Apple pickin' time!

This past Saturday Patty and Tommy braved the chilly autumn air to get the first swipe at some local produce. Tommy was excited to report that apples really came from a tree.





Thank goodness he did not see The Wizard of Oz before going!





Anyway they were able to take a hayride and enjoy some fresh apple cider and warm apple doughnuts before returning home.





Danny had a bit of a cold so we stayed inside and enjoyed playing with the toys on the living room floor. He was treated to his first chocolate chip cookie, here is the before and after shot.





And after...





Danny said, " I want to be home. I don't want no wormy apple!"

All American Boy

Tommy shared with Patty, Danny and I what he had been learning in his daycare. Needless to say we are very proud of this boy! He starts off with the Plege of Alegance and ends with "God Bless America"

6 months old

Here are a collection of pictures of Danny at six months...

Trip to Maggie Valley, NC

The Sunday of our arrival Patty and Tommy took a ride on the real Thomas. Danny and I stood by and watched as it was loud and frightened the lad.






The weather was splendid. Highs averaged in the low 80's and the lowest temperatures we had were in the 50's that's not to shabby for the hottest week of the year. Here is a photo from the front porch of the cabin.



We had a friendly visitor while we were in the cabin. An elk with a 14 point rack sauntered up to say hello. The boys got a real kick out of the wild beast coming so close.







As boys will do they(Tommy and Will) took great pleasure in the privacy of the mountains.



This photo was just Tommy on a rock but look how the clouds have settled in the mountains in the back ground.



Of course Danny had a great time except for the noises which made him cry a bit.



Overall our family had lots of fun. It was nice to have the cousins together with the grandmothers and aunts and uncles.

Good Fellows

Just funny pictures..

Trinity Church Beaverdam

I have been licensed by the Archbishop of the United Episcopal Church to serve as a priest in Trinity Church Beaverdam, Virginia. The building was erected in 1830 and has been well maintained. The Church community is a gathering of traditional worshipers who have kind hearts. Patty and I are blessed to have been led to this parish. Please pray that we may serve this parish by meeting the needs of the congregation. Our family is excited about doing God's work in the Church and looking forward to what is in store for us here. The Church is 23 miles from our home which is much closer than the 100 miles we traveled to St. John’s In Maryland. We will miss our Church family at St. John's but are glad to be starting a new ministry.

for everything, a first...

Today is the first day of July and the first time Danny has tried, “real” food. The selection for this evening was the pureed green beans. Much to our amazement he gobbled the mush down as if it was chocolate pudding.
Later this evening after supper Tommy decided to show us a “magic trick” and made Danny disappear.
Strangely enough Patty presented me with this photo of Tommy from his first bean tasting. There is no better lad than an Ayres, and we have two of the best.