Fall Adventure | Blackwater Falls State Park | Davis, WV

On my last full day in West Virginia, we took a trip to Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, West Virginia to see the waterfall.  It was a perfect fall day - sunny and cooler temps.  

Blackwater Falls.

The foliage was a lot more colorful as we drove east.  :)

To get to the state park, we passed through the most southern point of Maryland.  Three states in one trip...pretty cool!  (photo taken from the back seat through the front windshield)

Tomorrow it's time to head home to Colorado.  It's been a wonderful 5 days.  Excited to get home but can't wait to come back!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Fall Adventure | Luke Cooks

My son-in-law cooks.  A lot.

During my visit, Eden had to work two of the evenings.  One of those evenings Luke made us dinner.

Spaghetti.  It was yummy!

He still doesn't know what to do when I stick my camera in his face.  And he's too gentlemanly to say anything.  Gotta take advantage while I can!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Fall Adventure | Day Trip to Pittsburgh!

On the second day of my West Virginia trip, Eden and I drove up to Pittsburgh while Luke headed to the WVU vs Maryland football game.  My brother, a United pilot, had a layover there so we met him for lunch.

We met him at his hotel and walked to the Market Square.

We ate at The Diamond Market.  Of course, I didn't snap a photo of the actual restaurant, but they did have fabulous burgers and fries.

Greg and Eden.

Pittsburgh was much more beautiful than I ever expected.  Can't wait to explore more of the city on future visits!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly

Fall Adventure | West Virginia!

I'm here!  I made it!

So happy to be in West Virginia visiting daughter #1, Eden, and her hubby, Luke.  I flew into Pittsburgh yesterday.  I'm not a fan of flying east.  The flight from Denver to Pittsburgh is 3 hours, plus you lose 2 hours (mountain to eastern time zone) and before you know it the day is gone!

Today was my first full day in the Wild and Wonderful state.  We took a car drive to Coopers State Park and to an historic covered bridge.

Coopers Rock State Forest gets it's name from a legend about a fugitive who hid out here.  He was a cooper (a barrel maker) and supposedly resumed his trade and sold barrels to people in nearby communities. 

You can see Morgantown off in the distance.

I was hoping to be here at the peak of the fall leaves, but, alas, I'm early.   You can see some of the trees in the distance just starting to turn.

Cheat River in Cheat Canyon.

Some of the trees along the path to the lookout were sporting some red color.

The newlyweds.

My first born, but as I always say, forever my baby.

Me and my girl.  Yeah.

 Also a photography buff.

Dents Run covered bridge near Laurel Point, Monongalia County, West Virginia, built 1889. 

It was a very cool covered bridge.

Tomorrow Luke is off the WVU vs. Maryland football game and Eden and I are off to Pittsburgh to lunch with my brother, who has a layover there.

Til next time ~ find your joy!

Kelly

Almost Heaven, West Virginia

At the end of July, Daughter #1, Eden, and her new hubby, Luke, headed east to West Virginia where he'll start graduate school later this month at the University of West Virginia.  Luke was first accepted into their MA program as an O'Brien fellow and then shortly thereafter won a Swiger fellowship into their PHD program.  First ever UVW student accepted directly into a PHD program as an undergrad.  He's one smart cookie.

We were able to combine our trip to Minnesota to see them off with the task of sorting through my dad's house to get it ready for auction.

My brother, nephews, hubby and I were there for a few days going through my dad's things and then Daughter #2 flew in to Minnesota and she and hubby headed east with the newlyweds to Morgantown, West Virginia.

The truck is loaded and ready to go.

 My little man.  He spent the morning playing with Luke's family dog, Vader.

Ann, Luke's mom, has this gorgeous hydrangea tree near their front door.  It has the biggest blooms.  I want one.

 Checking everything twice...

Ready to go!

Luke, Eden with cousins Paul and John.

The posse headed east...Jim, Luke, Eden and Haley.  Don't the guys look tough?  Good thing they are...because the apartment on the other end was on the 3rd floor with no elevator!

 Luke, Eden and Vader.

Luke's sister, Rachel, Luke, Eden and Luke's mom, Ann.

Hubby, Luke, Eden, Me and Haley.

The newlyweds ready to get on with it!

Daniel Boone.

Even though we've lived 1000 miles from daughter #1 for the last five years while she attended college, she was surrounded by family, Luke's family and life long friends.  Now she and Luke are off on this new adventure on their own and they're even farther away from us.

But, this is a good thing.  So while my heart pangs a little because they truly are out on their own, we know they'll do great.

Plus, now hubby and I have a new place to go visit and explore!

I'm already planning a trip this fall to visit and help Eden refinish some furniture!

Til next time ~ find your joy!
Kelly