Queen Anne's Lace and Lilacs

Apple Hill 2009

Tim and I finally made it up to Apple Hill.  Tim told me on Monday that he was taking Friday off so that we could head on up the hill after getting Bethany to school.  Just before going to bed on Thursday night, I remembered that we had people coming over late Friday morning.  So.  There went that plan.

We did manage to get in a couple of hours of riding around and shopping.  Of course, the first stop we made was High Hill Ranch for a couple of their fantastic chicken salad sandwiches and caramel apples.  Those chicken salad sandwiches are so good, Bethany even likes them!   We did get some of our usual items:  An apple pie for Thanksgiving or Christmas (whichever meal Evan attends), apple turnovers, apple crisps, and a couple of ciders.  We were there too late for the apple doughnuts.  And, we didn't have time to stop at the Buttercup Pantry for their excellent apple strudel.  We'll get around to those items, hopefully, on my birthday in a few days.  I'm trying not to think about it.  The birthday, not Apple Hill.

Bethany stayed home, not wanting to go along for the ride.  I don't understand her sometimes.  Even as a teenager, I loved going for rides out in the country.  And this is some pretty fantastic country around here!

The weather was perfect, sunny and with just the right amount of coolness in the air.  The late afternoon lighting effect was very nice.  We took a few pictures with our new, leave in the car, camera.  (Click the photos for a larger view.)

I've got a lot of catching up to do here.  Things may not be in order. 

Happy Anniversary to Us!

Happy anniversary, Baby!

Tim and I were married nine years ago today in Waipi'o Falls, Hawaii.  Tim was telling someone, just the other day, that it seems like yesterday!  The years have flown sweetly by, seeming like mere moments.  *sigh*  Oh!  Anyway, our hotel was in Kailua-Kona (on the Big Island), so the morning of the wedding involved a couple hours of drive time.  Our wedding was down on the Waipi'o Beach, just below the falls.  We drove down to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, at the southern end of the island, after our little ceremony.   We stayed until dark, which was recommended for good views of the lava flows.  Following dinner at Volcano House, in the Park, we drove back to Kailua-Kona.  It was a beautiful day in a truly magical place.

To commemmorate our big day, we went up to Apple Hill after church.  There's really nothing around here that would in any remote way be like that day in Hawaii, so we decided to do one of our favorite things here.  The fall colors were wonderful up the hill, we had our favorite chicken salad sandwiches for lunch (they're so good, even Bethany likes them!), bought apple pie, crisp, and streudel, and took a bunch of pictures.  We came home and ordered from Olive Garden for dinner, ate with the kids, and enjoyed a Kings basketball game (well, it's halftime, so I won't know how much I've enjoyed the game for a while yet).  I didn't take pictures at dinner - the kids get so grouchy when they see a camera.  Sheesh! 

I probably won't be dealing with the pictures until tomorrow, so I'll post them later.  I feel like I have quite a bit of make-up posts.  I need to get with it.  I think I've figured out how to do my blogging and keep an eye on the puppy (I so hate cleaning up messes!).

Back to Tim...thank you, Baby, for nine fantastic years!