My New Favorite Color

See that blue? That's glacial blue and it is my new favorite color. I must have it in my life, somehow, from now on. Thanks to New Zealand for making that color and thank goodness I got to go and see it with my own eyes.
Picture was taken, btw, on the drive to Milford Sound through the Fjordland National Park. Bus driver was nice enough to stop long enough to let us snap a few photos.

Dart River

Once again, I am left pretty speechless with our experiences here in NZ. It will be good when I can get some pictures up here, so you all can start to understand better. Today, we went on a Funyak tour, which involved a jet boat ride up the Dart River, and then kayaking down the river, with a lunch stop along the way, and a quick tour of some filming sites on the drive back to base. It was my favorite part of this whole trip. The boat ride was very cold, but fun. The kayaking was even more fun. And the scenery was incredible! E and I shared a boat and she did very well with the paddling. C and A had a good time in the other boat, so I hear. E was not really looking forward to this one, but she ended up really enjoying herself, I think because she got to participate physically, instead of just sitting and looking at pretty scenery. A has decided she really likes kayaking and that we need to do that again. I agree! After we got back to base and got changed out of our wetsuits, we had a few minutes to look around the town of Glenorchy. One thing C has wanted to get since we came here is a possum pelt, so we went to a little fur shop. The Aussie possum was introduced to NZ and has been a natural disaster, so the Kiwis are working hard to eradicate them to save their native trees and wildlife. I was keen to help, since the fur is so soft, but everywhere we saw it, the prices were so high. This little shop had a reasonable price for the pelt and a special surprise tucked in the shop for me. They had a bag of scrap fur, full of all different colors, for 2o bucks. I was so happy to snatch one of them up and I am going to have great fun crafting some warm and soft goodies with those scraps! So, if I seemed to have forgotten a souvenir for you, there just might be a little something trimmed in possum coming your way!

We got back to Queenstown a bit earlier than we expected, so we took a walk by the lake and through the gardens. There were huge redwoods planted there and fun ducks on a beautiful pond. Good day all around.

Milford Sound

Today started early with our pickup for our Milford Sound cruise. First we travelled many hours by tour bus to our boat, and then we cruised up the sound, which is technically a fjord, out to the Tasman Sea and back, and then back on the bus for the return trip. Long day, but so amazingly worth it. Words can't describe. Pictures to come won't do it either, I suspect. But, wow, majestic is one I could use to try to capture the sight. Interestingly, the highlight of the day, for me, was actually watching E find and strike up a friendship with various Japanese people on the bus and boat. She was so happy to be greeted so warmly by these strangers, who were happy to practice English with her as she practiced Japanese with them. At one point, she had about six adults all circling her as she sat on a bench choosing which drawing to show them out of her sketchbook. My baby is growing up! Thankfully, these lovely people made this sightseeing nature focused tour not only bearable, but exciting, for my child who hates sightseeing and nature based stuff. I'm not sure what rock we found her under, but we love her anyway! The other one was in love with the trees and moss and lichen and birds and mountains and snow and waterfalls and penguins and seals and views and everything. Good day all around and now I am tired. Tomorrow is a free day and we plan to milk it for all the rest and recuperation we can get out of it, plus laundry.

Queenstown

So today we flew from Auckland to Queenstown on the South Island. It was such a beautiful day that we decided to jump right in and use our gondola and luge passes that were open ended for one of our free days here. We were going to go another day, but it might rain later in the week, so we thought it best to make hay while the sun shined. The view from the top was soooooo amazing. Wait til you see it! We had a lot of fun racing down the luge tracks together and watching the people parasailing off the mountain. It was freaky how steep the gondola ride was, almost straight vertical. So steep that the platform for the bungy jump at the top only had to cantilever out about 15 ft or so. Couldn't PAY me to do that, no sir. Afterward, we headed back down and had some dinner. I'm still not so happy about the cost of eating out so much, but, *sigh*. I am trying to stuff my frugal self deep down in my psyche, and just enjoy the break from cooking. Anyhoo, after dinner we walked around town, window shopping and looking for icecream. We went in one shop where the employee was a young Japanese woman. E, of course, glomed right on to her and followed her and another Japanese couple around the store, listening to them speak Japanese to each other, seeing if she could understand them at all. She could, a bit. Then she started a conversation with the young woman about her impending trip to Tokyo and how she is learning Japanese. She tried out a few of the phrases she has learned and the woman was impressed with her accent. E was so stoked! She has asked many times tonight if we can go back to the store to see if she can find her new friend!

