For the fourth consecutive year, my brother Kevin and his three daughters met me early in the morning at the Oilville Exxon. We’re headed for the 53rd Annual Highland Maple Festival in Monterey, VA – Virginia’s “Little Switzerland.” This is the four of us, moments before departure. Thanks for the picture Kevin! And for letting me spend the day with your wonderful daughters!:

First order of business as we arrive each year is go to the 107 year old (!) Highland Inn and prepare ourselves for breakfast. This picture was taken in the lobby of the Inn:

We sit down for a huge breakfast of buckwheat pancakes and Highland County’s Finest Maple Syrup; too much is never enough. We waddle away from the table much later. Lauren and Casey were our superb waitresses this year. They provided excellent service and doubled as talented photographers!

The girls composed this shot themselves – they balanced my camera on a soft drink  can!  They’re so talented and creative – just like their mother and father! :

This was also our fourth year of getting Pecan Yummies – wow. Five ingredients: pecans, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla. You would not even believe how good these things are. You can still eat them when your belly is stuffed with pancakes and maple syrup – and they’re gluten free! Amy is the genius behind Pecan Yummies. She remembered us from last year! On her business card her title is “Yum Master.” Admit it, that title is hard to beat. Who in the world would not want to be a yum master? That may be my next career. As it turns out, she doubles as a talented photographer!:

I will say – and I am unbiased – that anyone can take a picture of my nieces and have it come out looking like a work of art.

This post is huge; I’ll put a few more images with the next one.