A Balcony Downs Halloween

Halloween was so fun!  I randomly got invited to some girl's home in southern Virginia for the weekend, and it used to be a PLANTATION.  WHAT.  Her name is Celeste, she's awesome, and her home is called Balcony Downs, and it is stunning.  There were about 25 of us, I would say, just shacked up all over the house, a trailer outside, and a couple of cottages that were all on the grounds.  Great food, good company, and we just had a great time.  

 

Of course, being in a new relationship, going down with Danny made it even better!  The weekend was awesome, both with Danny and in getting to know some of the others down there.  I loved every minute.  

Daya

View from the top of the mountain

Danny and I drove down Friday evening, arriving late Friday night.  Saturday we went hiking, rode some 4-wheelers, ate, and ate some more.  

Bryana, Derek, Jack, Celeste

There were horses to be ridden, kittens to play with, and the BEST- rocking chairs on a long porch facing the mountain.  I was never out there at a good time with the lighting to get a really great picture, but if that isn't contentment, I don't know what is. 

Great people!

Of course, there was a costume party on Saturday night, which isn't my favorite thing.  Many people are surprised by this with my being an actor and all, but I don't really enjoy dressing up on Halloween.  I love Halloween!  So it's not that.  It's the effort and ingenuity required, or money to rent, or creativity and effort needed to create a good costume that deters me.  I also don't want to be uncomfortable all night.  When I'm doing a show, I don't have to think about it or make it myself.  I just wear what I'm told.  

My roommate Eleesha as a silent film star, and Bryana in her birthday suit. :-)

So, as far as Halloween costumes go, they really aren't my thing.  HOWEVER. When your roommate has a Star Wars Stormtrooper costume just laying around, and available, you take that costume opportunity and run!  And even better, when you show up to the party and your friend Tiffany is dressed as Princess Leia with her dog as a wookie, your night is made!  

Tiffany and Bear

 

The party was really fun, and Danny even figured out a costume, thanks to an article I sent him, titled "10 Easy Halloween Costumes For Men."  :-) #yourewelcomebabe

The shirt says: "404 Error: Costume Not Found"

Right after one of these kittens peed on Danny.  It was a good moment.

Sunday we went to church, relaxed a bit, mostly on the back porch or the porch swing under this AMAZING tree, and headed home.  It was pretty much a perfect fall a weekend. 

Heaven

And then there is the moment I got this text from Becca, featuring Lucy, dressed an adorable Belle.   The caption said this: "I told Lucy to smile for Aunt Nicole.  This is what I got."  #favoriteaunt

This girl.

Old Rag

The fall season was amazing, and beautiful.  I have discovered as well, that I have this fascination with the Shenandoah/Blue Ridge Mountains area.  I don't even know exactly what all that means geographically, but I love the Carolinas for that reason, and Virginia is turning out to be the same.  At the end of October, I hiked a trail called Old Rag with some people, only knowing a couple of them as the day started.  Danny and I were a brand new couple, so it was really through him that I was invited.  We had such a great day, and I enjoyed making some new friends immensely!  Old Rag is apparently one of the most popular trails around here, especially in the fall, for obvious reasons.  The leaves are just amazing.  It took us all day, and was pretty crowded, but totally worth the crowds.  I couldn't have been happier, with the boy I was hiking with, and the rest of the company.  There are days and activities and events in life that just work sometimes, and you can't explain it.  This was one of those days for me.  It was just perfect.  The people, the scenery, the weather, the activity, just a perfect fall day.   I'm going to let the photos speak for themselves, mostly.  And interject here and there.  Enjoy the view.  I sure did.

This is the day I learned my new boyfriend was actually a billy goat.

This is Katy.  I discovered she's my people.  It was a good moment.

Danny, trying to move the world.  It's fine.

This is still one of my favorite pictures.

Maybe I needed a Lion King moment.  With my backpack.

At the top.

Really, there is nothing I need to say about this.

Really dark picture of us.  But a brilliant view on the way down.

Like I said.  I kind of found my people.

Sunset on an abandoned house on the way out of the park. Stunning.

When you get to end a perfect day with this sight, it just feels right.