A Little Getaway

We treated ourselves to a little getaway this past weekend and drove up to Roanoke.  After dropping Woody off at the pet resort, we took our time driving 460 W.  Bedford was on our must see list and it didn’t disappoint.  It’s a charming spot with a vibrant downtown, interesting Farmer’s Market and beautiful homes; many very grand with miles of fencing and sweeping views. 

We had reservations at the Hotel Roanoke and I had splurged just a bit to secure a “corner room with superlative views.”  The room was lovely and the view was grand, but our neighbors in the next-door suite were ready to party hardy.  Peals of laughter and squeals of “OMG you won’t believe…” blew through the walls like we were right next door.  Oh yeah, we were.   George chalked it up to day drinking and figured the rowdiness would calm down as the night wore on.  I figured different.  I gotta hand it to George; he very gallantly offered to ask the front desk for a room change….that’s never happened before.  And, he came back smiling with a new key to a new room on a new floor.  Seems he saw the “girls” exiting the room and there were an even dozen…all dolled up and ready for anything.  We made a good call. 

Our new room had its own issues…broken bedside lamp and the sink wouldn’t drain, but brushing our teeth over the bathtub seemed a small concession to make for a good night’s sleep.  God, we’re getting old.

We drove out to Hollins College where Jenny went all four years and found it just as beautiful a setting as it was 20 years ago. Then on to Black Dog Salvage -  a true delight. We wandered about totally enthralled with the vast array of inventory.  George found the wood stove he's been searching for and a deal was made.

 Saturday evening we milled around Center on the Square, Roanoke’s reinvented downtown and enjoyed pizza and beer at a Bar-B-Q joint.  The live music just wouldn’t get going so by 10:00 we walked back to the hotel, only to discover the hotel bar had a fellow playing acoustic guitar.  It topped off our evening.

Easter morning breakfast in the hotel dining room was fabulous!  After a month of oatmeal, I felt entitled to eggs and hash-browns, not to mention the muffin I consumed.  All delicious.

The trip back to Farmville was sobering.  We had a bit of deja-vue from last Sunday’s harrowing drive through a snowstorm.  Having decided to take the Blue Ridge Parkway back to Bedford, we realized too late that visibility was zero.  The fog was so dense it felt like rain.  It was a very long 20 miles before we could exit and come down off the mountain.

 We are grateful and very lucky to be alive.  I’ve learned there was a terrible 95 car pile- up due to the fog near Galax, VA.  Folks died and many were injured.  Next time I’m tempted to take the scenic route, I’m going to make sure the conditions are safe. 

Sunday Snow Storm

 

 

 

 

I haven’t had much experience driving in snow storms, but Sunday was my turn for a go at it.  We were in Elizabeth City for the weekend and heard that another winter storm system was barreling down on the East Coast.  With the uncertainty of just how bad the weather would get, we decided to head out and back to Farmville earlier than usual on Sunday. (Our plans are mostly for the benefit of my angst.  George never really intends to leave early.  Why don’t I know that by now?)

The morning completely got away from us while he dug up and replanted two trees.  This effort also required a trip to Lowes for mulch.  By 1:00 the skies were darkening and we had clearly missed the best window for departure.  Rain was pelting the windshield by the time we started north and had turned over to snow by Petersburg.

I was behind the wheel so George could read up on Monday’s lecture.  The car was quiet, almost hushed as the snow fell harder and began to blanket everything around us.  There weren’t too many other fools out, and many of those found themselves sliding off the road…some to the shoulder, some into the tree line and almost all of them facing the opposite way from their intended direction.  Slippin’ and Slidin’ one might say.  We passed over a dozen stranded folks.  There wasn’t a snow plow in sight.  We never passed a single highway patrol.  For a while we followed in the tracks of a single car ahead of us, but it eventually turned off at Blackstone.  With the lead car gone, I crept along at 15 MPH down what I hoped was the center line.  Snow crunched beneath the tires and when I looked in the rearview mirror I saw Woody staring transfixed out the window.  By that time, so was George.  The text book had been abandoned and he too was nervous.  I was white-knuckled as I gripped the wheel and concentrated on staying in the middle of the road, or at best, far away from the trees, ditches and embankments. 

It was a long two hours.  By the time we reached Crewe the snow was mixed with rain and much of the drama was gone.  I was wasted so I pulled over and let George get in the driver’s seat.  He took the wheel and drove us into Farmville without incident. 

I always say a prayer of thanks when we safely arrive at our destination….going and coming and Sunday was no exception.  Thank you Lord for bringing us safely to our journey’s end.

By Monday morning, the storm had moved up the coast and we were out enjoying (surely) the last snow of the season!

