A Hike To The Cascades

We took what was suppose to be a 4 mile round trip hike through the Cascades nature area in Pembroke Virginia on Friday.We hiked the lower trail in and the upper trail out.There were lots of stone steps and steep inclines going in on the lower trail and a rocky downhill hike coming back out.The pictures show the water coming down from the falls along the trail.The bottom picture is the falls in the distance.

The lower trail goes along a river and is so scenic.I took lots of picture along the way.We attempted the hike two years ago but due to time constraints we didn't make it too far in before we had to turn around.So glad we were able to make it to the falls this time.

The people we met along the way were all so kind and friendly.They would give us encouraging words.Some were using walking sticks.I need to get a walking stick.I know it would help on the steep steps and steep inclines going up and down.

It was in the upper 80's on Friday but in the forest it was nice and cool especially the closer we got to the falls since we were heading up to a higher elevation.We noticed as we continued walking down the trail from the falls it was getting warmer and warmer the closer we got to the parking area.

Here is a link to the area:

http://www.gilescounty.org/cascades.html

View From Hotel Room

These are pictures of the same view taken from our hotel room last week.The first picture was taken the afternoon that my husband,daughter and grandson went to the water park.I looked out and saw how dark it was so wanted to take a picture to show that I knew that they would be soon arriving back from the water park.The second picture was one of the sunsets and the last picture was taken on a clear day.There were thunderstorms off and on all last week when we were there.

Mountain Views from Blue Ridge Parkway In NC

On The Road Again.....

We just got back from another trip.This was an impromptu trip.Our daughter Kimberly wanted to go down to the Smoky Mountains Pigeon Forge area so went along and shared the costs.

It was a fun trip.We decided to stage another picture like the one we took last year.It is very hard to get our 3 year old granddaughter to sit still for a picture.I kept snapping pictures and hoping at least one would turn out.Her older brother Jeremy was holding on to her so she wouldn't get away but she managed to escape.

We did a few things on this trip that we had never done in that area.On Wednesday our daughter Kimberly,grandson Jeremy and hubby Ken went to the Dollywood Splash Country Water Park while I stayed with granddaughter Mariah.We knew that she was a little too daring to trust her around so much water and so many people.Mariah and I had a nice time together taking a walk and eating lunch out.Their water park excursion was cut a little short due to thunderstorms developing in the area.The three of them had a very nice time.It was in the 90's that day so it made for a great day at a water park.

Thursday evening daughter Kimberly and I went to a murder mystery dinner theater.The show was titled American Idle.Here is a link for the theater:

http://www.murder-mystery-theater.com/

Coming home we drove over the Great Smoky Mountains National and on to The Blue Ridge Parkway in Cherokee NC.The ride on the parkway was so relaxing.We got on at the southern most entrance to the parkway.We drove for about 5 miles before we saw another car.We are thinking that most people don't drive it all the way to the end in Cherokee NC.We got off of the parkway in Asheville NC.We were hoping to get a view of The Biltmore Estate.We got as close as to the entrance but never saw it.They charge around $50 to enter the estate grounds but we couldn't see paying that much with two young children not understanding they couldn't touch anything in the castle.

It was a fun trip.Now we are back home relaxing till our big trip to Walt Disney World on August 9th.We are counting down the days.....

Happy 4th of July

I took these two pictures last night during our area wide Fourth of July Fireworks display.It was held after our local professional farm team's baseball game.The date varies every year since the fireworks are held either on the 4th or the closest date to when the team plays here at home.If you click on the pictures and enlarge them you will be able to enjoy all of the array of colors.The bursts of color don't show up as well in the smaller pictures that are posted.Click on them....enlarge and enjoy!!1

We took our grandson to see the fireworks.We didn't attend the baseball game since last summer when we took him to a baseball game he kept asking us when the game would be over so we could leave.We ended up leaving before the game was over.

Since we didn't know what time the fireworks would start since it depended on the time the game ended we got there about an hour before the fireworks started.There were a lot more people there this year so I am thinking that more people in our area are staying home for the holiday.Another factor is that a neighboring town is no longer having their fireworks display due to traffic concerns.

We are having a rainy day.Too bad yesterday's weather didn't last on into today.It was bright and sunny in the low 80's with a nice breeze.Perfect weather for the beginning of July.

Thirty Five Years Ago..June 9,1973

While visiting a friend's blog I noticed that she had celebrated her 33rd wedding anniversary.She had posted one of her wedding pictures.

Since we recently celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary I thought I would scan one of our wedding pictures and post it here.Doesn't seem like it has been 35 years already.The years fly by!

Childrens Summer Reading

I've been reading news reports concerning children losing a lot of what they learned over the summer.

Our grandson has been staying with us and we have made it a point to read a book a day.He is a very good reader and we want that to continue.I found that on the Scholastic website there is a summer reading program for children.You can set up an account and log the child's summer reading there.Here is the link:

www.scholastic.com/summerreading

They have suggested books for a child to read but a child can read any book and log it in.So far our grandson Jeremy has read 10 books and they are books that we have here at our house.For every 4 books that a child has read Scholastic will donate a book to a reading program.

I posted the picture of the above book since it is a book that Jeremy has enjoyed.It came in a child's meal at Chick Fil A.I love the way Chick Fil A gives children educational things in their meals.