_rD7molYsQ6gUPVNymwC7Q/s400/IMAG1227.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdzjQwixyi0DYlRyiZ665eIygGB_QJW7WIjeW8aY5x-JMt0ZjT6qPvAcZT30D6oRkshSOKbEd5KWYa7MfrNU-tcwVM6Xwmb47-x_zlqLgEw6CiDNJaHiBZvXUevXPIsvq_fHUv-kzswk/s1600/IMAG1229.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdzjQwixyi0DYlRyiZ665eIygGB_QJW7WIjeW8aY5x-JMt0ZjT6qPvAcZT30D6oRkshSOKbEd5KWYa7MfrNU-tcwVM6Xwmb47-x_zlqLgEw6CiDNJaHiBZvXUevXPIsvq_fHUv-kzswk/s320/IMAG1229.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
We visited quaint towns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioHdtug5yhs5IZeKKjE4t6wDs4fwd_-BeX5GHHyDVO7ujXNCFp3E1T74y0NAtEYTC3tbo3bbs99ZQFl1w3Geae0pdIs22a2PvcgGnW5OLkoIs5nMrUgzEgRZ5BhTZOQ86Q_jnY-FILeA/s1600/IMAG1263_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioHdtug5yhs5IZeKKjE4t6wDs4fwd_-BeX5GHHyDVO7ujXNCFp3E1T74y0NAtEYTC3tbo3bbs99ZQFl1w3Geae0pdIs22a2PvcgGnW5OLkoIs5nMrUgzEgRZ5BhTZOQ86Q_jnY-FILeA/s400/IMAG1263_1.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PUUGyPYP9tnu1q1yLA0wDPoR1l8P63aQefscStUYCwtHpibbbVC-N8r2Bg8DMPHGq7DQw6SDQYdATjp6Pr7wWHbWL0vBt_Na9-JQ8sq-cYW8Jj1ZXSwGyhndwSz1KS2CgcsU7baHle8/s1600/IMAG1262_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7PUUGyPYP9tnu1q1yLA0wDPoR1l8P63aQefscStUYCwtHpibbbVC-N8r2Bg8DMPHGq7DQw6SDQYdATjp6Pr7wWHbWL0vBt_Na9-JQ8sq-cYW8Jj1ZXSwGyhndwSz1KS2CgcsU7baHle8/s400/IMAG1262_1.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdGPHU1-Yo6wb4Cfay4YH-z3ya9yUasAxF7gH0rhAHZmbpkNUPFifuep-moZo2ovT-P2i5RSKw92haBWaqTkCq5p1_OYtbzn8V6DqNwUQpsRgn4ow2m14FM81VseKE-MMSCQrmsDzR6s/s1600/IMAG1261_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDdGPHU1-Yo6wb4Cfay4YH-z3ya9yUasAxF7gH0rhAHZmbpkNUPFifuep-moZo2ovT-P2i5RSKw92haBWaqTkCq5p1_OYtbzn8V6DqNwUQpsRgn4ow2m14FM81VseKE-MMSCQrmsDzR6s/s400/IMAG1261_1.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr_W3Kcn01ZXCRvK2DZx6gFyMSLmni2Db6yNVDWphvT5h6YboNvhhyphenhyphen9osNEqrpVVKfYhoLu2jAx7c9ICWo5Y8mVRJsiv0Zn6l4xnrortUB8Gu4u8pzYtMRzQ7NzNtRNvZltQHmeyQB4E/s1600/IMAG0741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXr_W3Kcn01ZXCRvK2DZx6gFyMSLmni2Db6yNVDWphvT5h6YboNvhhyphenhyphen9osNEqrpVVKfYhoLu2jAx7c9ICWo5Y8mVRJsiv0Zn6l4xnrortUB8Gu4u8pzYtMRzQ7NzNtRNvZltQHmeyQB4E/s400/IMAG0741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We also; sat in a lot of traffic, fought for parking, paid crazy prices to park at the beach ($20 a day!?!), and spent way too much money. Thank you New England, you are beautiful...but I must admit, when we drove away I felt some tightness relieving in my chest. Too many people, too much hustle and bustle...I'm not sure where people come from that this would be a place to relax! It took me a few days to relax FROM our trip!<br />
<br />
If we had more time, we would have headed further up the coast towards Bar Harbor, and then onto Eastport. They were calling my name more...less people, more nature. Hopefully next year...but for now, we are headed West. (We made a promise to a little girl, and it must be kept.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-76600221094120997352016-08-03T07:37:00.001-07:002016-08-03T07:38:52.471-07:00Changing what you love.<br />
We knew that the next phase in our lives, after traveling, would be to settle down and start a farm. This is something the four of us have been planning for the last 3 years, and hasn't changed in the slightest. We didn't really know where we wanted to live, and since we're planning on staying (at least mostly) retired, we need a place that has; low taxes, low real estate prices, gorgeous landscape, moderate climate and relaxed homeschool laws.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1uqpvy8SP-4Cz_gtgQLpwUVLmz1LMG8rGdi89M2sUgKPSaCqyJpxe_dA1hXY6PhT8_seol7B6-ePGWg3oYW8S_BMkmjcDh1XMlwmDFqEgRZHIcndi-7sRolglTEllCz_SEt80jqHZJs/s1600/IMAG0901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1uqpvy8SP-4Cz_gtgQLpwUVLmz1LMG8rGdi89M2sUgKPSaCqyJpxe_dA1hXY6PhT8_seol7B6-ePGWg3oYW8S_BMkmjcDh1XMlwmDFqEgRZHIcndi-7sRolglTEllCz_SEt80jqHZJs/s400/IMAG0901.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Once you cross reference all these things, there aren't a ton of places that are left...which is good, because it pointed the way to the Blue Ridge. We fell in love with the area, and found a house we were ready to buy. Pre-civil war farmhouse on the river with 7 acres of woods and a barn. It was AMAZING. It was in our price range.<br />
<br />
And...an offer, <i>from someone else,</i> got accepted on the day we were ready to put in an offer.<br />
<br />
It was a blow that we're still recovering from a little bit.<br />
<br />
But I learned something from this, something that is changing how we look at properties now. I think we loved it TOO much. At first, that seemed like a good thing. But in the end I think it blinded us to a few things. Because we loved it so much, we were making compromises that we didn't want to make. It was a big house. Beautiful, yes...but big. <i>We said we didn't want a big house.</i><br />
<br />
Plus, it was in a larger city then we wanted, and it didn't have a definitive central community feel to it. It felt scattered...it felt impersonal. Too much shopping, too many chain stores and restaurants. <i>We said we wanted a small community, with a personal feel.</i><br />
<br />
It was on a busy road. Granted, there was property and it was on a river...but the house itself was near a busy road that you could hear all day long. <i>We said we wanted to be far enough into the country that you don't hear traffic.</i><br />
<br />
Ideally, you want to love your house, right? But what if you love it so much that you are willing to compromise your ideals? What if you feel tied to it? What if it keeps you from doing other things you want to do? After giving it some serious thought I realized, I don't want something I love SO MUCH that I feel like I can't let it go.<br />
<br />
Because life changes, and I want to be able to change with it.<br />
<br />
AND, it was stressing us out.<br />
<br />
Oh my goodness, haven't we learned <b>anything</b>?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp8awEEfvWmO6p4vCr2iK49x7HdJ0FtHYZZVSzOR0FVCK6W5ukL4QZMs12vJgfLY9r-mHg5vsc1FUY3_givuZj4Rlhq3KpGjc6FSxlTVMr1ROoL04PUT8zwIviLeoR1JI2s6qenEZQzk/s1600/IMAG0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp8awEEfvWmO6p4vCr2iK49x7HdJ0FtHYZZVSzOR0FVCK6W5ukL4QZMs12vJgfLY9r-mHg5vsc1FUY3_givuZj4Rlhq3KpGjc6FSxlTVMr1ROoL04PUT8zwIviLeoR1JI2s6qenEZQzk/s400/IMAG0902.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So I am taking this as a reminder to not let it happen again.<br />
<br />
To stay the course.<br />
<br />
To travel more.<br />
<br />
To know that when we find something<i> it should not make us compromise our values. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
<i><br /></i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-72286391192812293082016-07-12T12:03:00.000-07:002016-07-12T12:03:05.174-07:00Where on earth have we been?<br />
Sorry, I forgot to post...for 3 months.<br />
<br />
I didn't REALLY forget.<br />
<br />
I got wrapped up in other things.<br />
<br />
Sound familiar?<br />
<br />
Even in a life where we don't work, don't have obligations, appointments or expectations...sometimes you just get don't get stuff done.<br />
<br />
Strange. It feels like we did this, in part, to have the time for anything we wanted. But, lately I feel like we don't have time for anything! Obviously that isn't true, I mean, jeez...we travel full time. We HAVE time. But somehow (just like regular life) time just gets away from you.<br />
<br />
So here's the run down...<br />
<br />
Most of May was spent looking at real estate in Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky. We saw places we liked, places we loved, and places SO frightening that we're trying to forget them! We fell in love with a few, and were even ready to buy. Unfortunately, the two we wanted sold right as we were ready to start making offers. Sigh.<br />
<br />
So, we decided to take a break.<br />
<br />
We went to...<br />
<br />
Gettysburg<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmf_f4ON12ef45tvSVcULlnYmADL7kQKqogVlp7_rkvjKocxa-xkrrl8MHiZXfUyQaAm3tAc2CaeYi4VkPzKDnhwvoOTugLU50CEuSmXTKiMv743B5KLLaTNET8X_NMcUCbtpZOFyjPM/s1600/IMAG0491.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghmf_f4ON12ef45tvSVcULlnYmADL7kQKqogVlp7_rkvjKocxa-xkrrl8MHiZXfUyQaAm3tAc2CaeYi4VkPzKDnhwvoOTugLU50CEuSmXTKiMv743B5KLLaTNET8X_NMcUCbtpZOFyjPM/s400/IMAG0491.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Climbing the rocks at Little Round Top</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipow1IYu8rrUw-mlnDnwMGHliE5k-i5SW3UStceunVr_l4jHP9kNmTce8b1W2_BO-TMMYqNb6y12CpIROCSw50nMK6sfJgyFRYWxsuGf_Uo12V2TfKv5M1u84vowtW8bW9o-VZ7TVZ2uw/s1600/IMAG0493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipow1IYu8rrUw-mlnDnwMGHliE5k-i5SW3UStceunVr_l4jHP9kNmTce8b1W2_BO-TMMYqNb6y12CpIROCSw50nMK6sfJgyFRYWxsuGf_Uo12V2TfKv5M1u84vowtW8bW9o-VZ7TVZ2uw/s400/IMAG0493.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Bullet holes in the town from the battle.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSw2HRTKP35Y-SkKXlYoTuY8uMx916uIqX_aqilq1PRNzxC5alPPX6Mg8nYlB1SK_1tA2Z_J_bDL3NMEh8jiUslyw1Yrn_o1rZRUMRW3athyphenhyphenDHBvFWmoQLyYfk5czD9SNmBGKrm2Cztc/s1600/IMAG0496.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfSw2HRTKP35Y-SkKXlYoTuY8uMx916uIqX_aqilq1PRNzxC5alPPX6Mg8nYlB1SK_1tA2Z_J_bDL3NMEh8jiUslyw1Yrn_o1rZRUMRW3athyphenhyphenDHBvFWmoQLyYfk5czD9SNmBGKrm2Cztc/s400/IMAG0496.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Icecream. Cause, you gotta stop for homemade icecream.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7O5ekNJdggStBZ43-QBF9He6qPCl1gIYz6s4vffhIBmrpg-5fXsQ6KSGemot8xkWR_GEzwJ5zCCexmeQM1nGD7lyWGjMjkn1UUjwSqMOzi-Ozt_vjyy9ogOsABwf2BSod6avsJ1vyIE/s1600/IMAG0593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7O5ekNJdggStBZ43-QBF9He6qPCl1gIYz6s4vffhIBmrpg-5fXsQ6KSGemot8xkWR_GEzwJ5zCCexmeQM1nGD7lyWGjMjkn1UUjwSqMOzi-Ozt_vjyy9ogOsABwf2BSod6avsJ1vyIE/s400/IMAG0593.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yes, he is wearing an entire Union uniform, made lovingly by his grandma.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPz0pHK2O5lwrWgpLmVQxA5PmpAaM1p-7Of-0w2dYy8WKdygs2q1uioTP9szyH3gp-wG1xQp7-iGLW14BqAz2g1Yx40VyIcH73J0-Cj95zsq0Yhz5OM7cPlXrCklSs9y5uhod9YLKHW8/s1600/IMAG0598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoPz0pHK2O5lwrWgpLmVQxA5PmpAaM1p-7Of-0w2dYy8WKdygs2q1uioTP9szyH3gp-wG1xQp7-iGLW14BqAz2g1Yx40VyIcH73J0-Cj95zsq0Yhz5OM7cPlXrCklSs9y5uhod9YLKHW8/s400/IMAG0598.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQACkCuq3QoVcCNOJIas-THpvReRJWVOZQCSLscPwtIrT7MDF3lvOiRzALQpuG0W8pPlZwClGnEnYcMAb7iRP3weIme0SCfb-r_cK7GuewgQo4sCy3e8vyBG7UkI-CQ0wyX_XrHHDmFM/s1600/IMAG0604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQACkCuq3QoVcCNOJIas-THpvReRJWVOZQCSLscPwtIrT7MDF3lvOiRzALQpuG0W8pPlZwClGnEnYcMAb7iRP3weIme0SCfb-r_cK7GuewgQo4sCy3e8vyBG7UkI-CQ0wyX_XrHHDmFM/s400/IMAG0604.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cousins having fun at Devils Den.</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
Hershey, PA<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHXGcJJUdpbQaYqSn5iGXUptIAPoGk0S-eQLGLGLu1V7Yc_cYQbKxCOG_CtX0tOrEuj5hHX3wcg0phfw2As7ghUKWvb8lr1RrlgOUIflHMbXc_tKtNqANHxceTR9C3zz2CANMWCOPh-Q/s1600/IMAG0621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHXGcJJUdpbQaYqSn5iGXUptIAPoGk0S-eQLGLGLu1V7Yc_cYQbKxCOG_CtX0tOrEuj5hHX3wcg0phfw2As7ghUKWvb8lr1RrlgOUIflHMbXc_tKtNqANHxceTR9C3zz2CANMWCOPh-Q/s400/IMAG0621.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Gabe's graduation party, riding the rides at Koenobles.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijxmaBbyktExI1VNvwVInr3EyquaUwkAL4m2mPhDBX63vZpXNl3rBUu3QhqhkTG_gjiPYnR-2LOmgtVd7i-ZxeFErPm-AxQIBUohiZwlslJ0rgbcv4z4wVe8IEsZb8ewHO3hyphenhyphenKyqTrh4/s1600/IMAG0625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijxmaBbyktExI1VNvwVInr3EyquaUwkAL4m2mPhDBX63vZpXNl3rBUu3QhqhkTG_gjiPYnR-2LOmgtVd7i-ZxeFErPm-AxQIBUohiZwlslJ0rgbcv4z4wVe8IEsZb8ewHO3hyphenhyphenKyqTrh4/s400/IMAG0625.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpN_kl1DV5-XuaTJqViojv56rYNND9jOajKhkfaOWaNHbBgfVfIGFbxjg5LwJlteOQXYDKQILfga_Jx7Xc_nsg6WXgGNOnObc5fzaB4tHmqDEftoVfvwstN5rzn3xu0N5I-pFTtCSOzg/s1600/IMAG0626.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpN_kl1DV5-XuaTJqViojv56rYNND9jOajKhkfaOWaNHbBgfVfIGFbxjg5LwJlteOQXYDKQILfga_Jx7Xc_nsg6WXgGNOnObc5fzaB4tHmqDEftoVfvwstN5rzn3xu0N5I-pFTtCSOzg/s400/IMAG0626.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Dunkirk, NY<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziKweGSXTiniqnI1lTfb22WKva4hlRaVTRRodYY4QCQFF5XwEHC3HLGdJEOgHltn5up_h_5qPqb3FRNqR0SiJN9nVjhtfPGBxmLLX3srEho_gUfb1gXM1jPOoL4Qi7pGw_Vst-951SjE/s1600/IMAG0648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziKweGSXTiniqnI1lTfb22WKva4hlRaVTRRodYY4QCQFF5XwEHC3HLGdJEOgHltn5up_h_5qPqb3FRNqR0SiJN9nVjhtfPGBxmLLX3srEho_gUfb1gXM1jPOoL4Qi7pGw_Vst-951SjE/s400/IMAG0648.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Panama Rocks, western New Yorks best kept secret! Climb, explore, and be free!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tq7MgwteA9TbSoRjmHRKHgFYlJcjhykCRbWlJvzSjBuz6CpWMhk3OPJjP9be9wemRJuD_RIBeeimVyFgTXoou7aX69IczjQC2KvTT76YyvqEIzQX8eAK2wFCQfuji7ZSHdisDbXDJNk/s1600/IMAG0639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5tq7MgwteA9TbSoRjmHRKHgFYlJcjhykCRbWlJvzSjBuz6CpWMhk3OPJjP9be9wemRJuD_RIBeeimVyFgTXoou7aX69IczjQC2KvTT76YyvqEIzQX8eAK2wFCQfuji7ZSHdisDbXDJNk/s400/IMAG0639.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We had so much getting lost, and then found at Panama Rocks!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_A5XsMHUGfy4O4ses7u0HYBhkky1la7Jww_enN4xwPc_Kc6jfPNnVk8sN6uGpQUOWYegZdQAHe2lGZ0YPPwQeizQ_h7QP9dU9Nj3PCSOmDC07Iso-04PidgmL61PGdbEzYTdi0N3Q50/s1600/IMAG0649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_A5XsMHUGfy4O4ses7u0HYBhkky1la7Jww_enN4xwPc_Kc6jfPNnVk8sN6uGpQUOWYegZdQAHe2lGZ0YPPwQeizQ_h7QP9dU9Nj3PCSOmDC07Iso-04PidgmL61PGdbEzYTdi0N3Q50/s400/IMAG0649.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Dunkirk lighthouse museum. We had a great tour of the house, the lighthouse and the grounds.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4IC0zZY0qfVCWnw_CEvhDES1Z6WacpsLzQI0knrIDL0AAWGU2ccpln0s_8VmuAFWbo905h6-noq6xwB7M3o-f_qsOHlxmbywPCQWu_SzL-HWP0LT-dKxVyR7K27NxBdSqzTHblAF8tY/s1600/IMAG0665.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4IC0zZY0qfVCWnw_CEvhDES1Z6WacpsLzQI0knrIDL0AAWGU2ccpln0s_8VmuAFWbo905h6-noq6xwB7M3o-f_qsOHlxmbywPCQWu_SzL-HWP0LT-dKxVyR7K27NxBdSqzTHblAF8tY/s400/IMAG0665.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Treasure hunting in the woods.Laurel found an antique bottle of "Kidney Cure" from the 1800s!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M6-UjdkKmrGZWbWROJW8_uSNCfVUMqEG6p-CH6K4jJb9kiTq_IYQPmIKu6kwN18azG2cIbU2ouCwJ97PgiQnJJ-a4N-5G4jGDR9ZS3n7mH3bM3-b6GpyKd7VUNU-iD_9s5bmxK0BhqU/s1600/IMAG1040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M6-UjdkKmrGZWbWROJW8_uSNCfVUMqEG6p-CH6K4jJb9kiTq_IYQPmIKu6kwN18azG2cIbU2ouCwJ97PgiQnJJ-a4N-5G4jGDR9ZS3n7mH3bM3-b6GpyKd7VUNU-iD_9s5bmxK0BhqU/s320/IMAG1040.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Riding in grandpa's Model A.</span></i></div>
