Frozen

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On Saturday we took the boys and Ozzy out to Day Creek in Blue Ridge...It's a nice area for Ozzy to get a walk and Nick wanted to see how frozen the creek was since we've had all this wintry weather...

Dalton testing it out, looking a bit like Bambi haha


Now he's got his balance...


Crack, crack, crack went the ice...he jumped back quick! No worries, even if he did fall in it wasn't deep!


Ozzy has the hang of it!

We've had a nice warm weekend so I'm sure it has all thawed out by now! Linking up with Mersad's Through My Lens

House In The Woods

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Blue Ridge . Botetourt County

Today I am thankful for good books! Last night I laid on the couch and read for a couple of hours...something I don't do enough of...I started this book, Daisy Fay & The Miracle Man by Fannie Flagg about a year ago but it kind of got lost and I just found it again...it's a fun little read and makes me laugh! What are you reading?

Linking up with Michelle's Thankful Thursday

Black & White Wednesday

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Blue Ridge . Botetourt County

Yesterday the boys and I went for a little walk...We walked over to the bridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway, then followed the Parkway to the next bridge and got off and walked back home...in all it was probably just a mile or 2...I don't know...it was cold though...my face was frozen by the time we got back in the house!

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas...sorry I wasn't here for Willy Nilly Friday...was swamped! Now today's task, get the house back in order!

2 Chairs & A Windmill

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Blue Ridge

Remember last week I was thankful for a snow day? Well this week I am un-thankful for a make up day :( ...Yesterday was supposed to be our last day of school before Christmas break and we have to make up that day off today...how grinchy right?! With that being said, it will be a fun day at school...we have our little Christmas party and it will be a laid back day...Thankful today that I work with friends! Linking up with Michelle's Thankful Thursday

And another thing to be thankful for is the fact that yesterday they had a drawing...all the names of staff at school were entered and my name was picked! I won a Chick-fil-A gift card...yay me!

Have a great day!

Black & White Wednesday

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Day Creek . Blue Ridge

When you come to a roadblock, take a detour.
- Barbara Bush

Blue Ridge Mountains

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View from Day Creek . Blue Ridge

This was the view as we were leaving Day Creek last week...driving down the little gravel road and then all of a sudden this popped into view!

Linking up with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

Crunchy Leaves & Moss

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Day Creek . Blue Ridge

Yesterday Nick and I took Ozzy for a little hike around Day Creek. We come here fairly often, usually when I need some rocks to paint for the rock group I'm in...Dalton wasn't feeling well so Braden stayed home to play XBox take care of him if he needed anything...I kept him home from school today...hopefully all this extra rest will have him back to regular!

Linking up with Mersad's Through My Lens

Shady

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Day Creek . Blue Ridge
“My path gets more beautiful when you walk it with me.”
― Toni Sorenson

Today I am thankful for Anniversaries! It's our Wedding Anniversary! We have been married for 32 years, wow! Getting married at 19 hasn't always been easy but we've beaten the odds...lots of people said it wouldn't last yet here we are! I am thankful that I have given my kids a 2 parent house to grow up in...I see so many teenagers on social media posting about how lucky you are if you have parents still married to each other...I'm glad that that is something my kids can take for granted! We'll be celebrating at the football field watching the boys play...can't think of anything better! Here's to many more Anniversaries! Linking up with Michelle's Thankful Thursday

Have a great day!

Colonial Elementary

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Colonial Elementary School . Blue Ridge

Today I am thankful for longer days...have you noticed each day is staying light just a little bit longer than the day before? I have to pick the boys up from track practice each evening at 5:30, sometimes 6...it used to be pitch black when I'd get them, now it is looking like dusk as we drive back home! I know we still have a bit of winter left but this is just one of those things that makes me feel like spring is right around the corner...that and the 70 degree day we just had...I want more of those! Dipping back into the winter temps though for the weekend...great! That was sarcasm :)

Linking with Michelle's Thankful Thursday

Glade Creek Cemetery

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Have you ever seen a cemetery with...

rocking horses...

and elephants and ducks?...

Ashlyn has a good friend from high school who is buried here...the funeral was on a hot summer's day a couple of years ago...

HERE'S an interesting story on the cemetery...

Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

Old House on Colonial Road

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Colonial Road . Blue Ridge

I would have loved to get out and walk around and take lots of pictures but there was farm equipment stored here and I was not sure if the owners lived right across the street from this place and were looking out their windows watching me ;)

Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

Through My Lens - Day Creek

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Day Creek . Blue Ridge

These were taken last Sunday, kind of chilly out. This week was beautiful weather, in the 70's. Ashlyn was home for spring break. It was so nice having her here for a whole week. This morning she is on her way back to JMU. Christian was also enjoying spring break and he heads back to classes today but he's still at home for another year, which I do not take for granted. The boys and I don't start our spring break for a couple of more weeks...counting down the days!

