Been a busy few weeks

Sorry it's been a while...been a little busy. Started work as a Patient Care Tech at a local hospital. Still in orientation/training, but I'm on the floor now. Also, school just started last week. So between two night classes and 2-3 7a-7p shifts a week, I haven't really been thinking about updating. The header pic is real...one I took when Lon and I visited Arrington Vineyards a few weeks ago. That lunch was delicious! Gorgeous setting and they have live music every weekend in the summer. We left before that started (had been planning to check out the National Cornbread Festival, but traffic was a bitch...ended up at the winery instead!) since we'd already been there for some time. We've already made plans to go back with a picnic lunch, chairs and a sheet to spend a leisurely afternoon. It's just south of Nashville in Arrington, TN if you get the chance to stop by. And they have 'real' wine, not the fruit or muscadine stuff. Those are very popular around here since traditional wine grapes don't like our weather/soil. And there are plenty of people who love those wines...just not us. However, we currently have some homemade wine fermenting and will let you know how it turns out. Gotta find a hobby, right?

Always exploring...

Found a new beautiful place right here in our own backyard...the Chattanooga Nature Center. This was an old farm that has been rejuvenated into a park, community garden, rescue center for wild animals and teaching facility. It is bordered on three sides by the National Park Service (and Lookout Mtn) and on the fourth side by Lookout Creek. Here are just a few of the pics we took...and I'm sure they won't do the place justice.

There are miles of walking trails surrounding and winding through the 300+ acres. They have made it into a botanical garden and historical site. Plus, since we went on a Thursday we practically had the place to ourselves. They are currently working on a new canoe dock where you can rent/borrow their canoes and travel along Lookout Creek at your leisure. Looking forward to trying that out! Yesterday was a balmy 73 degrees and we took advantage by enjoying our most favorite part of the city...downtown. Today is another beauty, but we're still trying to figure out how best to enjoy it. Downtown there is the 4 Bridges Art Festival, 420 Fest at Miller Plaza, Dragon Boat races at the Chickamauga Dam, a plant sale at local CSA Crabtree Farms, live music at Arrington Winery (in Murfreesboro...about a 2 hour drive)...any suggestions???
Hope you're having a great weekend of your own!

It's official....

...I've been accepted to the Fall 2009 nursing class! Woo Hoo!!! There's one worry off my plate. Whew...
Guess that's it for today. We went out for an unsuccessful morel (mushroom) hunting/hiking trip, stopped by a winery on the way home and I got the letter when we checked the mail today. Good day...wish we had found some morels, but maybe next time. Or maybe we'll just buy them off of eBay. Gorgeous day...hope you were able to get out and enjoy it, too!!!