![\"frontier](\"http:\/\/www.michellebeachy.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/frontier-culture-museum-4-of-15.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nI was hoping to do something once a month and had a running wish list, but no concrete plan. \u00a0The other day when I found my list again, I realized we’d actually done pretty well!<\/p>\n In August we spent the afternoon at a \u00a0swimming pool with friends all excited about seeing the eclipse! \u00a0It was the perfect spot because all the concrete made the dancing crescents easy to see!<\/p>\n But our favorite spot to watch them was the black cover on top of the hot tub!<\/p>\n We visited Swananoa<\/a> in September. \u00a0I remember rambling across the grounds as a teenager ….. back when there weren’t “No Trespassing” signs with dire consequences listed posted everywhere! \u00a0The details of the place beg for fifty-five exclamation marks after every sentence. \u00a0The marble!!! \u00a0The stained glass window!!! The VIEW!!! \u00a0We thought we were done and then we wandered back through what used to be the gardens and found the old tower. \u00a0I stood there imagining dinner parties back in the day. \u00a0Just incredible! \u00a0We spoke briefly with the current owner who actually spent some time living there before deciding she preferred being warm in the winter. \ud83d\ude09 \u00a0It really would be a cold, cold house to live in; but oh, how I wish someone would restore and modernize it so it could be used today. \u00a0It’s just so gorgeous!<\/p>\n October found us at one of my favorite spots! \u00a0Carters Mountain Orchard<\/a>. \u00a0This place holds priceless memories for me because it was our first outing with Liam years ago after I quarantined him for six weeks trying to get his little immune system strong enough to handle life. \u00a0We don’t do a lot of whole family outings and to do one at the end of such a long stint of staying home from everything was a huge celebration and milestone! \u00a0I’d been back with the boys one other time, but it was years ago. \u00a0At the last minute, David decided to quit work two hours early and go with us. \u00a0It was just as much fun as I’d remembered! Apples taste exponentially better when you pick them off the tree seconds before eating them! \u00a0The apple cider slushies are as phenomenal as I remembered and the apple cider donuts? \u00a0Well, who wouldn’t love those? \u00a0We stayed to watch the sun head toward the horizon as hot air balloons and airplanes floated across the sky. \u00a0The next day the boys were still talking about it.<\/p>\n “You know what was the best part of yesterday? When Dad said we couldn’t and we DID!” (Referring to getting the apples they wanted from the tops of the trees. \u00a0You aren’t allowed to climb the trees, but boys are pretty good at improvising.) \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n “Oh, that was so awesome!”<\/p>\n I’ve wanted to go to Luray Caverns<\/a> ever since we’re back in Virginia, but the admission price is a bit daunting. \u00a0The week of Thanksgiving my parents offered to pay for all of us to tour the caverns. \u00a0Wow, wow, wow!!!! \u00a0Their website does nothing to prepare you for the sheer magnitude of the place! \u00a0I did a quick review online on trip advisor in the morning before we headed out and got an idea when someone mentioned walking almost a mile. \u00a0Even then I was blown away! It’s unbelievable the vastness of the rooms and the intricacies and variety of formations.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n