Mabry Mill March Snow

Later on Thursday afternoon, Brent had finished at church for the day and the snow had started hours before it was forecast to overnight. He looked at me and said I bet it will be pretty at Mabry Mill with the snow. We have been there in all 3 other seasons and it is possible to get there in the winter but through an alternate route since the Parkway is closed in snow. We found a very reasonable and cute little inn to overnight to be ready for sunrise the next morning.  As we traveled south, we noticed the snowflakes were smaller and smaller but thankfully still enough to coat the area. 

 These girls were thrilled to go see The Mill again. I am not sure why exactly it is one of their favorites, but this is always one of their favorite photography trips that we do.

 Our room had a good sized rocker in the corner and everybody had to give it a try. Here is Bethany reading up on the area (she was not amused when I tried to turn the brochure right side up for her-I guess reading upside down is more interesting!)

 Here is our little navigator. Bekah loved spreading out the big map in the room to see exactly where we were going.

 Feeding her sister part of her banana bedtime snack

 Brent got up for sunrise to photograph at the Mill (thankfully, as the frosting of snow melted very quickly here!!) and we did not this time. He met us back at the inn and we had breakfast before heading to the Mill. Here are the big girls headed up the hill to breakfast.

 There was a little pond behind the inn with a series of bridges around the outside. The girls thought these were so much fun and wanted to explore them for just a little while before we all headed to the mill.

 
 We made it to the Mill mid-morning and spent some going around the buildings at the mill and learning about the activities that would have gone on there including blacksmithing and lumber making in addition to the work at the mill itself. Rachel was in charge of reading us the information signs as part of her history field trip for the day.
 Then we had to go see the ducks. The girls are completely thrilled over the ducks here at the Mill and have to go check on them anytime we come. Oh my, Bethany could hardly stand it at her first sight of the ducks. She kept calling "Duck Ducks"
 

 I did want to get a picture of the girls on the millstones. I have one of them in every season, I think, from this spot.

 

 Along the back of the Mill were some giant icicles. The big girls thought these were really cool (yes, I am sure they are literally cool too)!

 

 Oh the ducks...we could barely get this girl to the car for her wanting to keep seeing the ducks. She loves puppies, cats and babies and now we can add ducks to the list. We found her rubber duck when we got home and she has been holding onto "DuckDuck" still.
 
 We stopped through the town of Floyd on our way back at the recommendation from the folks at the inn. We had some lunch and spent some time at the local hardware store and then headed to the Floyd Country Store. Papa (Brent's Dad) and his friends come here a few times a year and have invited us but it hasn't worked out to be able to meet them yet. Brent sent his Dad this picture of the girls in the store and Papa knew exactly where we were right away. They have music in the back of the store every Friday night but we were a little early and needed to get back home. We told the girls we will try to be sure and come back with Papa and his friends when they visit later this year. I couldn't resist getting one picture of them with the stage though. Oh, they look so big!

McGuirt Family, Mabry Mill, March 4, 2016

 Glad to be a part of a quick photography trip for a winter snow image of Mabry Mill. Brent now has all 4 seasons of Mabry Mill and we have a family picture in all 4 seasons here too. Notice how quickly the "frosting" of snow had disappeared here-this was about 4 hours after his image was taken. Thankful too that winter is now "supposed" to be done (hopefully, really done!) and we can move into a beautiful Spring!