<br />
New York City<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzlIbzWpuSp-CCvJYBCHjig1cxL6UWgenluE5aNN-4sXSO0P596lTdQMXM_GzdmteSmup8UGMpKi2c8GANANSycSC-IsWe4641cc7gbYl-ML97pUVwGmA00_93v1xoQ2dzwXF9xUcQo/s1600/IMAG0683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWCzlIbzWpuSp-CCvJYBCHjig1cxL6UWgenluE5aNN-4sXSO0P596lTdQMXM_GzdmteSmup8UGMpKi2c8GANANSycSC-IsWe4641cc7gbYl-ML97pUVwGmA00_93v1xoQ2dzwXF9xUcQo/s400/IMAG0683.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Firefighters Memorial at the WTC. As a firemfighter's wife, </span></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">this especially hit home.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAkboG5BaRAYSPmRisQOAFHG5tAupOIYF1W2HMmLyrwlwU-sLF-3kOU81bmTPBVWFrd-5RqbLXQiLTY3r7Q59e4GElhX-b-5UgBWaYZ_jr-VICw8zdxlE7sIUk8L-Ensi5IQRikHoseU/s1600/IMAG0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAkboG5BaRAYSPmRisQOAFHG5tAupOIYF1W2HMmLyrwlwU-sLF-3kOU81bmTPBVWFrd-5RqbLXQiLTY3r7Q59e4GElhX-b-5UgBWaYZ_jr-VICw8zdxlE7sIUk8L-Ensi5IQRikHoseU/s400/IMAG0685.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The WTC memorials are really quite a sight. I was surprised how much they </span></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">effected me. Something about the names all printed out, and the way the water fell once, </span></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">and then again. It was really beautiful.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWBS8RWxCoPZnaf5d3WFoN0e4ojgxk4Hr6IJ9_aK5-Vb9LSOfNY95F4j1FE-wBgHokPOZqwJQ5vNp1iQj3h9H5-vWeKI1gBYbskRyR3x9JIFkRFqceZrL1CGnyRaibBCM8FIL3rROxLc/s1600/IMAG0692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJWBS8RWxCoPZnaf5d3WFoN0e4ojgxk4Hr6IJ9_aK5-Vb9LSOfNY95F4j1FE-wBgHokPOZqwJQ5vNp1iQj3h9H5-vWeKI1gBYbskRyR3x9JIFkRFqceZrL1CGnyRaibBCM8FIL3rROxLc/s400/IMAG0692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Chinatown was a big treat for the kids. They really wanted to see the </span></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">roasted ducks hanging in the windows.</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwdssWkfIIsezBLl1GSwHmbx-RJHaisnLe4nhOrNHoXsoNw1BpQ8b09wscIT3T7AzEY8WBoAWN2wdcwXCTIh1F9OFC2uoJLCJqUR0LqNa-U5VeqyJQwn7_82GAs_Are4osPxGx59f3Qc/s1600/IMAG0701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwdssWkfIIsezBLl1GSwHmbx-RJHaisnLe4nhOrNHoXsoNw1BpQ8b09wscIT3T7AzEY8WBoAWN2wdcwXCTIh1F9OFC2uoJLCJqUR0LqNa-U5VeqyJQwn7_82GAs_Are4osPxGx59f3Qc/s400/IMAG0701.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">American Natural History Museum, this place was a ZOO!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocrSBnR9MEbDve8-lKmnHEWyPD3bF7g6tVaGx8vVDiO4pwsAlXABOVFZjV3MqwYMNVPJs48XctBa2NNyRBwe6ali_xa9335W_xSjCNhPj4wcd1XRHByBwEROPTnp5faUzvArk-nPaTJM/s1600/IMAG0702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocrSBnR9MEbDve8-lKmnHEWyPD3bF7g6tVaGx8vVDiO4pwsAlXABOVFZjV3MqwYMNVPJs48XctBa2NNyRBwe6ali_xa9335W_xSjCNhPj4wcd1XRHByBwEROPTnp5faUzvArk-nPaTJM/s400/IMAG0702.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Little raptor baby. So precious.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2BCeqCYN5jKoUxlMIoCZ4OwlSZjGThRwEwTiGXc1S0owiSCi14D47jvWGNnJdJXFtB5ITly6zk9BhmbfaPd_KkK18cP7hgnVw2xcJ5czqAoCj5WmWj7GZXw7ONYLEClcpn2QlC3zXSE/s1600/IMAG1071.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv2BCeqCYN5jKoUxlMIoCZ4OwlSZjGThRwEwTiGXc1S0owiSCi14D47jvWGNnJdJXFtB5ITly6zk9BhmbfaPd_KkK18cP7hgnVw2xcJ5czqAoCj5WmWj7GZXw7ONYLEClcpn2QlC3zXSE/s320/IMAG1071.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central Park is a perfect place to rest from all the walking!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM4V_eUZnMXIfLn3dkRbfwV6Y-yN7V2NoJ5WLrelHBEllCP1qL-GukRdSzlG1cU3_HLGaCVO4NzPtcTNv0vYL2PAjPwKfd1jgIylZav2zr2eKTVCG_EHL2MG4zFwBP_-MtVlqsJRe-tE/s1600/IMAG0699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM4V_eUZnMXIfLn3dkRbfwV6Y-yN7V2NoJ5WLrelHBEllCP1qL-GukRdSzlG1cU3_HLGaCVO4NzPtcTNv0vYL2PAjPwKfd1jgIylZav2zr2eKTVCG_EHL2MG4zFwBP_-MtVlqsJRe-tE/s400/IMAG0699.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just a little statue riding in Central Park.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyugajOrjtvA3NAb0Ce-uuX0lpyHRZS3T_Zz3sDzPPgxuTZYnAyS9UY865wjAoQs9XRwT8BIEktKCSE1zs4lAwt_lgd6K-m6Us_QDEjTlKYRKzNfeEoINHFGiyqAT-7ry7Ko0LVdSTihI/s1600/IMAG1068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyugajOrjtvA3NAb0Ce-uuX0lpyHRZS3T_Zz3sDzPPgxuTZYnAyS9UY865wjAoQs9XRwT8BIEktKCSE1zs4lAwt_lgd6K-m6Us_QDEjTlKYRKzNfeEoINHFGiyqAT-7ry7Ko0LVdSTihI/s400/IMAG1068.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Central Park Zoo, and our new favorite sea lion.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fgMx3SMEwpu2hH9YfhnmpsYrgPBZN_m29lsXvwQ4Vtqc-g8RLLjubb4hhR9zgroHpilspnnhnZAUUDIkOf54grqou0s0ZLAZykZ4p6JDIdfGJKfyA4fyKeXIhPO3QTNu3H1iTdoADb0/s1600/IMAG1060.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fgMx3SMEwpu2hH9YfhnmpsYrgPBZN_m29lsXvwQ4Vtqc-g8RLLjubb4hhR9zgroHpilspnnhnZAUUDIkOf54grqou0s0ZLAZykZ4p6JDIdfGJKfyA4fyKeXIhPO3QTNu3H1iTdoADb0/s320/IMAG1060.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Train ride back from NYC. It was sad to say goodbye, but we had a blast.</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-12246761783605663582016-05-02T10:00:00.000-07:002016-05-02T10:00:16.117-07:00Southwest Virgina, who knew?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi81Xb-ihbjoL8qClIp1kPA-mQRlz9GFvlbi_BfkUc4FyH6kSb5cCmIcp_l6vOragMJ37-t8iEPZzyG0hYHx3acSafYLVph6W6YSjjHGC59fym2rR7nEfjnLy7o7F-TMmJw3PDE4yyUfE/s1600/IMAG0814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi81Xb-ihbjoL8qClIp1kPA-mQRlz9GFvlbi_BfkUc4FyH6kSb5cCmIcp_l6vOragMJ37-t8iEPZzyG0hYHx3acSafYLVph6W6YSjjHGC59fym2rR7nEfjnLy7o7F-TMmJw3PDE4yyUfE/s400/IMAG0814.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have to say, I am a little smitten with Southwest VA. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho77fFRDTctHFyeHy9X-LT8lfEciqnomMO2O80RdDA_jQqJw0VFZabXFKhsiLKOEqjZflIi3Xl0uc5BP0PfpTnbO2URzR3p3AYR_vVBovWg5DWYE9BBKbTQAc1M0taoqAlGQDmlgfhxrs/s1600/IMAG0805.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho77fFRDTctHFyeHy9X-LT8lfEciqnomMO2O80RdDA_jQqJw0VFZabXFKhsiLKOEqjZflIi3Xl0uc5BP0PfpTnbO2URzR3p3AYR_vVBovWg5DWYE9BBKbTQAc1M0taoqAlGQDmlgfhxrs/s400/IMAG0805.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>It's beautiful.</i></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM2UyMKtmU5Gn_LlQSsCt2aRtD8R0VMp3DOvmQhcjz1-eZxcdpETFydoyP8hJLBgo9JZESCuEl9e3B8Ag_aR2K2xpwnrg_bg1EQIJHP4a3FN3HM2xITa5XO4cbaKz0NCdTGl7a7JR6MQ/s1600/IMAG0817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXM2UyMKtmU5Gn_LlQSsCt2aRtD8R0VMp3DOvmQhcjz1-eZxcdpETFydoyP8hJLBgo9JZESCuEl9e3B8Ag_aR2K2xpwnrg_bg1EQIJHP4a3FN3HM2xITa5XO4cbaKz0NCdTGl7a7JR6MQ/s400/IMAG0817.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>It's quirky.</i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HIRSzMm60x-Q_UaXoXnEvqb4Wd34kqvUfWHyCBkWfJ5Y0u9-57LEeth4_srxIxb58PQavRgNiw5vYeKHCGS_q_tQqc3Zk7yFuOUHGGjgR8sql44W1Gr5NYA1npzCRekaSjUw45iGwPg/s1600/IMAG0853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_HIRSzMm60x-Q_UaXoXnEvqb4Wd34kqvUfWHyCBkWfJ5Y0u9-57LEeth4_srxIxb58PQavRgNiw5vYeKHCGS_q_tQqc3Zk7yFuOUHGGjgR8sql44W1Gr5NYA1npzCRekaSjUw45iGwPg/s400/IMAG0853.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>The homes (with land!) are affordable.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">Having spent a good portion of my life in Northern VA/Washington DC I thought I knew Virginia. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>(Spoiler- I was wrong)</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We have spent the last 11 days in Natural Tunnel State Park. We were fortunate enough to be here during two different events; one being an 18th century re-enactment weekend and the other being a Children's Fishing Derby (with archery and target practice) put on by the wildlife troopers. I figured we'd hit up the Muster Fair for a little while and then move onto the Fishing Derby. (I mean, come on...grown men dressed up like frontiersmen, pretending like they are REALLY in the 1700s?) </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W0m9ciokuDVtsizGslWfJyEs4cakXmSaMKgaJ89Bu5i1skb-EfBg2S8k1hrv17hyA_NhukQ18lNRVbCe_TLfiVyHZ2dVbzzJcZQBtpqYeTHaF463Lt81FoXJYB751fo7KVLz0eYSlQg/s1600/IMAG0416.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4W0m9ciokuDVtsizGslWfJyEs4cakXmSaMKgaJ89Bu5i1skb-EfBg2S8k1hrv17hyA_NhukQ18lNRVbCe_TLfiVyHZ2dVbzzJcZQBtpqYeTHaF463Lt81FoXJYB751fo7KVLz0eYSlQg/s400/IMAG0416.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Man oh man was I wrong. We stayed ALL day. This is one of those events that you really have to engage with each person in order to learn from them...so we set ourselves the task of doing just that. I talked to...gulp...to strangers. Not just strangers, <i>but strangers in costumes</i>. Not just strangers in costumes, <i>but strangers in costumes pretending like they really were from the 18th century</i>. And you know what? I learned a lot. I learned how to turn flax into linen, how to spin wool, how to make lye soap, tan a hide, basic blacksmithing...and as an added bonus we learned to speak some basic Cherokee and got to hear some awesome Cherokee and frontier lore. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KtXknBmpZKVV6YAFc8PkenUwPOiyxP4pxGIrJICzYIP4hjZkF_8v-lSEcmeUWEL3VszcK4jPTNlo2J_SpgGtRD5r1d6jnApKqlhWixkakLAfVSTsxkJOH7O9llBsmKkkcsI_cJfZvLY/s1600/IMAG0406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KtXknBmpZKVV6YAFc8PkenUwPOiyxP4pxGIrJICzYIP4hjZkF_8v-lSEcmeUWEL3VszcK4jPTNlo2J_SpgGtRD5r1d6jnApKqlhWixkakLAfVSTsxkJOH7O9llBsmKkkcsI_cJfZvLY/s400/IMAG0406.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The people were so willing to let the kids participate.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJF9T7BSLI0KvIrCKjlIAT56YxBawy7bgaPanU0QYyfolHs3Wd11YUs-WDpSN6w0OUhTcaWdlc99bayqLnlRrMITDL6sQJHOFSdyP-F98EFjMQ5f04KGAiKitd60G5r8NQv443gvG2_Ww/s1600/IMAG0409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJF9T7BSLI0KvIrCKjlIAT56YxBawy7bgaPanU0QYyfolHs3Wd11YUs-WDpSN6w0OUhTcaWdlc99bayqLnlRrMITDL6sQJHOFSdyP-F98EFjMQ5f04KGAiKitd60G5r8NQv443gvG2_Ww/s400/IMAG0409.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Laurel looks happy...but really she was petrified, especially </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">when the horse jumped over a log!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxde3RvRuQ_DsRjy4hBDfGrzrmAAqGe5gdyHVlfXAiDdLKXXdQCQaRBuNkjIc0NukGVCZ2vJbjIQ_-8RcpPGitSZvj9Oy02X2MmdI4YXwItaVnaV5Ndj11-vThIXNLyuHVV12g0kbt8NU/s1600/IMAG0411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxde3RvRuQ_DsRjy4hBDfGrzrmAAqGe5gdyHVlfXAiDdLKXXdQCQaRBuNkjIc0NukGVCZ2vJbjIQ_-8RcpPGitSZvj9Oy02X2MmdI4YXwItaVnaV5Ndj11-vThIXNLyuHVV12g0kbt8NU/s400/IMAG0411.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Us watching an old fashioned horse race.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We spent so many hours talking and interacting with all these guys that we decided to go to their church service the next morning too. It was a little awkward, as you can imagine...but also very cool. One of the guys was an amazing musician and singer, he pulled out no less than three instruments during the service, and gave every old church hymn an appalachian twist. </div>
<br />
