C & C Photography

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The Vacation. Day 4.

July 5, 2011

We finally made it to Bryson City, N.C. I had booked online and we had no idea of the conditions of the place we had rented. I went through VRBO.com (Vacation Rentals By Owner). I guess if you do it this way, there are less taxes and no fees from real estate agents. I wanted a place, budget friendly, with a kitchen - because I have kids and its just easier that way...much better than a mini fridge at a hotel. Judging from the start of this vacation adventure, we were a little nervous on what to expect.

I don't know how many people that read my blog or come across my blog will ever have the opportunity or desire to visit the mountains of North Carolina, but if you do - this owner, and his cabins, were beyond all our expectations. We had a two bedroom cabin with a sleep sofa. A kitchen. A hot tub. And a little creek running right out in back that you could hear from the porch. A big yard and a bunch of chickens running around that were really fun to tease. It had a fire pit and a little grill that, if I hadn't been fed all the yummy mountain food from the relatives, I'm sure Colin could have grilled up some yummy trout. If you get a chance, I highly recommend this place (link at bottom).

Abi, running through the grass in bare feet, came up and pulled this four leaf clover out of her toes.

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Day 4. Oh, you thought there was no drama for this day? We found out that Colin is NOT allergic to yellow jacket stings, but they do hurt pretty bad. Good to know. Good to know.

http://www.foxcreekcabins.com/

The Vacation. Day 3.

July 4, 2011

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Apologies for the quality of this next picture...it was taken on my cell-phone. This is us - at the final break down coming down Black Mountain into Ashville, N.C. Where, mind you, I have wanted to visit ever since I have started visiting these mountains with my hubby and his family. I got a taste of Ashville, however, since the truck was broken down, there was no way to get to the Biltmore, where I had wanted to visit. (I knew we should have booked there (rooms starting at $299-$380 for two)). We could have probably walked from the Nissan dealer instead of having to wait for Colin's other wonderful brother to come to the rescue. Time we left Trinity? 11:00 a.m. Time of rescue? 7:00 p.m. EIGHT hours - with the two most patient kids that made the most of their time together. I appreciate no one killing each other (thanks Colin! I promise I did not sabotage the truck and cause a hole to burn through the muffler and melt the wiring harness causing everything to fail costing close to $1000 just to stop in Asheville).

Did I mention that before the break down a car coming the opposite way lost control and hit the guardrail? Luck was on our side at that moment because if the guardrail hadn't been there - it would have been a head on collision. Colin said it looked like a race car wreck.

It all could have been worse. We could have broken down going UP the mountain. Still thinking positive.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

The Vacation. Day 2.

July 3, 2011

Still in Trinity, N.C. (as planned), visiting with relatives and hanging out. Beautiful flowers all around - Abi even made a friend. She sure loves her animals (and fresh strawberry patches)! We even took a dip in the pool at Colin's brother's house...which proved to make it an eventful night...

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Day 2. Apparently, a little three year old girl got a painful ear infection, brought on from that dip in the pool, that had her screaming bloody murder and had us rushing off to the Emergency Room at 11:00 at night. Poor thing kept us up until 3:00 in the morning. Much appreciation goes out to the quick care at High Point Hospital!

Did I mention that when we were coming home from the hospital a BLACK CAT ran across the street in front of us? Colin said, "That bridge has already been crossed." I think that was the point I almost melted down. He did point out that the black cat did have white feet...

Monday, July 11, 2011

The Vacation. Day 1.

July 2, 2011

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Simply stated - the vacation began a little something like this. I don't remember much traffic down 95. O.K., yes, I do - a woman flipped her car around somewhere between here and Fredericksburg, VA. No one was injured. Colin was behind me on the motorcycle and I was in the truck with the girls. Two of the most patient girls in the world, I might add. Whom, after EVERYTHING that happened this past week, are still smiling and thinking that this was one of the BEST vacations ever! And - after its all said and done. It was.

Day 1. Titan broke down on the way to Trinity, NC. We stopped to fill up and first I couldn't get the machine to swipe my card - then, after I filled up, I got in to start up the truck and I couldn't get it out of gear! I was thinking, this line of cars that has built up behind me must think I'm an IDIOT! Lucky as we were, the man at the pump next to us - the same thing was happening to him! He came over and popped this emergency override button (sadly his car didn't have one) which got us to be able to pop the truck into drive and GO. I've never been happier to see a strange man with a pocket knife before! Off we went, only to find out when we got to Colin's parents house that we had no brake lights, no hazards and no right turn signal...
It appears that a short in the brake light caused a bunch of wires to melt together and the problem was resolved after that repair was done. Could have been worse. Could have been a fire - the brake light cover is a little melted. We call it character.
Oh - did I mention the tail pipe fell off during the repair?

