Have you heard of Tazewell, VA?

Haven't heard from me in awhile, I know...The last of our chickens left late last Wed. night, and we'll be "restocked" on the 8th, so we decided to make a quick run for the south.

We left at 5:30 a.m. Sat. morning, and delivered 4 bull calves to the Pruetts in Tazewell, VA. We got there around 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon. Kids travelled great...they do so well. The Pruett's are friends of Aldie and Judy, and Mary went thru cancer treatment at Duke with Judy...that is how they met.

This is Mary with Kaycee. Mary is always very doting with my children. Everytime they come to PA she comes with gifts in hand, and it was no different this time...they spoiled them non-stop for the 24 hours we were there. :) She will be a great grandma some day, if the Lord blesses her in that way...

We went on a tour after church on Sunday, and this is some of the land we looked at. You drive up the mountain on an S turn road that never ends, it was awful...then you come down into this "bowl". There are farms on this land, and all around are high mountains, creating a "bowl" effect, hence the name. Beautiful.

Do we look like tourists or what? We would have all hopped out, but Calli was sleeping on my lap at the time, and Campbell was sleeping as well. I was NOT about to wake anyone up even for a blog photo opportunity.

Cool barn, eigh? It was actually the post office in "the bowl". Obviously, the town is called Burke's Garden.

This is Bill...a crazy workaholic farmer who is in partnership with his dad on a big dairy. His dad is 78, and I asked his dad if he ever gets out of the "holler". He smiled, and said, "Not very often." They live on a beautiful big dairy farm in the middle of no where :) We say they live down in the "holler". Matt should be writing this because he knows much more of the numbers, but I do know they milk 120 cows...and have many, many more growing critters around.

Here Bill is feeding my 7 month old whip cream out of the can...totally a Poppy thing to do. :)

On our way into Tazewell, we saw these camels...crazy, right?

And, this is the beautiful old church we attended with them on Sunday morning. It's at the end of their road. It was so fun to be there. 65 people go there, and my children doubled their sunday school class. :) They were so, so friendly...it's definately a different culture down there. Little 5 year old Jimmy walked up to Kaden, with his hand extended, "Hi there Kaden, nice to meet you." Too precious.

Thanks Bill and Mary for your awesome hospitality, all the kid spoiling, good meals, warm showers and beds. We all had a blast. Maybe we'll make it down there again sometime. Your church was so much fun to be at as well. Take care. Love, Matt and Missy.