When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller

~Friends for life~

~Hunt-Morgan house gazebo~

~Jenny in the backyard gazebo of the Hunt-Morgan house~

~The Hunt-Morgan House~

~Shelby, Abraham Lincoln, & Jenny~

Me & a Jersey calf--she was so sweet!

~The Henry Clay Estate~

~Cincinnati Art Museum~

"Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great. " ~Psalm 104:25

~Petting a shark~

~Me & Jenny at the jellyfish exhibit~

~A mud toad at the aquarium--this creature was one of my favorites. The description on his tank said that when he felt threatened he would run with , "...a very untoadlike gallop."

~Nike, Shelby, Jenny, & me~

A girl can never have too many hats. :)

~Jenny & Shelby~

~Jenny's 23rd birthday celebration~

~4th of July parade~

Jenny(a childhood friend) and I spent July 3rd-12th visiting Shelby. That was the longest drive I had ever made without my parents, but Jenny and I arrived safely and we were never lost on the way there, thanks to a lovely invention called a GPS. :)

The week's highlights:

1. Independence Day parade

2. Antique stores
3. Newport, KY aquarium--I actually touched two live, albeit small, sharks!
4. Cincinnati art museum---This place was amazing! It only cost $4 to park and entrance to the museum was free! We spent 3 1/2 hours in there!
5. The Henry Clay Estate--We just happened to tour this house during the 19th Century festival. What a treat that was! There were farm animals, people in 19th century-style clothing, and exhibitions/displays of every kind. We even met an Abraham Lincoln impersonator who loved home schooling! :)
6. The Hunt-Morgan House---Beautiful 1814 federal-style house.
7. Eating at Fava's, a German restaurant, The Lock & Key, a Chinese restaurant, and an absolutely amazing Indian restaurant.
8. Visiting Shelby's horses--Bridger & Nike.
9. Touring the Kentucky Horse Park.
10. Choosing a ceramic Great Dane at an antique store to add to my dog collection, only to have the shop owner hand it to me and say "You can have it for free"!
11. Watching Shelby try on hats at the various antique stores/flea markets.
12. And best of all...getting to do all of the aforementioned with two of my favorite people--Shelby & Jenny. :)