Since driving through Barboursville on the way to Lake Anna, I’ve wanted to stop by to see the ruins. With few free Sundays on the calendar, we headed over the mountain for a sunny day of tastings, chili dogs, sunshine and site seeing. We started with a tasting and a game of corn hole at Keswick Vineyards (I lost). Then we headed across the road to Castle Hill Cider where we tasted cider, played in the yard and I learned about a kvevri for the first time. That whole process is pretty dang cool! To keep the day classy, we made a pit stop at the Tastee Freez. My kids would be irate if they knew I stopped there without them! And finally, I really wanted to see the Barboursville Ruins which are not as elaborate as I thought but fun all the same.
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A lake named Anna
The sun was beaming as I packed the car with a cooler, the kids and a Ben and we headed over the mountain to enjoy a day at Lake Anna for a friend-reunion of sorts. As I was driving I realized that the last time I drove over that mountain to see Toff and Cara, I was using printed mapquest directions. And possibly listening to a cd burned from my napster downloads? Haaaaa. Ancient. It was also before they became parents of sweet little Trip and Meg. Time leaves us. Too too fast. We were welcomed at the Newcomb lake house to lots of open international arms but the hugs didn’t last long as the kids were ready to enjoy the water!
Day 2. A slow, easy morning filled with lots of coffee, crossword puzzles, dogs and amazing food. The shrimp and grits that Sam and Elizabeth concocted were so good that I didn’t even get a chance to photograph them. After brunch we all waddled down to the lake to float like buoys until our food digested. Australia is a lifetime away, it seems, and any time with these guys feels like a ticking clock is dangling over us. I miss their faces already.
…note the vanilla slice: Toff and Cara’s number 1 seller at their bakery (activate saliva)…
Blake took a moment to teach Trip an American greeting: The Fist Bump. Blake still giggles at Trip repeating “Pound it!” with his young Australian accent. 
Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.
RVA by day…
I have this condition where if I have a minute of free time, I want to cram every ounce of fun into it. #cantstopwontstop anyone? The day after Sarah and Jason’s Richmond wedding, I had little on the agenda except to make it home by 5ish. That never happens. I let myself be a feather in the wind and before I knew it, I was sound asleep in my bed with a brain full of new memories. I’ll let the pictures guide you through this cloudy-turned-sunny Sunday but keep in mind…this all happened in a matter of about seven and a half hours.
Enjoying amenities at the Crowne Plaza in Richmond and feeling a little Hockney-esque.
During one of my visits with Sarah, she and I ran a loop from her apartment to Belle Isle. It’s one of my favorite memories with her so I wanted to take Ben here to see this gem in the middle of the city.
Next stop was Millie’s Diner. If you’ve been there, you’re probably drooling right now. If not, you should really make a point to hit this place up the next time you’re in Richmond. We were greeted by a man that said if we didn’t drink a bloody mary we weren’t welcome to stay. And I believed him. …two please.
Ben got a case of Millie-gut….
food-drunk: /foôd•drəNGk/ adj. 1) so.deliriously.full. And happy.
Little bit of sightseeing…
We were lured by the sounds of music and clatter to the Richmond Farmer’s Market Cinco de Mayo Festival.
After more walking and exploring we hit the road, headed home and allowed ourselves to get sidetracked by Pippin Hill. Good decision.
A quick taste test and home we go…
Copyright © 2013 · Photos by Brandy Somers. All Rights Reserved · friendlycitylens.com & brandysomersphotography.com. This material may not be copied, downloaded, altered, cropped, reproduced, or printed without express written consent. Thank you for respecting my creative property.
St. Snow Day!
As I mentioned yesterday…it was snowing on St. Patrick’s Day. After the potluck, I headed back home with a car full of kids and friends. The light in the sky shifted when evening came and it looked like a fairy tale in my back yard. I tried to sweet talk the kids into going outside with me for a mini-shoot but they were too engulfed in a full on nerf war and wanted nothing to do with it…so Misti and Ben agreed to be my subjects because I would.not.stop bugging them about it. *cheese*
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