Blue Ridge Mountains

Hello everyone. No, I haven't forgotten about my blog-I've just not had the time to update it as I should. I've been busy planning another trip to Richmond to take my daughter, Kim, to see her grandfather and father. For those of you who have inquired about her health: she has been doing pretty good the past week. She went to the gastroenterologist Thursday and she prescribed a seasick patch for Kim to wear to help ward off the nausea. I don't know why none of her doctors has thought of this remedy before. Since she is feeling somewhat better we are going to try and make a trip to Virginia to see the relatives and if her health still holds out we will go to the museum in Richmond and maybe even up to Skyline Drive. Skyline Drive is the name of the Park/Road that meanders through the Blue Ridge Mountain range in Virginia for approximately 105 miles.

Skyline Drive is located within the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, USA and it is protected and preserved.by our government. Billboards and Houses are ( thankfully ) non-existent.

Skyline Drive "begins" in Front Royal, Virginia, less than 90-minutes from Washington, DC. It ends in Afton, Virginia, at the intersection of Interstate-64 , where it becomes the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Within the park are a virtual cornucopia of sights, sounds, and smells that will astound. In almost every hollow or valley there are remains of pioneer settlements that date back to the 18th century. If I feel comfortable enough driving and parking on the steep grades, I hope we get the chance to do some gravestone rubbings or photos. I cannot wait to see Joshua's reactions to the sights!

One of the biggest lures that the Drive presents is its plentiful wildlife. Lovers of Wild Animals can see Deer along the road, grazing on grass, plants and trees. Bear are a common sight in the summer, especially during mating season. Birds, including a massive population of Red-Tailed Hawks and Owls, are in almost constant sight. Needless to say, it is a bird-watchers paradise. And because it is a National Park where hunting is prohibited, the Wildlife here have little fear of humans, and it's possible to stop the car and watch a herd of Deer move about within a few yards of your car, posing as if they know you are taking snapshots of them.

All of the Parkway info above was obtained from: http://members.aol.com/adnascar/skylinedrive.html, please take time to visit this private site.


Luray Caverns

Kim has spoken of going to the Luray Caverns also. Not sure I'm up for this (claustrophobia) but if she is well enough and wants to, I will!

The Luray Caverns are the largest caverns in the eastern USA and a National Landmark. Some of the most spectacular creations were formed just one drip at at time, such as Giant's Hall, vast expansive chambers decorated by predominately golden columns, 10-stories tall. The gold colors come from iron and clay soils seeping from the ground along with the calcium carbonate "drips."

There is also an organ that uses the calcium formations as pipes!

The Stalacpipe Organ is played from a regular-size organ, but its organ pipes are the stalactites themselves, spreading over 3.5 underground acres, and wired with little rubber mallets.

I am working on a freebie kit for SAS July Challenge and hope to have it finished and uploaded soon so check back later!

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend.

Love, Liv

PS to my Blog Friends: Thinking of you and hope to get back to visit you again soon! Vicki, I hope you are having a ball at the CHA!

Sharing the Beauty

Hey Y’all!

Kim has had a good 24 hours! Keep on praying! She was able to spend quality time with Joshua and one of his friends yesterday and when I spoke with her today she was making plans for tonight!

Wanted to share some photos my cousins, Kent and Deanie, in Richmond sent me of their backyard landscaping. I wish you could hear the photos because the fountains tinkle a beautiful melody that sooths the soul and at night the bull frogs and crickets add to the cacophony! They have carp in one pool and turtles in another. It is so peaceful sitting out on their deck, I’ll be glad to go and visit them again. I have some night shots too and will post them soon. Photo is 'clickable' for a close up.

Template: Digital Scrapbook Teacher; Pink Papers: Elka Romero; Blooming Field; SBE; Moss Paper: Traci Sims; Altered State; SBG; Music Sheet: Christina Renee Designs; Vintage Paper Scraps; Alpha Capitals: White by Tina Williams; DSW; Alpha Lowercase: Flergs'; Nana's Secret Garden; SBG; Corner Brush: Cinzia Loosemore; Digital Freebies; Frame: Me; Ivy; Fern; & Sweet Pea: Jen U Designs; Rustic Flowers & Leaves

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Love,
Liv

Arrrrrrrrgh! Again

You will not believe my luck! No, maybe you will. Since Kim is having a couple of good days, I thought I would post a nice layout or two with some inspiration from my cousins Kent and Deanie. NOT! After spending hours on a layout that displays some photos of their beautiful back garden, my system did a RESTART! Have you ever heard of such a thing? On checking in the logs guess what I found? A notation that Windows downloaded an update and Installed said update without notifying me! It then restarted my computer. I cannot believe that anal old me did not backup the work I was doing today. I am going to try and do it again - but no promises. I feel myself all tensed up and grinding my teeth! Arrrrrrrrrrgh.

Awards!

Hello Y’all! Can you believe it? The gorgeous and wonderfully talented Marina Capano (Argentina TV Star!) of Only Cute Things has awarded me two, TWO!, Blog Awards! How sweet is that? I’m not sure I really qualify since I haven’t posted much lately, but, hey – I’m flattered and excited about it so thank you so much Marina! Here goes . . .

The rules for receiving this award are:

1) Put the logo on your blog.

2) Add a link to the person who awarded it you.

3) Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4) Add links to those blogs on yours.

5) Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs.

Now I have the honor of selecting some other inspirational and talented artists to pass this award along to.
I will begin with the most inspiring and beautiful blog I have ever had the pleasure to frequent:

M. Kate of La Vie Est Belle

and then on to one of the most creative, talented, and generous women in the world:

Vicki C of This Art That Makes Me Happy

and I mustn’t forget the creative and intuitive writings of:

Ro of Life Muses by Ro

or the decorating and gardening diva:

Donna Lynn of Blushing Rose Antiques

And the supreme designing talent of sweet:

Kara W of My Studio Pink

and, of course, the Digital Designing Queen herself:

Flergs (Megan) of Flergalicious

who could leave out the multi talented artist:

Laurie of Laurie’s Charming Designs

and last but certainly far from least is the ever entertaining as well as talented:

Rachel of A Romantic Porch!

Each and every one of you ladies has made my life better for knowing you and I appreciate your talent and friendship. So many times in the last few months, you have made my way in life easier and more pleasant so I feel you deserve both of these awards. So take a bow you Cyber Princesses!

Love,
Liv

Hello

Hello, friends. I haven't wanted to talk about this but there have been so many inquiries that I feel I have to. Kim has been back in the hospital again. This time she spent 5 days in the Critical Care Unit and when she was released, Thursday night, she wasn't much better than when she went in. The doctors do not give us any hope that she will get better. It's Saturday afternoon here and I have been on the phone with her every few hours to check on her progress at home. It has not been good. I still need all the prayers you can give Kim.

I have been playing with my Photoshop program. I needed to get my mind on something else and Photoshop seems like a good place to be. I've been designing a page for a friend of mine and I hope to have it finished soon. I will share it with you if she agrees.

I want to get back to my routine, but it seems like every time I think that will happen something comes along and messes with my life. I am grateful for my life, I just wish Kim could get better and things would slow down some.

Take care friends, I hope to be back soon.

Love,
Liv