Heritage Festival...

Our hertiage festival depicts local life from the early 1800's.  An original homestead was taken apart and reconstructed on site.  It's complete with a black smith and farm animals that are on display behind the museum. People from the historical society are dressed in period clothes and tell the story of how life was during that time.  It was a hard life, but a very simple life.  I think I should have been born during that era. I have such fascination for that period of time.

restored 1860's cabin

A family of 7 shared this small cabin, approximately 20' squared.  The parents bedroom, fireplace, eating and living space was the main area of the cabin.  The loft above is where their 5 children slept.  The cabin was sparse, but adequate.  Not like today where everyone has their own bedroom.

September, the harvest month...summer is over and autumn has arrived...

Autumn to winter, winter to spring,
Spring into summer, summer into fall---
So rolls the changing year, and so we change;
Motion so swift, we know not that we move.
                                                                ...Dinah Mulock Craik


We have come full circle since we retired. So many things
have happened...new friends, new ideas, new thoughts on life.
Like the poem...our life has been so swift that we didn't notice the changes...even the little suttle ones. It's been the beginning of a new life.

The Lane Kids Visit Brought...

white water rafting adventures
soaring through the trees on a zip line
driving the lawn mower up and down the streets
sleeping on the floor in Mimi & Poppy's room
snuggles in bed for old times sake
hiking in the woods
going to the movies
driving Poppy's truck on an old dirt road (yes that's true...Emily really did drive Poppy's truck)
giggles
telling jokes
rocking on the front porch like old people
going out for ice cream cones
cooking
baking and decorating cakes (Jessi & Emily are taking cake decorating classes)
making smores
camping
campfires
just talking
pedicures
bracelet making
AND A TIRED MIMI AND POPPY
You can see that we had loads of fun packed into such a short visit.

"golden hugs"

Michael made his first visit without his sisters.

isn't that the largest vase you've ever seen

I had my own chefs and bakers!

girly stuff

Jessi and Emily had their first experience flying alone. 

Unfortunately they had a five hour delay.

We passed the time away playing hangman

and other assorted games, eating chocolate

covered pretzels and Cheez-its!

Virginia Creeper Trail

The Virginia Creeper Trail is an old railroad bed that has been converted to a multiple use trail by the Rails To Trails Association.  It runs 34 miles from White Top Mountain to Abingdon, VA.  We just rode the 17 miles to Damascus, VA.  Most of the trail is down hill along a rushing stream across old railroad tressels. 

Visiting the old town of Abingdon, VA