Eventually we did make it over to the fishing derby, with just enough time for Luke to hit bulls-eyes with the bow and the BB gun...<i>I guess being obsessively into a million hobbies pays off sometimes</i>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Zgi9SiDiAkC3CY_iFkMhFI5Aoof7rVwj0N1tRHUmNDL4Li8etHRa20hBC4znzzFubTlmLEgE_-O_OdLCXYeGytZrjkH1pCfuWJ2c0MwsVVqDiJtmfINw62lqFxhyphenhyphena1EkY8NCtAhwLI/s1600/IMAG0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7-Zgi9SiDiAkC3CY_iFkMhFI5Aoof7rVwj0N1tRHUmNDL4Li8etHRa20hBC4znzzFubTlmLEgE_-O_OdLCXYeGytZrjkH1pCfuWJ2c0MwsVVqDiJtmfINw62lqFxhyphenhyphena1EkY8NCtAhwLI/s400/IMAG0422.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yiDYVRgUg8oLsIiqxmXDxnzyNhkSKevD20SwfzWQlFC-xDlowPBt6vNmEJiT164dljSZeEIwT7vyFpeFOdLiAFfFwJRHIa7ki2c0UzYEd5zntDl_JBino2De0eneMJyTuhLQiY6pVVo/s1600/IMAG0417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yiDYVRgUg8oLsIiqxmXDxnzyNhkSKevD20SwfzWQlFC-xDlowPBt6vNmEJiT164dljSZeEIwT7vyFpeFOdLiAFfFwJRHIa7ki2c0UzYEd5zntDl_JBino2De0eneMJyTuhLQiY6pVVo/s400/IMAG0417.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerwvP-AVbNEmgjqGIk1WXqMiaIpPyHyKX49u2rMUJZeTIrGDNbOzSY7ZMB9J9uPMdzrziWp1CZ-Oc5nQgjyydHm_tgaxu7Qpr5RIRCXUXVqqqeqkMdyYycJ5FR9mYTDa51XaCp5AE-fg/s1600/IMAG0868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjerwvP-AVbNEmgjqGIk1WXqMiaIpPyHyKX49u2rMUJZeTIrGDNbOzSY7ZMB9J9uPMdzrziWp1CZ-Oc5nQgjyydHm_tgaxu7Qpr5RIRCXUXVqqqeqkMdyYycJ5FR9mYTDa51XaCp5AE-fg/s400/IMAG0868.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO14bl-kcTngv7nXupbaiHYHNGuaDrRRxh1SHRCTUEd15zUZVKPMn7XXuts9LrBUxDVS82MKyx3MIadTFNlIs8sWNeC0VpiFpidpExakyWSYZC8Yn5JGm8zi2e52P8abMaTnVMqa9oiT4/s1600/IMAG0875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO14bl-kcTngv7nXupbaiHYHNGuaDrRRxh1SHRCTUEd15zUZVKPMn7XXuts9LrBUxDVS82MKyx3MIadTFNlIs8sWNeC0VpiFpidpExakyWSYZC8Yn5JGm8zi2e52P8abMaTnVMqa9oiT4/s400/IMAG0875.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Besides looking at a whole bunch of properties, and falling in love with two, we also had time to visit some of the local towns, catch up on school work, hike, bike and do some crafting. Luke seems to be in his element here, he would wear his coon skin cap more...but it's hot. He's been inspired by the music, the crafts and the history all around us. He's started whittling whenever he gets the chance, and now he wants to build his own blacksmith shop. (He tried to convince us that he could start right away using the fire ring and our regular hammer...thankfully we convinced him that this was not a good idea.) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Southwest VA...who knew?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-51585557432076769712016-04-19T11:14:00.000-07:002016-04-28T05:01:17.526-07:00Homestead Hunting<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrPiRQ8TnrhyphenhypheneeureChTTAgCS3Xm-1NJKEU0l4C64HkgPe-kpoMJntF4A-vNwZ1o5pqWF8QJ0kpjHfdiVycEeTK99VQbOQR_GKznRBd2L7jwwd3cz1l1Wd3kq7TxU51vCzY0O3gYzHvM/s1600/IMAG0624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnrPiRQ8TnrhyphenhypheneeureChTTAgCS3Xm-1NJKEU0l4C64HkgPe-kpoMJntF4A-vNwZ1o5pqWF8QJ0kpjHfdiVycEeTK99VQbOQR_GKznRBd2L7jwwd3cz1l1Wd3kq7TxU51vCzY0O3gYzHvM/s640/IMAG0624.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Part of the purpose of this travel year is to find our homestead. It's a big undertaking to try and find the place where you want to finish raising your kids, and put down roots. Usually you just stay where you are, or move for a job...the idea of having the whole country (or whole world) to find the place that feels like home...well, like I said, it's a big undertaking.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivntEY2iv_8mpJxNjRLTdGpcXhHRbrvP24oPLFUoq4ry0l38AR0EofCi6ptaGjkUeuStIdlyNtq10WEdNU9_7ekSnTdhdcH7LnhnNMM5x_Tds-d-ZpqBUpac8NAFQ7UaWcTzkCq5gM3es/s1600/IMAG0622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivntEY2iv_8mpJxNjRLTdGpcXhHRbrvP24oPLFUoq4ry0l38AR0EofCi6ptaGjkUeuStIdlyNtq10WEdNU9_7ekSnTdhdcH7LnhnNMM5x_Tds-d-ZpqBUpac8NAFQ7UaWcTzkCq5gM3es/s400/IMAG0622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We started with a couple of nationwide searches, and over time we found a large swath in Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky that seemed to suit our needs. The prices were good, the acreage was large, the farmhouses are adorable and there are usually barns and other outbuildings. Sometimes there are creeks, waterfalls, caves and other hidden treasures. (This is what makes searching for property so much fun!) </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfxCLxxDgdwVCaK0d3BwV7BzcmeWzd0iDtX0mT5wQIJYoZ8N5KthvLwVBOPN-7PYZcsJZcL5Rd7UW2Rk0qyDRcr5q9weIm2DW206VZKRKbM4uaGObwobYM6ev_rl5K1KSx4q6LtGRcMI/s1600/IMAG0682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfxCLxxDgdwVCaK0d3BwV7BzcmeWzd0iDtX0mT5wQIJYoZ8N5KthvLwVBOPN-7PYZcsJZcL5Rd7UW2Rk0qyDRcr5q9weIm2DW206VZKRKbM4uaGObwobYM6ev_rl5K1KSx4q6LtGRcMI/s320/IMAG0682.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">One of the many covered fireplaces we've seen.</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's very different from looking for property in the city. Don't expect granite counter tops or seamless glass showers. This is not HGTV folks. Most of the properties we are looking at are from people who have passed away and the properties are being sold by their children and grandchildren. These are OLD homes with crooked floors, low ceilings, dead mice, holes in the roof...the good stuff. (Luke even found a collection of syringes on the floor...oh yeah!) These are old farmhouses that people put strange additions on, covered fire places with plywood, and carpeted over hardwood floors. Most of them don't have HVAC, some don't even have bathrooms! (Mmmmm...can't you just imagine the smell of a 100 year old outhouse?)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-yjzzSrEfgFro1VQw1xG0Egd075IFrBOJjcZDazRKfMJNh1aBzJq4i_R_2SUalarA0mG_uY0M9QFBWJW63HUQbHsHKtxEo9WdOQHJ7x6I9Xj9a9TNH3ZvI-i-tjtGqtLk3axvgkCKEI/s1600/IMAG0630.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7-yjzzSrEfgFro1VQw1xG0Egd075IFrBOJjcZDazRKfMJNh1aBzJq4i_R_2SUalarA0mG_uY0M9QFBWJW63HUQbHsHKtxEo9WdOQHJ7x6I9Xj9a9TNH3ZvI-i-tjtGqtLk3axvgkCKEI/s320/IMAG0630.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I wasn't kidding about the low ceilings!</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's like a treasure hunt! The kids found a creek with dozens of frogs that jumped in all at once, old tractors, antiques in the barn and so much more. Seriously, looking for property might be more fun than actually buying one. (Especially cause then we own it, and have to fix the wonky floors and janky ceilings!!)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXrAaKIPcQK0S-f4vneUaTuYIYO3rp0uExl9PVArbB15lg4r5Kx1HFQLePJRd-litFTDOZu6U9nSLMv0sIm96jZ-0WOSSqa8CnmThj9BWbYWxSIdqxSMmZHI5dh5BlpdTLsD4qb54BzM/s1600/IMAG0705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXrAaKIPcQK0S-f4vneUaTuYIYO3rp0uExl9PVArbB15lg4r5Kx1HFQLePJRd-litFTDOZu6U9nSLMv0sIm96jZ-0WOSSqa8CnmThj9BWbYWxSIdqxSMmZHI5dh5BlpdTLsD4qb54BzM/s400/IMAG0705.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We found one beautiful property where the painstakingly-built beautiful wood staircase got progressively shorter on the way up. It's as if you're Alice and on the way up the stairs you just start growing. In a new house you wouldn't stand for that, but in this 100 year old property, it's just plain charming. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsixaNHZZ_px3llnpEU9tErOS6pXS1jQANB9Ou4oisGniI9Z4ABGa-S3F1MwfDhti4RD4CTI1eU3AD2Ix6aCbV5awv07Ok6MbFxfc85e32mlKF3uWHnfDtHHOI6fSBuTtq3-1PUXiUjc/s1600/IMAG0668.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsixaNHZZ_px3llnpEU9tErOS6pXS1jQANB9Ou4oisGniI9Z4ABGa-S3F1MwfDhti4RD4CTI1eU3AD2Ix6aCbV5awv07Ok6MbFxfc85e32mlKF3uWHnfDtHHOI6fSBuTtq3-1PUXiUjc/s400/IMAG0668.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We have about 25 more properties to see over the next few weeks. So far we've worked with four real estate agents, all very different, and all great. It's been nice getting to talk to them, find out about them, the local area, and whatever else they'll talk about. One of our agents who was well into her 60s is an active hunter, and hopped fences with us without blinking an eye. Another told us about a wild beehive he relocated to his own farm, and wild ginseng he collects in the mountains. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Who knows when or where we'll find the right property, until then we are enjoying the process of learning and getting to know new areas. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4LzvUnhjTCYzXJ3LBaeoWIFOnmZ8YysC54khUdYElzklao09yCWb2Ii3UbmBXT86L4la6HqIOuJPO3-qHNOWLnl56puAkBIRrUIhmnX1j4Ez6Nahpgl0QBdOfDozNCCn8ribpqeTBeE/s1600/IMAG0581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg4LzvUnhjTCYzXJ3LBaeoWIFOnmZ8YysC54khUdYElzklao09yCWb2Ii3UbmBXT86L4la6HqIOuJPO3-qHNOWLnl56puAkBIRrUIhmnX1j4Ez6Nahpgl0QBdOfDozNCCn8ribpqeTBeE/s400/IMAG0581.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wTcNpXueQwSorl26ogPihL7WDsOuQCYSL3YO_V6RybVFyy4z__Lg6uxhYDDylvATpQtUtixIPtQr-roD7jaDeo5WL8KO98PI_L_eRwAfBj-N0L_VkKZapa3YKLBSUHkkAJxdHCWt9_k/s1600/IMAG0594.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wTcNpXueQwSorl26ogPihL7WDsOuQCYSL3YO_V6RybVFyy4z__Lg6uxhYDDylvATpQtUtixIPtQr-roD7jaDeo5WL8KO98PI_L_eRwAfBj-N0L_VkKZapa3YKLBSUHkkAJxdHCWt9_k/s400/IMAG0594.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BO4N9UvmV9ADRt5pScapnekhK-2_HHAh-Ru4wj3FCocySeACTWdyRNJvNIa7puFj6oH-Vf64NyT73KzUshAp-JFsn4JTXsjUSXZ2YfMe7LSjGyZNVI7nuAk2mQt2hC1-N6xN6dqR1es/s1600/IMAG0596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0BO4N9UvmV9ADRt5pScapnekhK-2_HHAh-Ru4wj3FCocySeACTWdyRNJvNIa7puFj6oH-Vf64NyT73KzUshAp-JFsn4JTXsjUSXZ2YfMe7LSjGyZNVI7nuAk2mQt2hC1-N6xN6dqR1es/s400/IMAG0596.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87qar_o1PABa9QG5fRFTsjM6T1m84fkZs17OtHF4eX7uKfyaUjlQa8rXsY2Legg-PlINZjm5E_RmLbw5EJ-VREGI3I03CD2qNwpjGhN459uqfCgs5L3wcHuFZ9sbqA8BfIiyz9lPYM_c/s1600/IMAG0605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg87qar_o1PABa9QG5fRFTsjM6T1m84fkZs17OtHF4eX7uKfyaUjlQa8rXsY2Legg-PlINZjm5E_RmLbw5EJ-VREGI3I03CD2qNwpjGhN459uqfCgs5L3wcHuFZ9sbqA8BfIiyz9lPYM_c/s400/IMAG0605.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>And in the meantime we'll just keep enjoying the ride.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-44410022832751732442016-03-02T08:24:00.000-08:002016-03-02T08:24:47.327-08:00Falling Waters State Park: Slowing Down, Savoring Little Moments<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
You'd think since we're traveling full time that it would be easy to remember to slow down and savor the little moments. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>That is sort of the point of doing this after all.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDJIryyKkB_D3KAm6EwepCeyZSABJa-5UI7nuKXsPa64X2hspt5cHGZFNG52tuy1jct5fbEmSVNjczWx_S06m9KDCJ-wnuNA7M0smBImOwbDGIHkiFhLE628HdvJrD3di1ktvtaFzg5A/s1600/IMAG0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUDJIryyKkB_D3KAm6EwepCeyZSABJa-5UI7nuKXsPa64X2hspt5cHGZFNG52tuy1jct5fbEmSVNjczWx_S06m9KDCJ-wnuNA7M0smBImOwbDGIHkiFhLE628HdvJrD3di1ktvtaFzg5A/s400/IMAG0234.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>The one and only attraction to see at Falling Waters, </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>a single waterfall falling into a sinkhole.</i></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You'd be amazed that it is just as easy to; waste time, lose yourself in technology, let time get away from you, get short with your kids, get snappy with your husband, let the dishes pile up, etc etc. Truth is, time can get away from you whether you're living a traditional lifestyle (house that's attached to the ground and whatnot), or a less conventional one (house that can float or fly away in any big storm). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For the first few months of our trip, I feel like I was letting time get away from me. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was still great, and we did some cool stuff...and by default we were spending more time together doing things that we normally don't get to do. But it took a while to find our groove. I feel like we're just barely getting in to it now, and we've been on the road for nearly 4 months now! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46jhyphenhyphen1xwdq4qozTXBJrXcsoKPjMk0MbmHaLxsaBMnKUxRaxk2qT8e4IMEIbn1nyHfSY-N1d8sOdCnsIQuWo6IMQHQtYiJ-xsDHYYJOPjiaXICE9WRAP3iXbris7o1bmYygum6Qb8kewg/s1600/IMAG0304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46jhyphenhyphen1xwdq4qozTXBJrXcsoKPjMk0MbmHaLxsaBMnKUxRaxk2qT8e4IMEIbn1nyHfSY-N1d8sOdCnsIQuWo6IMQHQtYiJ-xsDHYYJOPjiaXICE9WRAP3iXbris7o1bmYygum6Qb8kewg/s320/IMAG0304.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Luke's version of fishing, cast it in, and start sketching.</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY7OO6ssD8IMWuloaV8VKRTyPjshFe0Vo1bfNS1RFxcn3YpT3jAWuWi3Fln9BV0itOQ2PZ_NdCfYlC_zA531iQ8aNgUhypDgDLyuMAa4a5f6CSnb67X0ubzDcB65AvdD5zQK-gJ_xY4U/s1600/IMAG0310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJY7OO6ssD8IMWuloaV8VKRTyPjshFe0Vo1bfNS1RFxcn3YpT3jAWuWi3Fln9BV0itOQ2PZ_NdCfYlC_zA531iQ8aNgUhypDgDLyuMAa4a5f6CSnb67X0ubzDcB65AvdD5zQK-gJ_xY4U/s320/IMAG0310.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The finished sketches.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Sometimes you just need time in a quiet park, where there are no beaches, manatees, space shuttles...or anything else to run off and do. Sometimes you just need a place where you can bike and walk, hang out and talk, and remember that there is beauty in the everyday enjoyment of life.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZTnyL3ec6-R4sTlNUkuApLnRgniEhj7iEa-E_YdO38sxmGo3Uo1b3VFxncZvv8kP8N4_6U1VhB4EuoFitGBYrIh9kPZf0B-xjPQ31hBs4nVFXLnHoTq0OIXAVEdddA991CMT4xeojB0/s1600/IMAG0294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZTnyL3ec6-R4sTlNUkuApLnRgniEhj7iEa-E_YdO38sxmGo3Uo1b3VFxncZvv8kP8N4_6U1VhB4EuoFitGBYrIh9kPZf0B-xjPQ31hBs4nVFXLnHoTq0OIXAVEdddA991CMT4xeojB0/s320/IMAG0294.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Sometimes you just need to curl up with your Dad and take a nap. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(Please don't tell him I posted a picture of him in his underpants!)</i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
These aren't big things, and that's exactly the point. Life is rarely made up of big events...it's all the little ones that count. When I'm at the end I won't remember all the things I pinned, or read on Facebook or updated to Goodreads...but I will remember today. I will remember Orion shining bright in the sky above us while we ate our dinner under a star-lit sky, and giggling in the hammock with Luke, and pushing him on the swing in his bright red overalls. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KQ3blYlfyluN9GAkBZwe-TW6CS_aIGCBoe-zX0u_R1JEaEzkpQd5jxHg5rcxulaKvCIiJhcRPby3E7j5ovEV8iAQ0BdaDwWTrkCUs10DnF2H9eLwAAmXJge1IlXtYB4IXQOw6GHfqBc/s1600/IMAG0285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_KQ3blYlfyluN9GAkBZwe-TW6CS_aIGCBoe-zX0u_R1JEaEzkpQd5jxHg5rcxulaKvCIiJhcRPby3E7j5ovEV8iAQ0BdaDwWTrkCUs10DnF2H9eLwAAmXJge1IlXtYB4IXQOw6GHfqBc/s320/IMAG0285.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<br />