We got back on the search for ice cream and what do we find? Not one, but TWO couples from Alice Springs here on holiday in NZ, just walking down the street. Seriously, what are the odds! Found out from one of the husbands that the Milford Sound blew his mind and trumps the Grand Canyon by a mile. I'm so excited to go tomorrow for our Milford Sound cruise! Speaking of which, it is late and I have an early wakeup call, for our bus in the morning. Night!

Matamata and Waitomo

Yesterday was another full day for us. We left our hotel in Pauanui and drove south to the little town of Matamata, home of the filming set for Hobbiton in the Lord of the Rings. Our tour was so cool. We got to go right up to the doors of the Hobbit holes and walk all around the "town". It was set up so realistically, just like there really could be Hobbits living there. The scale was half human sized, except for the doors used by the actors, which made all the props super cute. Even C, who is not a huge fan of the LOTR, was enjoying himself. He said our excitement was rubbing off on him. After an amazing dinner at a Thai place in town, we had to hit the road again and make it to our accomodations for the night. I think this part was my husband's favorite place so far, as we stayed in an old military cargo plane that was the last of it's kind to leave the Vietnam war, converted into two rooms. One in the cockpit area and one in the tail. Ours was the tail end. I have to admit it was very cool.

This morning, we got up and went to a tour of the Glowworm caves. That was beautiful and peaceful. After, we headed north, stopping for lunch and we were going to go to a Kiwi reserve. But we decided to save our money, since we already get to see Kiwi at a place in Christchurch later on. So, on to Auckland we drove and now we are resting and packing up to fly to the South island in the morning. Queenstown, here we come!

Hot Water Beach

Today we left Auckland and drove over the mountains to the East coast of New Zealand. Our destination was a little spot called Hot Water Beach. The drive over was so amazingly beautiful, with peaceful pastures of cows and sheep, and even some deer - venison anyone?- , and then dramatic mountain passes with ferns that look like palm trees dotting the pine covered hills. We timed our arrival with the low tide, because that is when the magic happens at this special beach. There are two springs that bubble up from the sands, with water hot enough to scald heated by geothermal activity close to the surface. People dig holes in the sand near the springs to make their own natural little hot tubs. Luckily we found friendly sorts there to lend us a shovel! For a few hours, we soaked in the tubs and splashed in the surf, until the tide came in and flooded our hole with cold ocean water. I can't wait to show you pictures! The ocean was so beautiful. I'll be adding more details as I add pictures once we are back home, as the photos will jog my memories.

Tonight we are staying in a little town down the coast from the Hot Water Beach called Pauanui. It seems the place becomes a ghost town once the summer holidays are over and we pretty much have the place to ourselves. It is an exceptional development that reminded us of The Truman Show as we drove around looking for a place to eat dinner. There are only 700 year-round residents and the place swells to 18,000 when the holiday beach crowd show up. We only get to stay this one night and then we head south to Hobbiton. It will be good to see the Shire again.

Kiwi Land

So here we are in New Zealand. We left Alice on Wednesday and flew through Melbourne to Auckland. We had to leave the building to get from domestic to international terminals, so can we say we were actually in Melbourne? We had an uneventful trio, other than the sound not working on mine and Cary's built in TV for the flight to Auckland. Oh well, I did not want to watch a movie anyway and the flight attendant gave us drinks on the house for our trouble. Not that they charge for alcohol on international flights, but hey, it was the thought that counted, right?

All went smoothly through customs and immigration, and we grabbed a taxi to take us to our hotel. The guy took us on the scenic route, we suspect, because after driving us all over kingdom come, we asked how to get back to the airport and how long it would take. He assured us we could just hop on the highway and it would only take 20 minutes. Ok, then why have we been driving for a half an hour on every back road in town, hmmmm?

We did finally make it to our hotel, and after shelling over an obscene amount of money for the taxi, we got settled into our room just after midnight. Since the time in Alice was only 8:30, I was not tired like I wanted to be and did not sleep very well. Oh well, nothing like adjusting to a new time zone.

