Day # 1 in NYC

My son, Travis, walked eight blocks for coffee and Planet Donut donuts. They were so good. The best! Meanwhile my grandson, Macrory and I dressed and Travis' wife, Maureen headed for her office. She works for home in Portland, Oregon, but spends a few days out of every month in her office in Manhattan. We headed out to see the city, took the subway to Rockefeller Square, watched the ice skaters and saw the mammoth decorated Christmas tree.

We walked past lovely stores: Coach, Micheal Kors, Tiffany's and Harry Winston. Here are pictures of a few of the Holiday themed store windows.

Harry Winston

This "Glitzy" snake wraps around BVLGARI.

Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman

And this, was the window of a yarn shop. All the items in this beautiful display were knitted: the ladies dress, the swans, the balls of "snow." It was amazing!

We stopping to tour St. Patricks Cathedral,lit candles and showed Macrory the magnificant stained glass windows. Macrory's favorite store, of course, was F.A.O. Shwartz. It was the highlight of his day in New York.....

Especially The Lego department!!!!!

This lifesize guy was made out of Legos. I know he is some sort of Star Wars Stormtrooper, but I wouldn't even venture a guess WHAT KIND of a stormtrooper.

We lunched at a sweet little place called Pappillion. Vegie quiche and salad for me, steak sandwich for Travis and a hamburger for Macrory. Took the subway on the way back to the apartment but stopped at Coach for some quick shopping. This is the view from our 12th story apartment window.

That evening, Travis and Maureen were off to her company's Christmas party so Macrory and I read, watched "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" and snacked on leftover chicken, pasta and asparagus. What a great day! I especially loved spending time with my grandson.

Day # 2 in NYC

We walked to a little cafe for breakfast, toured Maureen's office and took a cab to the 911 Memorial. I hadn't been to ground zero for nine years and it was very moving to see the two enormous pools with hundreds of names carved in the stone ledges surrounding them. Freedom Tower rises to the sky in the distance and stands as a constant reminder of the tragedy on 9/11/01.

Lunch was the crazy good hamburgers, fries and chocolate shakes at The Shake Shack.

We took the Staten Island Ferry out past the Statue of Liberty

Dinner on our last night in NYC was at Peasants, a cozy, rustic Tuscan restaurant on Elizabeth Street in SoHo. Tucked in a residential area, Peasants offers a tasty menu and great wine list. My grandson had "the usual" fare of pizza! It looked incredible. I chose the pear, beet and Gorgonzola salad, dense Italian bread and a good glass of white wine.

The next morning, I hugged my little family goodbye. Our time in NY had been magical, but it was time to go home. They were flying out of JFK, three travelers off to Florida, Portland, Seattle and then back home.

I was headed for Laguardia, back to Virginia, to my husband, cows and home.

Christmas 2012

Merry Christmas, Dear Readers, and a very happy and healthy New Year.

Andy and I always have a long, drawn out Christmas season- which is OK with us.

I start decorating right after Thanksgiving and it usually takes me two good days to fluff and decorate the tree, hang wreaths and trim the banisters with garland and ribbon. Adding the finishing touches such as candles, nutcrackers, floral arrangements is always so much fun for me.

Maybe because I am a year older, but it took me an entire week to decorate my house this year. Maybe it was because I helped decorate my church at the same time or that I changed the candy cane table scape in the dining room this year. I will go with the older thing.

After the house was ready for company, I baked gingerbread, pumpkin/ cranberry/ nut bread and made four batches of Reindeer Chow to give away. There was a party with old friends in North Carolina, gift shopping and wrapping, a cookie exchange in Rocky Mount, Va, a fabulous trip to New York City to meet my son from Portland, Oregon and his family to celebrate Christmas. There was a visit from my son and his family from North Carolina and candlelight services at church. Angel trees, good will, Christmas carols and a party with Andy's family at the lake. Miracle on 42nd Street, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas and The Shop Around The Corner. Such a magical, spiritual, hectic and fun-filled time of the year.

Home Alone On Christmas Day

After pre-Christmas get togethers with both of my sons and their families and before the post-Christmas brunch with Andy's family, we found ourselves alone on Christmas Day. A couple from church were nice enough to invite us to Christmas dinner but they came down with the flu so, again, we were on our own.