Friday, July 1, 2011

Happy Birthday, Brittany!

July 1 , 2011

Happy Birthday, Brittany. May you always smile so big!

(If you can, open link in a separate window)

http://pl.st/s/220935697

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Good-bye for now.

June 30, 2011

So, I leave you for awhile...my blogspot friends and I promise to be more loyal upon my return. Away from computers and digital downloads. Away from internet and cable T.V. No Facebook. No texting. Up the mountain, away from most civilization, but still with civilized people. Some of the nicest people you will meet live out of Northern Virginia, by the way. Out of GPS range and cell-phone signals. Cappuccino maker is reluctantly coming with me...because there is no coffee store around the corner. This will be a complete change of element for me...no traffic and high pressure. Maybe I'll relax a little and be less high strung (Naaaaaa). I will try and suck up any of that "noon day sun" that I can so that when I finally make it to the beach (MY home away from home), I won't me the most pale person there. I will treasure every moment of this vacation, because we do not get to see all of my husband's family very often. I leave you with this yumminess...and will hopefully fill you with some amazing waterfalls and country scenes when I get back online. We will meet soon, my friend...

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A ride in the country.

June 29, 2011

My husband's wonderful brother, wife and friends took us on this really amazing horse drawn buggy ride that I will never forget. I keep hinting that they take me again - but to quit making fun of me when I start taking pictures of things I don't see everyday. You should have seen them laugh when I aimed at the hay bails.

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The hawk

June 28, 2011

This guy was sitting in our neighbor's Dogwood tree. It was probably taken through the screen and without the flash - he was a beautiful visitor for a good couple of hours...until the poor squirrel ran by. On a side note, I think it got away!

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Country Beauty.

June 27, 2011

The country also has its fair share of beauty...

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Can you find the Deer?

June 26, 2011

One of Colin's favorite spots is to sit in his deer stand in the snow. Maybe he should shoot with the camera more often so we can share...

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Love me.

June 25, 2011

Studio Practice...

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Seth's photo day

June 24, 2011

Seth's Photo Shoot. He looks so good in blue! Here are some of my favorite from the day. Abi was ready to pose right there with him!

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Bug.

June 23, 2011

I miss my macro lens.

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Foggy Morning

June 22, 2011

There is so much beauty at the beach...

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Mouse

June 21, 2011

This cute little guy was just hanging out at my parents house. Wonder if he's still running around there...

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Pohick Bay/George Mason

June 20, 2011

So - I had this idea that the girls and I would go on a picnic one sunny March day. I had wanted to go down to this beach-like area, because I was having withdrawals. We ventured out to Mason Neck park where I thought we could walk along the water edge. Unfortunately, it was all roped off and the only warmth was from the recycled tire shavings that were the "mulch" at the playground. (Which are really cool if you've never seen them)...but, they weren't putting out much heat. We traveled to Pohick Bay Park right down the road and ate...wrapped in blankets...while some crazy kayakers were out practicing.

After that we headed back down the road to George Mason's home. We got yelled at by a grumpy woman in the Visitor's Center who told me I needed to remove my child (who shrieked with joy upon seeing her sister come out of the educational film she said they would both enjoy - which they didn't). I have never been so embarrassed or ever asked to leave anywhere because of my children's behavior. It was a Visitor's Center - not a museum - and it was a split second - not an ongoing annoyance. People should not get mad at other people's happiness. Jealous.

The grounds were beautiful. The walkthrough of the house was not as exciting or very upbeat - but very beautiful. It was neat to learn that since they didn't have air conditioning in those days that when they had parties, they would leave the front and back doors open to get a cross wind to cool the house. I would love to have a party in that house!

This is a view of George Mason's Deer land (above).

This is the path to the family graveyard.

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Caterpillars.

June 19, 2011

A creepy crawler friend for a day...bugs really gross me out - but when you have kids, you have to TRY not to instill fear of bugs in them. Unless A. they are in the house or B. their father is chasing me with it. Then there is quite obvious fear and screaming.