Palmetto Trail

This has been a crazy week! We have been home all week because of COVID-19. No school. No church. No friends. I have actually loved being home and not having a schedule. I have loved being able to work 1-1 with Jalen on his school work. Baylie works very well independently and hasn't needed much help with her assignments. We're usually able to finish between 11 and 1.

I've tried to also be responsible as a teacher, making sure I use my time wisely and provide activities for my students.

On Saturday, we realized we needed to get out and go for a walk. I had recently learned of a nearby walk called the Palmetto Trail so we decided to check it out. We drove to a town called Peak. It is a VERY small town.

We parked on Main Street, which consisted of these few buildings and then walked the short distance to the trail.

The creek bed was dry, but the bridge was still nice. The trail runs along a railroad that used to go from Greenville to Charleston.

It let to a large bridge that spanned the Broad River. From the bridge when the water is low, you can see the ruins of a Civil War-era bridge that was destroyed to try and stop Sherman's troops from advancing. The water was too high for us to see it.

It was beautiful. I think it will be even prettier when everything is green.

The turtles were huge.

We decided to walk under the bridge to the river.

This was interesting. I think maybe it was a tree stand for hunting.

Walking back.

Spiderweb.

There were old inscriptions. This one was older than David.

I thought this vine growing up through the bridge support was interesting.

I had never been to Newberry so we decided to take the back road and see it. It's a cute little town.

Newberry Opera House

City Hall

Bubba's Beer

There were some very cool houses.

So many chimneys!

This one was for sale

Newberry Main Street

We drove by Newberry Downtown

Maybe we should have stayed home??

It was good to get out and we were all pooped when the day was done!

There is a rumor that we will be confined to our homes starting Monday. The governor today said that's not true, but I don't believe most of what he says - so we will see!

Baker's Dozen

Today was Baylie's 12th birthday. Such a weird time for her. We are basically on in-house quarantine because of COVID-19. Her party had to be cancelled. She is a social butterfly who craves social interraction and she can't see anyone but our family. It was a hard day. But she never complained. She pretended like everything was fine. She is amazing.

She got a personalized notebook from Grammy.

She got make up!!

...which she really wanted.

And she got earrings, which means she'll get her ears pierced when all this craziness is over. 

 ...which she also really wanted.

Her friends joined us by Facebook messenger to sing happy birthday and watch her blow out her candles.

She got notification that she's been accepted into her school's high honors courses.

Her Hunger Games birthday party would have been epic.

We'll have it later after it's safe to be in crowds again.

I'm so grateful for this remarkable young woman who made me a mother. She has always been a blessing.