Hagan-Stone Park

Kelly and I went to Hagan-Stone on October 28th and November 7th. Here are some of the pictures I took.

October 28th:

New trail. Company Mill Preserve. Phase 2 is not yet complete.

Company Mill Preserve.

November 7th:

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~*~Nocturnal Queen~*~
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More Pictures at the Park

Charlie, the kids, and I went back to the park last Tuesday, November 11th. We walked part of the very long trail that goes all the way around the park and I took some more pictures. Here are some of them.

Pictures at the Park

I took the kids to the park today to get some Fall pictures of them and the park. It had rained most of the day and was still mostly cloudy, so the lighting wasn't that great. There was also some photographer error in some of the shots. *sigh* I used the wrong settings for some. Don't know where my head was at.

Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took.

Sean (17) and Kelly (14).

We hadn't been to the park in a year so. Hard to believe considering how much we love it there. They've made some changes since we were last there. They built a new dock on the main lake and there are sidewalks and speed bumps now.

I'd like to go back sometime next week when it's sunny. Hopefully it'll dry out by the time we go back. It was pretty muddy out there today. We'd like to walk the trails next time, too. It's been too long since we've done that. I love how natural the trails are. I love that the trails are so wooded that you feel like you're in the middle of nowhere.

A Day Trip to the Mountains

Friday, October 17th, my mom, my kids, and I took a trip to the mountains. It was a beautiful day. The colors weren't perfect (more green than reds, yellows, or oranges), but the weather was.

We didn't get started as early as I wanted to, but that was okay. We were going to eat at a Cracker Barrel here in Greensboro for breakfast, but we weren't hungry. Well, Sean was. So we went to McDonald's for him to get some pancakes to go and then began our trip.

We took our usual route (I-40 West to 52 North to Fancy Gap,VA, where we get on the Parkway and head South), stopping at the Chick-fil-A in Mount Airy to eat.

It was around 11:00 AM when we got on the Parkway. Again, not much color, but still a gorgeous day.

Virginia

Virginia

Stone Mountain, NC, overlook.

Mahogany Rock overlook. NC.

Hey! Some color! I think this might be Air Bellows overlook. NC.

View from the trail at Bluff Mountain, NC, overlook.

Tree along the trail.

Sean next to a stream on the Bluff Mountain trail. The stream had several little waterfalls. I took pictures of them, but don't want to overwhelm this entry with so many photos. There are already going to be quite a few in this post.

Okay, maybe one.

Sean, Kelly, and my mom. Fixin' to climb the very steep Tom Dula hill.

One of the views from the top of the hill.

Going back down the hill. My mom (whose hair is growing in quite thick and curly after chemo), Kelly, and Sean.

Mt. Jefferson, NC.

A Christmas tree farm in Boone, NC.

There were several other stops we made at overlooks and many more pictures that I took.

When we made it to Boone around 3:30 or so, we went to the Dan'l Boone Inn Restaurant for dinner. (We've been there many times in the past.) They serve their food family style. There's no menu. They just bring several dishes of food and place it on your table. Fried chicken, country steak, biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, green beans, stewed apples, salad, country ham biscuits. For dessert, you have a choice of 2 or 3. It was 3 this time. Chocolate cake (what Kelly and I had), banana pudding (what my mom had), or strawberry shortcake.

As I always do, I brought the country ham biscuits home to eat. They're so good!

We made one more stop, in North Wilkesboro at a produce stand (I bought a few different types of apples), before coming home.

I think next year we may go to Asheville and drive north to Boone. See parts of the Parkway that I haven't seen in many years. I'd like to also go back to Boone soon and do some of the fun things they have there. Grandfather Mountain, Mystery Hill House (we went last year and the kids want to go back), Blowing Rock (the kids haven't been there yet and Sean wants to see it), Linville Caverns, Linville Falls. Hopefully we can do that before it gets too cold.

I'd also like to go to Biltmore Estate in Asheville this year after they've decorated it for Christmas. I've been three times. The last time was in 2008 when we took the kids for the first time. I'd like to take my mom this time, as well as the kids.

Fall Meme

I found the following fall meme over at the Chrisbookarama blog.

1) What's the first thing that makes you feel like summer is over and fall has arrived?
2) What's your favorite fall fragrance or flavor?
3) Favorite fall goodie?
4) Do have any fun fallish outings or traditions? (i.e. apple picking, looking at leaves etc.) If not is there something you've always wanted to do?
5) Football or Baseball postseason?
6) Halloween or Thanksgiving?
7) What's your favorite spooky monster?
8) Do you have a favorite quote about fall from a book or movie?
9) If you could go anywhere for a weekend trip during the season where would it be?
10) Describe your ideal fall day.


1. When daytime temperatures drop below 80° and stay there.

2. Fragrance: leaves. Flavor: pumpkin.

3. Pumpkin bread, but it has to be really moist, and caramel apples with nuts.

4. Going to the mountains to look at the leaves and going to fall festivals.

5. Football. Though I really only enjoy watching it if the Carolina Panthers are playing.

6. Thanksgiving. I don't like Halloween.

7. None.

8. No.

9. The mountains of North Carolina.

10.  Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway, stopping at overlooks, taking pictures, going on a short hike, getting delicious pumpkin bread at the Northwest Trading Post (they have the best I've ever eaten), eating supper at the Dan'l Boone Inn Restaurant in Boone.

Fall Pictures

Last Sunday and Monday the kids and I spent a little time at the park. My main purpose in going was to attempt to get some pretty Fall pictures.

There was a race (high school or college) last Sunday, hence the flags. They have foot and bike races there sometimes.

I love the light in this one.

Kelly, age 11.

Sean, age 14.