We had plenty of food from the visit with my son from North Carolina so that was not a problem. Facing the day with nothing much to do, we decided to take a ride in the country to visit Andy's childhood home place and old stomping grounds. It is now a historic place called "The Twin Chimneys." We took pictures and he told me of his ancestors who had been in the Revolutionary War. It was a mild December day and we thoroughly enjoyed our day trip.

On Christmas Day, as we all know, most business' are closed but we did find one convenience store when "nature called."

Not wanting to just use the restroom without purchasing something, I devised a game.

The Christmas Day $5.00 Convenience Store Gift Challenge

Rules:

1)   You must spend $5.00 and no more on the other person.
2)   You must buy thoughtful but inexpensive (CHEAP) gifts.

Back in the car, Andy showed me his gifts for me:

Five, one dollar lottery scratch off tickets.  Hum.......

I think my gifts to Andy were a little more thoughtful. I gave him one Tootsie Pop (because he is sweet), a package of peanut butter cheese crackers, better known as "Nabs" in the South (because he likes them,) and a package of cornbread mix for 99 cents, (because he is a little "corny.")  But, I still had $3.00 left over so I went the lottery scratch ticket route too. He got three of them.

We scratched our tickets and didn't win a thing but the $5.00 gift challenge was fun and we might make it a tradition.

The Big Cookie Exchange

My friend, Ibby, had a great idea! A cookie exchange for Facebook friends!

There were twelve of us in all so we each baked a dozen per guest. Twelve dozen cookies! Do the math.... that is 144 cookies! Plus we each baked another dozen to share at the party.

It was such great fun; old and new friends, yummy cookies to sample and dozens more to take home and share with family and friends over Christmas. (And I only gained 1 pound!)

My Mom's Snickerdoodle Recipe

My Mom's Snickerdoodles

2 + 3/4   Cups All-Purpose flour  
2             teaspoons of Cream of Tartar
1             teaspon baking soda                                                                     
1/4          teaspoon salt                                                     
8             Tablespoons real butter
1/2          Cup vegetable shortening
1 + 3/4    Cups sugar
2              Eggs
2              Tablespoons ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Sift flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, combine butter, shortening and 1 + 1/2 cups of sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy - about 2 minutes. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add eggs and beat to combine. Scrape down sides of bowl. Add dry ingredients and beat to combine. Chill in refrigerator.

In a small bowl, combine the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon.

Form chilled cookie dough into one inch balls and roll in sugar/ cinnamon mixture. Place the balls on an ungreased cookie sheet Bake about 10 minutes. They will spread out and the tops will begin to crack. The bottoms of cookies will be golden. Cool and enjoy these melt-in-your-mouth little gems. They freeze well too.

Makes 7 dozen cookies

Bye Bye Christmas 2012

Christmas 2012 came to an end with a brunch hosted by Andy's daughter and her husband with also his son and wife, four grandchildren and one great-grandson. There was good food, sharing gifts, laughter and happiness watching the three youngest grands (ages two to four) run through the house with Thomas the Train, Spiderman and Star Wars characters. One little boy even sported a pink cupcake icing moustache.

Shown is the beautiful handmade log cabin quilt that Andy's daughter made for us. It was such a surprise. So special!

Recipe For Curried Artichoke Rice Salad

Since I haven't given out a recipe for a long time, I am including the Curried Artichoke Rice Salad that I served at Andy's birthday party. Scroll down to the picnic lunch post for a picture of it.

Curried Artichoke Rice Salad

1     Package of Chicken flavored Rice-A-Roni
3     Green onions, chopped
1/2  green pepper, chopped
Sliced green olives (as many as you like)
2     6 oz. jars of marinated artichokes (reserve the juice)
1     teaspoon curry powder
1/3  Cup mayonnaise

Cook Rice-A-Roni according to package directions and set aside.

Combine reserved artichoke juice with mayonnaise and add curry powder and pour over rice. Add green onions, peppers and olives. Fold gently. Chill for salad.

Note: You can make this a main dish by adding cooked chicken chunks and serving hot.

The Day After The Big Birthday Party

As I said in a previous post, there was a lot of food at Andy's birthday party. Guest's took food home but there was so much left over. On Sunday afternoon we packed a cooler and picnic basket with some of those leftovers and headed to the Mountains. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a lovely drive and only a little over an hour from our house.

