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jadejedi · 4 years

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Love is a burning thing (1/7) A Captive Prince AU

Summary: Laurent doesn’t remember the first time he met Damen, or his family. It didn’t really matter when they had first met, because Laurent had known his whole life that the Akielons were loud, obnoxious, irresponsible, and stupid.

A rival ranch AU

on ao3 here.

A/N: Fic and chapter title from my favorite country song of all time, Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire. This fic is inspired by my recent habit of listening to my “Country Music I actually like” playlist on my daily commute.

Chapter 1: Oh, and the fire went wild

Laurent doesn’t remember the first time he met Damen, or his family. It might have been at the county fair, competing in the cattle showings against Auguste, or maybe it had been around their little town, Damen with his half-brother and step mother, and Laurent with his mother and brother. It didn’t really matter when they had first met, because Laurent had known his whole life that the Akielons were loud, obnoxious, irresponsible, and stupid.

His father hated their neighbors.

The Akielon’s ranch, White Cliff (“There are no white cliffs in Texas”, Aleron would complain every time they drove past the sign at the end of the driveway), bordered theirs from the south. Although both ranches were very large, each with thousands of acres of land, their houses were quite close to each other, near the road that ran along the west of the two properties. There was no escaping each other.

They went to the same school, the same church, attended the same rodeos, the same county fair. They even frequented the same H-E-B. Hennike would scrunch her nose in distaste, pasting on a smile as Hypermenestra walked by, usually alone or with Kastor, and very rarely with Damen sulkingly following behind her, and Hypermenestra would stride by, and return the fake smile. If their husbands were with them, they would greet each other with a tight, “de Vere.”, “Akielon.”, without a second glance.

Sometimes Laurent would see the older one, Kastor, driving an ATV along their shared fence, and would glare at him as he drove by. On occasion he would see the younger one, Damen, at school, since the elementary and middle schools were in the same building. Laurent would glare at him as he passed, and Damen would roll his eyes in response. That made it worse, to Laurent, that the Akielon boys wouldn’t even take him seriously.

They took Auguste seriously, of course. He was closer in age to them, eighteen, where Kastor was twenty, and Damen twelve. Laurent, being only seven, was hardly considered a worthy adversary, unlike Auguste, who had competed against both brothers in cattle showings at the county and state fair.

Laurent remembered watching the show last year, glowering as Damen stood proudly as he won grand champion in his first year of competition, and Auguste had been awarded reserve champion. His stupid dark curls and his stupid dimpled grin as he had sought out his mother in the crowd, where she sat away from her ex and his family.

When Laurent was forced to speak to either of the Akielon brothers he wasn’t as cooly cordial as either of his parents were.

“Are you lost?” Laurent demanded one day, as he got off the bus in front of his house. “Last I checked, your house was a mile and a half that way,” he said, helpfully pointing south, just in case they’d forgotten. Damen and his older brother were both waiting by the mailbox at the end of the de Vere’s driveway, Kastor’s slightly beat up Ford pick-up parked awkwardly on the grass just off the drive. The afternoon sun reflected off the silver paint of the hood.

Kastor rolled his eyes, and straightened up from where he’d been leaning against the mailbox, muttering something about “Damn ungrateful de Veres”. Dust rose up in a small cloud as he shifted his feet. Damen looked troubled.

Laurent crossed his arms, waiting for them to respond. It was hot, two hours south of San Antonio. It was only April and it was already in the nineties regularly. As his father liked to say, it was a dry heat, though. Not too bad.

He hoped that they weren’t here as part of the ever ongoing war between them and Auguste. Last time he’d gotten caught up between them, Damen had put a snake in his desk at school.

“Well?” he demanded again, and resisted the urge to stamp the ground impatiently. He didn’t want to seem even more like a child then they already saw him as.

Damen glanced anxiously over at Kastor, who didn’t look inclined to respond. He grimaced, and turned back to Laurent, who raised an eyebrow.

“You’re mother is in the hospital,” he informed him, brown eyes wide with sympathy, hands shoved into his jean pockets. He glanced up at his brother again, who wasn’t even looking in Laurent’s direction. “Dad sent us to take you there. Aleron and Auguste are already there.”

Laurent stared at the two of them. Was this one of their pranks? Were they going to dump him into a mudhole and leave him for his brother to find?

Damen and Kastor wore twin solemn expressions.

The heat felt more oppressive than it had a moment ago.

Kastor got into the driver’s seat without a word, and Laurent only got into the back seat once Damen motioned him in from the passenger seat.

Kastor drove them to the hospital, the country station blaring. Laurent could see Damen continuously checking on him through the rearview mirror, brow furrowed anxiously.