This morning, Cary called the rental car place to see if they could come get him so we could get our car. Of course, our hotel was a smidgen too far from the city center to qualify for the free pick up, so we had to make another plan. Then, he called the whale tour place to verify where we needed to go, and they told us that we had to cancel for weather. Bummer. Ok, I did not want to ride on a boat in the rain anyway, right? Plan B time. Not that we had a plan B, but we adjusted and grabbed a bus to take us to the car and then hit the Auckland Museum instead. It was a good rainy day plan and we had fun exploring. The park that the museum was in had a bunch of awesome old trees and cool plants to check out as well. We had a nice dinner down by the waterside and did a little shopping for souvenirs. And now we are tired and ready to crash. Wait, I think I hear the sound of a log being cut coming from the bedroom. Looks like my husband has beat me to it. More adventures tomorrow. See you then!

Uluru

To celebrate my 40th birthday my sweet husband took me to see a BIG rock. Sounds good to this rock hound!

The whole family got up at 5am to meet the tour bus at 6am for our grand adventure. It was still dark when we got on the bus. This picture was taken at the roadhouse about halfway down the road to Uluru. We can highly, HIGHLY, recommend this tour company. They were great!!

True to the tour company name, we got to see some Emus at that roadhouse. Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of an Emu's eye through a chain link fence? If you do, you know how chuffed I am with this photo! Look at me, sounding all Aussie!

When we got to Uluru, after a pit stop at the visitor center in the little town, we headed for the other big rocks there, Kata Tjuta, or the Olgas. Did you know that this outcrop of rocks is actually bigger and more varied than Uluru? We were only allowed access to one spot around them, since most of the area is used for ceremony by the aboriginal owners. We got to hike a short trail in between the first and second domes, from the right. I was totally geeking out over the cool conglomerate structure of the rock.

Then it was on to the cultural center at the base of Uluru, where we could learn about Uluru from the indigenous perspective, and a little about their culture. It was fascinating and convinced C and I not to attempt to climb the rock, which we had planned to do. The tribes feel very strongly about us not climbing it, and after getting a look at the very steep and precarious trail up to the top, we opted to skip the climb.

So, instead we stayed with the group and got to do several walks at spots along the base, and hear the stories of the creation of the features of the rock, both geological and aboriginal. The girls loved the stories and finding the pictures in the rocks that went with them.

This is taken from inside a cave, at the base. There are paintings on the cave walls and if you look closely you can see the Emu tracks painted on the upper point above.

One of the walks took us to a waterhole. It was so lush and green and peaceful, I could have sat and soaked it up if we had had more time. But by then it was getting on in the day and the grand finale was calling.

So, off we went to our champagne dinner while watching the sun set on Uluru. It was yummy and fun and a great way to top off our day.

This shot was taken just as the sun was going down behind me.

And this is how we celebrated 15 years of marriage!

Don't worry, when you come visit, I will take you to Uluru if you want to see it, no matter how many times I have to go! I could spend a year there and still not see all that those big rocks have to show us.

A Few Pictures

This is the freaking HUMONGOUS plane we flew over in, the A380. The girls had the window seat right about over the last 'a' in Australia on the top deck. C and I were in the center next to them. There was so much room to move around, I could walk over and look out the girls window if I wanted to! With their seats in full recline even! A and E having their breakfast at about 5:30 am Sydney time, pitch dark and about 13 hours into the flight. Note the Quantas PJs they gave us. Too cute with a kangaroo on the shirt and very comfy!Sunrise over the East coast of Australia. The flight took us over the land, down the coast to Sydney. I thought we would be over water until we got there, but we came inland quite a bit. Maybe the flight path out of the country is straight out over the water.This is C and me all happy to be together and about to land in Oz:A took this one out the window on our descent into Alice. So green! They have had a lot of rain this summer and the desert has come alive. But in addition to all the grass, the area has so many trees, I guess it is pretty green even in a dry year. Much nicer than the Las Vegas desert! A said it made her think we were in Africa on the savannah. I feel like I am living in Zion National Park, with the green and the red rock all around.

You know you are in the tropics when this is the kind of bird you see out in your palm tree every morning! It is called a Galah and there are whole flocks of them sitting on the ground in the park by our house, just eating the grass. It is so weird having pet store birds living in my backyard!

OK, no wallabys yet. That will be tonight. We now have an internet connection dongle thingy for my computer, so expect to see more of me around here as I document our time here. Loving it so far!

Various and Sundry

My mind is awash in potential blog posts. I think in titles. I imagine the pictures I will share. And then? Then, I do nothing. Sorry.

Life has been crazy lately. Not busy, per se, but uncertain. First, we did not know if and when we were moving. Then, we find out we have the job and leave in the Spring. Now, we have a ton of logistics to work out, animals to find homes for, caretakers to find for the house and land, relationships to shore up before we leave and neglect them for months (years?) on end, family to entice to visit the land down under, and plans to put on hold. It is exciting, sad, maddening, fun, headache inducing, titillating and terrifying.

