Meatfest '09 (if you have to ask, then you don't really need to know)

Fun with slow shutter speeds at Little Santeetlah Creek

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest

On the way to Alabama, we stopped at the Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest. It is one the few remaining stands of virgin forest in the southern Appalachians.

The largest trees were poplar-tulips.

7/17/09

This was our last day in North Carolina.

The second cabin was a lot nicer than the first one (I didn't take a picture of that one).

7/16/09

It was rainy for most of the day.

Madeline made a friend (even Molly liked this little dog).

I asked the two little girls to stand together, but this is as close as they would get.

It started to clear up in the evening.

7/15/09

Madeline and I had a nice hike out to Andrews Bald; it is about four miles roundtrip from the Clingman's Dome parking lot.

Most of the bushes are blueberries. Apparently, this is a favorite dining spot for bears when the berries are ripe.

Sunset on 7/14

7/14/09

The cabin we stayed in for the first three nights of vacation was a little too cozy, so I requested a larger one for the remaining few nights. While we were waiting to move to the new one, Deandra constructed jewelry for the girls out of dandelions.

7/13/09

Riding on the Smoky Mountain Express. Thanks for the tickets, Mom.

I got Lizzie to do something rare--she is looking at the camera.

Vacation, 7/12

We climbed Clingman's Dome the first full day of our vacation in North Carolina. It was a little bit overcast.

4th of July

We went hiking on the Fourth at White Oak Canyon in Shenandoah Natl Park. There are a series of waterfalls with a couple of nice swimming holes. This was Emma's first hike where she did the majority of walking herself. Her favorite part was getting to pee in the woods.

Oh yeah, Goober came with us.