Auguste was waiting for them outside of the ER, and Laurent hopped out of the truck and flung himself into his arms. He tried desperately not to cry, since he knew the Akielon boys were still watching, but he couldn’t stop the tears from soaking into Auguste’s blue button down.

“Thank you,” he heard Auguste say to Kastor and Damen over his head.

They both mumbled back a response, and Laurent could hear the sound of the truck pulling away.

That was the beginning of the worst summer of Laurent’s life.

Hennike passed away in May, and in June, Auguste graduated highschool.

Laurent spent the summer tearfully begging Auguste to stay, to not go away to school. Everytime he did, Auguste would look helplessly to their father.

“Laurent,” Aleron would say, “your brother has to go off to school. He can’t be putting it off just to take care of you.”

In July, Auguste lost his final 4-H cattle showing to Damen. Again. Laurent seethed as he was handed the grand champion ribbon, and this time, Auguste didn’t even qualify for state.

He seethed as he watched Damen’s eyes sought out his mother in the bleachers, and then his father and brother and stepmother.

It was unfair, Laurent mused, as they drove home, staring out the window at the flat expanse of Texas, a rush of dull green and dusty brown. Damen had everything he didn’t. A mother who was still living. Two, if you counted his stepmother. A brother who was content to stay home and take online classes for college.

He had always stayed out of Auguste’s war with Damen and Kastor. The silly prank war, Aleron called it. Auguste would pretend to look affronted, and respond, “Dad, I’m defending our honor!”

But now Auguste was leaving in less than a month.

When they dropped Auguste off at College Station, the three of them clad in burgundy Aggie t-shirts, Laurent resolved not to cry. He’d cried all summer, it felt like.

Auguste knelt down to give him a big hug outside of his dorm. “You’ll be okay without me, Lau.”

Laurent sniffed into his shoulder. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. He buried his face into the rough cotton of Auguste’s t-shirt.

Auguste rubbed circled into his back. “It’s okay. You have to help Dad get the new guy up to speed. Who else is going to teach him the names of all the horses and the chickens?”

Laurent nodded, and pulled back, looking into his brother’s blue eyes. Auguste smiled, and ruffled his hair, which Laurent always hated, but decided to tolerate, today. “Not to mention, you are now the only thing standing between the Akielon boys and total chaos. You have to continue my legacy, little brother.”

Laurent heard Aleron chuckle behind them. “Now, Auguste, don’t go pulling your little brother into your silly prank war with the neighbors-”

“It’s about honor!” Laurent was quick to insist, which made Auguste laugh.

“Exactly!” He stood up, and nodded towards their father. There would be no tearful embraces between the two of them, Laurent knew.

“You’ll both be fine,” Auguste said confidently.

Aleron cleared his throat. “We will be.” He looked uncomfortable for a moment. Laurent watched him fidget for a moment, before removing the big Stetson he always wore on his head and stepping forward to place it on Auguste’s head.

Auguste looked surprised at this gesture.

“Well, Laurent, we’d better go,” Aleron said, running his hand through his hat-flattened hair.

Laurent looked at his brother. There were some clouds in the sky today, which felt appropriate, but Auguste was standing in a spot of sunlight, brightening the burgundy of his t-shirt, and highlighting the gold of his hair against the white Stetson, making him look every inch the golden son that he was.

Coming home felt different. Their big ranch house felt empty, without his mother or his brother to fill it with their light and laughter.

Laurent was glad that the new hire would be living with them. He wasn’t sure if he could take it, just him and his father.

Besides the usual ranch staff, Aleron had also hired Jord, to replace the work that Auguste did.

Summer was over, to Laurent’s relief. School meant he didn’t have to sit around the farmhouse, staring at the spot on the couch his mother preferred, or at his brother’s door, waiting for it to open and Auguste to come striding out.

To Laurent’s dismay, not everything at school was the same. Damen, who was in eight grade now, did not even bother responding to his passing glares with a roll of the eyes, instead just shooting him wide-eyed, pitying glances.

Laurent hated it. Hated Damen, for reminding him with every look of what he’d lost.

After two weeks of this, he was sitting in the passenger seat of Jord’s old pickup truck, the cracked leather seats rough against him. They were patrolling the edge of the ranch’s property, as Jord often did, looking out for holes in the many miles of fencing, or fallen tree limbs, or signs of pests, or any other hazards. When they reached their shared fence with White Cliff Ranch, Laurent told Jord to stop.

“What?” Jord asked, even as he did as Laurent said. “Do you see something?”

“No,” Laurent replied, opening the passenger door and hopping down onto the ground below. He grinned a bit. “Don’t wait up for me; I’ll walk back,” he said, eyeing the fence.

