Kings and Queens of the Mountain

At our old house, we had a stream with

waterfalls, and a tree house.  At the new house,

we have a whole mountain!

Since it's the only "mountain" in Manly (North

Southern Pines), let's call it Manly Mountain.

Here's Bri and Hunter's first introduction

to the mountain. Love at first sight!

It's a long way down.  OR up.

We could call it Lookout Mountain, but

that's already taken.

The plateau at the top provides ample

play space for imaginative play.

But for sheer challenges, there's nothing

like the climb.

I'm on top of the world!

Bri and the others have energy to climb

the steep slopes over and over again.

It's a great workout.

Don't back up, Hunter!

Is that where I was a minute ago?

This is the low side of the mountain.

Evan can strike a super hero pose on

a moment's notice.

Claire keeps her balance as she follows

this ravine.

You don't climb to get to the top or bottom.

You climb to start all over again.

And sometimes, just to be different,

you try sliding.

Just look at that expression of determination.

As we were playing Roy Rogers, Claire 

took the usual role of Bullet, Roy's dog.

Lo, and behold-- I found this ancient artifact

among the rubble on the mountain.  Obviously

a German Shepherd.

Claire and the others have also supplemented

their personal rock collections from their

amazing finds.  When they find Indian Paint

Rock, they may share it with Grandma so

she can write messages on stone.

Proof that the world is not flat.

Now Claire has a sliding disciple.

Check those pants for holes, Mom.

Claire has even set up a nice office on the

mountainside, including a computer, cell

phone, and a series of gates that open by

remote control.  One gate is for spaceships.

Evan engages in a little target practice.

Sometimes with dirt clods, sometimes with

stones.  He is closely supervised by Grandpa

when he has projectiles in his hand, don't worry.

For my readers with plenty of time on your

hands, I have a series of short videos of some

of the action at Manly Mountain.

Bri scales the mountain (31 sec.)

Claire and Evan , movin' on up

Evan bounces from peak to peak (7 sec.)

Mountain goats? (36 sec.)

Mountain climbing has its ups and downs.

(12 sec.)

Claire agrees about the ups and downs.

(23 sec.)

So, we have our own almost-private mountain.

It's not The Lonely Mountain.

It's not Mount Doom.

It's not Witch Mountain.

Whatever you call it, it's FUN!