Trip to the Zoo!

While in Virginia at Christmas time, we went to the Richmond Zoo. Being an animal lover, this was a great experience for me and one of the best zoo's I've been to!

This orangutan was sitting across a pond from where we were and he would beckon with his hand for us to toss grain over to him and then scoop it out of the water!

There was a high platform that the giraffes would stand at, high enough so their heads were at our level and it was such an awesome experience to feed and pat them! It will definately be one of my favorite memories.

I thought this mother and baby camel were so cute!

We had a wonderful time at the zoo and I look forward to going again!

Christmas in Virginia

We had a blast hanging with Ehren's family the week of Christmas,

including our neice who is a champion cuddler and smiler,

...and our nephew who is a budding musician.

Photography Contest

Ehren recently won third place in a photography contest with Essex National Heritage, an organization that protects the beautiful areas and historic places on the North Shore. They are also the hosts of Trails and Sails, an event that Ehren and I have enjoyed for several years. This is the winning photo; looking over a marsh at Plum Island at sunset. We were there last February looking for snowy owls with our friend Jon.

Fun Fall Times!

Ehren and I recently spent a fun weekend with my family on a lake in NH. The leaves were at their peak and there was family of loons on the lake entertaining us with their calls. We had fun kayaking and enjoying the warm fall weather.





















On a side note, Ehren and I recently spent an enjoyable weekend with our favorite Jack Russell Terriers!

Camping in the Fall!

Two weekends ago we had plans to go camping with our good friends Ian and Sally. We were planning on staying two nights, Friday and Saturday. We ended up going on Sat. due to Sally not feeling well and the cold, it was 40 degrees Friday night!

Sally and Ian spent Sat. afternoon and evening with us. We went on a hike, ate dinner over the campfire and made smores. We also played several games around the fire, such as Two truths and a Lie.

Ehren and I were toasty warm Sat. night, although it was 48, in our sleeping bags, 5 blankets, and winter hats.

This is the view from the hike we went on.

















This is an old beaver dam. It was especially pretty with the leaves starting to change.






We went geocaching during our hike. Ian and Sally are pondering the gps and directing us in the right direction.










We had a great time camping and spending time with our friends and hope to do it again next year!

Welcome Constance!

In August, we traveled to Virginia to meet our niece, Constance Parker Flynn.


Brother Si looks on as Patrick and Christy Lynn open a gift for Constance who is snuggled up against her mom. (She is just two weeks old here and sleeping like a champ!)










Si was a blast to be with as he had just turned 18 months and is doing all kinds of cool things.




Like playing basketball . . .











. . . driving . . .


. . . and taking charge of the outdoor art scene in Charlottesville.
















We are looking forward to many more fun times with this guy and his soon to be much more active little sister!




While we were there we also got to see my folks and grandparents and even got to camp and canoe a bit at Lake Anna with my parents.

Visit to Fort Williams in Portland, ME

A few weeks ago, Ehren and I went to Portland to visit my sister and brother-in-law, Jess and Shawn. They brought their new "baby", a yellow lab puppy named River. Fort Williams is a gorgeous ocean front park with a lighthouse and remains of an old Fort.

Here's the view looking out on the ocean from the park.




I took many pictures trying to get a good one of the waves crashing onto rocks and spraying.






this is the lighthouse that is at the park. A thunderstorm came suddenly upon us and the lighthouse looks neat framed against the foreboding skies.















Here's River, Jess and Shawn' baby! Isn't he adorable!