Jord followed his gaze and rolled his eyes. “Don’t do anything too stupid. Your father told me about the antics your brothers and the Akielon boys got up to. They’re both older than you, and bigger.”

Laurent shrugged. “They’re boneheads. Don’t wait up,” he repeated, and slammed the door. He didn’t wait for Jord to drive away, just delicately pulled up a row of the barbed wire so he could carefully step in between. He was small, so it was easy.

From there he walked steadily towards where he knew the main barn was on the Akielon property. He only knew from a couple of years ago, when they stopped by for Kastor’s highschool graduation open house, saying perfunctory hellos and congratulations.

He hadn’t really had a plan when he’d hopped out of the truck. But now, walking under the occasional mesquite trees for a moment or two of shade, keeping his eyes peeled for rattlers as he walked through the scrub grass and past the thorny shrubs that dotted the land, a plan formed in his mind.

In the cooler hours of the evening, there was very little activity around the White Cliff farmhouse and barns. It was very easy for Laurent to sneak into the horse barn, and up into the loft, where they would get their hay everyday for the horses.

It was even easier to untie the bales of hay, retying them with a knot that would immediately come undone if someone pulled on them. Not all of the bales, mind you. Just some of them. Random ones. He couldn’t lift up a bale by himself, but he could shove them around a bit, shuffling around the untied ones as best as possible.

It was maybe not the most elaborate prank, but it would be obnoxious.

To Laurent’s delight, the plan worked just as he’d wanted.

Damen confronted him at school a couple of days later. “Did you rig our hay bales to untie on us?” he demanded, before Laurent could get on the bus at the end of the day.

Laurent held back a grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he insisted airily. “I certainly would never do something like that.”

Damen rolled his eyes. “I’m watching you, de Vere,” he said, before stalking away.

The next week, when Laurent went out to help Jord muck stalls, he slipped his feet into his muck boots, only to find them filled with manure.

He was annoyed, but also somewhat pleased that Damen had decided he was a worthy adversary after all.

#captive prince #captive prince fic #capri fic #damen x laurent #lamen #lamen fic #my fic #yes i have been writing this instead of my sw wips or any of the real world stuff i should be doing

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yotsutama · 6 years

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Do you have any favorite moments with Yamato and Nagi?

OFC I HAVE!!!!! their relationship is my favorite next to mezzo hahaha

First of all, both Yamato and Nagi has/had secrets that can danger idolish7’s popularity. Their backgrounds are not only opposite but also similar. Yamato is an illegitimate child of a big star, he felt he wasn’t loved and spent his youth seeking revenge on his father. While Nagi had everything and can do anything. He is a prince and loved by women, but almost all the men he met in Northmare, including his brother, didn’t like him because they envy him.

The two of them found out about each other’s secrets earlier than anyone in i7, they understand each other’s pasts, feelings, and reasons. Because they’re similar, both of them are stubborn and refuse/d to reveal their pasts. But since Nagi understood Yamato’s feelings, Nagi could encourage Yamato to have a serious talk with everyone (in part 3). So I hope Yamato and Mitsuki can do the same to Nagi in part 4 :’))

I’m getting OOT so these are my fave Nagi & Yamato moments!!

First, in 2.4.2 where Yamato refused to accept a drama offer starring Yuki and him. Nagi noticed that Yamato didn’t want to accept the offer because he didn’t want to work with Yuki (who knew Yamato’s father very well). Nagi asked Yamato to take off his glasses to see Yamato’s face which is similar to his father.

Nikaidou Yamato: I’m not doing it.Takanashi Tsumugi: Huh?Nikaidou Yamato: Can you turn them down? I don’t have any intentions on appearing on the silver screen.Takanashi Tsumugi: But…. Yuki-san will be there as well, and it’s such a big chance….Nikaidou Yamato: I’m not doing it. Period.Izumi Iori: But it’s a long-awaited chance, right when everyone’s doing their best….Rokuya Nagi: Yamato…. It is a personal rule of mine to not pry into things.Nikaidou Yamato: That’s good. Keep it up ‘til the day you die.Rokuya Nagi: Take off your glasses.Nikaidou Yamato: Why are you breaking that rule all of a sudden?Rokuya Nagi: Why are you hiding it? I know. I know what Yamato’s secret is.Nikaidou Yamato: …….Rokuya Nagi: Probably.Izumi Mitsuki: Nagi does? Did you hear it from Yamato-san? And by secret, do you mean that one….Rokuya Nagi: No. However, I’d like him to stop hiding and talk about it. Not only are we your members, we are also your Best Friends….Nikaidou Yamato: Oh? I know too, Rokuya Nagi. I know what your real identity is.Rokuya Nagi: OH…. So you watched as a tail sprang out of me, shadow growing long beneath the full moon, in the dead of the night?Nikaidou Yamato: Close. …Lend me your ear for a bit.Nikaidou Yamato: How about we watch some Kokona-chan, together in your room?Rokuya Nagi: YES! YES! YES!! I agree wholeheartedly! We must head towards my theater room right this instant!Nanase Riku: W-what did you say?Izumi Mitsuki: Whatever it was, it seems like he hit the target. I mean, he did say “yes” a bunch of times.Nikaidou Yamato: Hahaha. Well, it’s naptime for Onii-san, so….Rokuya Nagi: Yamato, lend me your ear.Nikaidou Yamato: Hm?Rokuya Nagi: I’m giving you the slip this time. Be thankful. Nikaidou Yamato: You….