It was dark when my alarm went off this morning since we just switched to Daylight Savings Time yesterday. I LOVE the longer days but getting up in the dark is kind of hard!

Linking with Mersad's Through My Lens

Signs, Signs & A Good Fence in Bedford/Botetourt

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This was somewhere near the Botetourt/Bedford line...

This guy was tied up in the yard with the sign...maybe he's the "Big Ass"?

Spotted near the Jaycee Camp in Blue Ridge...sorry for the glare, taken through the windshield!

*All taken on our little drive on Saturday*

Linking with Tex's Good Fences & Signs, Signs

Good Fences - Back To Kincer's

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Webster Road . Blue Ridge . Botetourt County

Remember Kincer's Grocery sign from LAST WEEK? Well Monday I had to run a few errands and I took Webster Road planning to get a picture of the "grocery store" building but there was so much snow on the side of the road and that building sits much closer to the road so hard to get a picture. This little house is somehow associated with the little grocery store...I saw it documented somewhere. I like the little gate in front. Soon I'll get a picture of the actual store...you can kind of see it to the right of the house, like they are connected.

Linking with Tex's Good Fences

P.S. Our snow is melting quickly...warm days but icy cold nights are making everything that melted freeze again. School was back in session on Wednesday but with a 2 hour delay and another 2 hour delay for Thursday. Supposed to be almost 60 on Sunday...now that I've had my snow fix I am ready for spring! Too soon? ;)

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 64

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Roanoke's Christmas Tree from 2014....Hoping we make it to tonight's Dicken's of a Christmas ...we normally aren't able to go as the boys have always had basketball practice on that night. Last year was our first year, and although they had practice, we still went, were late but at least we saw a bit! No practice is scheduled for this Friday so I'm going to twist Nick's arm!

1) Click Here for my post from last year's Dicken's of a Christmas post

2) A present came in the mail for me today...no surprise since I ordered it but I am soooo excited...ok, it's a new camera! But I still have to wrap it up and put it under the tree...Nick's a stickler like that!

3)

Colonial Elementary School . Blue Ridge
The boys had basketball practice here Tuesday night...when I came back to pick them up I really liked the way this doorway was lit up. I was reading that this school was built in 1939 as a high school. Interesting history on the schools in Botetourt County HERE

4)

Downtown Roanoke...don't ask me what building this is because I cannot remember! I think I shall link this to Weekend Reflections ...I love reflections and always forget to play along to this linky!

5)

...and we thank you! (recently scene at Green Hill Park in Salem

Okey dokey, that's my 5 this week! Your turn! Post 5 randoms, link up and visit others! Thank you so much for participating!! Have a great weekend :)



P.S. Our school won the semi-finals last Saturday and will be heading to Liberty University tomorrow to compete for the State Championship! See the news HERE .. Go Cavs!!!

Through My Lens - A Blue Ridge Farmhouse

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Webster Road . Blue Ridge

A child on a farm sees a plane fly overhead and dreams of a faraway place. A traveler on the plane sees the farmhouse and dreams of home.
(Carl Burns)

Blue Ridge Service Center

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Blue Ridge Blvd . Blue Ridge

This is near our new house. I've always loved the Coke sign and have always meant to stop and snap a photo of it. Well now that we live nearby, here it is...it is tilted, but I was parked on a hill...this location isn't the easiest access. My husband has stopped by a few times to pick up this or that as it is the most convenient place to our house. The owner does not speak English, not that that is a big deal but he will not even try to communicate with you. He's rude enough that my husband now drives the extra few miles down the road to Food Lion for anything we need to pick up. He's given the guy a few chances but he never even tries to be polite or appreciative of the money you spend there. He wears earbuds and will not answer questions. On my husband's last visit my husband tried to hand him his money, the man would not hold his hand out to accept it so my husband just let it all fall on the counter and walked out. That is the last time he has been there. I haven't even given it a try. Our older son Christian won't go just because it's not that easy to access. It's just too bad because it is a cute little place and I do love that old Coke sign! Just be nice when we try to spend money in your store, is that too much to ask?!

Do you continue to shop at places where you've had rude service?

Good Fences - Mountain Pass Road

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Mountain Pass Road . Blue Ridge

Another snap taken on my way home from school. The boys have a football game this afternoon and Braden has requested French Dip sandwiches for dinner afterwards. I found the easiest recipe for them a few years back, it's a Rachel Ray version I think. Get some deli roast beef cut, sprinkle Montreal Steak Seasoning on it, soak it in beef broth till hot and top on crusty rolls with a piece of cheese (we use Provolone) and use the broth to dip. So yummy and so easy!

Linking with Friday Fences

The Abandoned Project - I

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Along 460 in Blue Ridge.

I love old, abandoned buildings/houses, don't you?

The rain stayed away so the game was played as planned. It drizzled on and off but no biggie. The Braves (the boys' team) won, 6-4...awesome start to the season!