Villa Appalachia

Sunday Steve and I went to Villa Appalachia, a vineyard I have been wanting to go to for ages. I tried to find it last time I was in the area (on the Blue Ridge ) but couldn't find it. This time we found it though it was tricky. Steve was lucky to survive the trip! :-) 

But we were so glad we did. They have the best the Virginia Wines in the State! We originally went for the BBQ as well, but got there a bit late and they had sold out. :-( But we had a cheese plate and an amazing bottle of Sangiovese. 

Wine!

 The b=vineyard was also very pretty.

heading out.

View over the Blue Ridge from the vineyard 

windows

On the way back, we got pulled over by the State cops (something very minor), but that was an interesting experience. Especially when the cop let someone else just walk up to his ca when he pulled when over at the sam time.

After the winery and adventure, we really wanted BBQ so headed back to Blacksburg to meet up with Eva and her mom, Marty, for BBQ at Bull & Bones. 

Mini Safari

For the past few weeks (read: months!), Steve and I have both been so busy, neither of us have had any time to do anything fun. For him, the hard part is now over. For me... well it never seems to end but I need a life!

So to start off the Memorial Day weekend (the same as the UK Whitson weekend), we took Eva to Fort Chiswell Animal park as she loves animals.  

Ready!

Saying hi to sleepy goat.

 As usual it was not as good as advertised but it was still fun.

Eva riding the Rhino

Springbok/gazelle 

 But Eva and I both loved the parrots - such posers! -until one of them make me scream. I didn't notice it and it squawked in my ear and I jumped a mile.

They also have some of the prettiest llamas I have seen (at least I think that is what they were). We brought  some food (of course!) and got very slobbered on. 

Feeding

 But we all loved the tortoise.

Saying hello

Though I did feel sorry for him. As is usual with these little places, they do the best they can (maybe) but they just don't give some of the animals enough room.

Trying to escape.

Staring contest

 The high light of the park was the safari bus. They had 3 acres of land with free roaming animals and a few old school buses you can take a tour on. There were a couple of ostriches and a camel (Puff) who hung around the bus loading area, knowing there will be food available.

On the look out

 And if you weren't on the look out, Puff got close. And he seemed to have saved up a huge glob of slobber just for Steve. He wasn't very amused. (I thought it was hysterical!)

Looking for food.

Puff

A little too close here.

 Going around there were bison and water buffalo coming up to the bus for food.

Spotted.

And there were some families of pot belly pigs which were so cute. The babies were adorable.

Getting their food.

"And where's my food?"

 I think it was around this time Steve just fell asleep. So Eva and I feed the animals and took some photos.

Turtles

For the most part Eva hasn't quite got the hang of using a DSLR (with me holding it just in case).

Eva's photo

But I have to say some of her shots were really good. A budding photographer!

Brilliant Eva shot.

 We were hoping the big guy (a water buffalo maybe - Eva would be able to tell me) would come over but he was too hot. (And I ended up more amused by the pigs - look at the photo carefully!).

In the shade.

Deer - a nearly extinct variety.

 But I loved the Zebra. They are so photogenic!

Having a snack.

After the park (other than the safari, the rest of the park only took 10 mins), we headed back to Christiansburg. Driving back, my passengers were fast asleep (I wish I could have taken photos - Eva's position looked like a puppet with it's strings cut) so I amused myself with the radio and singing along. After ice-cream, we also found a great little "mom 'n' pop" grocery store. They couple were adorable and gave Eva a little purse. And I got some great looking corn and ham for dinner. 

Cissi's graduation!

Friday was Cissi's PhD graduation so she is back is Blacksburg! It's only for a week but it is so good to have her back.  I miss her so much! The graduation was at the Coliseum basketball stadium so Cait and I went along as the cheering squad.
Luckily she was on the end of a row so I got some photos of her as we waited. (It took them ages to all file in.) And as proved by the photos, some things never change.

Waiting to start

never without a camera.

talking. 

 The ceremony was very "pomp and circumstance".

Flags. 

National anthem

Cissi finally found us and started waving her grad headband.  At least I had thought she had. Turns out she was waving to someone else in our direction. Still.                                

The whole ceremony was really long. They had multiple speeches and a special music arrangement as well as a few other bits that seemed irrelevant. Finally they got to the doctoral awards. It was odd. So few people were clapping. Yes it took a while but still. Cait and I made sure we clapped for everyone. As you can see, not everyone had the same idea. (Grumpy people!)

On her way

At VT, the graduate advisor place the hoods of their students around their necks on stage. (I am so amazingly glad they didn't do this in the UK - those of you who know my history at UCLan will understand why!).

Happy.

 At this point Cait and I started wooping and yelling!  (Nothing like 2 embarrassing friends!)

She heard us!

Getting her hood. 

Shaking hands

Official.

The hard part - the steps!

We didn't get to see her afterwards :-( as we had to skip out and go back to work. (We left after 2 hours and they still hadn't gotten halfway through.) 

But Saturday we went to campus to take some photos.

Getting ready 

not impressed with the hood

Classic Cissi!

Mom and daughter

We managed to meet up with a couple of her friends and their daughter for some more photos. 

With Emma

Playing hide and seek

Doing the VT sign.

Group shot.

After we had take a lot of photos, Cissi get to take her gown off. I was hot so she must have been boiling and we all headed off to get a cold drink. I miss her so much. She's always such cheerful company.

Congratulations Dr. Cissi!!!