Chincoteague ~ Why I Love Virginia!

We met my sister and her kids, as well as my parents for part of a week in Chincoteague.  Although I've been birding there long ago, I've never gone in the summer.  We rented a lovely house on Little Oyster Bay, about 4 miles from the beach.  Our weather started out cool, but got REALLY hot by Friday.  The cousins crabbed, took rides in kayaks and canoes, and boogie boarded like nobody's business!   

  

A beautiful, beautiful place to go.  Although the beaches got somewhat crowded later in the week and in the day, we had some great beach time.  This little place really has the feel of a small town that remains almost pristine.  There is some good local food - including ice cream, and a very local grocery.  The beach itself is within the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, which keeps it from being built on and which protects the land around it.  There are miles of beach.  Phil and Nate were even able to surf.  I think we'll be going back!

There is nothing like time with family ~ I cherish time together and wish we lived closer!! 

Why I Love Virginia ~ Levering Orchard

Yesterday we loaded up some friends and headed out to Ararat, Virginia to the Levering Orchard.  (I just realized that long ago I read the owner's book about their return to the farm in Simple Living:  One Couple's Search for A Better Life - the couple meet at Harvard, move to Los Angeles, and come 'home' to the farm to live more simply and get away from consumer driven culture.  A GREAT read!)

Their sweet cherries were ripe and the picking easy.  Ladders are posted around the trees and the kids had great fun climbing and picking (and eating).  Some were better pickers than others.  We had a great day, although interstate traffic backups had us driving backroads.  The weather was beautiful, cool and bright.  The scenery was amazing... confirming my love of the countryside of Virginia ~ rolling hills, blue ridge in the background, puffy clouds, and haybales.

Together we picked over 60 pounds!!  Cherries will continue to ripen over the next weeks and it looks like early summer apples will too, and peaches starting in mid-July!  Might be worth another trip!

So far, I've pitted about 15 cups worth and put them into ziplock bags (5 cups or so in each ~ perfect for a pie or cobbler).  I expect we'll eat a ton camping this weekend with our college friends! Have a great weekend folks!

Periodic New Series ~ Here's Why I Love Virginia! ~ New River Trail

See?  I am ALL over the place!  Throughout the summer I thought it would be fun to share my love of this great state of Virginia.  There are so many things to do around us and my kids are old enough to do so many of them!

Today the kids and I loaded up our bikes and headed to the New River Trail State Park.  Just down the interstate, we biked a section from Draper to Hiwassii.  To me, this trail and the surrounding views are quintessential Virginia.  Green countryside, a few ramshackle old homes and barns, the green river, ferns and daisies growing along the path.  The path itself is an old railroad bed - there is a bit of a grade, but for the most part it is flat.

Along the way we rustled up this Barred Owl.  The kids and I got an amazing view as it kept hopping from branch to branch in the trees right in front of us, before flying away.

The trail itself is over 55 miles, so there are many sections that you can ride for just a day trip.  My kids would love to do the whole thing.... not sure about that just yet.

Apparently the Draper Mercantile (right next to the parking lot in Draper) is a great place to go for ice cream, etc.  But they are closed on Mondays in season.  This trip:  HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!  We will be doing it again!