Gadsden Vacay

Late June Stuart and I traveled home to Gadsden for the weekend.  It had been too long since I've seen my extended family, so we had a big family gathering with delicious food as per usual to celebrate.  We also went to a fancy local restaurant with mom and dad one night, and were able to see all my home church family.  It was a short weekend, but a good one.  Here are some pictures.

Meeting of the minds ... always best at a kitchen table

Aunt Charlotte's homemade banana pudding with meringue topping.  This is toward the top of my list of favorite things in the world.

The obligatory family couch photo

Mom and her sisters on the back deck

Me with Dad and Uncle Jerry.  Can you tell they're related?

A visit with family really couldn't be complete without someone shooting a gun, right?  Dad and Stu took his new toy out into the back yard to shoot a stump a few times.  I think the neighbors were a bit scared.

Welcome Summer!

I started this post a while back and then forgot to finish it.  I need to get caught up on blogs before this weekend since Stu and about 6 of his friends are coming into town.  I anticipate a lot of pictures coming!  A few weekends ago Stuart came into town.  It was around the beginning of Summer, and we rang in the season by picking blueberries and cherries at a couple of local farms.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love Charlottesville?

I had never seen a cherry tree before, and for some reason was suprised to find each tree heavy laden with fruit just seeming to drip off the branches.  We ate too many while we were picking.  Along with a few cute kids with big red stains across the fronts of their shirts.

That evening we welcomed the brand new UVA Internal Medicine interns into town at one of our chief's houses.  There was grilling, and of course, cornhole.  We made it several rounds into the tournament I'd like to add.

Saturday we went to a local Vineyard called Veritas.  They have a summertime event called Starry Nights where you bring a picnic, have some wine, and listen to music while the sun sets.  We were grossly underprepared as most folks had a set-up similar to an Ol' Miss tailgate in the Grove.  We just had ourselves - but that was enough for us!

Then Sunday (Stu went back Monday) we were finally able to watch polo at King Family Vineyards!  Last time we attempted this, Stuart had car trouble resulting in both of us being a little cranky.  It had rained the previous day and by the time we got there they cancelled the polo match due to muddy fields.  This trip was a much bigger success.  Winston joined us and was surprisingly not into the horses.  I think because it was really hot.  He mostly just wallowed in the grass and got a lot of attention from people.

At "half time" everyone gets to run out on the field and stomp the divets.  Winston just peed on them.