Turquoise Shirt Day

It was "turquoise shirt day" in case you missed the memo.  And yes, that is the sun blaring through our curtains at 5pm-102 degrees today...UGH!!!

Happy 10th Anniversary!

Ten year ago today, Matt & I walked down the isle of Estes Chapel and said, "I Do". What an adventure we've been on since then!  

June 29, 2002

 June 2012

Our First Egg!

Mark the Calender: June 27th at 2:30pm we got our first egg!  I heard a bunch of commotion in the laying boxes so I waited until things quieted down and snuck a peek.   Sure enough, there was an egg!  I was so sure they wouldn't start laying until next week, when we will be away from the homestead, but no, they surprised me!  Way to go little, red hen!  (I haven't named anymore because they seem to die when I name them.)  I guess I have to start calling them hens now and as they are not "girls" anymore. 

Here she is telling me all about how hard it was to lay this thing.

Then I told her to tell her friends how to do the same thing.  

Such an obedient chicken!

10th Anniversary Adventure: Day Three

On day three of our anniversary adventure, we went to see some waterfalls in the DuPont State Forest.  One of our favorite movies is The Last of the Mohicans, and several scenes from the movie were filmed along this 2-mile stretch of the Little River.

These falls are called Triple Falls, for obvious reasons.

If you saw the movie, you might recognize these falls from the scene below:

"But the war is in the east.  How is it you are heading west?"

"Well, you face north, then real sudden-like turn left."

Matt enjoys the view

This waterfall is called High Falls.  It is the uppermost falls on this stretch of river.

Again, if you know the movie, you will recognize the rock face along the left side of the falls from the movie scene below.

Matt really wanted to reenact this scene, but climbing the rocks was strictly prohibited.

Amy as Katniss Everdeen.  The "arena" scenes from The Hunger Games was filmed in this forest.

Hooker falls is the lowest of the falls on this stretch of river.

You might recognize these falls from the canoe scene below:

We came across this waterfall in the Pisgah National Forest sorta by accident.  It was just off the side of the highway.

As we set our sights toward home, we took a bit of a detour to drive the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway.  The following are scenes from along the road.

Another self-portrait.  It's tough traveling alone.  (Also glorious.)

That windy road you see in the distance is the parkway.  Just breathtaking views.

As we neared the highest elevations of the parkway, the temperature dropped from near-90 to a gorgeous 61 degrees.

We could've spent all day stopping at overlooks and enjoying the views, but all good things must come to an end.  What a beautiful, relaxing couple of days.  Now back to your regularly scheduled posts about kids.

10th Anniversary Adventure: Day Two

After a lovely night's rest (we almost slept through the hotel's continental breakfast!), the day was set aside to visit the famous Biltmore Estate in Asheville.

This is the beautiful Episcopal Church in the Biltmore Village.  The bells across the front chimed the hour while we were sitting on a park bench outside, and it nearly left us deaf.

We had lunch with our friend Leah who lives nearby and was in Asheville for the day.  Leah was the first of several Asbury College students who have lived with us for brief stretches through the years, and it was great to catch up with her.

The Biltmore

I wouldn't mind waking up to that view, would you?

Those oddly shaped windows line the winding grand staircase of the mansion.

The terrace

A view of the Blue Ridge Mountains from the terrace

On to the gardens

Amy LOVES gardens.

The conservatory

Amy loved these double bloom, variegated geraniums. 

Succulents

Side note from Amy: This is only a fraction of the photos I look of the gardens.

Snowball bush

The Italian garden

Koi ponds

If you're a fan of the movie The Last of the Mohicans (as we are), you will recognize this bridge from the movie scene below:

Late in the day we headed over to the Biltmore Farm.

Amy tries out Edith Vanderbilt's Fordson tractor

Matt and Chester say hello.

Of course, Amy had to get a good picture of the chickens.

Another of Amy's favorite things:  the compost pile.

Amy poses in the Kitchen Garden...and begins making plans for her own plot back home.

We were worn out after a good 4 or 5 hours exploring the Biltmore Estate.  Time to head back to the hotel and soak the sore muscles in the jacuzzi!