Add to that a roller coaster dip in my relationship with C, which thankfully only lasted a day and set us on higher ground than we have ever been before. Why, oh why do we have to visit the ever deepening bottom before rising to the new summit? Every time? Really? *sigh*

A and C went off to Paris for 4 days last week. It was a 12th birthday extravaganza for A and a scratching of the wanderlust itch for C. They had a blast and I have some pictures to share...soon. E and I had a lovely bonding time together while they were gone.

Since my life as I know it is about to change drastically, I have a lot of processing to do. It may or may not end up here on the blog, but I do intend to chronicle our adventures overseas regularly. I'll probably even end up on facebook.

One thing is clear through all of this. Home is where my husband is. Ironic that I will have to give up everything I have been working on the past two years and travel to the ends of the earth to find home again. Life likes to do that to me.

Down Under

Alice Springs, here we come! C got the job, starts in the Spring. I'd say more, but I am a bit speechless....

Plan A, Plan B, The 10 Year Plan

When I sought out and bought this house, I was working on what I considered our Plan B. Should, as they say out here on the interwebs, TSHTF, having a little land and the skills to live off it would be quite useful. C, meanwhile, has always been thinking and planning for what I call Plan A. This is the usual career advancement, planning for retirement, doing a little investing, you know the normal stuff you do when you attain a certain level of "success" in life. Until something major happens in our world, his plan seems to be practical and smart. If something happens, like a currency collapse where our monetary wealth is wiped out or drastically reduced, my plan starts looking really good. The thing is, we need them both. The problem is, we really can't do both at the same time. At least not if we want to see each other more than a few days a week.

We have had a lot of discussions about our living arrangements and our plans and have gone from contentment to frustration to resignation to a desire to find a third way that meets all our needs better. C, being the provider for the family, is foremost concerned with taking care of us financially, both now and in the future. He is too far down the path of his present career to feel comfortable dropping it and starting over in something new and more local. He also has more faith in things like government retirement money being there when he needs it. I, on the other hand, have my ear to the ground on all the myriad crises coming our way, and while I cannot say with anything remotely like certainty what will come to pass, I can predict a high level of unpredictability. I feel it is a good idea to be flexible, have a Plan B, and do what you can to cover your bases, no matter what happens. We both are missing each other when C is at work in VA. The good thing is he values my work here and is looking forward to being able to join me in it full time. Unfortunately, we can't see that happening until he retires. Not with out basically gutting Plan A.

So, we have a new plan. Turns out if he does some overseas duty, he can retire early. The other years will be spent like we are doing now, with him travelling for work. The thing that has been the hardest on him has been not being with the girls every day as they grow up too fast. If he does the domestic jobs up front he will continue to miss out on the girls and they will be grown up when the overseas travel starts. But, if he takes the jobs in cool places overseas now, we can go with him and he will be with his kids while they are still kids. Not to mention, the girls can be worldschooled and have amazing experiences through our travel during their teen years .

On the surface, getting to go live in far flung places for a bit, on Uncle Sam's dime, seems like a great deal. And it is, if the world does get crazy any time soon. I need to feel Plan B is still up and running, even if I have to put it on the back burner for a while. So, C has promised to help me come up with a comprehensive plan for Plan B and to commit resources to execute that plan in stages over the next five years, if the girls and I agree to join him in a couple of two year tours in other countries. We will keep the house and the girls and I can come back to it at any time we feel like it. How does summer in NY, then summer in Australia, then summer in NY and then summer in Australia sound for the first tour?

We don't know yet exactly where the first job will be, but the 10 Year Plan has been set in motion. It looks very different than what I envisioned my life to look like when I bought this house and came home to settle down and grow some roots. Can one grow roots in one place while simultaneously sowing wild oats in another on the other side of the planet? We are going to try. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Leaving On a Jet Plane

Even though I have posted like three times in the last three days, there will not be a return to regular blogging around here as I know you have all hoped. Nope, but I have a good excuse. We leave today for hotter, muggier, sandier, beachier places. Flying down to Florida to spend the week at the beach with C's family. I'll try not to have too much fun while you all wait patiently for my return, on our nation's birthday celebration. That would not be fair, after all. If I do, accidentally, inadvertently, mistakenly, have a great time, I'll console you with great pictures and fun stories when I get back. Yes, I left you last year and promised pictures and stories when I got back and I never got them to you. I'm terribly sorry and I did not want to have to admit this, but it was not because I had no fun. Oh no, much fun was had, I am ashamed to admit. It was really rather shameless, except for the shame, of course. Anyhoo, see you next week and try not to cry too hard when there are no posts tomorrow and the next day and the next day... Chin up! I shall return.