These are the moments to slow down and savor. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-85374854842372988712016-02-24T07:25:00.000-08:002016-02-24T13:25:58.519-08:00Florida Caverns State Park<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ic1NIDmHTfsmLPwpTuASZMR1rXhn3Sy8iupag_n6dlrL491WNTt3gL7RrEj4VjZI02vtXEsu1ySIlhKGimccRbuq7xCVmqZSzdWi4kVMuFTUXg_caIIiz4l6967AqpwgGRBSPaDgBAM/s1600/IMAG0241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ic1NIDmHTfsmLPwpTuASZMR1rXhn3Sy8iupag_n6dlrL491WNTt3gL7RrEj4VjZI02vtXEsu1ySIlhKGimccRbuq7xCVmqZSzdWi4kVMuFTUXg_caIIiz4l6967AqpwgGRBSPaDgBAM/s400/IMAG0241.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
Have you noticed that I am partial to State Parks yet?<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindEHI_q6c01nvQdDV81nYrUiRV_UhvJNqXQOe_4BjjEkW9qSXGQQvZsoXAb_9UjULZjSiYnHZW10ciPnfXGqceFp8d-ZsFiA1CQZwVr3RAINIItfVWu2B9NTLGBLpN1SQpLmLi2z89-g/s1600/IMAG0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEindEHI_q6c01nvQdDV81nYrUiRV_UhvJNqXQOe_4BjjEkW9qSXGQQvZsoXAb_9UjULZjSiYnHZW10ciPnfXGqceFp8d-ZsFiA1CQZwVr3RAINIItfVWu2B9NTLGBLpN1SQpLmLi2z89-g/s400/IMAG0255.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I am.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJpe_BajTNKQeq_WqDkPY6CYyjdX4AdVF8CHL-ywrDHRjff9PwS2wpZ9-KJbi3zU8wGI05owu_kl0etMPz4kU_tlNXGfGjvoRoFHy1262t_wU6W9NkLCYkEI31iEQpHorW6Sd7oK7Ghw/s1600/IMAG0269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJpe_BajTNKQeq_WqDkPY6CYyjdX4AdVF8CHL-ywrDHRjff9PwS2wpZ9-KJbi3zU8wGI05owu_kl0etMPz4kU_tlNXGfGjvoRoFHy1262t_wU6W9NkLCYkEI31iEQpHorW6Sd7oK7Ghw/s400/IMAG0269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I couldn't get an RV spot at Florida Caverns State Park, but I still wanted to see it. So I found a nearby park to stay at, and came here for the day. We came to do the cave tour and kayak, but when we got there all boating was shut down due to flooding. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>But that's ok, we can adapt.</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET_FYu4qoKI8Wpk9J9YVB79mSJkfoYWbRHVwj80fzq6q1qrRYTVVVc7ukaMHDeZonxXCfHfNXebuySGlhmmHKUEMcRuFKOHvf25e1w5BwFah2vWjw9deiu-DT-lsZHBoqccQejiqXZQA/s1600/IMAG0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiET_FYu4qoKI8Wpk9J9YVB79mSJkfoYWbRHVwj80fzq6q1qrRYTVVVc7ukaMHDeZonxXCfHfNXebuySGlhmmHKUEMcRuFKOHvf25e1w5BwFah2vWjw9deiu-DT-lsZHBoqccQejiqXZQA/s400/IMAG0259.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So first we went and did the cave tour, which must be every hour...ours was almost right away. The cave tour lasted nearly an hour and it was really a lot of fun. (Aren't caves always fun though?) I feel like every time you go to one it's like you're seeing stalacgtites and stalagmites for the first time...and since I can NEVER remember which is which...it's like learning it new all over.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZWPZvUb-Caz47wyggvYEye1JGdXnwzNfQWi0g3WiE-8SD3gQMmIeLtxB2gAKzINqObqBp1wO7K48CEWPelrKHPUJjyV0xwiHpg9LSaEzD7KhJuDGdZermHUsTQHYYArZ_m7sxbqow9g/s1600/IMAG0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNZWPZvUb-Caz47wyggvYEye1JGdXnwzNfQWi0g3WiE-8SD3gQMmIeLtxB2gAKzINqObqBp1wO7K48CEWPelrKHPUJjyV0xwiHpg9LSaEzD7KhJuDGdZermHUsTQHYYArZ_m7sxbqow9g/s400/IMAG0240.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>This time I will remember though, because our tour guide taught us that stalacgtites hold "tight" to the ceiling, and stalagmites just "might" grow up tall. (Anything to help me remember!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We saw different formations, learned about how the CCC dug the whole place out in the 1930s (by hand with pick axes and buckets...for $1 a day!), saw a bat and learned about how oils (from hands) and algae (from lights) destroy the formations. It was just one of those neat <i>fun-ducational</i> tours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYDYJ_gcOva8YzdHvFy0NDSNAdMZGzLx_cVKCYSfYk5Dl2R1723WuKZ-pTrfw9VP9drPhPzP5h0-w69Hv0EkvyrqajaUC74eOPFMQkfGGzqCis_xWUUrTASlpoeSTlrMnW-KH0lj03I/s1600/IMAG0256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gYDYJ_gcOva8YzdHvFy0NDSNAdMZGzLx_cVKCYSfYk5Dl2R1723WuKZ-pTrfw9VP9drPhPzP5h0-w69Hv0EkvyrqajaUC74eOPFMQkfGGzqCis_xWUUrTASlpoeSTlrMnW-KH0lj03I/s400/IMAG0256.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfhWKiTFbiS4zu9G9R3yhRi5IhD8__VZSgG-QykOVL6hwnT6yir6HqKDfXNbPnFdMKLiEfR62j0RUcFYYRT7ULwNu8nDubg0fCmZ6cKpxoMxJqwyy65PjnB1xEwFCq6hIMgDCjCHATbk/s1600/IMAG0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfhWKiTFbiS4zu9G9R3yhRi5IhD8__VZSgG-QykOVL6hwnT6yir6HqKDfXNbPnFdMKLiEfR62j0RUcFYYRT7ULwNu8nDubg0fCmZ6cKpxoMxJqwyy65PjnB1xEwFCq6hIMgDCjCHATbk/s400/IMAG0257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After that we had a picnic, went to check out the visitor center museum (a very cool little museum actually), and went on a hike on the Bluff Trail. This ended up being a huge hit, which is good, cause hiking isn't always a big hit with my kids. BUT, this hike included many sinkholes, partial caves, a tunnel cave you could walk through, and even a cave/overhang that was used by native tribes long before the Spanish came to Florida. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHHKwYCiyy8jhMm1BU0ekS5rDwPc9t6eR_1Lj-hEHAxjPON6cMCXgq5-XEGphh70CK6ROKgDzw3hQ8wxJLjo_8O6ed9UHOhjYUTnqH24AJy0Sp-HPFmERmYv4YYbXb1fook5orGHwfZ0/s1600/IMAG0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoHHKwYCiyy8jhMm1BU0ekS5rDwPc9t6eR_1Lj-hEHAxjPON6cMCXgq5-XEGphh70CK6ROKgDzw3hQ8wxJLjo_8O6ed9UHOhjYUTnqH24AJy0Sp-HPFmERmYv4YYbXb1fook5orGHwfZ0/s400/IMAG0258.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBZ5GGcGk3segOIjmNEItjK-BafNksHE7IBKHHyTCdGCWuoIpvXCjdi8U7sRI77DUWnpv8lKA3n0QYHabB_fpf73SlK4JlIzoJBRucDXWtgEheiXkNW46qTBsQ0oBXnG3HOECn3u0LeA/s1600/IMAG0262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBZ5GGcGk3segOIjmNEItjK-BafNksHE7IBKHHyTCdGCWuoIpvXCjdi8U7sRI77DUWnpv8lKA3n0QYHabB_fpf73SlK4JlIzoJBRucDXWtgEheiXkNW46qTBsQ0oBXnG3HOECn3u0LeA/s400/IMAG0262.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4CQOvQwmcre2SZ0kuKtlR-km69s3kswrsQ3wplN1EE-wfzgMDfkJbWrMbPJQF2eBJfDHQAgMDPFm3BqsSJBUq6yxgGAqvNZ-CGiPUZnMFQTgNDq2WBZ2ooK8VIuMR0lYXkXLY3I0scE/s1600/IMAG0264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU4CQOvQwmcre2SZ0kuKtlR-km69s3kswrsQ3wplN1EE-wfzgMDfkJbWrMbPJQF2eBJfDHQAgMDPFm3BqsSJBUq6yxgGAqvNZ-CGiPUZnMFQTgNDq2WBZ2ooK8VIuMR0lYXkXLY3I0scE/s400/IMAG0264.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S6KHp3hlzUNNrkmABQ0Xry0cX9BKENJku9q0c_xLLAaTrykN-U2kO_66o0xmDd6k_bnGJkBG3D6qq7oSaQPGDYbNpCwyToYbwi3I28Ljf5Mr_lkoxcL6y8pq-lud6pNPHaGZPEMbnxQ/s1600/IMAG0265.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6S6KHp3hlzUNNrkmABQ0Xry0cX9BKENJku9q0c_xLLAaTrykN-U2kO_66o0xmDd6k_bnGJkBG3D6qq7oSaQPGDYbNpCwyToYbwi3I28Ljf5Mr_lkoxcL6y8pq-lud6pNPHaGZPEMbnxQ/s400/IMAG0265.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
By the end we were hot and a little sweaty...it may be February, but it was warm and the spring flowers were blooming! But we were also muddy, happy and felt like we had really made the right choice by spending the day there.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMqKgGPaqheHhWnuPS1eilyYT4c6h3y9y6bZuTO-wlgi3Lo6qzwW70fzt9kJ_zv6YxmKQmGKvwOkIpQQRtaI2MvbvSOlEHa4K7d2K6GKTYd83tdg-c7lay-ihOF0pJuH7HYaszF73Gno/s1600/IMAG0263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMqKgGPaqheHhWnuPS1eilyYT4c6h3y9y6bZuTO-wlgi3Lo6qzwW70fzt9kJ_zv6YxmKQmGKvwOkIpQQRtaI2MvbvSOlEHa4K7d2K6GKTYd83tdg-c7lay-ihOF0pJuH7HYaszF73Gno/s400/IMAG0263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>If you ever get to visit this park, ask about the dinner bowls embedded in the ceiling....those CCC guys were ingenious!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-65530464698275799972016-02-22T09:39:00.000-08:002016-02-22T09:39:19.366-08:00Manatee Springs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdUagR4OF6CQssXQRyFEyV6E1a_p2SYnsnMBmIOs1h6KOODEW0mGrVhjvJkO7cUaYdSAQlEaB2UDG1GAxSizCCpeTQ5KDisJOYmxypVAAoT6lF23JpXQ6PeMCnG-j6ojmQ41oGvreAkE/s1600/IMAG0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKdUagR4OF6CQssXQRyFEyV6E1a_p2SYnsnMBmIOs1h6KOODEW0mGrVhjvJkO7cUaYdSAQlEaB2UDG1GAxSizCCpeTQ5KDisJOYmxypVAAoT6lF23JpXQ6PeMCnG-j6ojmQ41oGvreAkE/s400/IMAG0200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have learned that when RVing in Florida...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>do not hesitate</b>.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
If you want to stay at a specific park (<i>particularly the state parks</i>) you better book it right away. With some parks, that's not even possible. The closer you get to the Keys, the more difficult it is to book. But, there are many gems in Florida when it comes to state parks, and they book up as well. Unlike the Keys they are possible to book, but you do have to grab them early.<i> (The Keys really should be on a lottery system, it would be easier than what it is now, and arguably more fair)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-DhO9LOlkHd_jGgd7_BVDengqQojt3hfPPla2llaqM1F-OUOv0v1jGRph7gNq7IWwblm3onuYA5eUzC2BJ1W3JRsFih-i-aLpZEc3b71G8bQqpuExP3zyGhovYzH4ty872UIyfiKLI0/s1600/IMAG0207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-DhO9LOlkHd_jGgd7_BVDengqQojt3hfPPla2llaqM1F-OUOv0v1jGRph7gNq7IWwblm3onuYA5eUzC2BJ1W3JRsFih-i-aLpZEc3b71G8bQqpuExP3zyGhovYzH4ty872UIyfiKLI0/s400/IMAG0207.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I felt like Myakka and Alafia fell in this category, but one of the ones I really wanted to visit was Manatee Springs. So as we were planning our Northward drive through the state, I checked for reservations. Booked. So I started scrolling through availability and found 3 days that we could stay there. It meant changing around our plans and other reservations, but man am I glad that we did!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
THIS IS BY FAR THE COOLEST PLACE EVER!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gYwkmfz6oZtWxvEXEuw50vCQNOF9pNoxnxivRtUSDFbgZiF-7jd-qqarIiBWGl7M2KhTLXFSdCWsnI41RiyQU-CYIJ4HpBRrx8Osn5JqTwfZGbtmEJ_RK3bqU5M7mnbs9zNWZG8NHII/s1600/IMAG0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9gYwkmfz6oZtWxvEXEuw50vCQNOF9pNoxnxivRtUSDFbgZiF-7jd-qqarIiBWGl7M2KhTLXFSdCWsnI41RiyQU-CYIJ4HpBRrx8Osn5JqTwfZGbtmEJ_RK3bqU5M7mnbs9zNWZG8NHII/s400/IMAG0191.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whew, sorry, I'll regain my composure. (But it REALLY was)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm0JPgK44rx6r59sMgPsntfMoVhV5zxsrMKWl0AmfJyw6xAMfNKo8l4Zdd69THUx7MfOQSsfZ3_pd9ELZ3ycIpegDLGT1fxo9lcD84ZwYpHwzOXrtYjpvWKQz7EwgFb1oWMCGGvkN0RY/s1600/IMAG0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm0JPgK44rx6r59sMgPsntfMoVhV5zxsrMKWl0AmfJyw6xAMfNKo8l4Zdd69THUx7MfOQSsfZ3_pd9ELZ3ycIpegDLGT1fxo9lcD84ZwYpHwzOXrtYjpvWKQz7EwgFb1oWMCGGvkN0RY/s400/IMAG0199.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0Bhsi37mE2o7s_K7PqgS31QEDIgSFKy1ixqIK7H5BVuLVlMKbidt7FzbBS6N9J2v_LRAVeLO6eABM7n6ZO6EeSibx8Nrlj1HT6AsvF_xC4pA7B5C-7g58xtHPVTp_p1vbBCGZnAzD0/s1600/IMAG0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu0Bhsi37mE2o7s_K7PqgS31QEDIgSFKy1ixqIK7H5BVuLVlMKbidt7FzbBS6N9J2v_LRAVeLO6eABM7n6ZO6EeSibx8Nrlj1HT6AsvF_xC4pA7B5C-7g58xtHPVTp_p1vbBCGZnAzD0/s400/IMAG0201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtsVDpBa4kvfJd33hlzifxZsUhhWILpUlk95UN2HyN4womzOBast9j3Mlm2V8k0VY-t2USV6RS9asMJ5BG9oxgprdZJJwy4l7KeICK_UJ0TTXi7KH7Yp3GPEOWD0kQDVlasMCh8J1yQo/s1600/IMAG0202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtsVDpBa4kvfJd33hlzifxZsUhhWILpUlk95UN2HyN4womzOBast9j3Mlm2V8k0VY-t2USV6RS9asMJ5BG9oxgprdZJJwy4l7KeICK_UJ0TTXi7KH7Yp3GPEOWD0kQDVlasMCh8J1yQo/s400/IMAG0202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We snorkeled with manatees for two straight days! And when we weren't snorkeling we were kayaking, biking, or eating BBQ sold and smoked right there in the middle of all the action. This was the most laid back, beautiful park with the most awesome pay back ever...crystal blue waters, manatees, and SNAKES! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IGtQo44N868Q4vbJKSFjz9gxt_qNOO95JfUW9RfwQG6jKn8iFF01n6gHrkWvkv2LNioQ25TpFgQlmr5XjL0n4NtuCc540ALHp_MaqBemFxvMw6TEneAPZ4NzfaV7gMajPNGif9aXM88/s1600/IMAG0217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IGtQo44N868Q4vbJKSFjz9gxt_qNOO95JfUW9RfwQG6jKn8iFF01n6gHrkWvkv2LNioQ25TpFgQlmr5XjL0n4NtuCc540ALHp_MaqBemFxvMw6TEneAPZ4NzfaV7gMajPNGif9aXM88/s320/IMAG0217.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DwB18dvra7wyqPta_YFwVBamevMPP3PXbevJJJUfGDvU7nCyo0igNxZxZ8zzYgEExdx0vPA7vZIUTiKw3O7mDMBc8ErprTSzLDfhQxqZAlYLpx-0PIUriGKSIMjOpbQpDwUjGE8Pk0s/s1600/IMAG0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8DwB18dvra7wyqPta_YFwVBamevMPP3PXbevJJJUfGDvU7nCyo0igNxZxZ8zzYgEExdx0vPA7vZIUTiKw3O7mDMBc8ErprTSzLDfhQxqZAlYLpx-0PIUriGKSIMjOpbQpDwUjGE8Pk0s/s320/IMAG0211.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, snakes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I shouldn't be excited about snakes, cause, you know...they're snakes. But, as we were snorkeling, we saw several snakes swimming at the bottom of the water. I didn't even <b>know</b> snakes could swim at the bottom of the water! Don't get me wrong, I am petrified of snakes. When I looked down and saw the first snake swimming only about two feet below me, I panicked. I didn't want to put my face back in the water because I didn't want to see it, but I didn't want to put my feet down because I didn't want to step on it...so I just skittered across the top of water until I got back to the edge and got out. After I calmed down a little, I convinced my kids how it was a <i>good</i> thing that I saw it, because it made me realize that they really don't want anything to do with you. They'll just leave you alone...AND...it worked! When they saw snakes under water (and they both did) they were calm, and they didn't rush out of the water. However, they did know to tell me calmly so that I didn't freak out. (They know me so well, I only<i> talk</i> a big game!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg488Xhi_UXawfyEBiF9_tq-I_eSEH83aSKP-f-81vrWlwbXtP0i0vyXN0FaEMyJsBSXmClcTKTGHyHQ7LQ8dmSyAWYWjAz44fhTHKxpGjLxM-ILVeI2sVathOFLV-vQTQh1D0UtHi3r78/s1600/IMAG0226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg488Xhi_UXawfyEBiF9_tq-I_eSEH83aSKP-f-81vrWlwbXtP0i0vyXN0FaEMyJsBSXmClcTKTGHyHQ7LQ8dmSyAWYWjAz44fhTHKxpGjLxM-ILVeI2sVathOFLV-vQTQh1D0UtHi3r78/s320/IMAG0226.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do you see the snake coiled up on the </span></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">log...only one of the many!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And it's like I tell my kids...if nothing bad or scary every happens, the stories are WAY less cool later.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJ_uPGq3WDe52fYQPjXYm6SnwST11-Fd8KpVMb6cN9FCaq43qTGzNHgVTnouAIt2p8FTCSKy3ndnE2yv7XXm7p3Ot1pghDYioReADCLzvBWDk3Dus2-aNXrTHKV42hH1xr4InGtVEwo/s1600/IMAG0203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbJ_uPGq3WDe52fYQPjXYm6SnwST11-Fd8KpVMb6cN9FCaq43qTGzNHgVTnouAIt2p8FTCSKy3ndnE2yv7XXm7p3Ot1pghDYioReADCLzvBWDk3Dus2-aNXrTHKV42hH1xr4InGtVEwo/s400/IMAG0203.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This is AFTER they saw the snakes, </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">and yes, they are still snorkeling!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-50743971134303723352016-02-21T09:08:00.001-08:002016-02-21T09:08:28.166-08:00Space Dreams<br />
