Let's see about...

some updating over the next few days again, starting with the End of May. It's getting a bit dusty in here and starting to echo!

Current updates as of 7/25/09:

Take Me Out to the Mudcats!

Checking in...

A Warm Welcome Home

How Sweet the Rose

Exploring the Exquisite Biltmore Estate

Traveling on the Glorious Blue Ridge Parkway

Jumping into June

End of May

Take Me Out to the Mudcats!

Yes the Mudcats! We went on our annual Sunday School class outing to see them win!

Checking in...

~ June 11~

on the flower garden! Last time we took a peek (2nd pic down) they looked like this. And they've really grown from here! It's a good think i decided to move some of the plants out as several are trying to take over and don't even get me started on the morning glories! A lovely vine but it's going to easily win the battle if left alone. :)

A Warm Welcome Home

~June 10~
Aslan wasted no time is helping us unpack our bags from our trip!

How Sweet the Rose

On this date, 8 years ago...

Exploring the Exquisite Biltmore Estate

~June 8~

It was another beautiful day as we started out early to go exploring at the Biltmore again. This time we got to see several newly restored rooms which were just magnificent! And all the blooms were just brilliant throughout the gardens and trails. We ended out day by enjoying a wonderful dinner at the Bistro on the Estate with some friends that we meet up with from IL.

The grounds and gardens were so peaceful and gorgeous!

A poppy, one of my favorite flowers!
The Biltmore is full of wonderfully detailed stonework.
I love it! A whole pile of "shrimp"!
A view of the Conservatory.
A view of the house from the gardens.
They always have the most splendid assortment of orchids growing in the Conservatory.
These lily pads were full of cute lil' froggies!
Aren't they beautiful?
So many gorgeous flowers to see as you head into the Conservatory.
Ahhhh.... just so pretty and peaceful!
One last look...

Traveling on the Glorious Blue Ridge Parkway

~June 7~

I don't know if there is enough space for all I could say about the splendidly breathtaking beauty of traveling along the Blue Ridge Parkway, so I'll let the pictures do most of the talking.

There's the wondrous mountain top vista views,

and the quiet, peaceful mountain streams.
At times, you even drive into the clouds,
and through long, rocky mountaintop tunnels.
One can easily understand why they're called the Great Smoky Mountains.
There are tiny bits of beauty hidden everywhere you look.
You could stand all day, just soaking in the awesome majesty of it!
Or you could hike to the top of the highest eastern peak and call it a day as
you watch the road back down from the mountain top, disappear into the clouds.
Before long the clouds will cover all and

the sun will set on a truly spectacular day!

If you'd like more info:

National Park Service - Blue Ridge Parkway

Mountains of NC

Blue Ridge Foothills

Jumping into June

~June 6~

Headed off for our anniversary. In that, I wish!!!

~ June 5~

One of Andrew's many gadgets in the garage.

~June 4~

Yeah, I know. Kinda random, huh?
~June 3~

The morning glory vines are taking over!
~June 2~

Ending Mom's birthday with a lovely sunset. :)
~June 1~

Enjoying dinner outside by the light of the tikki torch.

The End of May

~May 31~

{Love} how this turned out! Those are morning glory tendrils

wrapping themselves around my hosta plant.

~May 30~

Big truck that belongs to a friend.

~May 29~

Surpise, surprise! Another flower closeup! :)

Week of May 22~28

~May 28~

This tree fuzz is blowing everywhere! It's so thick at times it seems like snow!

~May 27~

I happened upon one of the last wild raspberry blooms.
~May 26~

Rainy days are good for the flowers and they make pretty pictures too!
~May 25~

Memorial Day Strawberry and Banana Cream Pie! Yums!!
~May 24~

Taking a peek into the woods!
~May 23~

Didn't stay out very long with this threating sky overhead!
~May 22~

Raspberries are starting!

A bit behind....

Yikes! Yeah, looks like things have been piling up! So I'm going to do my best over the next few days to get it all sorted out and posted! And I just might "lump" April together into posts by the week to save on time... so stick around... more photos coming SOON!

ETA: Well we're a little more then half way through April now! Woo Hoo!!! Rest is coming!!!:)

Week of May 15~21

~May 21~

Aslan's at it again! Him and shoes!!!

~May 20~

See how our flower garden grows! Quite a bit since the April 10 pic!
~May 19~

The marigolds are doing well!
~May 18~

Mmmmmm.... Nothing like the awesome and fragrant smell of fresh growing basil.
~May 17~

Finding more wild strawberries popping up around the yard.
~May 16~

We have a huge bush in the woods that gets these large heads of tiny white blossoms on them. But stay back because they don't smell pretty!
~May 15~

We started the weekend off with participating in Relay for Life. It's a wonderful experience to get together with so many people for a common goal and in this case, overcoming and finding a cure for cancer. One of the most touching parts of Relay is the nighttime Luminaria Ceremony. People set these up in honor and in memory of those they know who have battled against cancer. They overwhelmingly lined the whole track.
Andrew, posing with some of our Relay for Life team. Thanks to all who supported our goal!

Week of May 8~14

~May 14~

Guess where I am? Had to grab lunch on the run. Not my favorite place but it had to do!

~May 13~

I picked up a shrimp plant at the Elizabethan Gardens last month. Look! It's growing shrimp!

~May 12~

Arghhhh!! Have I told you I hate roof leaks! ~May 11~

Does someone look guilty? He should! He's laying on fresh laundry, waiting to be folded!

~May 10~

One of the first wild strawberries in our yard.

~May 9~

ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!! We seem to have developed a roof leak!! Thank goodness for friends! ARGHHHHHH!!!!

~May 8~

This sweet little birdie crashed landed into my hanging basket last night. Now he's been hanging out in our tree. I can't believe he let me get so close to take his pic!

Week of May 1~7

~May 7~

Grabbed a quick dinner out at a favorite spot, Jason's Deli.

~May 6~

Ran into some of silly goose's friends! This time I was prepared!
~May 5~

These tiny sweet flowers seem to blanket our yard in places. Andrew calls them weeds, I call them tiny purples.
~May 4~

Mmmmmm.... Pasta salad for dinner!
~May 3~

Twilight outside a restaurant.
~May 2~

The raspberry blooms are back!
~May 1~

Wouldn't you know, I didn't have my camera with me when I meet this silly goose at lunchtime? Good thing for camera phones! I feed him some bread and this is how I left him. Parked in his space, waiting for the rain to stop!