We stopped at Lover's Leap and ate our lunch at a roadside picnic area.

The weather was cool and the leaves were just starting to turn orange and yellow.

How I love this time of the year.

This is the view from Lover's Leap (elevation 3,000 feet) on the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway.

This is one of six lovely "Rock Churches" along the Blue Ridge Parkway, built by Rev. Bob Childress (biography: "The Man Who Moved A Mountain.")

The Bluemont Presbyterian Church was built in 1919 and is designated a Virginia Historic Landmark and  placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Stopping at the many produce stands along the parkway is fun. We bought boiled peanuts, mountain cabbage and country ham.

Andy Turns The Big 7-0 !!!!

My husband, Andy, recently reached a milestone - his 70th birthday! The big 7-0!!! He has a twin sister and, naturally, she turned 70 also. His older brother's was a few days later. So, I gave them all a party.

Twenty adults and three children including: siblings, children, grandkids, one great-grandchild and a few friends, shared dinner, drinks, games, ice cream and, of course, birthday cake.

There was SO much food!!! Fried chicken, broccoli salad, jello salads, potato salad, fruit platter, coleslaw, vegie casserole, curried rice salad, chips and dips AND..... Andy's famous 70 inch submarine sandwich. As you can see from the picture, it was huge. He told the group that when he is 95 years old, there will be a 95 inch sub sandwich !!!! Yikes!!!

I say we will have to have a new kitchen with a 95 inch counter top.

The 70 Inch Sub Sandwich !

The cake was beautiful! It was a moist yellow cake, iced with chocolate buttercream icing. Beautifully decorated with fall colored flowers tumbling out of a chocolate cornucopia. The bakery I used was "The Rinsing Sun Bakery" in Martinsville, Va. They did an amazing job.

The Corn Hole Game

For entertainment at his birthday party, Andy built The Corn Hole game boards you can see beyond the scarecrow in the picture. I made the bean bags, but filled with dried corn (hence the name "Corn Hole.")

We found the instructions online for building the game boards and bean bags as well as directions on how to play the game and how to score. The materials cost around $60.00 and will provide hours of fun for kids as well as adults. We will take the Corn Hole game with us on camping trips too.

There was even a little picking and grinning when Andy and Bill played their guitars.

Remembering 9/11

Eleven years ago, I turned on the TV with a fresh cup of coffee in hand, patted the dog and flopped in my chair. I was off work that day and was making a list of groceries I needed to purchase and errands to run. It was a nice, nearly fall day. A day much like the one before it until the horrible news changed the world forever.

It was surreal. The image of a airplane flying into the tower over and over and over again. Sickening sights. Not to be believed. But it was true.

I called my husband at work to tell him but he, of course, already knew. The entire country knew and watched in real time as our country came to a standstill. He told me how he and his co-workers were glued to the TV. We spoke briefly, so much in shock, and with a catch in his voice and me in tears, we said "I love you" and hung up. What more was there to say?

Eleven years later we remember that fateful day with moments of silence, speeches and memorials. Our young president and his wife bowing their heads. Solemn. Prayerful. Sad.

We came together as a country after 9/11. It was required as a nation, uniting as one, resolved to make this tragedy somehow right again. Someday. Somehow. We showed the best of the USA. Resolute and united, strong under the worst of circumstances. We struggled and cried our way through, remembered the victims, holding loved ones in our hearts and then we rebuilt.... together as a nation.

Today, we are a divided country with our elections, conventions, TV ads and rhetoric. Sometimes it feels we will never pull together, work together and love one another again. We are still healing after the terror of that day eleven years ago in New York City but now politics has divided us. We need to respect one another and help one another regardless of our political leanings.

Can't we do that in memory of the victims of 9/11?

What In The World Is This Thing?

My New Toy

Not being able to sleep the other night, I was channel hopping, trying to find something interesting to watch on TV. I have a routine when I channel hop: HGTV, Sci Fi, Lifetime movie channels, QVC and then HSN (Home Shopping Network.)

Wolfgang Puck was having some sort of anniversary on HSN, selling a little appliance that made miniature pies. Out of his pie maker popped apple pies, quiche, cup cakes, muffins and even corn bread. They were darling! You can make just two little desserts. Perfect! I was hooked.