As a child my biggest hero was Sally Ride. I collected every Odyssey Magazine (space magazine for kids in the 80s), punched holes in them and kept them in a binder. In case that wasn't space-nerdy enough, I had a mural of a space shuttle on my wall, and dreams of NASA when I was grown.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgK0OXE2mrCxKL_WOJhwNZFvWjCC-_ospXg6NXsbDZQjgSqVOhRD356tybYq7ZZrI8bPiOlrZbkRDxS8xoYVWI8YJmSnhcQhUjjHGb4hp3HeGEu_tFaRa7glUciZLfxuJQDLNDblOKT4/s1600/IMAG0128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCgK0OXE2mrCxKL_WOJhwNZFvWjCC-_ospXg6NXsbDZQjgSqVOhRD356tybYq7ZZrI8bPiOlrZbkRDxS8xoYVWI8YJmSnhcQhUjjHGb4hp3HeGEu_tFaRa7glUciZLfxuJQDLNDblOKT4/s400/IMAG0128.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So obviously, THAT dream never came to be...but my giddy-ness about space never quite went away. I think my excitement, plus my kids own natural interest in space has made this one of the most anticipated places we've visited yet! Rockets, shuttles, IMAX documentaries, a launch...what more could you ask for?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CjFc8180d2wEtJ5mGih46Ylxp4JGr7MqkMUbZW-BOic2z8x2JMHxnxSDb6-xkRQaGL2Q6O5HLO_qh_CWqREs0CNwyGclRBD7VjRgy33PPniD92FmD1iikprtd1QGgFEqX6CPAq64-f4/s1600/IMAG0098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CjFc8180d2wEtJ5mGih46Ylxp4JGr7MqkMUbZW-BOic2z8x2JMHxnxSDb6-xkRQaGL2Q6O5HLO_qh_CWqREs0CNwyGclRBD7VjRgy33PPniD92FmD1iikprtd1QGgFEqX6CPAq64-f4/s400/IMAG0098.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A real live rocket launch!</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
We did SO much while we were on the Space Coast.<br />
<br />
We visited the Kennedy Space Center (twice),<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBC3EiwJwT5KBwujIp-l1hn3XZn_Dl9f3jjvlSYDVaoyQ7kQvcu03rxKlLMhzLY5lI85l4wm4SlBH3rlO4Rh178-P-a4zBLXtDwT9RD58DA2W6sbY5sFkr8hX6pgsQuke-lVroS_Kzd8/s1600/IMAG0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBC3EiwJwT5KBwujIp-l1hn3XZn_Dl9f3jjvlSYDVaoyQ7kQvcu03rxKlLMhzLY5lI85l4wm4SlBH3rlO4Rh178-P-a4zBLXtDwT9RD58DA2W6sbY5sFkr8hX6pgsQuke-lVroS_Kzd8/s400/IMAG0049.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Luke with his hands in John Glenn's handprints.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Gyom0RtlIPcthYJm_V1WUGUmAlc5z6EAnvL81JuE1w7kRnDvVg7R5kNk8yARqf2qa4WwZzvt_1yuyOFtLCWiS84tJeNBeIl_GYK4Lhd9BhClT9UYrROw0WIiTXXX4WtBTrR_NwTzlU/s1600/IMAG0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7Gyom0RtlIPcthYJm_V1WUGUmAlc5z6EAnvL81JuE1w7kRnDvVg7R5kNk8yARqf2qa4WwZzvt_1yuyOFtLCWiS84tJeNBeIl_GYK4Lhd9BhClT9UYrROw0WIiTXXX4WtBTrR_NwTzlU/s400/IMAG0052.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Space Fountain in Titusville.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSUIr6VTrwqcIQQMN5P7XSR2snhM1HgUafihCC-DwdKPEY2VPDXrsCoajslpVcNjr19v78qc_Jj041B4nCtKDKpgKjBaSXItf-PhSgjMzh540_Ze5R7uQ5F8GtxmOCy5QEre1YaLcUdw/s1600/IMAG0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioSUIr6VTrwqcIQQMN5P7XSR2snhM1HgUafihCC-DwdKPEY2VPDXrsCoajslpVcNjr19v78qc_Jj041B4nCtKDKpgKjBaSXItf-PhSgjMzh540_Ze5R7uQ5F8GtxmOCy5QEre1YaLcUdw/s400/IMAG0078.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Always fun in the gift shop!</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-ID4d17HVV-MzdqiupsU3Q8bJvWS9WKxNdFD8HqZiZ5osdKgW8GT4GBtzOAg-PqfEZPlWozL_Sw9Pwm4OWwSx1irEitEAEgqQbzuhtz_3fmnDh1ucbHDOE6Zbeu8BCBfkjKn3kWxe9o/s1600/IMAG0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-ID4d17HVV-MzdqiupsU3Q8bJvWS9WKxNdFD8HqZiZ5osdKgW8GT4GBtzOAg-PqfEZPlWozL_Sw9Pwm4OWwSx1irEitEAEgqQbzuhtz_3fmnDh1ucbHDOE6Zbeu8BCBfkjKn3kWxe9o/s400/IMAG0136.jpg" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Yep, that guy is fake...tee hee.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVfKF2q7tqmCvq00HD0nmHrbFzMUpkVunGMYTPaZbxlNjH8PgkwLLZRu2q2erVciWacrbstN0i80dxq_YnTul70sz98bnFwse60YSXvju-sXaQz5yDuMKlv5wM8ck-enDul8RnQ6nHg/s1600/IMAG0139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskVfKF2q7tqmCvq00HD0nmHrbFzMUpkVunGMYTPaZbxlNjH8PgkwLLZRu2q2erVciWacrbstN0i80dxq_YnTul70sz98bnFwse60YSXvju-sXaQz5yDuMKlv5wM8ck-enDul8RnQ6nHg/s400/IMAG0139.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">This was the only place where you had </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">to wait in line to take a picture!</span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
the Orlando Science Museum (twice),<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyPsDC-QniQIXiTvaS796SbMeAmuJFbtcOtFJSnaOpy65vf9gS-9VTKRL__yK4FLUb2C7wgTiartbBiZA07wH3rEPiiYf9BmHPNF8Sqr5MvVj6Fq_aEYOS08IClc3XdAprkCZAlU63hY/s1600/IMAG0174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJyPsDC-QniQIXiTvaS796SbMeAmuJFbtcOtFJSnaOpy65vf9gS-9VTKRL__yK4FLUb2C7wgTiartbBiZA07wH3rEPiiYf9BmHPNF8Sqr5MvVj6Fq_aEYOS08IClc3XdAprkCZAlU63hY/s400/IMAG0174.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We saw the Orion Nebula, the moon, and Jupiter </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">from the powerful telescopes in the observatory.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtpkCNHdOC04AORtokcgIrqgtvTSnJgMMrZneFWPFWUssugUUXW_shzhyLMiqa5MFQUhsB2Xx5uIQ17UA8vioKQlc__4X2VC6Bk8iAMeSP98sEcaV6I6sBOAdLDaBhTUslUra6Io_wPM/s1600/IMAG0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwtpkCNHdOC04AORtokcgIrqgtvTSnJgMMrZneFWPFWUssugUUXW_shzhyLMiqa5MFQUhsB2Xx5uIQ17UA8vioKQlc__4X2VC6Bk8iAMeSP98sEcaV6I6sBOAdLDaBhTUslUra6Io_wPM/s400/IMAG0108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Landing a plane in the museum, it was tricky.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6I2eSZy7nYLHRU3gqi9Eg-HoDlJcDrUTPi858hbzN9InrPmgCYRpYGaGClIrMSl4ZQgHKtX5xi4AMe-5ZQKXQDo5omzd3z9H2BM9lAQXwbM5CKuIZD1JBvGRXIZDdjdcOfXQtfAaRs/s1600/IMAG0119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Z6I2eSZy7nYLHRU3gqi9Eg-HoDlJcDrUTPi858hbzN9InrPmgCYRpYGaGClIrMSl4ZQgHKtX5xi4AMe-5ZQKXQDo5omzd3z9H2BM9lAQXwbM5CKuIZD1JBvGRXIZDdjdcOfXQtfAaRs/s400/IMAG0119.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke making a friend in the science exhibit.</span></i></div>
<br />
we kayaked with dolphins at Merrit Island Wildlife Refuge, and played at Cape Canaveral Seashore.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Y7Y-Par829XdBmcgcz26QLdfP8VUiFc8fLafqOyJ893RW17DEVnC4bIrz6xpUsFoX3E2it56m0JcMUaxv9Ao751kzvntCehBjfxVCk5n41MCjue2TzWaIljVtuSlcO49VgWIu74XvY/s1600/IMAG0181+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh70Y7Y-Par829XdBmcgcz26QLdfP8VUiFc8fLafqOyJ893RW17DEVnC4bIrz6xpUsFoX3E2it56m0JcMUaxv9Ao751kzvntCehBjfxVCk5n41MCjue2TzWaIljVtuSlcO49VgWIu74XvY/s640/IMAG0181+%25282%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
Talk about an amazing two weeks; we kayaked, swam, played, learned and watched SIX documentaries on either IMAX or cinedome screens! (and somehow in the middle of it all we managed to get some school work done and our taxes filed)<br />
<br />
We were sad to say goodbye to the Space Coast, it is the strangest mix of the highest technology in the world and beautiful expanses of nature. Not too many places give you both so close together. I am so glad that we stopped here, originally we hadn't planned to come up the west coast of Florida at all. We ended up staying at a county park (Brevard County), called Manatee Hammock. It was a crowded park, but still very natural (lots of trees, water view)...AND...we could watch the launch right from the park's dock. And, if you want to stay a while, you can actually camp here for 6 months. (While that didn't help us, a lot of people seemed excited about it.)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-18695906741368415292016-02-12T16:53:00.004-08:002016-02-12T16:53:50.520-08:00Florida Keys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTSzajtfv231z8f2P800NVquLjQo6ZlEKo08KKUgaCFXWHoaX6ZSj4IK_04S0Yy3WcK_R01tT6FFA_6OrpF9pxycak2vmoUKAr1hstsXb-fIWHtjm4iScdgJd0giMCnnWXBP2IvcyxYs/s1600/IMAG0045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixTSzajtfv231z8f2P800NVquLjQo6ZlEKo08KKUgaCFXWHoaX6ZSj4IK_04S0Yy3WcK_R01tT6FFA_6OrpF9pxycak2vmoUKAr1hstsXb-fIWHtjm4iScdgJd0giMCnnWXBP2IvcyxYs/s400/IMAG0045.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Rh-WlC_sMEKlXtP3EHksHHpRHT8KWFN6vqMpKgWL56oQexeJiT2uHe8ifUtI7RXdq2zRgok0UeMmcbMSH0xARD2cbsx-plqfl37wxQ7XSUuF2m5rxaXzA_loPYw7UUcl0xrnsU-SFY/s1600/IMAG0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-Rh-WlC_sMEKlXtP3EHksHHpRHT8KWFN6vqMpKgWL56oQexeJiT2uHe8ifUtI7RXdq2zRgok0UeMmcbMSH0xARD2cbsx-plqfl37wxQ7XSUuF2m5rxaXzA_loPYw7UUcl0xrnsU-SFY/s400/IMAG0080.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyxv-euDnziBsxLDMTRvAP8zKtoHwkFEalm6FRF-r68yk80kJHy8sFCJXr5GRfowQZVO_7RvcjHWKvn5EVxVjNvxUF275Lt5g47gOSOlAAp0vzVCMVoCz3Luni0RZR1j-t2Nd1gT4l3M/s1600/IMAG0087.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioyxv-euDnziBsxLDMTRvAP8zKtoHwkFEalm6FRF-r68yk80kJHy8sFCJXr5GRfowQZVO_7RvcjHWKvn5EVxVjNvxUF275Lt5g47gOSOlAAp0vzVCMVoCz3Luni0RZR1j-t2Nd1gT4l3M/s400/IMAG0087.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYM4N_49YsuMrcbV8Hx-PrSSzMFhLVOIXUuvKDK2QlbDJu7Rk70CZ2vWG4d62V2BKcixAD5QglzKCSwkBjzMu2mflpUCpQz4_iob9hyphenhyphenYBMR9nVSR8aBUpNFljyYHrARzSe7sOlnHRVjY/s1600/IMAG0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYM4N_49YsuMrcbV8Hx-PrSSzMFhLVOIXUuvKDK2QlbDJu7Rk70CZ2vWG4d62V2BKcixAD5QglzKCSwkBjzMu2mflpUCpQz4_iob9hyphenhyphenYBMR9nVSR8aBUpNFljyYHrARzSe7sOlnHRVjY/s400/IMAG0088.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3jkEw-vdAsGMRIUbNTxYOvR8AHM2uG6Wg_GB-VINkUA4VU5rIyqYIgTo0pb77tcWo8r2UFOjKowbJLd4KB9z-ktw9usPuY4PGJYrk6gEhnYRfSim47it5iSKpjgITd-CVPmws4n85CU/s1600/IMAG0092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3jkEw-vdAsGMRIUbNTxYOvR8AHM2uG6Wg_GB-VINkUA4VU5rIyqYIgTo0pb77tcWo8r2UFOjKowbJLd4KB9z-ktw9usPuY4PGJYrk6gEhnYRfSim47it5iSKpjgITd-CVPmws4n85CU/s400/IMAG0092.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHhnz04oSQo0pcE7VxGC-7cSzbNhLCeKCC02GsIxzeHwEYCa7QRORXtm5aBXwkz7SfK5DNPVGxfd0x1kmlM21NTL9n_IESXKltQuDSjzogp4ImUzSPSoaGVBxeCQ8Sf0X2weVuBet9eM/s1600/IMAG0095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQHhnz04oSQo0pcE7VxGC-7cSzbNhLCeKCC02GsIxzeHwEYCa7QRORXtm5aBXwkz7SfK5DNPVGxfd0x1kmlM21NTL9n_IESXKltQuDSjzogp4ImUzSPSoaGVBxeCQ8Sf0X2weVuBet9eM/s400/IMAG0095.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLq9HauZSh_laeBS1ywXROhAVqRlKOo5MC43s6Dxk4VFwl0hTseP5fPF1VYKI4R7AOJww_DKJjUXCsuGHJOE59z0hL3Z055SZL8ZM9JMoaiZstmxnar3mT7-iimd8f5-fRMXctB_JvOE/s1600/IMAG0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLq9HauZSh_laeBS1ywXROhAVqRlKOo5MC43s6Dxk4VFwl0hTseP5fPF1VYKI4R7AOJww_DKJjUXCsuGHJOE59z0hL3Z055SZL8ZM9JMoaiZstmxnar3mT7-iimd8f5-fRMXctB_JvOE/s400/IMAG0046.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-68943133100066594162016-01-30T08:17:00.000-08:002016-01-30T08:17:08.359-08:00Sanibel Island, and as Laurel would say, Shell Heaven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAFo6Yw19uuItvqircXEeZLgCwJD6eK0SQ-0zWSsUWxJMLpV2RsZ57yQN8NfwuwrOPqe_tQ9K-1FrMvNgys_JUIOPByheJRcxES1Rm0cvPUFO2a3xcqcOWMzadanvDNj-TN2UJrL-Gbo/s1600/IMAG0031+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvAFo6Yw19uuItvqircXEeZLgCwJD6eK0SQ-0zWSsUWxJMLpV2RsZ57yQN8NfwuwrOPqe_tQ9K-1FrMvNgys_JUIOPByheJRcxES1Rm0cvPUFO2a3xcqcOWMzadanvDNj-TN2UJrL-Gbo/s400/IMAG0031+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, there are as many shells as the rumors say...but be prepared to shell out the dough too ($6 toll and $4 an hour to park). </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jZrX5CM0Wdw4DHOIi-ZAiF5j82VAf43juz2rzJJjXyCYHxuuyC3Mt2hOLSMRdAKDJqupUUKN899BSZpeP81p5nzfHlPtjaiO92AgGFZ8iZTTjj5Ws2rXxKMJnTg72WFZTKL91PkIX2o/s1600/IMAG0021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jZrX5CM0Wdw4DHOIi-ZAiF5j82VAf43juz2rzJJjXyCYHxuuyC3Mt2hOLSMRdAKDJqupUUKN899BSZpeP81p5nzfHlPtjaiO92AgGFZ8iZTTjj5Ws2rXxKMJnTg72WFZTKL91PkIX2o/s400/IMAG0021.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sanibel is gorgeous.