Stone Mountain

Well, we are a bit behind on posting about our trip to Stone Mountain, to spend some time with Grammy, PaPa, Uncle Travis, and Aunt Ana. I have to share this pic first. Its one of those I not only love, but I also think of how funny it will be to look at it years from now. Before getting in the car, Alder HAD to have some chard from the garden, so he grabbed a handful, put it up in his seat and climbed up. Then he wanted the trains we were bringing on the trip. Its so funny to see him clutching them with this expression, and with those chard leaves tucked beside him. And Heath there in the back, unaware of just how weird things are around him at this moment. I guess its normal anyway. Anything goes.

So anyway, a couple of weeks ago we spent a way-to-short weekend in two cabins tucked in the woods near Stone Mountain State Park. Very neat. Our two were connected by a foot bridge over a little ravine, which Alder got a kick out of. Big fire pit and a pond too. Unfortunately we were not there long enough to try out all the perks.We did realize that next time we need to take more time to be there. This trip was sort of quick, but what a great place. We did get in some good time together. Hanging out around the cabins was SO nice, believe it or not (in my opinion) because it was raining. Lots of porch lounging. I was reminded of how I love the smell of dank Appalachian forest. The sound of the it too; dead silent except for rain coming through the canopy. And the way only flecks of sun flicker about on the floor, dancing from breeze above, which you can barely feel underneath. It took me back to our years in the mountains, and rekindled my hope to make it back one day. At the soonest we hope to visit again, and maybe even these cabins next fall, for another reminiscent taste of some high country.

We also spent an evening at a local general store, listening to locals pick some traditional bluegrass tunes. Guitar, banjo, mandolin, AND a great fiddle. Alder stomped and danced, inside and out on the porch. And again, this took us back to when we used to go to Todd General Store on Friday nights. No pics of this though...

The highlight, probably for everyone, was getting out of the cabins on a beautiful morning to hike up Stone Mountain. This was monumental - Alder's first real hike on his own. Well, at least mostly. He was SO SLOW, so we had to take turns piggy-backing him. So here are some pics of the hike.

Getting some acceleration from Aunt Ana.

Lots of exploring to do....So we didn't make it to the "top", but we could see the top, and we could feel like we were on top of something. Here's Mommy and Heath, who had a sweet hike riding in the sling on various Bullucks.Like on Grammy for instance.Part of the clan. Is it just me or does this shot not look like an old Pearl Jam album cover. Man we are wicked cool and casual, no?
This provided our comedy. These days anyone laying down is in trouble. So PaPa laid down to rest and Alder immediately dove onto him.... then commenced to feeding him snacks. Alder really had a blast up on that rock, running and splashing in puddles. And this is on the way back down, before stopping at the falls.No pics of the falls, but one of us looking over them. Alder was pretty enamoured with the fact that the stream just disappeared over the edge of a rock.

Thank you Bullucks for the time away from the grind to take some big breaths and change the scenery. We hope we can do it again soon.