I sneaked out of the bedroom so not to wake my sleeping husband, ordered my pie maker and waited.

It arrived two days ago and I have been "playing" with my new toy ever since. I made bacon, mushroom and swiss cheese quiche for lunch yesterday. Tonight I will serve the cutest little peach pies for dessert. Tomorrow, who knows? Maybe pumpkin muffins!

Now, if I just had some vanilla ice cream!

The 2012, 77th Annual Old Time Fiddler's Convention in Galax, Virginia

The Stands begin to fill......

The Bands Play!

Roger Strung and "Shoregrass Bluegrass"

The Last Trip To Galax

The 77th annual Old Time Fiddler's Convention was held August 6th through August 11th. Andy pulled our camper over the mountain to Galax, VA. Campers fill the streets of the little town on Friday afternoon to park and get in line for a spot in the park the following Sunday morning. They set up the campers, pulling out the canopy, laying down the area rugs, sitting the lounge chairs and tables around the campsite. There are chairs to drag to the grandstand area, outdoor kitchens to set up and finally a cold drink with fellow campers.

Monday is the children's competition so I arrive Monday afternoon. There are competitions each night: guitar, mandolin, auto harp, banjo and Dobro. The bands are Friday and Saturday night. It is a week of music all day and all night. I don't sleep much that week. I read, work on my jewelry, sew and write. I stuff earplugs in my ears around 2am to drown out the booming sound of the big base fiddle. I wrote about my lack of sleep last year in: August of 2011.

We see old friends and musicians and enjoy the meals cooked on the camp stove. We watch the kids play games enjoy the bluegrass music and tell old jokes but this year is different. This is our last year camping at Galax.

Andy jamming with "The G-String" band members.

The posts below will reflect the feelings, tastes and sounds of The 2012 Fiddler's Convention. 

Big Jim And The Bad Breath Boys

Our friend Jim Lavinder died earlier this year. My husband, Andy, had known Jim over forty years as his CPA and friend. For the last three years Andy and I camped next to Jim, his son and two grandchildren at the Galax Fiddler's Convention. We shared our food, talked and laughed and, for a week, listened to bluegrass music.

I never knew anyone who loved bluegrass music as much as Jim Lavinder did. He had been to 43 years of Fiddler's Conventions. 43! His son: 36 years, his grandson: 16 (he is 16 years old) and granddaughter: 14 (she is 14.) That is how loyal the family is to The Galax Old Time Fiddler's Convention. It is an annual tradition. They wouldn't miss it.

They had a band, of sorts, called "Big Jim and The Bad Breath Boys." The band was not the kind to get up on stage and play, however. Too shy, I guess. Well.... all except Robbie, Jim's grandson, when one year he wanted to play the guitar in the competition. The problem was that Robbie didn't know how to play the guitar. So, Andy taught him one song: "The Wabash Cannonball."

 Robbie had practiced his song over and over again. He got up in front of literally thousands of people in the audience. He picked his song very slowly and carefully but he played "The Wabash Cannonball" all the way through and did a fine job of it. You have never heard such applause as our little group produced. We were all proud of Robbie. Especially Jim. One member of "Big Jim and The Bad Breath Boys" had finally taken the stage.

Two years later, nine of us stood beneath a big wooden cross on a little hill overlooking the grandstand. We were a sober little group coming together for the most important reason for being at the convention this year. Jim's memorial. With a catch in his voice, Jim's son said a heartfelt prayer amid sniffles and sobs. We spread Jim's ashes in the place he loved so much. As we watched the dust rise and take flight on the wind, Andy drew his harmonica from his pocket and played Taps. Andy had practiced for a month and could never get through the song but that night he played it perfectly, never missing a note.

There was not a dry eye as we said goodbye to Big Jim. Rest in Peace, Jim. We know you are listening to some great bluegrass music where you are now.

This will be the last Fiddler's Convention for us. It just isn't the same without Big Jim.

Vendors Row at The Fiddler's Convention

Cotton candy or a funnel cake? That is the question! Maybe I will take both!

Everyone loves the strawberry shortcake this vendor sells! They brew a good cup of coffee too.

Willard Gayheart, pencil artist, greets everyone with his big, happy smile!

The Strange and Unusual at The Fiddlers Convention

I really love this 1960...something Cadillac Eldorado with an attached camper! Who could dream this up?

