Alan and Jerry's picnic at Fancy Gap - 2014

When that classy invitation comes in the mail in June I start counting down. Second Saturday in July is a big event for me. It's so beautiful up in the Virginia mountains, and the I've grown to love the people that attend. This year was really special because after last year's picnic a lot of people from out of town became my facebook friends. Yvonne designs the invitations and helped set out the tables with lovely center pieces. There are so many people that work behind the scenes, and of course I don't have all the names. Led by Alan and Jerry they do a wonderful job.
I think one of the things I love most are the little children, some of them are so grown up now, and it's fun to see tiny babies grow from year to year. It's the perfect place for the kids to play, they collect green apples which they usually feed to the donkeys, I didn't see the donkeys this year. They also get balloons the ribbons get tied to an apple so they are anchored. Eden did lose two balloons which made her very sad, we watched them disappear. Here are some of the children.

I love this picture taken on Friday evening. Sydney, Eden. Shirleen and Becket the lone cowboy.

Sophie posing in her shades.

Sophie's baby brother Charlie.  

Sophie collecting apples.

Sydney demonstrating the hula hoop.

Loved this one, Eden doing surveillance on the cows?

Lauren and Eden with a balloon.

Allen and Jerry had loads of balloons and thankfully a helium tank. I hate to think how it would be to blow them up by mouth.The kids loved them. The big kids did too, they were the naughty ones that made water balloons. I will not name names in order to protect the innocent. I actually do remember their names.
While all of this was going on, we were entertained by 4 beautiful young ladies - The Loose Strings band. They played gospel and blue grass. I had a hard time not dancing to Rocky Top. Good old mountain music.

The grownups just had the best time visiting. There were at least a 120 people there so I may have missed a few. I'm sure Yvonne has more pictures than me. No I didn't run out of film, but my battery died.

Dwight, Amelia, Dacia and Mary Anne.

Gathering at the main house front porch.

Karen, Sophie and Martha..

Al and Yvonne my balloonist friends. Look Yvonne I actually got a good copy.

Dwight and Mary Anne. Yea! DRF

I'm embarrassed.....    may I just say Howard is on the right.
next year I am taking notes on names.  I could say two friends
with lovely legs!

Randall is such a sweet grandpa.

baby Charlie woke up for this one. Great pic of
Nina and Susan.

Nina with her great grand children. Sweet little Sophie kissing her baby brother Charlie.



           The Grand Finale - a balloon launch, I wonder if anyone reported UFOs.

                       Our favors by Yvonne, she really is a creative genius.

I will treasure mine forever.