4th July Celebrations.

I have been trying this weekend to get everything done that needs to be done while still having a good holiday week (my timing with the move sucks) and seeing everyone I want to before I leave. And I think I have done pretty well. I have packed the boxes ready to go next week. And I have just sold my chair which, other than the bed which goes tomorrow, was my last piece of furniture. So the next week is not going to be the most comfortable but will make me appreciate furniture all the more in the future. Plus it's a lot easier to clean! (Or would be if I hadn't covered the floor with the things that were in the said furniture.)

Anyway, Cait asked if I want to join her and some friends for the evening on Saturday, Independence Day. I jumped at the chance not to spent the evening packing! Plus, I was secretly hoping someone would ask me to do something for my last (for a while at least) Independence Day. :)

Her friends were so lovely and I really appreciate them letting me join them. The food was amazing, though I only took a photo of the best watermelon ever. (Though Cait thought it was a gun. It is the US of A after all.)

Watermelon flag.

 After nibbles, I played my first ever game of corn hole. I have seen this a lot of tailgate parties (pre-game parties using involving truck tailgates oddly enough) but have never played. The idea is, in teams of 2, to throw the beanbag onto the board (1 point) or through the hole in the board. Cait and I lost miserably - we really weren't very good. But were having too much fun to care.  :)

Playing corn hole. 

After playing and eating, Cait and Lauren practice some of their Acro Yoga. Thankfully they know what they were doing and no one got hurt! It was super impressive. (I wish my balance was that good.)

Flying

The throne

No idea what this one was called but still impressive.

Deb also decided to have a go. They asked if I wanted to to and normally why not? I'd give it a go. But I have 3 flights int the next 2 weeks and really don't need any broken bones. Plus I didn't want to hurt any one! With my current weight and amazing grace (not!), that's more of a certainty than possibility.

Deb flying!

After this we went up to the deck ready for the fireworks. Thanks to the rain in the last few days, the bugs were out in force. I have (thankfully) doused myself in bug spray (I was not going through that again so soon) but I forgot to bring it with me. Cait went to extra lengths to avoid the bugs. 

The ghost that is Cait!

The fireworks were very cool. And, as usual, at the end, they just seemed to set everything off. The deck was perfect for watching the display.

After the fireworks, we rushed back inside to avoid the bug invasion and eat desert. And it was all gluten free so I was in heaven!
We spent a few hours playing card games (I now know some very cool new ones) and Taboo. It was so much fun and I spent most of the night just laughing. A great way to spent the holiday evening. I love all my friend here but I have been missing nights like this with people my own age, so it was great to do that and I really appreciate them including me. :)

Today I spent the morning skyping home, organizing next weekend and finished the boxes (now 90% ready to go - just waiting for the labels to be spent). And a few hours this afternoon with Cait and some of her friends playing Kickball and soccer at the Blacksburg Rec Centre. As there were only 5 of us, kickball was a lot more running than I have done in a very long time. It's basically a cross between baseball where you kick the ball instead of hit it, and dodge ball, so if someone can hit you with the ball you are out. So a lot of fun but with our small numbers, much running.

After kickball. we tried soccer. Much better as I installed myself in goal as soon as possible. You may get hit with the ball a few times (which I am fine with) but a lot less running. Plus they were very competitive. And like I said, broke bones = bad!

group photo, post soccer

We were all pretty tired (and hot) at the end. And I am definitely the less fit. :( they all do cross fit etc so this didn't come as a surprise.  But it was nice to get out.
now I get to spend the rest of the evening doing some more packing. Oh the joy! :(

Huckleberry Trail

Yesterday, armed with jelly beans and a bottle of water, I decided to try to run/walk the Huckleberry trail which goes from Christainsburg (I picked it up at the Mall) up to the Library in Blacksburg. It's about 6 miles and honestly I did more walking than running, and stopped to take photos. (But I did complete the whole 6 miles so I am happy just to finish any which way!)
The trail is very pretty and thankfully it wasn't very warm today (though I was not thinking that while waiting for the bus on the way back home).

Trail map

Start of the trail in Christiansburg

 It was also Graduation at VT so most people were in town and I pretty much had the trail to myself. Which was great except when the trail disappeared or split and I got a bit lost. But I generally found it again fairly quickly.
The only other people I saw were a few runners and some cyclists. The other runners I saw were much better than I was, usually wearing "I ran a marathon" type t-shirt (making me feel very inadequate).
Part of the trail goes through the coal mine Heritage Park and over some railway tracks.

Longest coal train. Never did see the end of it.

Old coal cart.

Really cool bench

Stream

View towards the Appalachians

Once I finally found the Library, frankly I hurt. But it did bring me out near Bollo's and they had chocolate cake! So happy.

At home I treated myself to a hot bath, a handful of Ibuprofen, and cup of tea, and then completely homemade nachos with veggie chili and guacamole followed by the chocolate cake with custard (brought from the UK). :-) Good day.

Thanksgiving

On Thursday night, Cissi and I went to Giti's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Giti is a VT faulty member and had involved a few others over, 2 other members of faculty, a Grad student, and a postdoc and his wife for a lovely dinner.
Her house is lovely and after meeting everyone and a glass of wine, Giti brought out the turkey. (The smell made me feel all Christmassy.)