This is the menu for Richard's Roadkill Eatery.

(This is a joke, of course.)

I have written about Kill-Basa Bill before (see: The Kill-Basa Bill Roadshow on Aug. 30, 2011.)  The Roadshow band thrilled an audience of 8 to 10,000 again this year with two of their crowd pleasing tunes: "I met my baby in the port-a-John line" and "I just don't look good naked anymore." He says he can prove the naked thing but I have never heard anyone challenge his claim.

Kill-Basa Bill (AKA: Bill Guthrie from Danbury, N.C.) is a certified massage therapist in "real life" and as you see in the picture, people take advantage of Bill's talents. It must be stressful at the Convention because there are always people waiting for a massage. In the background is Bill's blue polka dot camper. A sign reads "Stress Free Zone."

Kill-Basa Bill is the Santa Clause looking guy with the big smile. The "patient" is unidentified.

I call this campsite: Redneck meets Jimmy Buffett. You would have to be standing in front of the extremely large pair of panties to get perspective. Who knows the size but the lettering says: "Just a swinging." I only include this picture to point out the redneck aspect of The Fiddlers Convention (note the confederate flag!)

This camper reminds me of "The Partridge Family" bus! Hootenanny anyone?

Now THIS is a Camper!

Button Button Who's Got The Button (Bracelet, that is!)

I just love buttons! To me, old intricate buttons are miniature works of art. I have made all sorts of things out of buttons; covered boxes, sewn them on greeting cards and even sewed tiny round mother of pearl buttons all over a blazer collar.

The following posts include pictures of my new vintage button charm cuff bracelets and I love them! I sell some at The Artisan Center in Rocky Mount, Virginia and some I sell online. If anyone would like to purchase one, please write me at writingonarainbow@gmail.com for more information.

The bracelets and brooches are one of a kind, made with a variety of materials. I use every unusual button I can find, vintage, old or new, plastic, Bakelite, glass, stone or metal. I love them all!

I hope you enjoy perusing my jewelry chest. I will be adding more items soon.

Lynn

My "Glitzy" Vintage Button Cuff Bracelet

I think this is my favorite cuff bracelet. Made from all sorts of fun buttons including vintage plastics, glass, metal, rhinestone and mother of pearl. It is big, fun, glitzy and elegant. The colors are black, silver, gold, cream and white.

I hand sew each button and accent element on a stretch elastic band which is covered with a soft satin. One size fits most wrists.

For more information, including price, availability and postage, contact: writingonarainbow@gmail.com 

Large Denim Texture Brooch

You want something really different? This pin might be it! Made from denim fabric, cording, beads, lace, charms, vintage buttons and rhinestones, this is a one of a kind show stopper. It measures around 2 to 2 + 1/2 inches in diameter. Shades of blues with touches of white and purple.

For more information: writingonarainbow@gmail.com 

Button Brooch

This button brooch is a favorite. The cream and black french label embossed button is set upon a large gold filigree piece and topped with a gold button and accented with a pearl bead.

For more information contact me at writingonarainbow@gmail.com 

Shades of Pink, Vintage Button Cuff Bracelet

This is a pretty in pink bracelet made of many types of buttons including vintage plastic, glass and  mother of pearl. The button you see with the french lettering is an embossing method I do that I really love. There are also small accent buttons and beads. The elements are hand sewn on a stretch elastic band covered with white satin and one size fits most. The colors in this bracelet include pale pink, mauve and white.

For more information contact me at writingonarainbow@gmail.com

All White Vintage Button Cuff Bracelet

This all white bracelet is made of matte white vintage buttons hand sewn on an stretch elastic, satin covered band. The buttons are all old plastic and are medium to large. The picture shows a yellow cast to the buttons, but they are pure white and the problem is due to the photographer! That would be me! The width is over an inch wide. One size fits most. Of course, this bracelet can be worn with any outfit.

Please contact me at writingonarainbow@gmail.com for more information: pricing, availability and postage.

Orange, Yellow and White Cuff Bracelet

This cuff bracelet is made from vintage bakelite and old plastic buttons with a newer one (like the orange and white striped) to add some fun. Over an inch wide, it is hand sewn on a stretch elastic band covered with white satin for comfort. One size fits most.

For further information including availability, price and postage please contact me at: writingonarainbow@gmail.com