A Weekend to Remember

 

A couple of weekends ago Go Figure? hit a new milestone.  We were the opening act for a nationally acclaimed Blue Grass Band (NuBlue) on AOA’s stage.  Our repertoire for the evening included a few new tunes, one featuring our newest vocalist Billy Caudle belting out Do You Love Me.  George’s rendition of Tossin & Turning brought the house down and got folks out on the dance floor.  Phyllis got her moves and grooves going with her sultry voice to Locomotion, and I took a chance on trying I Take My Chances.  I gotta say, we held our own for our very loyal fans that always come out and support the events we come out and support.  A little bit goes a long way in all respects.  We try not to overexpose.

Having touted my own horn concerning the bands prowess, I have to say the highlight of that weekend was undoubtedly our houseguests…Kate and Matt from Raleigh and Chuck and Faye Green from Farmville.  They were perfect groupies.  Shucks, they should have gotten a cut from the band.  Oh yeah, we play for free.  My new son-in-law offered praises and promised he wasn’t embarrassed.  Kate touts we were the toast of the evening at Logan Rey’s.  Everyone clapped and hooted and hollered.   That counts big time in my book. 

The weekend was jammed packed full.  We showed off Elizabeth City with bike tours downtown and driving tours to outlying areas.  We showed off Chuck and Faye too.  It’s not every day you find such great new friends. 

Book Club friends entertained with a wonderful dinner at Linda at Oliver’s before the show on Sat.  Feted by   the Greens in Farmville during their winter road trip, the girls were able to introduce Chuck and Faye to the husbands.  Now everybody knows everybody.

Sunday morning we said goodbyes to Kate and Matt and we headed to the Outer Banks.  Who invites new friends to open a cottage for the season?  You guessed right.  We moved porch furniture out of the dining room, opened blinds and bled pipes, all the while shivering in our coats and hats.  A walk on the beach was hurried but thoroughly enjoyed by Woody.  Another afternoon of leisure, seeing Jennette’s Research Pier, taking in Roanoke Island History Center and driving over the Oregon Inlet Bridge was perfectly topped off with dinner at Tortuga’s Lie. 

It was a wonderful weekend….all great memories with great friends and great fun.  You think I sound a bit Pollyannaish?  Yeah, but I gotta say, my cup is running over.

 

 

Finding My Niche

Sometimes I feel I will never discover my niche.  You know what I mean…find something I’m good at.  Some folks even use that buzz word passion.  God knows, I’ve tried.  I’ve been casually searching all my life and hard at it now for the better part of a year.  Let’s see.  Follow me if you can.

 The band (Go Figure?) has been a great source of entertainment for all of us.  Billy on piano, MikeG on drums, MikeC on lead guitar, Douglas on trumpet, Phyllis on African drum, Jessie and George on sax (GJ sometimes on guitar and piano)…and then there’s me.  I started on bass guitar, moved to drums, now I’ve been put on bongos.  I guess the consensus is I can’t do too much damage banging away.  It didn’t hurt my feelings, really.  Lately I’ve tried my hand at pottery classes.  I’ve got a couple of mugs, a bon-bon dish and 2 art deco fish to show for my investment.  I don’t have any hidden talent with clay.  No surprise there.  Let me not forget to mention my knitting classes.  The scarf I labored on all winter would hang to Wilt Chamberlin’s feet and the hat is nothing to brag about.  It fits if I roll it up and up and up.  It makes my head look like a beach ball.  Clearly not my talent.  Just this week I signed on for a watercolor painting class.  The instructor lost me on the first theory spill discussing perception….horizons and vanishing points and so forth.  Please just hand me the brush and let me go at it.  It’s a work in progress but not holding much promise.  No surprise there.

So that leaves me still searching.  I wonder if reading counts?  I do love to read and I do know how to read.  Check.  Reading can lead to writing and I’ve been doing a bit of that lately.  Check.  I’ve written a children’s book about a fox.  Check.  The topic certainly is not one I planned and carefully chose.  It’s fair to say it strolled into my life.  So maybe I need look no further, instead embrace what has come my way.  It must have been there all along and just seemed too daunting.  My epiphany?  Writing is one heck of a lot easier than playing an instrument, throwing a pot, knitting a sweater, or painting a masterpiece.  It just may be my passion.

Just Waiting

I’ve been waiting all day.  Although I do understand this task is not arduous or physically challenging, it is a huge undertaking for me.  I’m impatient.  There, I've said it.  I’m not proud of it.  It’s just the way I’m wired.  I am working on it.

It started this morning. I’m waiting for the heating guys who need to come to the house and jump-start or kick the oil furnace and get it going again.  We arrived in Farmville at 10:30 this AM after a weekend in EC, only to discover the climate in the house was a bit chilly….the thermostat reading 57 cool ones. After several phone calls, I was assured that the fellows would be out straight away.  I’m still waiting.  It’s 3:00. 

