Bike Hike with the little buddies

Dad, Mom, Betsy, Libby, Naomi and I took a bike hike with the little guys during our vacation week.

We stopped under a shade tree for a picnic lunch.

Abel takes after Aunt Naomi in his love for picnics, so a picnic with Abel is a delightful event for all involved.

beauty

There's nothing like feasting your eyes on a fresh garden bouquet.

Berries, Berries, Berries

I've been living in the moment of strawberry season the past couple weeks, and managed to go picking three times (to maximize the freshness, you know). Since I can pick much faster than I can eat strawberries, I've been me on a quest to find friends who will partake of the bounty and celebrate this glorious season with me. It's harder than you might guess to identify such friends, however, it's never difficult to solicit support and desire from family back home who are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Michigan strawberry season.

oolala!

PS- I believe in eating strawberry shortcake for dinner once a year if you want to.

Everybody Ought to Go to Sundae School...

I asked to stop for a quick photo when my friend and I drove by this 

Sundae School in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Taste and see

that the Lord is good.

{musical rendition of Psalm 34}

strawberry pie...

...there's really nothing like it,

except, perhaps, its equally amazing (superior?) cousin, raspberry pie.

Sunset Rocks Trail

*notice: this post ends with a snake picture*

On Monday, we hiked Sunset Rocks Trail. It was a great 8.5 mile, 1,100 foot elevation change, lollipop hike (loop + in and out path) with varied scenery and terrain. I was most excited about the section of all-limbs-required boulder climbing, which did not disappoint. I would highly recommend the hike-- though you should definitely carry a map, good directions, food and water-- and would love to do it again someday. 

Thanks to Sharon and Vicky for the pics.

  

halfway between Maine and Georgia on the Appalachian Trail!

lunch at Tom's Run shelter

surprise!
We saw not one, not two, but THREE rattlers (only two pictured here) up at the Sunset Rocks lookout.
My first time to see rattlesnakes in the wild.
I was ready to leave the lookout as soon as we spotted the snakes!