NC and Hummingbirds

Before we left Boston we took the toddler to the butterfly garden.  To be far I had also taken her when she was much younger, during hubby's deployment, but she probably doesn't remember that.  You know because she was like 5 months old.

I love a good butterfly garden.  Heck, I love a bad butterfly garden.  I think butterflies are just such beautiful bugs creatures.  When I saw how much the toddler loves them, too, I was super excited to build a butterfly garden with her at our new home in Virginia.

Being slightly busy with moving and a newborn and unpacking we sort of missed the the prime plant season, but were able to get a few annuals for window boxes.  Virginia has so many butterlies!  And flies.  What is with the flies????

I also decided we would try our hand with hummingbirds.  Saturday morning we were out on the balcony watching the hubby load up the swagger wagon for a trip to NC and THERE WERE HUMMINGBIRDS AT OUR FEEDERS!!!!  I almost peed myself with excitement.  Since then I have been obsessed with watching for hummingbirds and I told the hubby not to be surprised if he comes home one day to find the balcony covered in feeders. 

We went to NC for a friend's 19th annual pig pickin.  Yes, you read that correctly.  They have been doing this for 19 years, starting the first year they were married.  Hopefully when the hubby retires and we settle in one location we can start a similar tradition.  Heck, maybe I'll just start it now and whoever comes will have to travel to attend when we move.  haha  If you aren't from the south, a pig pickin is where a whole pig is cooked on the grill all day and you basically do just what the name implies...pick your pork right off the pig.  When I say it tasted amazing I am not lying.  This was the BEST bbq I have ever attended.  Amazing people, amazing fellowship, amazing food.  The hubby had met some of the 100+ guests, but it was the first time I had met the family and I fell in love with them.  I actually hope they adopt me (even if they are NC State fans).

The toddler, of course, made herself immediately at home.  And when I say immediately I mean she followed Curtis into his house while we unloaded the van.  No stranger danger with our girl.  The toddler pretty much ran around like a maniac, the baby was held, and the hubby and I were pretty much not needed by either of them.  I'll tell you what those kids were so wore out it was the best night sleep we've had in forever.  I'm going to drop them off the next time we go on vacation.  I don't even care which family member they stay with.

And I learned how to make greens finally!  I am sure the hubby is relieved because we've had some pretty awful attempts and finally last night I used some tips Ms. Emma had told me and they turned out so well. Ms. Emma is Curtis' mama and she has her own bbq in a few weeks with the same huge number of guests.  We were trying to figure out how we could politely invite ourselves just because we love this family so much and, we can't lie, we like to eat and the food was delicious. 

Had to represent FSU

All the toddler needs to be happy