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are many easy to access, beautiful beaches, and a good variety of shells. The visitors center was very helpful, and the free shell guide not only showed us what to look for and what they were, but also had a guide for caring for the shells you find. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were only to be in the area for one day, so we decided to make the most of it. It turns out that the day we were there was to be a negative tide at 5:30 AM. And as we learned in Alaska...if there is a negative tide...you go. <i>Amazing things will be found</i>. So we dragged our booties out of bed at 4:15 to make sure we were there in time. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo81PYAPAmLITUCtvuBKPqwfgsMvRJbAf0EXlfstliPNMhyphenhyphenHVwK5DX5KnV44wJg0aOAaffDZEjczqMQ6TuZE92Fk_EeATCQ6RzBZa4Z6dMYMntEEYjuIPpPEQI3RmiQNeTkGW_S0kMg9g/s1600/IMAG0030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo81PYAPAmLITUCtvuBKPqwfgsMvRJbAf0EXlfstliPNMhyphenhyphenHVwK5DX5KnV44wJg0aOAaffDZEjczqMQ6TuZE92Fk_EeATCQ6RzBZa4Z6dMYMntEEYjuIPpPEQI3RmiQNeTkGW_S0kMg9g/s400/IMAG0030.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With flashlights and headlamps and blankets (it was chilly!) and baskets we set out. We spent about 2 hours at the first beach (Lighthouse Beach, touted by many as the best for shelling...and it did not disappoint,) before deciding to warm up at a local coffee shop. After that we did a quick driving tour of both Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Then we headed back to Sanibel for beach number two. We spent about an hour here, and then feeling tired and needing to go potty we decided to take a break.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbrgHOx72ceJDfKILCDXKits19UjVBZ01HH4AO0dyKOSjvdHV6HfNqLQhGfwlfKKd5liY7TYhNBxfW1RNPVdZ1hJ9S8yrYH1-d_DLhLNTU995EtMw6UH4WK4WoNjK3-G46d67yOmiqiA/s1600/IMAG0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbrgHOx72ceJDfKILCDXKits19UjVBZ01HH4AO0dyKOSjvdHV6HfNqLQhGfwlfKKd5liY7TYhNBxfW1RNPVdZ1hJ9S8yrYH1-d_DLhLNTU995EtMw6UH4WK4WoNjK3-G46d67yOmiqiA/s400/IMAG0022.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We headed over to the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum...located on beautiful Sanibel Island. We ended up spending about two hours looking through their collection, watching documentaries and listening to a marine biologist give a talk. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After that we headed back to yet another beach, this one was much better suited for playing. So we spent another hour or so playing in the surf, tossing a football, and just hanging out on the beach. By then we were pretty wiped out, and the kids were excited to go back and look through all the shells they found. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hYUSDH8hHo9mz08Gtyr3bi1RqUauIDtc2GhV6RL3sXA3t3xhRFan_Fs-Ne5t29gfhE9VGoeFfRnusqc7NqWgLEL99XN4fB_js05HgPsZORtMhpI9rnQstp4yvzP6NyMbEItQOuOfMSY/s1600/IMAG0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hYUSDH8hHo9mz08Gtyr3bi1RqUauIDtc2GhV6RL3sXA3t3xhRFan_Fs-Ne5t29gfhE9VGoeFfRnusqc7NqWgLEL99XN4fB_js05HgPsZORtMhpI9rnQstp4yvzP6NyMbEItQOuOfMSY/s400/IMAG0035.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was just one of those really good days.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-90017579825969067812016-01-29T07:52:00.000-08:002016-01-29T07:52:01.530-08:00Encore RV Resorts: An Introverts Nightmare<div>
<br /></div>
Laurel wanted more than anything (in Florida) to go shelling on Sanibel Island...but like the rest of Florida, RV reservations are nearly impossible to get. Unless, you are willing to stay at one of the many overpriced and overcrowded private RV Resorts. This was our first attempt to stay at one of these..and it was truly a last ditch effort to be able stay near Sanibel.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
First impression, yuck.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Second impression, holy crap, we'll never get the camper into that spot.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Final impression, after really trying hard to give it a chance...never again.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRFVo4Uca-37BE4abs8Zb-_9y66E0vQUNeu94v5M3KDn3ZviVaCNczCXCPU43wk8xopxuNJEbC3LvZ8PvWwHMTz_P1le9d5rCFuUBISpu34tPTwIowzEfpZWxLgPeGaF19MhO7SrgL8c/s1600/IMAG0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHRFVo4Uca-37BE4abs8Zb-_9y66E0vQUNeu94v5M3KDn3ZviVaCNczCXCPU43wk8xopxuNJEbC3LvZ8PvWwHMTz_P1le9d5rCFuUBISpu34tPTwIowzEfpZWxLgPeGaF19MhO7SrgL8c/s320/IMAG0037.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Just to really show how poopy I thought this place was, </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I took a picture of the dog poop that kept magically appearing outside our camper.</span></i></div>
<br />
There are people who come back here year after year, and people that live here full time. I don't know why any one would...granted, as an introvert, the last thing I want is to be crammed in like cattle with a bunch of strangers (who you can see and hear at all times) that want nothing more than to come talk to me about nothing in particular. This is also the kind of crowd that wants to heckle you about anything, offer unsolicited advice, and generally tell jokes that are either stupid, offensive, or both. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTygvWjnZp1JKKnN8Ss_bmwn8bvyhV5rXeBJj1Qii5HLHRmeHdjT5zjNIDiDUMcUA8siXTH9eBSx6EyLMuI3haijagMcLvby4y7NBN3KWmZwOu58rm-1DUGnPrf8ODNSjKeFDGMxGLIsU/s1600/IMAG0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTygvWjnZp1JKKnN8Ss_bmwn8bvyhV5rXeBJj1Qii5HLHRmeHdjT5zjNIDiDUMcUA8siXTH9eBSx6EyLMuI3haijagMcLvby4y7NBN3KWmZwOu58rm-1DUGnPrf8ODNSjKeFDGMxGLIsU/s320/IMAG0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">A view of the tightly squished in campers.</span></i></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yes, I know I sound very negative. Just to be clear, <b>I am being negative</b>. This was the worst place I have ever stayed...and that includes the hotel in Louisiana where you could hear the vermin moving around when you turned out the lights.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLneSfm-p7pR_NGuMU0Lnl_JmY3J2OObeW4tFYweS5dFsjxCRLx13qJRgSk3EIJt5cF-XF20Ibfsl-s4YKHtGpOAoWJcjmzjnoxXThZQf8MHipafLna9JVP_9Bj6rlbnBa742TTLKXBpU/s1600/IMAG0039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLneSfm-p7pR_NGuMU0Lnl_JmY3J2OObeW4tFYweS5dFsjxCRLx13qJRgSk3EIJt5cF-XF20Ibfsl-s4YKHtGpOAoWJcjmzjnoxXThZQf8MHipafLna9JVP_9Bj6rlbnBa742TTLKXBpU/s320/IMAG0039.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We were so tightly packed in that we couldn't even open our slide all the way.</span></i></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thankfully, despite the RV Resort being awful, our trip to Sanibel was wonderful. I'll post that by itself...I wouldn't want to taint the good with the bad!!!<br />
<br />
<i>*As a final note, on the morning we were to pull out, we could not. We were so crammed with RVs, cars, tables, dogs, and tight roads that we simply couldn't get out. We were near desperate and ready to just walk away and forget it all...when two very nice employees stopped to help us. Without them we simply could not have gotten out. So to Kevin and George, the bright spots on the otherwise dim view of this Encore Resort in Ft. Myers...we thank you! </i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-63499364553008021182016-01-28T07:26:00.002-08:002016-01-28T07:26:44.670-08:00Myakka River State Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRs_QB4CrwJ4FOhwmCpwvWNbmhywcGvNbOr3sd54Uzq3jTPtKEsn5qf7iEydU9UvEtaofukQDcBw5elKrjJAbz2xbjwVzZPPIoYo10aSKuBEbWB-q7psqFInuJ_2fTw5Uj5GronVGSZ0/s1600/IMAG0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRs_QB4CrwJ4FOhwmCpwvWNbmhywcGvNbOr3sd54Uzq3jTPtKEsn5qf7iEydU9UvEtaofukQDcBw5elKrjJAbz2xbjwVzZPPIoYo10aSKuBEbWB-q7psqFInuJ_2fTw5Uj5GronVGSZ0/s640/IMAG0010.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Myakka is basically a swamp or prarie, or both...depending on what time of year you visit. Mostly it was a swamp, including our campsite. I remember hearing a story of John Muir taking off across the country, and when he got to this swampy area in the south he contracted a horrible illness and nearly died. I don't remember where exactly this area was, but I could certainly picture it being here.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp194irG1s_-5hgu4rWXM-AdKewyW21w1tAGyJXCHIpWNQ6t6qEDGUKKk_ER4emvzem2nwRHclBwjXT615LClzxu3d8R1CPPrGkzX4P2ly6w7pq-HkxZ1fzuXj5oRI6PBsEh8SWRbHlDA/s1600/IMAG0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp194irG1s_-5hgu4rWXM-AdKewyW21w1tAGyJXCHIpWNQ6t6qEDGUKKk_ER4emvzem2nwRHclBwjXT615LClzxu3d8R1CPPrGkzX4P2ly6w7pq-HkxZ1fzuXj5oRI6PBsEh8SWRbHlDA/s400/IMAG0005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qxIOu8RSIVYinfYBrdsICDuvVr4iYQ1xgUiYXpsF-1ixjMe9TNMA1sowgxH2W59clcc-AfAd4EW9pZXKfkpZTIEiptjBFfJQGhaxVWwQXrriYqWuE82da_eqTw2HRBFbrfq88sh-zMg/s1600/IMAG0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qxIOu8RSIVYinfYBrdsICDuvVr4iYQ1xgUiYXpsF-1ixjMe9TNMA1sowgxH2W59clcc-AfAd4EW9pZXKfkpZTIEiptjBFfJQGhaxVWwQXrriYqWuE82da_eqTw2HRBFbrfq88sh-zMg/s400/IMAG0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Watching for birds and looking super cool.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Now, that sounds like a didn't like it. Swamp, swamp, swamp...blah blah blah. And that isn't a fair picture, because I REALLY liked it. Not that I'm partial to swamps in general, but it's one of the first places in Florida where you could just relax and be in nature. There was plenty to do, including just hanging out at your campsite. (not every campground is like that, as you will see in one of my upcoming posts)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr4lnk4FMXPoskg4MO5z9O6wxkBIky5USycF5pDGkaYgsMfIGMWc1caLZQXHwsMgpuDkAZusv1YJ1fZZ1C_D0khynNvTdrCXg3KHYLV20Ge827XsMXFCzVbeWN68IhGV7DgSPxwjvdbo/s1600/IMAG0031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAr4lnk4FMXPoskg4MO5z9O6wxkBIky5USycF5pDGkaYgsMfIGMWc1caLZQXHwsMgpuDkAZusv1YJ1fZZ1C_D0khynNvTdrCXg3KHYLV20Ge827XsMXFCzVbeWN68IhGV7DgSPxwjvdbo/s320/IMAG0031.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you look close you can see the three alligators!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We walked, biked, birded, saw alligators, went to the visitors center, watched a man net a bunch of invasive fish, hung out in our hammocks, read, relaxed...we just chilled. These are the kinds of parks I like the best because they lend themselves to the art of being not-busy, which, as a great side effect has taught us how to unschool. (We are still schooling as well, though in no regularly defined schedule of time) But the point of unschooling is to let the world be your inspiration, and learn not because someone is making you, but because you want to. Parks like this are perfect for that...we stop at every sign and give it's due. We learned to differentiate between a palmetto palm and a palm tree palm. We learned about the invasive tilapia problem, and watched a fisherman yank out 5 or more fish per net throw! We learned how to tell the difference between an alligator and a crocodile and about the importance of burning the forest every once in a while to let new growth set in. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMQ8cOEHJFUrrfj51wsVbi7YARnjqvEJc_SJt7mcaEb6mt9g0Nm7lxKNmfkYcHL9ith946yHx_jgrwoPx3ivpSsuCj1NDgCiVgIoULCWHhtEO6RuCGeQtCkxVqx3WisaMyyVuXSNO_U8/s1600/IMAG0036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMQ8cOEHJFUrrfj51wsVbi7YARnjqvEJc_SJt7mcaEb6mt9g0Nm7lxKNmfkYcHL9ith946yHx_jgrwoPx3ivpSsuCj1NDgCiVgIoULCWHhtEO6RuCGeQtCkxVqx3WisaMyyVuXSNO_U8/s320/IMAG0036.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The canopy walk allowed you to see above the entire park.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZVHW7Y6bJ7p2zGWIRmM2YVUlxhQORMondDVcZb3ynjn4o3AmX76s0Pp3SprkLtdaeAA_LC6ENmN65-8pEf-dXWNNjUcFWWA7UoxDSo-yUIxnWzkUihiam4EiHSl12Y-g7eWSt4f9L8I/s1600/IMAG0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZVHW7Y6bJ7p2zGWIRmM2YVUlxhQORMondDVcZb3ynjn4o3AmX76s0Pp3SprkLtdaeAA_LC6ENmN65-8pEf-dXWNNjUcFWWA7UoxDSo-yUIxnWzkUihiam4EiHSl12Y-g7eWSt4f9L8I/s320/IMAG0038.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">We had to walk through 5 inches of mud and muck, </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">and then up 5 flights of stairs, but it was worth it for the view.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I especially love that my kids get really into this stuff. We watched every documentary the visitors station offered. We spent hours looking for, and identifying birds on the bird boardwalk. (By the end, most of the other visitors would stand by Laurel and wait for her to identify them)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i7jJ2dacK_tmklQO6088rwxqrStjL4mDQ5Tn9rS3J5DEc-nfmMBkBo25J9Qair0P2yFqgQxUiGtDMBCiktApPnWOJ_9HDxnWS4g0JAupFvRAkdbWBSrstdMn4Zg3KoQCgMaRErulWI4/s1600/IMAG0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2i7jJ2dacK_tmklQO6088rwxqrStjL4mDQ5Tn9rS3J5DEc-nfmMBkBo25J9Qair0P2yFqgQxUiGtDMBCiktApPnWOJ_9HDxnWS4g0JAupFvRAkdbWBSrstdMn4Zg3KoQCgMaRErulWI4/s400/IMAG0012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Despite the mud, and the smell, and the bugs...this was one of my favorite parks so far. (And just so you know, it is certainly not just us...it was VERY crowded in the visitor areas, the campground was filled, and the ranger said they are one of the busiest parks in Florida. But despite that, there was room for all and it was really lovely.)</div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-31826221693821373092016-01-14T15:06:00.002-08:002016-01-14T15:06:14.769-08:008 Years of Unbridled Boy<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
