Mountain Musings

Family Fun

Catchup post #1 ahead!

Over the past month or so, we documented many fun family activities with a camera, but neglected to post about them here on the blog. We won't forget the happenings but thought we'd let our readers in on at least a few of those photos. These special times included, but were not limited to the following!

Father's Day

We had planned for quite awhile to try out a local Japanese steakhouse and thought the perfect time would be to celebrate with Dad for Father's Day. The experience was a first for many of us and was not only entertaining, but delicious. Thank you, Dad, for being a faithful and godly father with integrity, wisdom, kindness, (I could go on...).

Fishing

Dusting off our rods and reels, we renewed our fishing licenses for some relaxing adventures by the water. We did actually catch something this time (Sarah was excited about her bluegills)! It was an enjoyable summer activity that we'll have to do again soon.

Graduation

We traveled to attend a graduation celebration and recital in honor of two siblings. It was meaningful to hear of God's work in their lives up to this special milestone and have fellowship with the other family and friends present.

Geocaching

This has become sort of a family tradition on Memorial Day. We explored the terrain, found historical dates, and saw undiscovered areas of our county and beyond. This particular geocache had to do with Stonewall Jackson's cartographer Jedidiah Hotchkiss. Jonathan finally unearthed the cache at the base of a tree. We also searched for some more on July 4th but got no photos of the hunt. Anyone want to go with us next time or have your own stories to tell?

Photography Boot Camp

We participated in a photography weekend put on by the Hynes family, which included a morning canoe trip in which we glimpsed eagles, herons, and ospreys, amongst other varieties of water fowl. Plenty of opportunities for taking pictures of Virginia's natural beauty and developing our camera skills.

{ photo credit }

Coming next: Catch-up post #2-Inside the Veggie Garden

~Hannah

Is There an Elephant in the Room?

The Photo Scavenger Hunt items for the month of June have been posted over at Postcards from the P.P., and an elephant is on the list!

This blog is new to me, but I've kept it bookmarked all year just to see the various scavenger items that are included each month--very interesting. However, I've never participated.

This month I'm thinking more seriously about taking my camera with me everywhere (which I should do anyway!), keeping the assignment sheet handy, and snapping my interpretation of the photos to post at the end of June.

Here are all the items I'll be looking for:

• something with your town's name on it
• an elephant
• a wheel trim
• architectural detail
• cheese
• night
• tree branches
• cutlery
• a childhood memory
• a farm animal
• something beginning with z...
• the view right outside your door

Anyone can join. Let me know if you're interested, and we can do it together.

~ Deb

Wings as Eagles

Picture of bald eagle taken from a canoe on Sandy Run during Photography Boot Camp II

Music: Wait on the Lord by the Wilds Choir and Orchestra

~Hannah

Photo Shoot: Baskets

Hannah has been busy recently photographing more baskets to upload to both Granny's Baskets page of the blog and to her Etsy shop (you can see the exact basket you would be receiving there.)

As you can see from the pile, Granny has been busy this season, too! Do you see a basket that would make a friend happy? Let us know, and we'll ship it right out to you in time for Christmas gift-giving, as long as it's a basket already made and in stock.

Thank you so much to everyone who has ordered baskets! It has made Granny so happy! We've made extra trips to the post office recently sending them to several states! Whoever thought one of Granny's handmade baskets would end up in Texas for someone to enjoy?!

 
Also thank you to those who have purchased Hannah's Soap. She has had fun packaging up the orders to go out.

Last but not least, we often forget to say a big thank you to all those who click through us on the sidebar catalog when you order items from Vision Forum. We appreciate it!

Vision Forum currently has a Storewide Special of 25 - 60% off through December 17th with $5 flat-rate shipping. The commissions we receive from your purchases go directly back into the blog to pay for Typepad for another year. So...thank you kindly!

~Deb

Bloomin' Tuesday ~ Florida Trip ~ Plants

Today I'm joining MsGreenThumb Jean's Bloomin' Tuesday and posting some photos of the beautiful flowers we saw when we visited Florida recently.

Welcome to those of you visiting from Jean's blog. If you missed why I traveled from Virginia to Florida, you can read about it here.

This is the beautiful Bird of Paradise, and we saw it growing everywhere! It's definitely a tropical flower that I don't have in my yard. And here's another one below:

If anyone knows the name of this next flower, please answer in the comments. It has beautiful purple berries.

