The Osage Orange Tree and Robin Hood

"...When early French settlers ventured west of the Mississippi River, into what is now eastern Texas and Oklahoma and Western Arkansas, they encountered the Osage Indians, who were known far and wide for making bows that were superior weapons for fighting and hunting. The unusual tree that the Osage used for making their bows was unknown to the French, who promptly dubbed it bois d'arc, or "wood of the bow." Later pioneers corrupted the name to bowdark and eventually came to call it bowwood...."   (excerpts taken from The Osage Orange Tree: Useful and Historically Significant. OSAGE ORANGE TREE) 
I've been learning about bow-making, as I observe King Ron, Robin Hood, begin making he second or third bow. 
I'm learning from PINTEREST , as well as watching!
Shhhhhh, I don't think Robin Hood has found this particular social network  YET, so it makes me look VERY INTELLIGENT.  Check this out----> ARROW&BOW BUILDING .

First the tree! 

Osage Orange Tree

Then split the logs:

The grain of this wood is beautiful!

Here is the man with a plan!

For those that may have missed Part 1 of Robin Hood and His Arrows, click HERE. 
His hand-made wooden bow is different. 
It's unique. 
It's one-of-a-kind. 
The end result is the same.
************TO BE CONTINUED! *************

The Energizer Bunnies of Haymarket

A night filled with stargazing, and smores!

Welcome to Haymarket, Va.

The Enerigizer Bunnies of Haymarket

The real energizer bunnies live in Haymarket, Va.

(They make me look like a slug. REALLY!).

"My bath rooms are dirty, we have ants, ring-around-the-toilets, and the kids have non-stop energy. Please come watch Landon get off of the bus and go to his last soccer game. It's his last day of kindergarten," says Sarah.

Off we went! (not much coaxing needed for KK and PaPa to be with our grand kids and their parents.)

Our 3-hour trip to Haymarket on Friday was focused on Landon's last day of kindergarten.
He was thrilled to see us as he stepped off of the school bus!

Oh that melts my heart! ♥

The parents at the bus stop were prepared with string putty, water guns, Popsicle's and high-fives for jobs-well-done.

Dashing home (nothing in Haymarket is done in s.l.o.w. motion)  and next on the 'school's-out-for-the-summer' list was the "pool party" (Carino style).

Definitely my kind of pool party!!!

Then there was Bacchus ball, baseball, space trolley, snores fest, stargazing and finally BEDTIME..... and it was just Friday! 
Oh mercy, where do you get those long-lasting energizer batteries????

Oh, I forgot.... Landon and Katelyn have fallen in love with my iPhone app, called SKY GUIDE. Friday night was perfect to gaze at the moon and Mars!
Dirty bathrooms and ants? Who had time to look for either!
Saturday morning's event included a quick breakfast and enough coffee to kick-start our energizer batteries to endure the end-of-the-season soccer game.
Oh the memories.
Yes, I remember being one of those loud-mouthed soccer moms!
Saturday, I jumped up and down, yelling and cheering, just like I did years ago! Afterall, my 6-yr old grandson, Landon, is THE best soccer player in the world, you know!

If you think for one second, that little miss priss, 3-yr-old Katelyn would stand on the sidelines for the weekend, think again. HAHAHA
SHE CAN HOLD HER OWN ANYWHERE, ANYTIME!
Watch out world! (Check out the middle photo... I think she might be a runner!)

There was no time to look for those ants or that ring-around-the-toilet.
But there was plenty of time for kisses, hugs, and cuddle time.
PS. We were told that Katelyn and Landon had serious melt-downs, as we left to return home.
Once again, that melted my heart ♥
Does anyone know where I can find those high-powered energizer batteries???

Adventures on Craig Creek

Tuesday was one of those days.
We had been invited to share a vacay day with Walter, Stephanie, Ethan and Carson.
You know, when your kids ask you to be a part of their "off" time, you are REALLY special.(and special we are, as we spent a week recently at the beach with Lauren, Andrew, and Wyatt. Soon we will be on our way to visit with Sarah, Brian, Landon, and Katelyn)
Well.... back to Tuesday.
One mile past Hoop Hole Trail, on Craig Creek Road, on the left, is a cabin hidden in the woods.