Anime Voice: Magical★Flash~!Nikaidou Yamato: Just how many times has it been already….Rokuya Nagi: Wonderful things will always be wonderful, no matter how many times you watch them.Anime Voice: Magical★Turbo~!Nikaidou Yamato: I’m so sleepy….Rokuya Nagi: Yamato is a difficult person. It is quite lonesome, that you’d glare down even your friends the instant people touch upon your secret.Nikaidou Yamato: …….Rokuya Nagi: What are you afraid of? Please trust us more.Rokuya Nagi: I pray that you will find the courage to tell all of us, one day.Nikaidou Yamato: …….

Next, in 3.1.2, when they lost Yamato at a party. I love how Yamato and Nagi are sarcastic to each other sometimes lol

Yaotome Gaku: Huh? Where’s Nikaidou? Nanase Riku: Yamato-san? He was just here a second ago…. Izumi Iori: …It’s because we’re in a place like this. Remember…? Osaka Sougo: …Ah, right……. Rokuya Nagi: Hm….. Yamato sure likes to move around in secret. Izumi Mitsuki: Come on, don’t say that. He’ll come back once he’s done with whatever he’s doing. Rokuya Nagi: You’re a very good, honest, and virtuous person, Mitsuki. Those who carry secrets with them aren’t of such noble character. They’re the same as the timid and cowardly…. Nikaidou Yamato: Who’s a coward? Rokuya Nagi: OH……. Nikaidou Yamato: I’m glad your plane made it on time, Nagi. You just got back from Northmare, right? Nikaidou Yamato: You’ve been going back to your country quite a lot lately. I wonder what’s happening over there…. Is it like a disturbance, or uproar over something? ……Is that the reason why you’ve been going back? Rokuya Nagi: ……Secrets are but a part of a gentleman’s manners. Nikaidou Yamato: OK. Hey, long time no see. What were you guys talking about? Yuki: They were just discussing how excited they are to watch us act together. Yaotome Gaku: ……We were?

In 3.2.1. Nagi tried to ask Yamato to tell them about his past

Nikaidou Yamato: ……. Nikaidou Yamato: Well, I gotta go to work too. Rokuya Nagi: –Yamato. Izumi Mitsuki: Nagi, don’t. Rokuya Nagi: Why not? Izumi Mitsuki: There’s no point in asking him if he doesn’t wanna talk about it. It’s gonna take some time, and that’s different for everyone. Rokuya Nagi: Mitsuki, it’s not because I want to know what Yamato’s secret is. Rokuya Nagi: It’s because Yamato is purposefully allowing the atmosphere to deteriorate between the three of us– and I cannot accept that.Rokuya Nagi: As for Yamato’s secret? I’ll just wash it down, much like I would a bowl of cereal. Yamato, please don’t draw borders between us. Nikaidou Yamato: Ahaha. If you’re talkin’ national borders, then they’ve been there since the beginning. Rokuya Nagi: ……What do you mean? Nikaidou Yamato: Unlike you, a returnee, I have ochazuke for breakfast– not cereal. That’s the answer to all your questions. Nikaidou Yamato: You’re pouring tea on top of rice, instead of milk onto cereal. That’s what different. But that difference holds more weight than any passport could. The tragedy begins here, and ends here. Nikaidou Yamato: You’ll realize it someday. Well, I gotta go now. slam

In 3.5.3. Nagi forcefully make Yamato talk ;’))