The waiting spills over into Faye waiting.  Well, maybe she’s no longer actually waiting for me.  We were supposed to walk the dogs at noon.  Poor Woody.  He’s waiting too….to doo…doesn’t get any worse than that.

Now I’m waiting for John to call.  His once a week phone call is always anticipated and much appreciated.  I so look forward to catching up and touching base with him.  I can’t call him.  The calls only go one way.   One can see (maybe understand) how anxious I become when the call is late…or doesn’t come through at all.  Did I mention I’m impatient?

Now that today has gotten all backed up, I have yet to get to the grocery.  Tonight’s dinner is on the back burner…(pun intended).  When George gets home at 7:00 or so, he’ll be ready to eat.  Darnest thing is, when I explain the day, with all its setbacks and WAITING;  how dinner isn’t ready, how I had to improvise with my can of northern white beans…he won’t be impatient at all.  Why is that?

Book Club Visits Farmville

Book Club came to Farmville last weekend and what a time we had!  Two cars full and two solos arrived on Friday in time for lunch.  After a pizza and salad lunch at my house, everyone got checked in and squared away at the B&B.  The weather was perfect and we meandered downtown, through the jumbled mess at Motley’s and peaked into most of the shops situated on Main Street.  The cocktail party started at 5:00.  10 Elizabeth City ladies joined 11 ladies and 1 gentleman from Farmville.  Chuck and George poured wine and mingled with the guests while the ladies chatted and got to know one another.  Willie, the sole Farmville fellow, just flirted and charmed everyone. That's not entirely accurate...Chuck and George poured the wine as well as pouring out charm.  A good time was had by all.  Later, the EC crowd strolled down the street to have a fabulous dinner at the Greens’ house..with more wine and lively conversation.  What a special treat for our troop to be entertained so royally by the locals!

Saturday we woke up to snow and it charmed us throughout the day.  After a wonderful breakfast of pancakes with blueberries prepared by Harlan, most of us drove to Appomattox for a history lesson and a bit of antiquing.   Di and Linda stayed in Farmville to check out Green Front.   The snow helped to create an authentic setting, as we strolled the historic buildings and grounds where General Lee’s army surrendered to General Grant.  Lunch was a bust at Appomattox's little local bookstore, but we felt it was all okay and certainly got a lot of chuckles out of the total absurdity of the hopeless situation.  Back in Farmville, the afternoon was spent at the B&B, with some girls napping while others played Scrabble and read.  We worked on our list of books we have read in the span of 35+ years, and we revamped the  “By Laws.” We  now have the annual Christmas party hosts set until 2020.  That’s something.
Drinks and dinner at Charley’s. Games until bedtime.  Merriment and laughter. Another memorable eakfast. It just doesn’t get any better than a weekend with dear friends. 

Wednesdays at the ReStore

A Few Selections

"May I help you?"

 

 

I’m volunteering at our local Habitat for Humanity store once a week.  It’s not your usual thrift shop.  No racks of used clothing, no books, no toys.  What we have to offer is salvage materials, light fixtures and ceiling fans, windows and doors, sofas, beds, desks, sideboards, kitchen sinks and commercial refrigerators…..just to mention a few choices.  Just about anything and everything you may need to get a house underway is ready and available for pick up or delivery.  It’s called the ReStore and I think that’s a great play on words.  It nails it.  There are only two paid employees.   The rest of us are either volunteer, are court ordered or social services recipients.  It’s taken me over a month to figure out what that term means.  Apparently Delonia, Rose, Chad and a few others, receive rent, food and health benefits from social services in exchange for working at the ReStore.  I’m not one to begrudge anyone wanting basic needs, but I have to say, these folks have figured it out.  The system is working for ‘um.  The court ordered folks are working off their time or tickets.  They come and go week to week.  Do a little of this and a little of that and they’re out of there.  For an organization working on a tight budget, it’s a great way to insure a steady line of workers.  It works all around. 

I enjoy the time I spend there and we all get along.  I’ve been working the register lately.  Not to worry, I’ve got the hang of it now.   In addition, I like to move inventory around, changing up the “displays.”  It’s kinda like pushing your living room furniture in different layouts every now and again - only I never know what I’ll discover when I turn up on Wednesdays.  There are always new items and always favorite ones gone.  I have to admit, the policy of having to wait 3 days to purchase a new floor item is a good one.  I haven’t come home emply handed yet…and if it was “no holds barred,” I’d be in big trouble.  I’ve bought a wine rack, chest of drawers,bedside table, rake, and mirror.  All true treasures.

Last week I came home with a pink plastic chair.  I know just what I’m gonna do with it.