Oh! Chicken update: nobody got past my super duper reinforcements last night! Yahooo! Let's hope my brother does not have to find any less than four chickens in the tractor while I am gone. That would be a real shame.

Like Odysseus...

I go home tomorrow. It has taken me longer than 10 years to get home, and I haven't been fighting a war in the meantime, but I feel road weary and eager to be back in familiar spaces. Soon, I will be able to say "I dwell in shining Ithaca" once more.

Wish us luck on the last minute details and a smooth closing! See you in a week!

We're Heeeere!

Today we arrived at our new home. And it only took 7 days of driving to get here! We stopped in AL to visit C's family for a day, in a change of our original plans to ski in CO. Mother Nature did not like that plan, and we benefitted from taking the southern route across the country. Tomorrow we prep the house for the arrival of all our stuff on Monday. And Tuesday we will spend our first night in our new home. I can't wait for my bed!! The cat was amazingly great as a road tripping feline and she is settled in the house for the night, glad not to see the cat carrier or car again. The girls were great travelers, as well, with E only complaining about being bored about 50 times. Seriously, we had a good trip. We had fun collecting keychains from the states we passed through and learning how to spell them all. A learned to spell Mississippi as we were crossing the river into Memphis! We really know how to make learning relevant! ;-)

I miss everyone we left behind and E has to call all her friends every day to tell them she misses them. I don't really want to think about how I am going to feel when I no longer have so much to do to get settled in. :-(

I'll be back with pictures and more thoughts after I get my computer set up in the house. Later alligators!

Sweet Home Alabama

We just arrived home from a weekend away in C's home state, attending his sisters wedding. The ceremony was held in Auburn, AL, where she (and her husband and C and his brother and their cousin, too) attended college. C was proud to show off his Alma mater to the girls.... The girls were to be in the wedding as flower girls and they did their duty very well. They adored the bride, her dress, and her flowers...

They sat reverently during the ceremony, looking beautiful...

And they bore great bouquets of flowers (ok, A caught the bride's bouquet and here she is holding hers, E's, and the one she caught!)...

The day after the wedding we had the opportunity to stop at DeSoto Caverns and take the tour. You can read about it here...

A was impressed with the stalagmites. This one was still growing....

And that sums up our trip. Hope you enjoyed it as much as we did!

Weekend in the Wild

This past weekend was our annual camping trip to Zion National Park with the Life Learners. There were six families total this year, our most yet! It made for a great big party all weekend. The weather was cool and refreshing (ok, a bit too cold and windy and cloudy) and the setting was as gorgeous as ever. We got to do some hiking, see some wildlife, hang out around the campfire with our friends, listen to live music in town (a friend's band) visit the elk, and shop for rocks and apple cider.

Home sweet home in the wild.

A little spider we saw on our first hike Friday afternoon after getting settled into the campsite. Ok, it was freaking huge (big as my hand) and we think it is a rose haired tarantula. Anybody know?My mountain goat in her element.My other mountain goat playing king of the hill.Snuggling by the campfire with Daddy.E and her friend B warming by the fire on a cold moring. Scenic Zion in bloom.
Flower girl #1.
Flower girl #2.

Hiking is easiest and best done with a buddy.
Moth friend came for the light of the lantern, but stayed for the love of a girl.
Communing with the elk in Springdale, UT.

One of our favorite rock shops.

The goods.

...and this is how we felt as we drove home, tired but happy for our weekend in the wild with friends.

Video on Blogger!!

Yipee! I am so excited we can put video on Blogger without using an outside host server. In honor of the occasion, here is a little something from our trip to San Diego:

A and E and Flo's daughters had a blast together. Here, they are all dancing to the music in their own heads, I guess! Enjoy.

The Trip Phase II

The saga continues...

Tuesday dawned bright and early for us. We had breakfast with C's parents and bid them farewell to begin our drive to the conference. We took the northern route through Tennessee. We had to stop at Cracker Barrel for lunch, of course. No road trip is complete without that, especially one in TN! I had a little detour planned for us before we got to the conference site. We passed through Asheville, NC and I wanted to make a stop at the Deltec Homes model home. I really want a round house! C agreed it would be nice after walking around inside one. Yea!