Nikaidou Yamato: Hah……. My pulse is racing so fast my heart hurts……. Nikaidou Yamato: ……But I have to go back……. *click*Rokuya Nagi: Hello!Nikaidou Yamato: Ah……. Rokuya Nagi: ……. Nikaidou Yamato: I…. I’m home…. Rokuya Nagi: Welcome back. We’ve been waiting for you to return. Nikaidou Yamato: Yeah…. Ah…. What happened to the entryway? Is it me or did the security got a lot stricter while I was gone……? Rokuya Nagi: That’s not of great importance. Look at me, Yamato. Nikaidou Yamato: But, like…. The windows look kinda grim too……. Rokuya Nagi: Rather than talking about the windows, why don’t you talk about yourself? We’ll hear all about it tonight. Right, Yamato? Nikaidou Yamato: ……. Yeah, that’s what I was gonna do. Rokuya Nagi: OK. Do you know how I feel…. Rokuya Nagi: After urging you, over and over and over again to answer my question…. For you to find that answer at someone else’s house, someone who isn’t even a member…… Nikaidou Yamato: Huh? Rokuya Nagi: Fine. Bring it on. Nikaidou Yamato: Uh…. Are you mad……? Rokuya Nagi: No, no, no! Do you mind if I inform everyone that you’ve returned? I’m sure they’ll be very, very delighted to hear that. Nikaidou Yamato: …Sure, but…. Hm? Who are you calling? Rokuya Nagi: …….

Rokuya Nagi: Hello, President! Tonight’s going to be Round 1 of Yamato’s Confessions! If you have time, please do stop by! Nikaidou Yamato: ……Hey! Just who are you inviting!? Rokuya Nagi: OH! You have something planned? No worries. Thanks. Next– Hello,Yaotome-shi! Nikaidou Yamato: Hey! Let’s keep it to just the members! Hey, are you mad at me? If you are then just tell me, please! Rokuya Nagi: Hello! Mister Yuki. What are you plans for tonight?Nikaidou Yamato: Stop!!! That man’s already given me hell! Rokuya Nagi: Hello, Kujou-shi! Nikaidou Yamato: Are you kidding me? Come on……! *click*Nanase Riku: Welcome back, Yamato-san! I’m really glad you’re back! Osaka Sougo: –I heard from Nagi-kun, so I rushed back! Yotsuba Tamaki: Is it true you’re doing a confession session? I mean, we’ve done a lot up ‘til now, but this is the first time it’s gotten a legit name!Yotsuba Tamaki: That’s our leader! You’re so on point! Nikaidou Yamato: Noooooooo……!

Aaaannd after they listened to Yamato’s story,

Nikaidou Yamato: –I’m sorry…. Rokuya Nagi: Do not apologize. We know, even without asking. Rokuya Nagi: Yamato, you’re happy right now, aren’t you? Congratulations. Nikaidou Yamato: Nagi….

Rokuya Nagi: Precisely. When I came to this country, I learned that ‘Yamato’ was also a word that signified 'Japan.’Rokuya Nagi: That is the name Chiba Shizuo bestowed his child, born in the evening years of his life. Chiba Shizuo, the face of Japan’s acting industry. Rokuya Nagi: He loves you– you’re his pride and joy. Nikaidou Yamato: …….

In 3.8.5. last but not least :”)) Look at Yamato’s character development sobs

Rokuya Nagi: OH…. The video stopped…. Come on, come on, come on…. Signal, please…. Nikaidou Yamato: Nagi, now’s not the time to be slacking off. Rokuya Nagi: Even though you’re holding a can of beer in your right hand, Yamato? Nikaidou Yamato: Haha, I found it in the kitchen. ……Say, Nagi…. I know I can’t say shit, but… Nikaidou Yamato: If there’s anything troubling you, feel free to talk to Onii-san about it. There’s no good in hiding things. Rokuya Nagi: ……. Rokuya Nagi: Hello, Yamato. I’d like to introduce you to my friend. Let’s hop into a time machine and go visit Past Yamato, shall we? Nikaidou Yamato: Ahaha…. I figured you’d say that. Nikaidou Yamato: But, seriously. I felt a lot better after talking to you guys about it. Nikaidou Yamato: So if anything ever happens, just tell us. –Hey now, don’t film this!! Rokuya Nagi: Yes! I’ve obtained some very rare Yamato content!

#anonymous #answered #sorry i took so long!#rokuya nagi #nikaido yamato

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news-monda · 4 years

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news-sein · 4 years

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daveliuz · 4 years

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ramvanfam · 5 years

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Ohio by way of Niagara Falls and the Rustbelt

My grandma was turning 85. There would be a surprise party...in Westerville, OH. It’s not often everyone on my dad’s side of the family all get together anymore. We are multiplying (in fact there would be my cousin’s new baby to meet) and live all around the country. In the spirit of avoiding the weddings or funerals mindset, I knew I wanted to make this trip happen.

