I'm back

I just spent a few days with my sister and I'm home now. We were working on some painting projects at a fixer-upper house that her son owns. I took Otis and Riley along with me. It's always a great time when my sister and I get together and you would think we wouldn't get much work done, but we do! I planned on staying 2 nights, but it ended up being 3!

So I'm a bit behind on blogging and will try to catch up with everyone in the next day or two.

Let me tell you about a road trip that Galen and I took over the weekend.

We packed our bags and put Otis and Riley in the car and off we go heading toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. Otis and Riley love road trips.

We passed through Yadkin Valley where a lot of the NC wineries are located. We didn't stop at any of the wineries this time because we've been to some of them before; Buck Shoals Winery, Rag Apple Lassie, West Bend, and others.

This is a great old general store. It's run by the Amish. I bought some sweet stuffed peppers.

Here we are in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We stayed the night at the High Meadows Inn in Roaring Gap. Dogs allowed! What a great place and a lovely restaurant there too ~ Nickola's Restaurant.

I had a fabulous flounder dish.

Later, driving around we saw deer! Otis and Riley went nuts!

The next morning after breakfast we travel a few miles to Sparta for the "Blue Ridge Mountain Festival". All kinds of vendors ~ do you see those spoon wind chimes? I just had to have one!

Some entertainment ~ blue grass music, dancing and clogging.

Otis and Riley watch. Such good babies they are!

We get back on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see what else we can find to do.

We came upon the historical "Brinegar Family House" deep in the mountains.The Brinegars purchased it back in 1876 and lived there with their 3 children. They raised crops, preserved food, chopped wood, and even made their own shoes from leather they bought.

I love the garden ~ the old wooden fence and the plant markers. There were crops of flax, buckwheat, pumpkins, corn, and other vegetables growing.

This is their spring house.

Martin Brinegar died in 1925 from pneumonia. The State purchased the house in 1935. Caroline, his wife had a lifelong tenure to stay there, but chose to live with her daughter, Sarah, because she found it too noisy. She died in 1943 at the age of 82.

After visiting this site, it was back in the car again and we head south for home.

That's our road trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

We had a fun, relaxing time!

A Tribute to Dad

Today is my Dad's birthday. He would have been 81 years old today, but he died in 1983 at the young age of 56. He had Hemophilia, a bleeders disease, and died during the AIDS crisis due to tainted blood products (his medication). He was the oldest living Hemophiliac in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.



He was a kind, gentle spirit, and his faith kept him going. Even though he suffered with constant pain, I remember him whistling, humming and singing.

Here he is in his studio. He was a commercial artist.

In 1969 my two brothers and my sister and I had a bake sale on Main Street of our small town to help my Dad with medical bills.

The bake sale

His debt was mounting and he owed 220 pints of blood or $5,500. He was going to the hospital at least twice a week for clotting factor.

On July 14, 1973 our town rallied round and held a day in his honor. Our church had a chicken barbeque, a food and bake sale, and a garage sale, also donations ~ monetary or blood donors. The generosity and support was overwhelming! The donations of food, money and saleable goods far exceeded expectations. It was a miracle, and enough money was raised to help defray his medical expenses, and 45 people signed up to be blood donors. "The Lord works in marvelous ways" the newspaper quoted, and my Dad said, "We just can't believe it."

Our daughter, Amy, works for the National Hemophilia Foundation in NYC. She feels blessed to have gotten the job working in the Education Department. She said she works hard for her grandfather every day. She set up a wonderful website for him and you can see it here http://www.active.com/donate/hemophiliaWalkNC/elmerminnich.

In October, we are having a walk-a-thon fund raiser in North Carolina hosted by the National Hemophilia Foundation.

Our family is very excited to be able to do this together.

So, if you happen to be in NC on October 18, 2008 come join our team!

This will be a walk to remember.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Black-eyed-susans

The cheery bright blooms of the black-eyed-susans are taking over the garden. What a beautiful site to behold!

'Tis my faith that every flower

Enjoys the air it breathes!

~William Wordsworth

Coffee lover

I love coffee.

I can't imagine a day without it. First thing in the morning I'll pour myself a cup (or two or three) and that usually gets me going. It's my boost for the day! Then another cup around 10:00 in the morning when I take a coffee break, a cup at noon with my lunch, a cup again around 3:00 (another coffee break and a pick me up), and a cup after dinner.

Do I drink too much coffee? Probably.

I have several coffee pots. I have a drip coffee maker which I use every morning. This one gets the most use.


An espresso/cappuccino maker for when I'm in the mood.

Another espresso maker, this one for on top of the stove.

And a french press pot.

They all make great coffee.

Having a cup of coffee sometimes can turn into one of those rituals that just makes you feel good.

So I was checking coffees on the internet the other day and guess what I found? Coffee Art! That's right.

If you click on the link below you can see for yourself. The really funny thing about this is the short film, which you can also click on to watch. I can almost see myself in the video. I might have to try some coffee art!

http://coffeetea.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=coffeetea&cdn=food&tm=43&gps=72_5_796_445&f=00&su=p284.9.336.ip_p830.0.336.ip_&tt=3&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.justcoffeeart.com/

Of course, my all time favorite coffee is Starbucks and that's what I brew everyday. Good strong Sumatra Starbucks. Nothing like it!

I tell my husband they should make an air freshner that smells like coffee. Don't you just love the aroma when you first walk in the door of a Barnes and Noble bookstore? There's nothing better ~ books and coffee!

So have a cup of coffee today, or a cup of tea for all you tea lovers, and go out and enjoy your day!

~I have measured out my life with coffee spoons. ~T.S. Eliot

Let's take a drive

It's too hot for a walk today, so we're going for a drive. Destination: the park






We're driving in and around the area of the park and rec center. I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the homes in the neighborhood.

Big beautiful homes.

Arts and Crafts

A Jewish Temple converted into a wonderful home.

Cute little cottages.

Pretty front doors. Red door.

Yellow door.

Blue door.

Pink door.

A little shop that just opened.


Finally, we're at the park! Otis and Riley were wondering if we were ever going to get there.

Run, run, run!

Ok, we're done. Hot and thirsty and ready to go.

On the way home we pass some beautiful crape myrtle trees.

We're home. Oh boy, it's back to the sofa. Must guard the front window.

Enjoy your day!