Thursday, July 31, 2008

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!

18 comments:

Donna said...

We've driven through, but didn't stop here!!! Thanks for letting me share the backseat with Otis & Riley....Hahaha...night sweetie!hughugs

Jan said...

That is picture picture perfect. Everything. What a wonderful trip. Fun, food, family, fab finds, friends and your buds. Love it all. The pictures were so captivating. I felt like I was there. Thanks and welcome home.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Sounds like a great time! When you stopped at the wineries before, what did you think of them? We have wanted to go one day and just wondered...
Hugs,
Penny

Ruth Welter said...

Hi Donna...looks like you, hubby and those sweet little pups of yours had a great time. Getting away from it all is so important isn't it??

I think it is so nice that you and your sister can paint together too. sometime, please show her work on your blog, I would so love to see it.

Galen B. said...

D.J.
I wonder how Otis and Riley would have liked the cabin back in the day if they were mountain dogs and I was the shoe maker and you the weaver? No TV and 50 miles on horseback for shopping :).
G

Anonymous said...

We've been to the Brinegar home, too. It is so fascinating to see a reflection of their lives.

I'm glad you had a good trip, and a great time with your sister.

Anonymous said...

Great trip Beverly. LOL..I love the dogs ears flying in the breeze. Is it as hot down there as it is up here? Whew! It almost takes your breath away it's so stifling. ~ Lynn

Heidi said...

Hi Donna, What a great little trip!!! Love to go off like that for the weekend!...letting the day unfold around you!....And thank you for stopping by for a visit!...I very happily added your name to my "giveaway"!...Have a lovely weekend!...although it will be hard to top your last one!...Talk to you soon!...Heidi Xo

Happy@Home said...

Welcome back, Donna.

I love to go on little getaways. Yours sounds great and one that we could do from here. I will have to keep it in mind next time an opportunity comes up.

I have been curious about the wineries too.

Have a great weekend,
Kim

Mary said...

Donna,

This is the type of road trip I dream of... It's beautiful. Otis and Riley stole the show though! I love that pic of the back of their sweet heads taking in the scenery. :o)

Wineries, wind chimes, mountains are just the icing on the cake.

Welcome back!
Mary

Catherine Holman said...

Thanks for sharing your trip. Looks like Otis and Riley had a good time too!
Hugs,
Cathie

Decor To Adore said...

It looks like you had a great trip. My doxie Rudi, loves to go for car rides as well.

Unknown said...

Looks like a lovely trip! Thank you so much for the beautiful notecards--I love them!

annie

Unknown said...

I feel like you have taken me on your trip. This is one part of the country where I have not been. Soon will though because my sister Lynn just moved south from L.A. I love that one photo of your dogs looking out the car window. Happy weekend. Karen

julie king said...

the picture of your dogs looking out the car window made me smile! it looks like such a lovely trip!! i've always wanted to make the antique spoon chimes.

Sandra Evertson said...

That photo of your two pups heads out the window is Priceless! :)
Sandra

Suzanne said...

I'm a little late in welcoming you back, but thanks for sharing photos of your trip! Looks like a fun time and Otis and Riley are just too cute!

Fifi Flowers said...

Nice trip... love the photo of dogs looking out the window... so cute!