transformations

If we don't watch it, folks are going to start calling us the 'Hefty Hamiltons.' Let's just say we've both enjoyed our first year of marriage. . .and all the yummy food that comes with it. However, we have turned a new leaf and are back to eating healthy and exercising regularly. There may even be some distance running in our future. . .

Meanwhile, Curt ran an impromptu 5k last Saturday morning. We were eating dinner with our neighbors when they suggested he join them the following morning. . .and Curt agreed. It wasn't too early of a start so all parties were pretty peppy. Susan Ada is not a fast runner so she didn't see the need to waste anybody's money on registration fees, but happily went along as team Hamilton cheerleader/photographer. Here's our champ before:

During:

And, after:

It was a very hilly course so Susan Ada was especially proud of Curt's accomplishment. We'll keep you posted as we progress.

In other exciting news for the weekend, Curt decided to shave his beard. No comment on how long this new 'do' will last, but it's here for now. The transformation:

poplar duck

Curt and Susan Ada have been quite busy about Lynchburg recently. Susan Ada surprised Curt the other day with a trip to a local garden. Randolph Macon college has a few interns living in tents out at their organic garden and Susan Ada's friend suggested we all go take a look at the place. They had ducks.

And some chickens.

Funny looking chickens to be exact. Curt tried to catch some of the cuter young chickens but didn't meet with any success. That afternoon we went out with our realtor to take a look at some houses. We did see one that is potentially interesting; however, we've got to decide how much work we want to commit to.

Later on that day Curt surprised Susan Ada by pretending to be a japanese hibachi chef. Well, there were no onion volcanos or flying shrimp pieces but he did make a tasty dinner. The "shrimp" sauce wasn't the best though. Don't use assertive canola oil based mayonnaise when you should be using the cheap bland stuff.

We might also like to look out our windows at what's going on in downtown Lynchburg; that night it was Friday night music down by the river. Apparently this guy didn't want to lay out the $5.

The next day we decided to head out to Poplar Forest just outside of Lynchburg.

It was Thomas Jefferson's rural retreat from Monticello and only in the last couple decades have attempts at preserving and restoring it begun. It was pretty interesting to tour a historically important place in the midst of repairs. It was built as a perfect octagon with, apparently, little regard for how liveable the space would be. But Jefferson didn't spend a whole lot of time out there so apparently it wasn't a big deal.

There were some trees.

Betcha can't guess what kind they were.

We'd picked up a Groupon to head out to Poplar Forest in the first place -- $20 for a year long family membership whereas just showing up would have cost us almost $30 to see it once. They've already marked out some of the locations of original plantings outside and we're looking forward to going back as the restoration progresses.

In other news, we might have had some professional photos taken for our almost one year anniversary. This is the one preview shot we've gotten.

memorial day weekend

Curt had the Friday before Memorial Day off, so to celebrate, he took a half day of vacation on Thursday! We have been wanting to drive the Blue Ridge Parkway from Lynchburg to Evergreen (the Sheek family's new mountain house) ever since we moved here so we were excited to finally have the opportunity. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the relaxing drive through the green hills covered in blooming mountain laurel. Curt had never been to Mabry Mill so we made a quick stop:

Friday, we set to work bright and early. Susan Ada finished painting our new bathroom and Curt installed light fixtures:

Saturday Steve, Curt, and Susan Ada attacked the task of laying hardwood floors in the bonus room. We all worked very hard and had 450 square feet of pretty floors to show for it at the end of the day.

However, Saturday wasn't all gruelling labor. . .Curt took some time out to fry a turkey breast. He had wanted to try for a long time so when he discovered that Steve had a turkey fryer in his basement, Curt just had to break it in. Safety first. . .no hot oil ruining this handsome face:

It might have been delicious!

Sunday we drove to Shatley Springs for some yummy country cooking then all pitched in to mow and rake the yard and part of the orchard. We had a great time and enjoyed working hard on the new house.