Doesn't this tree (below) look like a gigantic pineapple sitting out in the yard? On one of our shopping trips I made a turn into a residential area and then stopped in the middle of the street (no worries, no traffic around) and took this picture out the car window.

And what about this spiky plant? This one was outside goombay's restaurant.

The bush below we saw everywhere also, and most of them were covered with reddish-colored blooms. It looks to be a member possibly of the hibiscus family? They were all very pretty, bright, and colorful...and blooming gorgeously in sunny 84 degree temps.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of the plants we saw on our trip. It was amazing to me to realize that a flower-loving gardener could have beautiful flowers year-round!

Check in over at MsGreenThumb Jean's for more Bloomin' Tuesday entries. Thank you, Jean, for hosting.

~Deb

Other posts in this series:

Florida Trip ~ Eats and Shops

Blogger's Quilt Festival ~ Betty at the Beach

84 Degrees, Palm Trees, Having Fun, Wish You Were Here

Florida, Me?

Cucumbers

 

~Hannah

This One's For Granny

The rows of beans we planted together are coming up nicely.

The tomatos are tall enough to tie up to their stakes, and the squash sprouted up quickly and is growing bigger everyday.

The bees and butterflies love flitting around our large lavender plant, now in full bloom, which welcomes visitors at the edge of our front sidewalk.

Wish you were here! 

~Hannah

Photography Boot Camp

Recently, we had the opportunity to attend a weekend photography class hosted by the Hynes family. Dad, Mom, and I were the participants from our family while Jonathan was away in Mississippi and Sarah and Granny held down the fort at home.

The agenda included an afternoon of photographic instruction packed into a few hours, then a day of outdoor shooting at the beautiful Sky Meadows State Park. Our time of learning began with setting our perspective on Scripture and reminding ourselves of what we are communicating about God's character and His creation with our pictures.

The park location included a historic house and outbuildings, fields of cattle, and hiking trails with creekbeds, snakes wildlife, and panoramic views of the surrounding hills. We also stopped to explore the nearby quaint town of Paris, VA (pop. 51).

We returned to the Hynes' home for dinner and critiquing of the images we had captured; everyone agreed that this part was a fun and helpful way of solidifying concepts we had discussed. I had a memorable time; it is always inspiring to glean from the knowledge and experience of avid Christian photographers.

Enjoy a slideshow below of some of my photos from the day.

~Hannah

Graceful Designs Giveaway

Warmer days are finally here in Virginia, so are you ready for a SPRING giveaway? I am eager for this season to get underway, especially making my way outside to the garden! What better way to start off spring with a bang than by a giveaway! Go to my blog to find out how you can sign up to win products from Graceful Designs, as well as earn extra chances by passing on the news about the giveaway to your friends.

 

Graceful Designs carries a colorful array of unique nature stationery which can help get you in the mood for the spring days ahead. Sending one of these greeting or note cards is just the thing for spring birthdays, Mother's Day, or other special and everyday occasions. The cards especially make lovely gifts, and remember, the photo cards can be frameable!

 

You have the chance to win several of these cards until March 31st when one winner's name will be drawn randomly. Open to those in the USA and Canada.

 

Happy Spring!

 

~Hannah

62/365: Elderberry Syrup

 
Elderberries are known to be a wonderful preventative and remedy for colds and flu. This winter I have enjoyed experimenting by concocting this homemade elderberry syrup for our family's use. It is tasty taken alone by the spoonful, but I have also been drizzling a bit into our smoothies or occasionally into hot tea as a sweetener. Once we served the syrup over pancakes. "Medicine" can be delicious!

Below is the basic recipe I followed. If you don't happen to have your very own elderberry bush nearby, you can purchase the dried elderberries in bulk at places such as MoreThanAlive.com:

Elderberry Syrup:

• 1/2 c. dried elderberries
• 2 cups water
• 4 cloves, optional
• 1 cinnamon stick, optional
• 1 T. fresh ginger, optional
• 1/3 c. honey, unheated is best

Bring elderberries, water, and spices to a boil; lower heat and simmer 20-30 min, reducing by about half. Mash berries, then strain liquid. Stir in honey until dissolved. Store in refrigerator for 2-4 weeks. Take by the tablespoonful for prevention of illness, or more often with onset of symptoms.

~Hannah