The Hills Are Alive

With the sound of me celebrating my 37th birthday.

David's birthday present to me was a day exploring the Blue Ridge Parkway. We went to Mabry Mill, which is a neat old mill built around 1910.

Now it's the most photographed spot on the Parkway. It's so picturesque that other states have stolen its image for their postcards.

You can go inside and see the massive millwheel turning under the force of the water.

It's a lovely cool place to spend a warm summer day.

We drove over Groundhog Mountain -- where I saw two groundhogs! -- and then to Rocky Knob.

It was a perfect day with a cloudless sky, and the view went on forever.

I love the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We walked around in the mountain meadows.

Which were full of wildflowers.

And butterflies.

My birthday celebration lasted several days, and we did lots of other things besides the drive on the Parkway. Ann took me and David to this mountaintop garden shop, for example.

We admired their gardens.

And took more pictures.

And then we had lunch at a little deli nearby.

And we sat outside in their garden, which was covered with these butterflies.

And it was gloriously sunny, but not too hot, and a refreshing breeze was blowing the whole time, because that's what it's like up in the mountains.

Then Ann made me this delicious blackberry pie for my birthday dessert.