Roan Mountain, Rhododendron Gardens ~ Summer 2016 {Roan Mountain ~ J. Commons Photography}

I know, I go to Roan Mountain a lot, but I just love it there.  Each time I go I have another fantastic experience.  I have lived in the shadow of Roan Mountain for 10 years and have always missed out on seeing the rhododendron gardens in full bloom. I refused to let it pass me by this year!  Deanna and I, with some outside help, talked the girls into going with us and we headed out for the day.  I am soooo thankful that I finally made it up there!  I have walked the rhododendron garden in the past and loved its enchanting paths and moss covered forest, but the pop of purple the blooms added was magical!

Have props, will hike!

It was really cool to watch the fog and rain roll across the mountain.

A peek at the view on the other side of the clouds.

After leaving the gardens we stopped by the Miller Farmstead.  Since last September's Hummingbird Display, I have basically been stalking the farm waiting for the hummers to return!!  I was so happy they were back and that Deanna and the girls got to experience it.

Emma decided the quickest way down the hill was to roll! (I may have encouraged her.)

The wildflowers were finally out.

All of the hummingbird feeders were still not out, but there were dozens of hummers buzzing around!

I love hummingbirds so much (I even have one tattooed on my back) and I could not stop taking pictures.  In my defense, they kept posing for me!

Shh, be verwy, verwy quiet, Deanna is hunting hummers!

This is not a great picture, but it is the best I have ever taken of these little, white fairies.  Okay, they are actually called Woolly Aphids, but they always remind me of fairies floating through the air.  You know, because I have seen so many fairies floating through the air!

Jaretta College Graduation 2016 {J. Commons Photography - Milligan College, TN}

I've been blessed to get to know Jaretta through our mutual part-time job.  She has one of the sunniest personalities I know and a wicked sense of humor!  In May, Jaretta is graduating from Milligan College and heading into the world of teaching.  Sunday, we laughed our way around the campus and, I think, managed to get a few good shots!

Jaretta has spent a large portion of her college career singing in Seeger Chapel.

That may or may not be her hand print!

Jump for joy!!

Making wishes for the future.  (Note: the correct way to blow a dandelion. Hehehe!)

My Gragg Girls ~ 2015 ~ Abingdon, Virginia

Monday, I got to spend the day with my favorite girls - Emma, Abby, and Olivia.  This year we headed to southwest Virginia for their Christmas photos.  Several months ago, Mike and I drove through Abingdon and it was my first trip through the beautiful little town.  When I told Deanna how much I loved the town she said she did, too, and would love to do the pictures there.  And so it was.

Deanna LOVES penguins and we were super excited to find this guy hanging out in a little park. (We also passed a truck with a bed full of hunting dogs and a freshly killed bear!  We didn't stop him for pictures.)

Life with Livvy

Emma loves to do the "model pose," ironically, of course, because it amuses her!

We stormed the front steps of the Martha Washington Inn to grab a couple of photos.  Okay, actually, I sent the girls up the steps alone so I could take a few photos from below.  They weren't very happy about it because we weren't a hundred percent sure it was allowed, but the staff were extremely nice about it!

Miss O's face after Emma said a nut shouldn't stand so close to a nutcracker!

As we passed the first rest area in Virginia I noticed they had a large "LOVE" sign.  I mentioned that it would be a fun photo.  (I will leave out the part about me not understanding why Virginia was trying to be like Philadelphia and Amy pointing out that "Virginia is for lovers.")  Turns out, there is one at the Martha Washington Inn!

I strongly encourage you to visit Abingdon during the Christmas season.  It was beautifully decorated.  There were several of these metal art installation-esque pieces around town.  They were placed purposefully and looked like they belonged.

We began and ended our trip with Babycakes cupcakes.  They didn't have any alcohol in them, but they were still pretty tasty! ;)