The Noehren's

This summer, our peach tree that we planted about 4 years ago produced peaches for the very first time.  We held our breath as we watched them grow and ripen - not believing that they would actually make it to harvest.  But low and behold....they ripened and kept making more and more peaches!  It was like heaven on earth.  Our peach dreams actually came true!! We gave a lot away, ate tons of them fresh, made lots of peach cobbler, and then we canned the rest to enjoy throughout the year.  We were able to have 3 different "canning parties" canning this many fresh peaches each time.  We ended up with over 20 big jars and 8 jars of jam.  So many more never made it into the jars.  We would just eat them up! My parents are the best helpers ever!  The kids also helped peel...I just didn't get a picture.  But let's be honest - my parents saved the day.  There is no way I could have canned so many peaches so quickly or so happily...

This June, my sister Amy and her family came to visit.  It was a great week of playing games and hanging out!  We toured the Toyota plant and then went to Big Boy.  The kids just laughed and laughed at the Big Boy and the psychedelic Big Boy posters they had hanging in the restaurant.  Entertainment for days!   We hiked the historic CCC trail at Natural Bridge.       Then we ate pizza at Miguels - a local rock pizza/campground that the rock climbers like to stay at.  It has good pizza and a cool vibe...and Ale 8 in the big bottle for $1.  What's not to love?  About a month later, the kids, Brian and I went back to Natural Bridge.  I've only ever hiked the historic trail, and wanted to explore all of the other trials.  We headed up on the Balanced Rock Trail and saw the balanced rock.    It was a very steep trail with lots of stairs, but so pretty.  We loved it! ...

This summer, we set off to go on a 2 day, 14 mile backpacking trip near Cave Run Lake, Kentucky. What we got was a 2 day, 20 mile hike!  Exciting!!     Here we are at the start of the hike   We brought along maps and our trail book and at each intersection, we referred to the book and all agreed on a chosen path.  That night, we set up camp near the lake and settled down to make some dinner (backpacker meals.)  Brian said his fit bit must be off because it said we hiked nearly 13 miles.  We all had a good chuckle because the book clearly said we went about 8 miles.  So silly.  But also odd because we hike about 2 miles an hour and had hiked over 6 hours.  Hmmm....we were too tired to care and all went to bed.   This was home for the night with the lake below We pumped our water and ate our dinners right on the lake.  It was so pretty! The next day, the trail was pretty beat up.  It w...