Virginia Is For Lovers

This past weekend I was able to travel to Virginia with some friends from Purdue. We try to take a trip every year and have successfully accomplished this since we graduated! So far we've been to San Diego and Brown County and hope to continue this tradition for years! One of us lives in Virginia, so we thought it would work perfectly - we could visit her and see what her life is like, as well as see the amazing scenery in VA and have a great time!

Three of us left extremely early Thursday morning so we could get to VA at a reasonable time that evening. The drive was uneventful, but we were able to learn about US Presidents thanks to a game called Tiguidoo. We stopped in Charleston, West Virginia for lunch and had some amazing pizzas (one had gorgonzola, rosemary and grapes!) and got to Virginia around 6 that night. We caught up over some more trivia and planned out the rest of our weekend.

We went hiking in Shenandoah National Park on Friday. It was perfect hiking weather - a little cooler and not too humid. We all were definitely feeling the oxygen difference being up in the mountains! We had some amazing views, saw a few spiders, and even encountered a baby black bear (well, it was pretty far off in the woods, but we got a good profile view)! After hiking, we visited a few breweries in the area and had some great food and local beer. It was a great way to end the day.

On Saturday we went to the local farmers' market and then ventured on to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home. It was really neat to see his use of space; every last inch of the house is utilized. I love old houses, so this was especially fun for me. We also had a tour of the gardens with a very enthusiatic tour guide! When we were finished learning about "TJ," we drove up into the mountains and visited two local wineries. What amazing views! We finished the evening off with some Italian food and Jersey Boys, the movie (not a good as the Broadway show, but still enjoyable!). Sunday morning we started back for Indiana and had another good drive. It was a great trip and I'm already getting excited for next year's!

Yesterday, our first kitty baby celebrated her second birthday! We are so thankful for our petite, snuggly, and friendly kitty! She enjoyed extra milk and treats as well as some loving from her brothers! Happy birthday, Ellie!