The kids were anxious to get to the conference, even though we were a day early, so we made it a quick stop and got back on the road to head to Black Mountain. As it was getting late, we got some dinner at a chinese restaurant before making our way to the Blue Ridge Assembly. This was a big change for the conference, moving out of a hotel and onto a mountainside, but as we drove up the road taking us to the heart of the grounds, we were excited for the new adventure to begin. It was so beautiful and serene and so many things about that place reminded C and I of places we had been before. Even the color of the porch floors (blue) reminded me of home (my mother always painted our porch floor blue)! It felt like HOME.

We checked in and unpacked the car and started seeing friends who had arrived early as well. We walked around the grounds and explored a bit, and hung out in the lobby of the main hotel where we were staying, talking with people and getting acquainted. A was determined to meet some new friends and she got off to a great start! The next day our friends, Flo and family, were due to arrive, but A did not want to stay safe and hang with only people she already knew.

Wednesday morning we got up to go out for breakfast, since the meals for the conference did not begin until lunch. When we got back, Flo had arrived and we showed them around and helped them get settled. Then it was time for lunch in the cafeteria. We joked that our kids don't need to go to school to know how to navigate a cafeteria now! It was an adventure to find food the girls would fill up on, but they survived the weekend. Next year we will have more snacks and stuff in our room, but I was proud of how the girls handled the limited food choices. A really surprised me with how willing she was to try new things!

That afternoon was spent playing around with tie-dye, henna, balloons, and temp tattoos, meeting and greeting folks, playing in the stream, and listening to great music on the porch of Lee Hall. After dinner there was the bonfire down by the lake. It was just Flo, A and I who went. E and Flo's daughter C wanted to play Hannah Montana in our room, so my dear husband volunteered to stay close by (he was not allowed in the room). We had a nice time singing campfire songs, eating marshmallows, and listening to ghost stories with our "tribe".

After a morning of cheerleading and beading for the kids, my dad and step mom were due to arrive sometime Thursday afternoon. The kids were loath to leave the hotel area because they wanted to meet them when they arrived. So, they set up in the Untreprenerial fair area and sold their wares. E had made four pairs of earrings at the bead funshop that morning and wanted to sell them. Talk about an opportunist! She made 100% profit on those earrings! Course she did turn right around and buy a pair of earrings from another lady later with that money.

My dad arrived and we helped them get settled in. There was to be a group photo taken that afternoon on the steps of Lee Hall. So, as an intro to the wonderful unschooling community, my dad and step mom got an eyeful of the colorful crowd when we gathered on the steps for the picture. That night after dinner was the first talent show. No one from our group was to perform that night, but E was signed up for the next night. It was the best Live and Learn talent show I have seen so far! Everyone was awesome and the support and love from the crowd was as palpable as ever.

I realize now that I can't remember all the details well enough to continue this play-by-play account. So, I'll turn this account over to the pictures and add comments to fill in the rest.

E pumping up a balloon at the Balloon Madness funshop.

A's elegant balloon hat.

Tie Dye extravaganza : Holly Dodd sharing a little of her green dye with A when the bottle of green was scarce.

Squeezing out the dye.

A's sunburst henna tattoo.

My pretty henna design.

After Jon Kream's speech, he invited us all to paint outside the box on this canvass. The finished work of art was auctioned off in the raffle.

E and a new friend entered the talent show Friday night, singing and dancing to a Hannah Montana song. This is a shot from the practice session earlier. I got video of the actual act. Talk about a proud mama. Need I say she was great?!!

C and I after my speech on Saturday. Don't I look happy? Everything went well and I actually enjoyed the experience, no matter what my stomach said that morning!

The beautiful Smoky Mountains as seen from the porch of Lee Hall.

Saturday afternoon beading in Lee Hall with my step mom.

One last shot of the girls, before Flo and crew headed out Sunday. Such a colorful bunch!

The end of conference picnic would not be complete without Nitrogen Ice Cream ala James.

The infamous Marty Dodd, dueling cameras with me down by the lake at the picnic. Who got the first shot? I think it was a draw!

A, second from right, hanging around with new friends.

And so ends another L&L. As my henna tattoo fades, I hope for the experience of being together with my tribe to not fade too much until we can be together once again! North Carolina, here we come in 2008...