I know, you missed me. I may have been silent on the blog, but I’ve been quite busy! Where do I begin? Let’s start with last weekend. Laura, Tiso, my dad and I decided to head up to Skyline Drive for a night. Laura and Tiso got a campsite, and my dad and I stayed in the lodge at Big Meadows. See my photo essay below. :)  It was absolutely gorgeous up there, and even though it was just for a night, it felt like a mini-vacation.
This week went by quickly, and I took full advantage of it! Early in the week, I visited with my friend Beth and her family. They have a new little family member, Jake, and I was quite happy to get to hold him after being banned from babies for a while. :) Mostly though I played with Ryan, Beth and Eric’s older son. We had a wonderful time building stuff and playing with all his toys. He is such an intelligent, fun little guy, and I can’t wait to hang out again! Of course, I’m looking forward to seeing you too, Beth and Eric!Â
Thursday, Laura introduced me to the coolest dog park ever, Shirlington Dog Park (2601 South Arlington Mill Drive). It’s a long, narrow park adjacent to a nice creek. There are plenty of mature trees, bowls of water and lots and lots of dogs! Jameson, Guinness and Indie pretty much stuck together, but enjoyed the occasional butt sniff with other dogs. Laura walked into the creek with the dogs on their leashes, (unfortunately the creek is not fenced in) but after a while, we decided that Jameson would be OK if she let go. He was cracking me up because he would walk around with her, and then he’d run to the shore to see me, and run back to her again. Herding is so much a part of his personality, and he considers it his job to keep track of everyone he’s with. He even went and rounded up Guinness when Guinny lagged behind a bit.
After the park, we dropped the pups off at home with Mom and Dad, and headed out to see “My Sister’s Keeper”. It only seemed appropriate that we go together (you have to read up on the plot if you haven’t heard about it). The movie was actually really well done…sad, but well done. I would definitely recommend it. I think Laura and I may have laughed at some parts that might have seemed inappropriate to other viewers, but this was only because we were relating some things to my own experience. I felt like I should stand up and say “It’s OK…I’m allowed to laugh…I had leukemia! And this is my sister, my keeper”. :) OK, so the situation isn’t exactly the same ’cause she wasn’t genetically engineered to match me…I was very, very lucky she was a perfect match, and she will always be my “gift of life” (as if she’d let me forget that!).Â
Continuing with an update on my busy week, I made more baby rounds on Friday when I visited Marc, Katrina and Evie. We enjoyed deeeelicious blueberry pancakes (well done, Marc!) and a late morning walk around Old Town. Evie is gooorgeous and very curious. She’s so advanced, she even has her own blog! She was born just after I went out to Seattle, so I’d been looking forward to meeting her for a very long time. Thanks for having me guys!!!
Last night, I headed down to DC to visit Kristi and Dave (the ones getting married in Cape Cod two weeks from today!). We tasted some wine that they might serve at the wedding (very good wine, by the way), and then we went up to the roof of their condo building (shhh….don’t tell anyone…the key to the roof was hot (as in stolen, not temperature, in case you didn’t figure that out)). :) WHAT A VIEW!!!!!!! I have never seen anything like it. We had a direct view of the downtown fireworks and none of the crowd…perfect. Everywhere we looked in the sky, you could see fireworks displays. The weather was cool, the chairs comfy, the wine tasty and the views spectacular! Thank you so much, guys!!! It was the perfect Fourth. Happy Birthday, America!
And finally, here we are…Sunday. Gobind and I went to the George Washington National Forest to hike up to Big Schloss. Jameson and Guinness came along too and, as you can see from all the photos, it was a great afternoon. Both last week and today, I was surprised by how much effort it seemed to take me when going uphill. I have to remind myself that it’s still less than a year since my transplant, and although I feel well, I have to continue to work up my strength. Despite the slight weaknesses I notice in my body, lately I’ve been struck by the distinctions between last year and now. Could I have imagined negotiating switchbacks last year at this time? I don’t think so! Sometimes I wonder, is this a temporary gift or is this the return of healthy Julie? I feel happy yet somewhat cautious.
Maybe that’s not a bad thing. It feels healthy to be so aware of my body and its abilities/limitations. I don’t want to challenge my energy level constantly and exhaust myself. I think day hikes are ideal for building up my new cells and making my legs and butt a little stronger. :) And they do wonders for my emotional health…take a look at those photos…fresh air, colorful scenery and perspective you can’t get down here at sea level.
Thank you to everyone for the wonderful week! I’m looking forward to finding out what this one holds.
Lots of love,
Julie
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Lori and I were wondering...isn't this a little large for a coffee table book?
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Petting the lion. :) Seriously, this book is heavy!
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Here we are...Big Meadows!!!
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It's always gorgeous, but I love how it looks with the low-hanging clouds...I believe they're cumulus?!--a little somethin' I learned in earth science back in 9th grade.
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All settled into their campsite!
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Indie poses in front of the lodge.
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And then she relaxes on my bed (shh...don't tell...dogs aren't allowed in the rooms).
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Bocce Ball!!!! Tiso and I test our skills.
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Umm...Tiso, that's not part of the game. :)
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Don't I look cool with my socks up over my pants (to help fend off ticks)?!
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hee hee
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We're really cracking ourselves up!!! Wonder what campers at the nearby sites thought. :)
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Don't you love Indie's bandana?
