Richmond II

Lately, I just can't keep up!  There is so much to do and so little I actually want to do.

The balance is fragile to say the least.

My dear friends in the following photos have been hounding me for over a week to edit and post them so without further adieu, here are some photos from my lovely weekend in Richmond with two of my favorite people in the world.  I miss these ladies so much, I didn't appreciate those days in Sevilla enough!

Welcome to the Three Chopt Residence!

 
The requisite trinity photo.  Not Hannah's senior portrait pose.

 
We tried to tell Hannah that there was a new trinity and that she wasn't part of it.
She refused to listen!

I missed App's first home game to watch Richmond beat Wagner (big deal, huh)!
Who is Wagner anyway????

So precious, Hannah and Ryan!

It was so awesome to be able to spend time with these long distance friends!!! I cannot wait until it happens again.  Now, if you will pardon me I am off to enjoy the Fall weather which has descended rather suddenly on Boone.  I have missed early mornings, crisp air, and being outside.  This hiking trip happened in the nick of time and I just can't wait!

Summer In Recap

In the interest of not being boring, I will upload a multi-part summer recap through photos!

(This is the part where I make excuses, I have a lot of new photos to edit but my iPhoto is corrupted so it is a very frustrating process...valid?)

This is what I have been up to:

A little photo shoot for my friend Brittany's America's Next Top Model Audtion

This awesome little fellow was in love with the roof of my car, he let me stalk him on several occasions
 

Fresh Raspberries from the backyard which were turned into raspberry-basil smoothies!

New Glasses! Zenni Optical, a dream come true!

Beautiful lavender and a beautiful Momma! More of these, with bees to come!

Mountain Laurel in bloom

I participated in the 'Fast Times at Brevard High Alley Cat Race'

This was the trophy! So much fun to hang out with some hilarious girls while making biker's don what could be classified as the runoff from MC Hammer's closet.

Caitlyn was the perfect model for the occasion, she's used the paparazzi.

The summer of breakfast smoothies! Blueberry, walnut, and honey!!!

Summer evening get-togethers!!! Too bad my croquet skillz are not up to par, I need another summer in Vermont to hone them.

More to come!!!

Birthday Shoutout

This post goes out to my one and only, awesome, friend for life...

Zack Hubbard!!!



I can think on no one else who would come over at midnight to remove mice from my ceiling or share in a mutual love of Shirley Q. Liquor. I hope that you have a wonderful 24th birthday (I wish I could be there to help you pluck those gray hairs)!

left, Zack saving someone's life from a snow drift. Right, tantalizing as always...

Because I cannot be there to embarrass you on your birthday, I will just do it on the interwebz (you are just lucky that iphoto won't allow me to access the archives, I think there are some real treasures)!
Love you forever!

Royal Alcazars of Sevilla

A couple of Saturdays back, I went to the Alcazar with Brittany and Hannah. It is the royal palace in Sevilla and is still a residence for the royal family. It is situated in the city center, behind very high walls. In fact, it is so well hidden I really never noticed it until we went (this in itself is impressive because the residence is huge and complete with large gardens/parks). Maybe I'm just oblivious? We quickly ran out of time, not realizing that the palace closes at 5, we arrived around 4:15. Sooo, pictures are limited and lacking but, I think that you will still be able to see the previous splendor. The Moorish architecture is beautiful!













Too many photos??? They are probably better than boring old words! I think that we should start a collection to buy Ella a new D-SLR camera, so that you, the reader, have better images to look at! How is that for a pitch? So now I really have to attempt to get some work done! Midterms this week, ugh! I was under the impression that no one worked while studying abroad!

Change Is On Its Way

I have realized lately (which maybe is a little too late) that everything, life as I know it, is about to change completely. Everything I am doing is in preparation to leave Boone--working, planning, and a large amount of boxes and bubble wrap. I failed to recognize that all of my friends are on the same path right now, but we are about to diverge into completely different directions! I have spent the last 3 or for years with these people and by the end of July, who knows when we will see each other again. While I am sad about this, it is just the way of life, people come in and out of our lives with varying speeds. All I can do is learn to send e-mails and use my phone for more than texting Miles ♥

The windmill on the mountain was moving like crazy

In the meantime, my friends and I have been spending great time together; enjoying our last few weeks of college life in Boone, NC! Lillian, Anna, and I went over to our friend Katy's apartment to make Hawaiin/Barbeque chicken and enjoy a summer storm! Katy will be the first to leave and head to Chicago and DePaul University (I will miss so much our late nights and random fun)