We decided to drive, in part because we love road trip adventures, and in part because there is no easy way to fly to Ohio from Rhode Island. Also, according to virtually everyone we mentioned this trip to, because we are crazy. We had only four days and 1600ish round trip miles to cover.

Thank god Cody is a morning person, because these types of trips only make sense when you leave well before sunrise. By the time the sky was turning red, we had already made it to our first pit stop. We were treated to this rainbow sky behind the iconic golden arches in an almost empty parking lot, save for a few over the road truckers.

I had been daydreaming about taking the kids to see Niagara Falls for a while. I was there just once in college, while visiting friends at RIT; this would be Cody’s first time. After looking at the map, I decided it would be a great way to break up the drive. We had learned there are bike paths all around Niagara Falls, so decided this would be the perfect opportunity to try out our bike rack on its first long trip.

Our drive took us right along the Erie Canal. Coincidentally, Willa’s 3rd grade chorus was in the process of learning Low Bridge, so we all had that song stuck in our head for days. We got off the highway in Canastota, NY and got to see a painted low bridge up close.

Cody is an expert at the backroads, and this is one of my favorite things he brings to our adventures. Miles of highway can get so monotonous - from the interstate, everything looks the same - but one reprieve into a small rustbelt town is enough to light a fire of interest and curiosity in all of us.

There’s a toe path that runs along parts of the Erie Canal and through this town - you can see it just beyond that arch in the picture. We didn’t have time to get our bikes out, but we walked along it for a little and saw some beavers working on their dam.

Small towns like this make me feel at home, and it was relaxing to walk around and just see life happening on a sleepy Thursday morning. I like how the murals gave us a small glimpse into what the town might have been like back in the canal’s hay day.

“A House Held Up By Trees” - Other perks of taking back roads - seeing a house held up by trees that looks just like the pictures in the book we have by the same name.

After playing a friendly competition of Eye Spy (a farm animal - 5 points, a silo - 7 points, an Amish person - 10 points), we got back on the highway to log some more miles. We took this opportunity to listen to every podcast we could find about people going over the falls in a barrel. Next stop - the Canadian border!!

We crossed the border at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge and just followed signs for Niagara Falls. We weren’t sure what to expect. The last time I came here, we walked across the border from the US side during a time when you didn’t need passports. This route took us along the Niagara Parkway and we saw that right beside us was a bike path along the Niagara River.

We parked the ramvan right near the Butterfly Conservatory and unloaded the bikes, resisting the urge (mostly mine) to first go look at the butterflies. It was about 2:00 in the afternoon, and we were all ready to be out of the van and stretch our legs.

We had no idea how far we were from Niagara Falls, and purposely didn’t look at a map to find out; we figured we must be pretty close.

vimeo

It felt great to have reached out first destination and be out in the fresh air in one of the first warm days of the spring. The mood was slightly less jubilant as we kept riding for 7 more miles before we finally reached the falls. Oops! Didn’t think it would be quite that far, but there were a few picturesque places to stop along the way.

Someday I would love/be slightly terrified to ride one of these gondolas across the Niagara River. By the time we got to this junction, we could start to hear the roar of the falls (good thing because the kids were beginning to lose patience).

It was so worth it to have the anticipation build and get to slowly approach this view by bike. I was trying to put myself in the shoes of someone who had no idea what to expect, but it was also just as awe inspiring the second time around.

It was a beautiful sunny day, but it had been a long cold winter and the falls were still pretty pretty frozen, so the Maid of the Mist tour boats weren’t running. While I would have liked the experience of getting so close to the falls, it was kind of nice to not have to feel like we were missing out on something if we decided to view the falls just from above.

It got more and more crowded as we got closer to the horseshoe falls. The temperature dropped a solid 15 degrees as we walked through the mist coming off the falls.

We were now closer to the main streets of town, and could see our hotel in the distance. We were staying at the Marriott on the Falls and it was just down a little farther and one street above us. We had come so far - we decided to just keep walking/riding to get to our hotel and then send Cody back to get the van once we checked in. There was an incline car to get up to the main street from the falls, but there was one problem - no bikes allowed. We were so close, yet so far away. We ended up on a trek through a big parking lot that we were sure would lead to a road to the hotel. Instead, we found a dead end. We saw a dirt path through the woods above that said no trespassing, but it seemed like our only option. After convincing the kids that it is okay to sometimes break rules at times like this (MY HEART VOICE SAYS TAKE THE PATH!!), we made it up to the main road, and finally to our hotel.

There were no falls view rooms left, but we could walk right around the corner from our room to the elevator alcove for this amazing view. The hotel stored our bikes for us while Cody rode his to get the van. The parking lot in the above picture is the one we rode through.