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Checking out the campground with my buddy Indie.
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It was the perfect afternoon/night for camping!
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I think Dad was pretty happy. :)
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Indie's quite content too--this was her first camping experience.
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Enjoying the cooler weather.
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Laura displays her cool gang-style pant/shorts.
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Just shootin' the breeze!
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Gizmo, one of Laura and Tiso's friends' dogs, greets Laura.
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Indie has a thing for Dad...she really loves him.
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What a cutie! (my mom hates these long-nose pictures, but I love them!)
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The smoke actually followed me around the fire...exhibit A.
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And exhibit B...it was a game of musical chairs.
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So I'm a dork...oh well!
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Tiso prepared his special burgers and boy, were they delish!!
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I love that Gizmo is looking his lips in the background.
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hahahahaha Tiso had a little trouble with the grill 'cause burgers kept slipping through...the dogs were fine with that though!
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Look at that great fire they built (I was lazy and just observed while they did all the work)!
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When you're up in the woods, you have to be ready for unexpected guests. Saturday morning, while getting ready for my day, I found a little friend in the bathroom with me. He was smart and didn't get any closer to the curling iron. The poor guy only had six legs! Do legs grow back on spiders? I told him to watch his back 'cause the next guests might not be as accomodating as we were.
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Look at the temperature Saturday morning! Sure beats 100 (that's what it read in Warrenton the day before).
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These deer are quite domesticated.
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I'm so sexy here!!! Walking stick, cowboy hat, socks over my jeans...wow...it's hard to get more attractive than this!
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Indie did pretty well for her first time in the tent...except for that hole she tore in the door when she heard an animal walking through the campsite.
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Indie's first camping trip!!
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If you look in the woods, you'll notice Indie's staring down some deer, who were not scared off at all. They just looked at each other for a while.
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Oh my gosh, he is soooooooooo freakin' adorable!!
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Hiking on the Upper Hawksbill trail....Indie, Jess and Gizmo
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You like the view, Indie?
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That's me, Dad, Laura, Tiso, their friends Mike and Sarah and all the dogs.
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Absolutely gorgeous!!
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Dad described these mountaintops well when he said they looked like velvet that someone had run their fingers over.
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Hi sweeties!!
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Tiso and I
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Indie and Gizmo
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We were trying to get all the dogs to pose for a pic...this is the closest we got. ;)
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I'm pretty sure Dad is in his glory.
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Laura and Tiso
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The background looks almost fake, don't ya think?!
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Dad and I
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And again!
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I just want to squeeze him he's so cute!!!! (and his personality is as cute as he looks in the photos)
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Doesn't this tree look like a person bowing?
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Whatever...you never see bears here!
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oops...I spoke too soon! :) We saw him romping in the woods on our drive down the mountain.
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"Finally!!! I can sleep in peace!"
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Stopping for some delicious BBQ on our drive home...Indie's quite interested in what's inside the bag!
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Rewarding ourselves with BBQ after our hike.
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If you're ever in Haymarket, you have to go here...or actually, you should make a trip out there just to visit this restaurant...It's called "Old Carolina Smokehouse" and it's deeeeelicious!! We're copying Tiso and Laura and making it a post-hiking tradition.
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Beth and her newest little one, Jake. :)
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Awwww...look at that adorable face!
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I'm so excited to be able to hold you, buddy!
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The whole fam--Eric, Beth, my buddy Ryan and Jake
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Switching from babies to dogs. ;) Waiting for their treats.
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And back to babies!!! Meet Evie, Katrina and Marc's little girl.
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She is so cute!!!
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Taking a break from practicing walking to smile at the cam.
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Katrina, Marc and Evie enjoying a beautiful Friday morning.
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And this is from our hike today...heading up to Big Schloss!
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Gobind and Jameson...Jameson made sure Guinness and I didn't get out of sight (remember, he is a herding dog!)
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I'm pretty sure we were walking among the clouds...Guinny and I. :) Notice my red, sweaty face from all those switchbacks up to the ridge. :)
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Jameson and Guinness just loved going right up to the edge...it looks beautiful, doesn't it? Give me sun or give me clouds...I enjoy both!
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They are also expert rock climbers.
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Handsome Guinny (and Gobind and Jameson are way up there on the trail!)
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I copied this picture from others I've seen...resting on the way up to Big Schloss.
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He's so relaxed up here. My buddy Guinny.
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Hmmm...the railing on this bridge doesn't really make me feel too safe!
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Gobind and the pups relax at the top.
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Another day in the mountains.
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Gorgeous, isn't it?
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Looking at the valley through the clouds.
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It was a wonderful hike...VA countryside is simply gorgeous!
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I love this one...both their noses fit into the water bowl!
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I absolutely love this one.
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Buddies. :)
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Jameson peers around the rocks to make sure Gobind and Guinness don't leave his sight.
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A beautiful, beautiful day for a hike.
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"Thanks for bringing us!" (and then they passed out).
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I haven’t done Big Schloss since high school…your pictures make me want to go back, this time with Indie! You certainly had an active week! I agree that “normal Julie” IS returning, but I’m also happy to read you don’t plan on overdoing it, and are good about including rest when needed. I had a lot of fun at Big Meadows and I’m happy you got to share Indie’s first camping trip with us…I know she will be a part of MANY future trips! Love you!
P.S. Cape Cod, here we come!