I can't believe that my baby is 8. His body is stretching, lengthening and broadening. And I just can't believe that this witty and athletic young man was once my chubby bumbling baby.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZdJVA6cY526w5I2nqu9XiRUjYXetNTBOAC-9mipzuu-NCAD0LRnsnVxNE7ZWuOSnbh21bmCm6qN7fUrLr3s3oaY6uc9V2E5-u4lQrl9HCuLAsx40P-Xu16UXRv95OUNZ6ps8FSJa8VY/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYZdJVA6cY526w5I2nqu9XiRUjYXetNTBOAC-9mipzuu-NCAD0LRnsnVxNE7ZWuOSnbh21bmCm6qN7fUrLr3s3oaY6uc9V2E5-u4lQrl9HCuLAsx40P-Xu16UXRv95OUNZ6ps8FSJa8VY/s320/IMG_2176.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">His walk around the sun had to be a walk around </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">the camper-kitchen due to high winds outside.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He is constantly testing his independence (and my patience), but still wakes early every morning to snuggle with me. I cherish every morning snuggle, knowing that at any time this can end.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QwGuBgXe6PHnkPcik3I18_8UCTrF3bt_YZ-y7MRy4Q-kyC4UKDwDYFhrpgDm895VZjnHOHLGeOvlUp3tr4FMQz15oz8lNWiG0F6AJzXYmcJLwWk4O-OhkBMriyVTdBs1Yhrsjy8Xbkk/s1600/IMG_2163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2QwGuBgXe6PHnkPcik3I18_8UCTrF3bt_YZ-y7MRy4Q-kyC4UKDwDYFhrpgDm895VZjnHOHLGeOvlUp3tr4FMQz15oz8lNWiG0F6AJzXYmcJLwWk4O-OhkBMriyVTdBs1Yhrsjy8Xbkk/s320/IMG_2163.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Trying and mastering his new Ripstik he got </span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">for his birthday.</span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Uayme0hmCJuxt-nzlVCAyvzQlTOHgB00xaZchg-Vu-WoW5du3KtTleub5WZNyT7DDNg4XtC6_qAVf-go_iiWVe3YrLEPh5NMsHi46wXmetdcMhAU12oSb8WUBgh4_ih3p2ba73NDCo8/s1600/IMG_2166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Uayme0hmCJuxt-nzlVCAyvzQlTOHgB00xaZchg-Vu-WoW5du3KtTleub5WZNyT7DDNg4XtC6_qAVf-go_iiWVe3YrLEPh5NMsHi46wXmetdcMhAU12oSb8WUBgh4_ih3p2ba73NDCo8/s320/IMG_2166.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(almost)</span></i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
On this, your eighth birthday, you have floppy hair, a short temper, a big heart and lots and lots of energy. You love Harry Potter, Minecraft, Playmobil and sketching. You play guitar like a rock star, and write lyrics for your band (that currently includes only you and me).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3ziaeM0OAwUgsPmaqvDlwj1F8nTTzrXzqAQHdLIYtN-osyBEu9cs1fHTJP8BhIC4YeNTXeviZbvofSerTVWFEvy4nKnYqDB7BKHDk_vGec6JvkWreIIZkm0PJWtFGMNC0UAafaiGk7A/s1600/IMG_2167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3ziaeM0OAwUgsPmaqvDlwj1F8nTTzrXzqAQHdLIYtN-osyBEu9cs1fHTJP8BhIC4YeNTXeviZbvofSerTVWFEvy4nKnYqDB7BKHDk_vGec6JvkWreIIZkm0PJWtFGMNC0UAafaiGk7A/s320/IMG_2167.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Luke and Laurel decorated the camper for the party.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5XpD1V-VfQZxPpcoZErkHEYba8TPD2p-bH1ccK0j8rvSOrW6W5U9bfaGXbBC9ltHy1ddcBrxC-lwvuxvHO6vuH-8uM4MOQcF_xJ5Ea96il_BJ0-FUWw9BkZq5iR1ViCeaUiM6AjOAyk/s1600/IMG_2172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5XpD1V-VfQZxPpcoZErkHEYba8TPD2p-bH1ccK0j8rvSOrW6W5U9bfaGXbBC9ltHy1ddcBrxC-lwvuxvHO6vuH-8uM4MOQcF_xJ5Ea96il_BJ0-FUWw9BkZq5iR1ViCeaUiM6AjOAyk/s320/IMG_2172.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Laurel surprised him with a Minecraft Birthday, </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>complete with Creeper cake that she made herself.</i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0AhzAgQ8LF9b9KEHCHdvolzM1hNzA9rAQhB8b3vd7a3-O2TnSFCXKTCvMLFwyYhJgDOAUMPqhOG58tDyEPo5wpwI0y5roWOA_RicqvLtcpHZC6i_vunSq5fB6Hd-nZAsDn-P3901sdE/s1600/IMG_2173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0AhzAgQ8LF9b9KEHCHdvolzM1hNzA9rAQhB8b3vd7a3-O2TnSFCXKTCvMLFwyYhJgDOAUMPqhOG58tDyEPo5wpwI0y5roWOA_RicqvLtcpHZC6i_vunSq5fB6Hd-nZAsDn-P3901sdE/s320/IMG_2173.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">He wanted a salad bar for his birthday dinner.</span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You picked Florida for your birthday because you wanted to see Winter the dolphin again. I know that before long you will be grown, and those things won't be so awesome anymore. (And I'm so very glad that you aren't quite there yet.)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtXWjKH2dXetm1jReaK69Xe8x4XntZ8XhUk-RyKGk4moB-GsvDqpnlGmsZVbC_9zWaRuDu9SWyBmmu3ojDPoHkMKgzoUJWUgqEIG9h_5L_DDhXjM0DDt-P0bpCg4i4HrEHRrAUoJt3iQ/s1600/IMG_2186.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtXWjKH2dXetm1jReaK69Xe8x4XntZ8XhUk-RyKGk4moB-GsvDqpnlGmsZVbC_9zWaRuDu9SWyBmmu3ojDPoHkMKgzoUJWUgqEIG9h_5L_DDhXjM0DDt-P0bpCg4i4HrEHRrAUoJt3iQ/s320/IMG_2186.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Birthday my sweet baby.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERLV6dbphfLWlB-fntdM7tabJnxchDtsbSwzCOf-egGKSMX0zB5frw6XF-RSdCU67BUESEjcX3YZmlNrzgS00DBZ4UjEOCIlkaIRrhgTGA2cYE43bHtdb0q-qtjoZnREc3GKMP9r2M9Q/s1600/IMG_2195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERLV6dbphfLWlB-fntdM7tabJnxchDtsbSwzCOf-egGKSMX0zB5frw6XF-RSdCU67BUESEjcX3YZmlNrzgS00DBZ4UjEOCIlkaIRrhgTGA2cYE43bHtdb0q-qtjoZnREc3GKMP9r2M9Q/s320/IMG_2195.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-35871398154755508992016-01-08T15:11:00.000-08:002016-01-14T15:12:14.238-08:00Alafia River State Park <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFHzaJNpuYYlN_rvXjsIfHMvUd1MNVeNJS1rytxVq4DIYx9BfXSVy6XvIo5emVztGN_-jHXD62Y-FpPjolcrfnFxH8EHhxaHru6gVds-jb1ztkbNqcO2bPe0AL3BPKxO2rjT1F3fjyNU/s1600/IMG_2130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOFHzaJNpuYYlN_rvXjsIfHMvUd1MNVeNJS1rytxVq4DIYx9BfXSVy6XvIo5emVztGN_-jHXD62Y-FpPjolcrfnFxH8EHhxaHru6gVds-jb1ztkbNqcO2bPe0AL3BPKxO2rjT1F3fjyNU/s320/IMG_2130.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I made the reservation for this park a year ago, and honestly couldn't remember what was supposed to be special about it. (every park seems to have something it's known for) On day one we set out for a quick trip to the store...and came back 8 hours later. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4-6LueaFmlrrx53cQOQRlHjHuWtOa-qJUD1Bufr7OStdq2T8E-tLAr7Qt70EshGpFsP7NQF2H3JHO-Fd0PfFN3eXMs1PUHAgSIySLdPCVzGb2slfVzHdj0blZtrPlOqs_V-kCO1yOuE/s1600/IMG_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi4-6LueaFmlrrx53cQOQRlHjHuWtOa-qJUD1Bufr7OStdq2T8E-tLAr7Qt70EshGpFsP7NQF2H3JHO-Fd0PfFN3eXMs1PUHAgSIySLdPCVzGb2slfVzHdj0blZtrPlOqs_V-kCO1yOuE/s320/IMG_2131.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
So it wasn't until the next day when we took the bikes out to see what was around that I remembered...it's popular for it's mountain bike trails! We spent the next few days testing our biking abilities on the easier trails in the park. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvrcToKBzx5vaXsncH4nPKfkxsjVmZW6qv7nMsF03UVhMnfxu3EdVX7sJBduWa1m0SDmdY1EL_nICT2mS8wCebopgKzr1K9ezyWO9UgM-pGD_oGpPk_piIaOn1oigv5fKPEq3arCqTcA/s1600/IMG_2132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCvrcToKBzx5vaXsncH4nPKfkxsjVmZW6qv7nMsF03UVhMnfxu3EdVX7sJBduWa1m0SDmdY1EL_nICT2mS8wCebopgKzr1K9ezyWO9UgM-pGD_oGpPk_piIaOn1oigv5fKPEq3arCqTcA/s320/IMG_2132.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also saw an alligator, and watched a turtle lay eggs. So all in all...it was a pretty awesome week. (We also got to watch the new Star Wars movie, so, yeah...we were pretty happy folks)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEareo2oc2-DfAQlzmkBOd-wmziZdmA1AnBmlgBzfdNJLXd3_fJCG3hlOEaagZ3Er6pbLbdjA8C_Am6mgDh2WTxb5c52-OJkmOaF5vzwp3XvkehDHnF6GQDpN2oATVQNSSklJ0ndFCzGE/s1600/IMG_2148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEareo2oc2-DfAQlzmkBOd-wmziZdmA1AnBmlgBzfdNJLXd3_fJCG3hlOEaagZ3Er6pbLbdjA8C_Am6mgDh2WTxb5c52-OJkmOaF5vzwp3XvkehDHnF6GQDpN2oATVQNSSklJ0ndFCzGE/s320/IMG_2148.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-56897375502688345592016-01-01T10:10:00.000-08:002016-01-01T10:10:31.147-08:00Stone Mountain Christmas<br />
We actually stayed at Stone Mountain twice in December. It was our very first stop with our camper. That being the case, we didn't want to be far away from my parents, Wal-mart and a camper place. (You never know, right?) We nearly hit a tree, we were able to <i>mostly</i> level the camper, and it was <b>really</b> cold...so we learned we needed a space heater. All in all, we did ok I think.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DCncISTX-IxO8kAO5BIL2iVWqWguRwSyc1gm2fQB-PviTCutyiAFF_-isCznS2V283-UnS1LbWhojKfQDdffMKyG1oxCOxRdJG83aNdLoRZlCRqoYhTLI7cf2WHq_LDR23v7qSYMPXQ/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6DCncISTX-IxO8kAO5BIL2iVWqWguRwSyc1gm2fQB-PviTCutyiAFF_-isCznS2V283-UnS1LbWhojKfQDdffMKyG1oxCOxRdJG83aNdLoRZlCRqoYhTLI7cf2WHq_LDR23v7qSYMPXQ/s320/IMG_1121.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
About a week after our first stay, we came back. This time it was much warmer, we did not almost hit a tree and we were able to completely level it, despite being in a very unlevel spot. What a difference a week makes. (It was also the first time we had to <i>dump</i> the camper...that was it's own experience.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC4CzQTjw4vNBZEzoC065jXAHxfZvURBmP_cYeiX93f50FiAeWtk-0SEnAqOlg8bDhTzJy9caf2PMMDiikub8oFUt5UZtN7hBIDpFeb4sqUAos25YdA9_Qo4iG4kVJaecl2HeGnFo9-4/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC4CzQTjw4vNBZEzoC065jXAHxfZvURBmP_cYeiX93f50FiAeWtk-0SEnAqOlg8bDhTzJy9caf2PMMDiikub8oFUt5UZtN7hBIDpFeb4sqUAos25YdA9_Qo4iG4kVJaecl2HeGnFo9-4/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This time we did the Christmas package, which allows you to do almost everything in Stone Mountain Park for one price. We did EVERYTHING. We took the skyride up to the top of the mountain, we toured the plantation, we went to the Christmas Village and played and ate and bought candy at the old fashioned candy store. You'd think the train or the 4D theater would have been the favorites, but no, not my kids. They preferred the plantation. In particular, the barnyard on the plantation. They got to tour the antebellum homes, do some antebellum era holiday crafts, pet the animals in the working farm, see the garden (still growing, thanks to Georgia and it's warm winters).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiik5l3KGhUeygVoaotmVjvVgG3iosVUGAhyphenhyphenAO9FroK5rsRAm2lKlyJ4-ed4X2PBFtXQEVZ0FDmY6rhqBKrPSu6d0ulUTvgsZq0KhTi2DU0tWrPVNRywMWnB-GgAWp3f3O2888bUF-3_ig/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiik5l3KGhUeygVoaotmVjvVgG3iosVUGAhyphenhyphenAO9FroK5rsRAm2lKlyJ4-ed4X2PBFtXQEVZ0FDmY6rhqBKrPSu6d0ulUTvgsZq0KhTi2DU0tWrPVNRywMWnB-GgAWp3f3O2888bUF-3_ig/s320/IMG_2027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdZYxWzmBy9kHsOo6IEXQd8m4No71_Ew7VITmHDzpFQXbsdRsTMJj60uJpUrrULpwA4PmYJgZpcnlU9hyHFrhHzOxdUbCALXZq3vBV5spWWPkHHM5muCcGytmHvuuDd_SVmplXRtmU7c/s1600/IMG_2029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKdZYxWzmBy9kHsOo6IEXQd8m4No71_Ew7VITmHDzpFQXbsdRsTMJj60uJpUrrULpwA4PmYJgZpcnlU9hyHFrhHzOxdUbCALXZq3vBV5spWWPkHHM5muCcGytmHvuuDd_SVmplXRtmU7c/s320/IMG_2029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysslLCJdNc4RxmJosLrDAXrgGGUDkce2JhmIpcZmpBZg1Z_ZTwLo8KWkwpf94GHD1905fOTr-8nqzZYUhgDrl6e2OhjS1VATRHl4Ypa4LgpV7nS5BUWKnosxl21kbuVYHtHW2BjjRW4g/s1600/IMG_2032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgysslLCJdNc4RxmJosLrDAXrgGGUDkce2JhmIpcZmpBZg1Z_ZTwLo8KWkwpf94GHD1905fOTr-8nqzZYUhgDrl6e2OhjS1VATRHl4Ypa4LgpV7nS5BUWKnosxl21kbuVYHtHW2BjjRW4g/s320/IMG_2032.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The only thing we skipped was Snow Mountain, which is where they turn the big grassy slope from the summer laser show into a sledding course. The cost was not worth it. The reviews were AWFUL. Look it up online, it's a wonder it's even in business still! But everything else was great, and we had a blast, and we went on a Friday avoiding most of the crowds that came on Saturday. And boy did they come...the front gate was 20-30 cars deep all day long.<br />
<br />