Very rustic, old, laid back, step-back-in-time, quiet, serene, nature-oriented, total relaxation before getting out of the car, ahh, no phone service, sketchy wi-fi, dial-up phone service, and definitely out in the boonies.....THE place to be for the day!
Our Host and Hostess with the most-est were Walter and Stephanie. They had rented this little jewel of a place for a week!!!

Ethan was my tour guide, can you tell?

The creek was clear, cool, calm, and mostly shallow. (great for my first attempt at kayaking)

Ethan and Carson were expert instructors!

What a beautiful place!

Ethan taught me everything I needed to know for my first successful trip, other than how sore I might be the next day!

Ready, set, push-off!

Ron, Walter and Carson enjoyed fishing in the canoe. Whoa..... what that really a 4' pickerel??? Ron is still dreaming about that BIG fish that wouldn't bite!

Carson was the fishing expert!

The day flew by waaaaay too fast. Dinner, campfire, smores...

Don't waste your life.
Grab all of those moments that you can.
Life is short.
Time is fast.... no replay, no rewind.
Enjoy every moment as it comes, because one day you will look back, and realize they were the big things! ♥
Thanks for the memories, yall!

It's the little things, you know.

Last week was our anniversary!
It was our 46th wedding anniversary!
****June 6, 1970****
We didn't take a cruise.
We didn't go to Europe.
We didn't go on a safari.
We didn't buy expensive  any gifts.
In fact, we were not able to go out to eat on our anniversary.
But, it's the little things, you know!
A kiss, a hug, and an 'I LOVE YOU' go a long ways for us.
The following evening, we drove to the top of Bent Mountain and dined at BENT MOUNTAIN BISTRO. Check out their menu. Photos do absolutely no justice!
After dinner, we went to CAHAS KNOB OVERLOOK by way of a few country roads, and the Blue Ridge Parkway!
It's the little things, you know.

The sunset at Cahas Knob Overlook was lovely!

And then the moon and stars appeared!
OH WOW!
It's the little things, you know!

We continued our celebratory anniversary by spending a few days at our favorite place ---->VISA . 
We've been members at VISA  FOREVER. 
In fact, Ron's Dad was one of the charter members that started this club. Ron and I call it the 'Moneta Triangle' for short. Once you're in the Moneta Triangle, it's nearly impossible to leave! 
It was on this DOCK below, 49 years ago, that we had our very first date!It's the little things, you know!

We've had our sail boat in the water here for 35 years.
Hear me CLEARLY.
The boat has never been OUT OF THE WATER. 
We  Ron decided it was a good time to clean the boat...
 for our anniversary.... 
in 95 degree weather.
HAHA.... it's the little things, you know!

Yes, it was a hot few days, especially for camping at night, with no air-condition.
Wha wha wha.....
But we made the best of the situation camping under the stars.

We napped during the day, and did night-time photography when most of the other campers were asleep!
It's the little things, you know!

Happy 46th Anniversary to US ♥  

It's the little things, you know!

Piers, Shrimp-boats, Dark-Thirty, and Stars

Dark-Thirty?
That's the usual appointed time of day that we 65+ers head for the sofa to watch Netflix.... you know, 8:30pm-ish.
Beach Week at Holden, for us old-timers was different! 
We were energized!
At Dark-Thirty, we grabbed our camera and equipment.
We dashed to the beach, 
to the pier, 
to the end of the island, 
and to the shrimp-boat docks.
Opps, and the ICE-CREAM store!
No wonder we napped on the beach during the day zzzzzzzz.
Enjoy the photos!

By the end of the week, we were so relaxed that, even the fiddler crab out-walked us! Check out this video---> Fiddler Crabs on the Beach
Crab---->10,000 #fitbit steps
TK------> -0- #fitbit steps

Holden Beach 2016.........