We contemplated walking down to the busier part of town for a restaurant dinner, but it was getting late and the kids wanted to swim (always get the hotel with the pool!). Cody took them down to the pool while I unpacked and laid out this dinner spread. I had packed a ton of food for this trip and we ended up not eating out at all. After dinner, we turned on a movie for the kids, and Cody and I took our wine and went around the corner to sit by the hallway window and look at falls. People coming off of the elevator probably thought we were nuts, but we just wanted to soak in that view. And it’s a good thing we did - when we woke up the next morning, it was so foggy that you couldn’t even tell the falls were there. We took that as our cue to leave - but not before a morning swim. Onward to Ohio!

We took a slight detour to drive through the town of Erie. It was a part of PA I had never been to. The city center still had kind of a 1960′s vibe and it was easy to imagine what life might have been like back then. Cody led us down to Presque Isle State Park, which is a peninsula that juts out into Lake Erie. It was still pretty foggy, so we couldn’t see much. We stopped for a picnic lunch and planned our next move.

There are 21 miles of bike paths throughout the park. It had started raining a little, but we decided we couldn’t pass them up.

We rode for a few miles and found an End of the Rhode type of beach with dunes perfect for jumping.

vimeo

It was nice to have some time to explore and stretch our legs, because after this stop, it was hammer down to Ohio; we were expected by dinner.

After hundreds of miles of driving, coming from two completely different places, and not talking all day about our travel plans, the Wolfe’s pulled into the parking lot of my grandma’s apartment at the exact same time we did. Twin powers unite! We only had about 36 hours in Ohio, so we were going to make the most of them. After a pizza dinner with everyone trickling in as they arrived, we went back and slept at my aunt and uncles’ house. On Saturday, there would be a Bunny Hop 5K run, an Easter egg hunt, lunch and a tour of my grandma’s new apartment building, and the surprise party.

It was a busy day, but so worth it to get to spend it with these people!

Sunday was Easter. We had originally planned to get up and leave pretty early, but we decided to enjoy a more leisurely morning. We had a nice breakfast at my aunt and uncles’, then headed over to my grandma’s where the kids rode their bikes on the bike paths that surround her apartment while the adults “visited” (as my mom calls it). We took some final photo ops and were on our way around noon.

At our first gas station stop, the kids were excited to discover that the Easter bunny had left their baskets and some eggs hidden in the ramvan! Each time we stopped, there would be a couple more eggs hidden, filled with lego people they could put together and play with in the car. That Easter bunny sure is a tricky guy.

We weren’t sure if we would try to drive the whole way in one shot, or if we would have to stop overnight somewhere. The kids fell asleep in the car around 9:00, and by the time we got to NYC around 11:30 hardly anyone else was on the road. We knew at this point it would take us twice as long to drive the remaining 200 miles in morning traffic, so we just went for it. And by “we” I mostly mean Cody. I just did my best to stay awake and pick good podcasts.

4 days, 1700 miles, and a whole lot of fun. And we even all made it to school and work the next day!

#ramvanfam #ramvan #niagarafalls #presqueisle #eriecanal #lakeerie

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cover2covermom · 4 years

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Happy Sunday bookworms!

To those that celebrate, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa this coming week!

*Bookish Weekly Wrap-Up is a weekly post where I feature what books I’ve been reading, which books are on my upcoming TBR, what posts were published on the blog for the past week, any bookish news I came across, and noteworthy posts from around the bookish community.

We celebrate Christmas in my family. I had a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit this year, but now that I am off work for a few days and as out-of-town family starts arriving, it is starting to feel more like Christmas. I am looking forward to spending the upcoming days with family & celebrating Christmas.

During my time off over the next two weeks, I hope to play some catch up on the blog. I have lots of posts to complete and a backlog of 30+ mini book reviews. I also want to blog hop and catch up with all the book bloggers I follow. I’m excited to have the time to blog again 🙂

Recently Finished Reading:

» Emily of New Moon (Emily #1), Emily Climbs (Emily #2), &

Emily’s Quest (Emily #3) by L.M. Montgomery

After reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time back in 2017, I knew I wanted to read more of L.M. Montgomery’s work. If you enjoyed AoGG, you will also adore this series. Unlike the Anne series, each of the Emily books was a 5 star read.

» Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

*3.75 Stars*

Because of the format, this book read like a screenplay in my mind. It would definitely translate well to screen. If you are hesitant to try sci-fi, I think this book is a great introductory book to dip your toes into the sci-fi genre. I also think this would be a great book for reluctant teen readers. There were things I really enjoyed about this book (unique format, humorous dialogue, fast paced plot, etc) and a few things I did not care for. Overall a enjoyable read. I probably would have given it 3 stars if it wasn’t for the plot twist that caught me off guard.

