Good morning all . . .
So far this year, our summer has been an incredible run of perfect weather: 55 in the morning (perfect for my morning 5k), going up to 80 in the day, here in the Shenandoah Valley.
Yesterday started at 6AM. With our backpacks, we headed to Humpback Rock for a 3 mile hike, then to the Rockfish River where the dogs dove for fish and we waded in with our water shoes, and sat on the bank with a thermos of coffee. Then to Shamokin Springs on the top of Devil's Backbone mountain, the springs were full, and flowing, there was a very chill mist in the air, and if a water nymph would have jumped up from behind a rock, or a Rivendell Elf would have appeared, I would not have been surprised.
Lunch at a brewery on 151 in Nelson County at the foot of the Blue Ridge, with some amazing locally grown burgers, and yes, a real, homemade jug of root beer (they grow their own sassafras).
Last night, we made a fire and sat outside until well after dark. The neighbors had a party on their deck, and the other neighbors were outside, having a big family gathering after a wedding. It seemed like the laughter and joy were bouncing off the Alleghany Mountains to the west, and the Blue Ridge mountains to the east (we can see both ranges from our house in the middle of the valley).
The dogs didn't bark, the mosquitos weren't out, and the smoke from the fire went straight up in the air and not in anybody's face . . . and no one lost a single marshmallow in to the fire.
I hope the MP community had an equally lovely Saturday.
(I think I woke up with a @Casiusco soul this morning)