December 10, 2021 Christmas 2021

"Twas 2 weeks before Christmas, and all through the house....."

"The stockings were hung, 

the packages were wrapped,

the food was prepared,

and my family was trapped😁😁😁,,,"(at least for a few hours).

Family Christmas 2021, 3 birthday celebrations, and a few surprise visitors took place Friday, December 10, 2021.....HERE.... at Casa de Sharpley!🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄

S&B, W&S, and L&A 'outshined' Dasher, Dancer and Prancer.

Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen took a back seat to the 5 Grands.

Poor Rudolph Bear!👇👇👇(as in BEAR, the chocolate lab who has his own Instagram page!)

Ribbons, wrappings, gift cards and packages flew through the air with the greatest of ease. (One would think that this process had been done before!)

Two members of our dynasty were unable to make an appearance.

They were missed.

It was, none the less, paramount that their presence be known.

I think my family would agree that these 2 👆👆 added a great amount of joy and laughter to the evening. Their presence was duly noted throughout the evening!

As in years past, we celebrated 3 December birthdays. Happy Birthday, you three! 

"Oh the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful....." (This was the best we could provide with 70 degree temps!) And the stockings weren't really hung by the chimney with care, either! 

We love our time with family:

At the dinner table; 

Piled on top of PAPA;

Special photo ops;

And trying in sincere desperation 😂😂😂 to achieve the 'family' photo!

The evening concluded with a drive-by to nearby Raleigh Court light shows

And ended with a tour of the newly purchased home of W&S!

Thank you to my family for making my heart over flow with thankfulness, and gratefulness! 

Merry Christmas 2021

October 17. 2021~ Hartland Orchard, Markham, Va.

 

Sunday, October 17, 2021......Pumpkin patches, apple orchards, corn mazes, hay rides, farm animals, tractor pulls...... and an abundance of 'fall-scented' edible delights(who doesn't like apple cinnamon doughnuts, warm cider, kettle corn, homemade apple butter, or caramel dipped apples?). 

Sunday was (a perfect weather fall day) a 'bucket-list-adventure' for our daughter. The trip to pick apples was also a first for 2 of our grandkids. Their wide-eyes and open mouths displayed their excitement("What do you mean apples and pumpkins don't come from Kroger?")! Hartland Orchard is located in Markham, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. Hartland is an old family working farm and orchard with scenic country side vistas near the Skyline Drive. (WORKING, key word here, as these families and employees know the meaning of HARD MANUAL LABOR.) 

We were thrilled to be climbing up onto the McCormick FARMALL tractor!

It was a 'first experience' for us 😂.

The pick-your-own seasonal peaches, tomatoes, and berries were 'history'. Many of the apples had been picked, but the generous abundance available was obviously plentiful.

Surprisingly, the fruit that fell from the trees to the ground was plentiful.

We learned to use the 'fruit picker'.

Sometimes, it was quicker and easier to jump and grab!

And on several occasions, some of the mushy, fermented apples on the ground, made for a few comical 'slip-and-slides'.😁

The Grands were thrilled to pick their own apples. 

Time stood still long enough for us to visit with our daughter. #priceless

Hartland Orchard includes cattle and horses. 

The Grands were able to be as close as they wanted, without touching!

..... as well as experience that down-home-country-smell...😂😂😂

The pick-your-own pumpkin field was plentiful.

The family-run farm housed a shop full of treats........ ready to purchase and devour.

Our Sunday adventure was exhilarating, action-packed with laughter!

.......and memories......... we made lots of memories!💓