» The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

I LOVED the concept for this story. Morgenstern has a way of building such unique and enchanting worlds that I lose myself in. While I think Morgenstern’s writing is absolutely stunning, the pacing of this book was slightly off.

» Educated by Tara Westover

This memoir was absolutely heartbreaking & horrifying. Educated makes for a perfect book club selection.

» The Queen of Nothing (The Folk of the Air #3) by Holly Black

*3.75 Stars*

I enjoyed The Queen of Nothing much better than the second installment. This would have been a solid 4 – 4.5 star read, but the climax of the story felt very rushed.

» I Shall Wear Midnight (Tiffany Aching #4) by Terry Pratchett

I think Tiffany Aching is one of my favorite fictional characters ever. After I finish this series, I am looking forward to reading more in Terry Pratchett’s Discworld.

» The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

This was a lovely historical fiction set in 1930s Kentucky. I would have liked more of the story to center around the library & packhorse librarians and less on the various romances, but still a very enjoyable story.

Currently Reading:

» All-American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Courtney

Status: 62%

» How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul & Maria Russo

Status: Just starting

What Am I Reading Next?:

» Palaces for the People by Eric Klinenberg

An eminent sociologist and bestselling author offers an inspiring blueprint for rebuilding our fractured society.

We are living in a time of deep divisions. Americans are sorting themselves along racial, religious, and cultural lines, leading to a level of polarization that the country hasn’t seen since the Civil War. Pundits and politicians are calling for us to come together, to find common purpose. But how, exactly, can this be done?

In Palaces for the People, Eric Klinenberg suggests a way forward. He believes that the future of democratic societies rests not simply on shared values but on shared spaces: the libraries, childcare centers, bookstores, churches, synagogues, and parks where crucial, sometimes life-saving connections, are formed. These are places where people gather and linger, making friends across group lines and strengthening the entire community. Klinenberg calls this the “social infrastructure” When it is strong, neighborhoods flourish; when it is neglected, as it has been in recent years, families and individuals must fend for themselves.

Klinenberg takes us around the globe–from a floating school in Bangladesh to an arts incubator in Chicago, from a soccer pitch in Queens to an evangelical church in Houston–to show how social infrastructure is helping to solve some of our most pressing challenges: isolation, crime, education, addiction, political polarization, and even climate change.

Richly reported, elegantly written, and ultimately uplifting, Palaces for the People urges us to acknowledge the crucial role these spaces play in civic life. Our social infrastructure could be the key to bridging our seemingly unbridgeable divides–and safeguarding democracy.

» The Guinevere Deception (Camelot Rising #1) by Kiersten White

From New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White comes a new fantasy series reimagining the Arthurian legend, set in the magical world of Camelot.

There was nothing in the world as magical and terrifying as a girl.

Princess Guinevere has come to Camelot to wed a stranger: the charismatic King Arthur. With magic clawing at the kingdom’s borders, the great wizard Merlin conjured a solution–send in Guinevere to be Arthur’s wife . . . and his protector from those who want to see the young king’s idyllic city fail. The catch? Guinevere’s real name–and her true identity–is a secret. She is a changeling, a girl who has given up everything to protect Camelot.

To keep Arthur safe, Guinevere must navigate a court in which the old–including Arthur’s own family–demand things continue as they have been, and the new–those drawn by the dream of Camelot–fight for a better way to live. And always, in the green hearts of forests and the black depths of lakes, magic lies in wait to reclaim the land. Arthur’s knights believe they are strong enough to face any threat, but Guinevere knows it will take more than swords to keep Camelot free.

Deadly jousts, duplicitous knights, and forbidden romances are nothing compared to the greatest threat of all: the girl with the long black hair, riding on horseback through the dark woods toward Arthur. Because when your whole existence is a lie, how can you trust even yourself?

*THE FIRST BOOK IN THE CAMELOT RISING TRILOGY*

» Dav Pilkey Is PW’s Person of the Year for 2019

» BookScan Reports ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Is Bestselling Book of the Decade

*Eyeroll*

Have you read any of the books included in this post? If so, what did you think?

What are you currently reading?

What will you read next?

Have a wonderful week & happy reading

Bookish Weekly Wrap-Up: 12/1 – 12/22/19 Happy Sunday bookworms! To those that celebrate, I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa this coming week!

#Am Reading #Bibliophile #book blog #book blogger #Book Nerd #Book Talk #Book Worm #Bookish #Books #Bookworm #Reading #TBR #Wrap Up

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