At night you can go back to the Christmas Village and see the thousands of lights, including Snowflake Lane that you can drive through. It really was lovely. The campground was ok, thankfully we went at an off time. If it was busy, I can't even imagine how crammed in you would feel. But we were right on the lake, and it was quiet and peaceful.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDehXdZ9pmjXsK_gZCBK5NSkF319KWmkS4JihA2LNqVoaKa9paFv2erztjEVvhQR6UodecasFtIfCJ-RzI8APiuCaTzoH37weMaH26y37Yd3kRakwuG8pJ0ZuB7Nns-hYhz8q_TyVVDio/s1600/IMG_2016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDehXdZ9pmjXsK_gZCBK5NSkF319KWmkS4JihA2LNqVoaKa9paFv2erztjEVvhQR6UodecasFtIfCJ-RzI8APiuCaTzoH37weMaH26y37Yd3kRakwuG8pJ0ZuB7Nns-hYhz8q_TyVVDio/s320/IMG_2016.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjJgSSyfxlR_s3JqRfTOHEz7SMrOX5EQIESW8EGqrLawZ7EylQ24dU9HTVLxBW55i4TsrC-MBKwEN8alk8aqmfMBCo7d_Tu6YqAjJgEBwvsv36VIVBWdHeQfEqp472fUxDPoRn5TlUw4/s1600/IMG_2025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIjJgSSyfxlR_s3JqRfTOHEz7SMrOX5EQIESW8EGqrLawZ7EylQ24dU9HTVLxBW55i4TsrC-MBKwEN8alk8aqmfMBCo7d_Tu6YqAjJgEBwvsv36VIVBWdHeQfEqp472fUxDPoRn5TlUw4/s320/IMG_2025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-77113788516048228462015-12-16T06:13:00.000-08:002015-12-16T06:13:55.206-08:00Edisto Beach<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfw2BGcCpgpOdrkrXHDa0G7Kz2dAh7QBm57GorZACiSo5QDdXn44xZhng09XOBPQvXYMwqObmaKEQVnKasPK9q_giJ4qRqKI79SM_FNQJwjY5S4fpwXrgnO1HHEBqpQmwvHB_CX-widk/s1600/IMG_1959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfw2BGcCpgpOdrkrXHDa0G7Kz2dAh7QBm57GorZACiSo5QDdXn44xZhng09XOBPQvXYMwqObmaKEQVnKasPK9q_giJ4qRqKI79SM_FNQJwjY5S4fpwXrgnO1HHEBqpQmwvHB_CX-widk/s400/IMG_1959.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I love State Parks.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrloObTIyUi56zqj1EoPLHC8j9tVu-90prAi5C0T1f8G3ttxvYu3wCL4z4xA_ByJcS788sLrL8QxE3xF4WRZRTnUt9IXXCt_f3y86p_aoYV_B8dwenyRX3jYLObVtUBFZnmKu6_KY-nE/s1600/IMG_1154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrloObTIyUi56zqj1EoPLHC8j9tVu-90prAi5C0T1f8G3ttxvYu3wCL4z4xA_ByJcS788sLrL8QxE3xF4WRZRTnUt9IXXCt_f3y86p_aoYV_B8dwenyRX3jYLObVtUBFZnmKu6_KY-nE/s400/IMG_1154.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I do. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPrW_D6X8rlf9_7mSs1zdHKYV1oBsp1TcJeCyKLWAav30TX4CtKiacIoyD-402UwZnJCp2LvPcsUrqcVEIxr501rlRFPtr5Fx96ZAH3wkFnTGzHC3_fqFIMfM6WDToWB1h_s4IoWbBSA/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPrW_D6X8rlf9_7mSs1zdHKYV1oBsp1TcJeCyKLWAav30TX4CtKiacIoyD-402UwZnJCp2LvPcsUrqcVEIxr501rlRFPtr5Fx96ZAH3wkFnTGzHC3_fqFIMfM6WDToWB1h_s4IoWbBSA/s400/IMG_1946.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't think I've ever been at one I didn't like. They're small, well managed, quiet and unique. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDf-rxo7CfMp8_JanJmGK1ov8NGTh16k5jSlN7ciDvzN4jXYj4w3caYQBOeT2QztTwb7Nzo_rt6dBqLWeh8n1Fu3l5ydq3u2mYMHgCF5DK3aCDS4EQeIwBV_i6iCgNKT_XHwcgR10xAA/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDf-rxo7CfMp8_JanJmGK1ov8NGTh16k5jSlN7ciDvzN4jXYj4w3caYQBOeT2QztTwb7Nzo_rt6dBqLWeh8n1Fu3l5ydq3u2mYMHgCF5DK3aCDS4EQeIwBV_i6iCgNKT_XHwcgR10xAA/s400/IMG_1953.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Edisto Beach State Park in South Carolina was no exception.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajgphGSWmmO1f_lpDdS8wN2Z2kdMppwi9uVwZzeydBHjuc614nTzMHwpz_nb1TRsoflFYoP11kPZtFBH6Ktz34wUaCS6NMZTN9ziEOWHRCKwxXM99Q08_gBeOb9on8Zvy6llJVqQ-osU/s1600/IMG_1156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajgphGSWmmO1f_lpDdS8wN2Z2kdMppwi9uVwZzeydBHjuc614nTzMHwpz_nb1TRsoflFYoP11kPZtFBH6Ktz34wUaCS6NMZTN9ziEOWHRCKwxXM99Q08_gBeOb9on8Zvy6llJVqQ-osU/s400/IMG_1156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We pulled in at dusk and had a hard time getting into our campsite...this is when we said we'd never set up in the dark again. After some struggling, we got it in and set up. We knew we must be close to the beach because we could hear the surf crashing, but all we could see behind us was wetlands. In the morning when we woke up and went exploring to find the sea, it turns out we were right next to it. Long gorgeous empty beach with crashing waves, soft sand, sand dollars, big whelk shells...we spent hours every single day just walking and exploring the beach. (and I will add we found something new each time)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3BoQeyhROKA7WmjaWC_dBXTOsFJOwuHmqps0GsHKYjBZ5mudmFJJUcgBmiqb_eiTTD-oZ1ggLiDBU2sSxWwiVU05eigMWuVG2EQy6Chz3zAeV2_baSuo-X039xBW24D4Bu4H18izI9c/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3BoQeyhROKA7WmjaWC_dBXTOsFJOwuHmqps0GsHKYjBZ5mudmFJJUcgBmiqb_eiTTD-oZ1ggLiDBU2sSxWwiVU05eigMWuVG2EQy6Chz3zAeV2_baSuo-X039xBW24D4Bu4H18izI9c/s400/IMG_1960.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The kids were amazed by the palm trees and large moss covered oaks, and it fit right into Laurel's very first Oak Meadow school lesson. We even found some clay deposits in the sand and collected some to try our hand at making some homemade pottery.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZANcyNEFlF2pvW38aQOD_ErOQMTPEvRGh3Yk-8-tq3vKeCJYQzkIRzQYjxzJCR1W4GepA8Qdofybag7SRibxeJ1g2dNkYG41ZIH2Y5ENoguIZOCfWs32VeitQ_IFDqRE0KJdh4KI6KvQ/s1600/IMG_1160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZANcyNEFlF2pvW38aQOD_ErOQMTPEvRGh3Yk-8-tq3vKeCJYQzkIRzQYjxzJCR1W4GepA8Qdofybag7SRibxeJ1g2dNkYG41ZIH2Y5ENoguIZOCfWs32VeitQ_IFDqRE0KJdh4KI6KvQ/s400/IMG_1160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The campground had people, but was not nearly full, which made it feel homey without feeling overcrowded. The bathrooms were nice, the staff was helpful. The only two downsides, which just come with the territory;are that the drinking water was salt water (I had salt water coffee for 4 days...just FYI...not good) and there are no laundry facilities in the park, or on the island. In fact the closest laundry was nearly an hour away. (Therefore we skipped laundry and decided to go beach chic...which basically meant re-wearing clothes, or skipping certain layers...who REALLY <i>needs</i> underpants?!?!) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Hey, when in Rome, right?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvraayaQ2U87Axt3-BlXMG0HgNkl8hoYWhUl_oUDBf1uqa5GJJ_7CZJYiYIqOYI1SLAR8WEQIfH9NwlMbCU4RtmvUoGHi_n9K1oK0UotgpDV4fZQuDgFzQqLrbNtPLj4ONak7vsfia3xo/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvraayaQ2U87Axt3-BlXMG0HgNkl8hoYWhUl_oUDBf1uqa5GJJ_7CZJYiYIqOYI1SLAR8WEQIfH9NwlMbCU4RtmvUoGHi_n9K1oK0UotgpDV4fZQuDgFzQqLrbNtPLj4ONak7vsfia3xo/s400/IMG_1974.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I gotta tell you, I love a winter beach. That summer sun and vacation crowds...you can keep them. I prefer quiet solitude and a gray sky. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWffB_UZcNsPpawjaicsZdfZkXLxP5m1MMVKRy59WH5Xm9lDn_IpLepdE3My6QSrmCCKJPFL4jgCuOZMnZwEKgAwHyh5Ya9T0IKx6tk1PxCHjfEitq0wgalexdxN99wTLMgrZd8lJXuQ/s1600/IMG_1967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdWffB_UZcNsPpawjaicsZdfZkXLxP5m1MMVKRy59WH5Xm9lDn_IpLepdE3My6QSrmCCKJPFL4jgCuOZMnZwEKgAwHyh5Ya9T0IKx6tk1PxCHjfEitq0wgalexdxN99wTLMgrZd8lJXuQ/s640/IMG_1967.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-55544746026107107182015-12-09T06:55:00.000-08:002015-12-09T06:55:17.657-08:00Ferry Time<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I realize we've been...off the grid...since we left Alaska.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Sorry</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Partly I think it was emotional space that I needed as we transitioned from one life to another, and partly I just didn't have technology and/or internet at the same time. (Plus I'm having to use the kids' cameras and Jon's computer...so nothing seems simple right now!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
First things first.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The ferry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7CsSYuYFZ12n0JKRLnLvTz9FJXplXuuLPwNzRHPqBohM_03SkIeLWljxO1VOK2NfbsxnEc1yjXYCiPIl7KisOTxM4T2s3IKZq53nwhRGd7uBWGFcN4xgXoCNlEooRlkr_36M6BRpg08/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7CsSYuYFZ12n0JKRLnLvTz9FJXplXuuLPwNzRHPqBohM_03SkIeLWljxO1VOK2NfbsxnEc1yjXYCiPIl7KisOTxM4T2s3IKZq53nwhRGd7uBWGFcN4xgXoCNlEooRlkr_36M6BRpg08/s1600/IMG_1042.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have never had such a traumatic/wonderful/emotional/difficult goodbye as the day we got on the ferry. Our friends came and met us and there was playing, hugging, crying and laughing simultaneously. Then there was that last few minutes, standing on top of the ferry, watching Ketchikan (and our friends) slip away.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYK1x0ZYTuNHDa8XU_1hyphenhyphenrwP7AJ2bXaNrffvqO2mJwDVUy-k-5JVKt-EQrSzZ5-Z8eT8dXgCzXcEQ6mq0m5APYt-Fg7gvxd5HAN9PC4tlnpfbKAvF_GjJEvvV3t6QADUmho2vhsmL6bM/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYK1x0ZYTuNHDa8XU_1hyphenhyphenrwP7AJ2bXaNrffvqO2mJwDVUy-k-5JVKt-EQrSzZ5-Z8eT8dXgCzXcEQ6mq0m5APYt-Fg7gvxd5HAN9PC4tlnpfbKAvF_GjJEvvV3t6QADUmho2vhsmL6bM/s1600/IMG_1046.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Talk about <i>emotionally exhausting</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjUt3ePHmAtwWbWydT8nnxOYo6krqD4HvR-wbXu0lXccfRxTSmBZLaBa_NCgE4JGw_dEc56Faib_s0LgonAzO4V71OKg6duRpqAw0qVrApL_SzOktn863-GolKCbyvQE-jCQMnuyKjME/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVjUt3ePHmAtwWbWydT8nnxOYo6krqD4HvR-wbXu0lXccfRxTSmBZLaBa_NCgE4JGw_dEc56Faib_s0LgonAzO4V71OKg6duRpqAw0qVrApL_SzOktn863-GolKCbyvQE-jCQMnuyKjME/s1600/IMG_1867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank goodness there is absolutely NOTHING TO DO on the ferry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKy94Yfs-Jhdc12_SYzljE1ZX_d71h5ayLtAQz56FUYgrrZfHIiOB1fqwxVADtdIFb4VcrTdGd4lHsPVTN-sSS-Vw7xXnfFIURZf43DsD_iQPP1fSsDJcCtkWnBDTQpBcd9FjkTDKuVo/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKy94Yfs-Jhdc12_SYzljE1ZX_d71h5ayLtAQz56FUYgrrZfHIiOB1fqwxVADtdIFb4VcrTdGd4lHsPVTN-sSS-Vw7xXnfFIURZf43DsD_iQPP1fSsDJcCtkWnBDTQpBcd9FjkTDKuVo/s400/IMG_1858.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9YebWnbvQLIi2ZtaNSQUEDnJPFfYh66RSzb2ooZMzcv_uL6WogchWOzV7dSafQx1kgDtLGUA2XoDQB0kHq3YKyE3O6zhtVPDFxdj5_1YHiUJHY1-ehj6q2lZxrUrKV6A84Yx0JdtPms/s1600/IMG_1860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH9YebWnbvQLIi2ZtaNSQUEDnJPFfYh66RSzb2ooZMzcv_uL6WogchWOzV7dSafQx1kgDtLGUA2XoDQB0kHq3YKyE3O6zhtVPDFxdj5_1YHiUJHY1-ehj6q2lZxrUrKV6A84Yx0JdtPms/s400/IMG_1860.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
When there is nothing to do, we do nothing. We played games, slept, ate, watched a documentary about the Alaska Marine Highway and generally just hung out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNJuemyrqkQFBiDBKuZRMjS76Qs3HANRHPP9I4LRudnfbjNApEUb_CwxQcY_RcBxivWNHRk1iVdK_PlPit7qtohSs3t1oeylArncflbcUaS7h3GFytQu_iHVfWfID00V6R_jNMyHMZRA/s1600/IMG_1871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNJuemyrqkQFBiDBKuZRMjS76Qs3HANRHPP9I4LRudnfbjNApEUb_CwxQcY_RcBxivWNHRk1iVdK_PlPit7qtohSs3t1oeylArncflbcUaS7h3GFytQu_iHVfWfID00V6R_jNMyHMZRA/s400/IMG_1871.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It was wonderful, and exactly what we needed after the hectic, emotionally charged and physically exhausting last couple of weeks we had in Alaska.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Since then we have traveled across the country, picked up the camper, had Thanksgiving with family, and started testing out our camping skills in Georgia and South Carolina. I will try to catch up with pictures and posts, and with any luck I will catch up to our current location soon. (I'll give you a hint though, there are loud waves and large shells... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8517129483260930802.post-5941511176708098782015-11-03T21:01:00.000-08:002015-11-03T21:01:03.434-08:00A love letter to Alaska<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
Dear Alaska,<br />
<br />
I love you. <br />
<br />
I love your beauty, your wildness, your sense of adventure and your people. I love that I don't have to be anyone but myself here. You don't care what kind of car I drive, what kind of shoes I wear, or whether my hair is in a ponytail. Because of you I stopped trying to hide behind makeup and found contentment with how I really look.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10985878_10153209376042070_8405900022703864098_n.jpg?oh=b569672375bc0cbd2efb647e4c20e4a5&oe=56CDE0F4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" border="0" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10985878_10153209376042070_8405900022703864098_n.jpg?oh=b569672375bc0cbd2efb647e4c20e4a5&oe=56CDE0F4" style="height: 520px; width: 286px;" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Holi Festival, Bugges Beach</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You have shown my children so many amazing things that they might never have seen. The beauty of this place is awe-inspiring, but equally awesome is the sense of community. There are so many events, classes, clubs and things-to-do that one can only be bored if they choose to be.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xpt1/v/t1.0-9/17994_10200128402439672_963111032_n.jpg?oh=00725abb82083c9ceb23902672539dd2&oe=56CA024E" style="height: 520px; width: 347px;" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Christmas Tree Hunting, Tongass National Forest</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/599812_653808221563_1722907324_n.jpg?oh=ced08625ab7ef20842b8841cdf6fe184&oe=56B13CE7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" border="0" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/v/t1.0-9/599812_653808221563_1722907324_n.jpg?oh=ced08625ab7ef20842b8841cdf6fe184&oe=56B13CE7" style="height: 520px; width: 390px;" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>Log-rolling Boys, Alaskan Lumber Jack Show</i></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/19883_10200406640185488_472408668_n.jpg?oh=0c52e503eb3bc8580f97103e29028e60&oe=56F8EF11" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" border="0" class="spotlight" height="340" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/19883_10200406640185488_472408668_n.jpg?oh=0c52e503eb3bc8580f97103e29028e60&oe=56F8EF11" style="height: 520px; width: 612px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<i>Blueberry Pie Eating Contest, Blueberry Festival</i><br />
<i><br /></i></div>
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/v/t1.0-9/537797_596754523667968_941157717_n.jpg?oh=e98f5a59729bb6dce40cc6c41fc9c7f2&oe=56C4F6A9" style="height: 440px; width: 660px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>99 Nails Earthday Beach Clean Up, Bugges Beach</i></div>
<br />
You have spoiled me for all others. I learned from you that I should bask in the beauty of nature every single day. I learned from you that when there is <i>nothing to do</i> your trees, rocks and sea provide all the fun we could need.<br />
<br />
<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" src="https://scontent-sjc2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/599990_4100117268133_1973716747_n.jpg?oh=b62a9163bc79a550ddb18dba79222c7a&oe=56BCFB71" style="height: 440px; width: 660px;" /><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Black Sands Beach</i></div>
<br />
I will never forget you, even if I never see you again...though I hope that isn't the case. My heart is always yours.<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
MeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01371345874170639509noreply@blogger.com5