On Thursday night, Cissi and I went to Giti's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Giti is a VT faulty member and had involved a few others over, 2 other members of faculty, a Grad student, and a postdoc and his wife for a lovely dinner.

Her house is lovely and after meeting everyone and a glass of wine, Giti brought out the turkey. (The smell made me feel all Christmassy.)

As well as the turkey, there was mash potato, some amazing stuffing, peas, beans, mushroom gravy and bed rolls. It was very tasty! We sat, eating and chatting about languages and history to one of the faculty members.

There was pumpkin pie for desert. Which I can't eat. But I could eat the ice cream. And there were some lovely chocolate coated strawberries, and my first taste of ice wine tea. Which is very nice though a little sweet. It was a lovely evening.

Thanksgiving sales actually started at 8pm in some stores on Thursday evening (partly because thanksgiving, which is the 4th thursday in November, is so late this year and people are desperate to get their xmas presents).

So Cissi and I decided to drop into Target. I needed to return a heater I had brought (and was smashed up when I got it home) so I returned it and then we went shopping. I got a sweater and a DVD in the sales but the rest of the stuff was just things I wanted like a christmas tree! The line to pay was amazingly long but it moved fast. (And I found a few things I needed grocery-wise on the way through the queue.) We did the rest of our shopping on Friday. Some fun stuff (we got a ton of DVDs each) and groceries. Which aren't as fun but are necessary. But I found a Terry's chocolate orange in Walmart! And I got the makings for a fresh gluten-free pizza which was very tasty!

I am going to put my tree up this weekend. It's a bit early but it will make the apartment nice and cheerful. I am very excited about putting my new tree up! And I have eggnog to drink while doing so, to stay in the USA mood. :-)

Blue ridge Vineyard

As we were talking and chilling in the flat, we started out a little late and got there not long before the music finished. :-( But we did the wine tasting and Mom and Dad selected a white Gewürztraminer (which we opened there and had a glass) and a Big Bear Red.

Mom in the tasting room.

I am sure I was making a very serious point!

Crystal, who I had spent an hour talking to the last time I was there, came in later and to my surprise remembered me. They had harvested the grapes and were in the middle of making the wine. She asked if we wanted to go and see, so we got to see the wine making process up close and personal. Because it is only a small vineyard, they crush the grapes by hand/foot. They were covered with black grape juice! And Crystal gave me a jug of the grape juice to make some wine jelly! They are all so sweet and Barbara who owns the vineyard was telling me about the events they have coming up. I will definitely be going to some of them! :-)

Barbara, Robin and Crystal - force behind the Blue Ridge Vineyard

View while we sipped our wine

Lazy sunday for the dogs.

We took the long way back through the Appalachian mountains. We saw deer and wild turkeys and the roads were mostly deserted. We went to Due South, a BBQ place in Christainsburg for dinner. The ribs were very very tasting. And they had the best catering van.

Due South catering van

At home we just watched silly movies as me and mom were feeling a bit weepy. :-(

On Monday morning, we went into Blacksburg and did a little shopping for VT and Hookie gifts (I finally got a VT hoodie) and some food before heading to the airport. Mom and Dads flight was in the afternoon and we had to return the car (which I will miss!). We had travel a fair bit in it apparently. Just over 1750 miles! Good road trip. I have had such a good time with my parents and will really miss them. But I will see them again in February. 

Heritage Day

Saturday was the annual Heritage day at Montgomery Museum where my friend Sue is the director. It's their big fundraiser and promotion day. And I was really impressed. There was a lot more going on than I expected.

They had a peach cook off which I was tempted to join but was basically too lazy. :-) But another of my friend Walt entered and came second! He cooked his dish on hot coals in front of the judges (one of which was Doris who runs the wine tasting I go to every other week). After the judging, you could try each of the dishes for a dollar.

Peach cook-off.

We first headed for the classic cars which were really cool.

Selection of classic cars

Stretch Caddy ambulance!! Traveling in style

Inside the ambulance

Classic Ford.

Christiansburg Fire Engine

Arty moment.

They also had a petting zoo. I has hoping for a few rabbits etc. But it was still fun. And I loved the goats. I have so many funny photos of them. :-)

The calves weren't very energetic.

And these guys just wanted to eat.

My new favorite photo! He wouldn't stand still!

There was also a VT entomology stand with lots of bugs, which was fun and really creepy. The lady there showed us some spiders and the baby versions which were so cute. But then they grow into the big ones which made my skin crawl.

New Mexico Scorpion

The baby version was very cute. 

Huge caterpillar found a few minutes early under a nearby tree.

There were also lots of people in period dress. I was in a sun dress and hot. So they must have been baking! It was great fun looking at all the costumes.

Typical civil war tent.

This lady spent a long time trying to recruit us as reenactors. 

Very enthusiastic soldier.

There were also loads of crafts stalls with some really nice things.

Making rugs

Hand-made leather crafts

It was a really good and I was so happy of Sue that the weather turned out well. And I got to take loads of photos and play with my camera. It was great fun!