May 30th: Day Trip On The Blue Ridge Parkway

Andy and I just wanted to take a drive so we got up early, always a challenge for me, and drove to Stuart, Virginia for breakfast. Denny Alley owns and operates The Coffee Break in Stuart, a cozy little cafe' where locals gather for good food and conversation.

 

 

After a great, and filling, breakfast of strawberry pancakes with bacon for me and county ham, eggs and hash brown potatoes for Andy, we waddled back to the car.

The Blue Ridge Music Center, on The Blue Ridge Parkway, has free music for museum visitors. Willard Gayheart (pencil artist) and Scott Freeman are local musicians who have been playing at the music center every Thursday for years. They are good. Willard and Scott, who plays multiple instruments, play old and new bluegrass songs with a few country tunes just to mix it up a bit. We listened for around an hour, visited with them on their break and headed down the parkway toward Mount Airy, N.C.

Mount Airy, N.C. is the home town of Andy Griffith and a pretty little place with small town feel even if the business folks have capitalized on the Mayberry theme. Andy (my Andy, that is) and I visit Mount Airy a couple of times a year. There is a very good museum dedicated to Andy Griffith's movie and TV career. There are shops featuring Andy, Barney, Opie and the Darings in the form of CDs, photographs, candy, tea towels, books, and most anything else you can imagine.

You may dine at Aunt Bea's restaurant or the Barney (Fife) Café, but we like the Blue Bird.

The Blue Bird Diner and Ice Cream Parlor has been around for years. You may sit at one of two U shaped counters or one of many booths lined up against the wall. We sit in a booth, write a little note giving our names and where we are from, and slip it under the glass table top along with hundreds of other little slips of paper. And....we always order the Blue Bird's famous pork chop sandwich. Yum.

 

 

If you look closely at the last picture, you may see a little bite mark. After I had take that bite, I thought to snap the picture. Opps!

It was a fun little day trip but all those calories called for a low cal dinner. Some days are like that, yeah, they are!

 

Tiny Vignette With Wonderful Things

Snippets of My Life

My Favorite Colors

A Face On My Bench

Random Decorations Around My House

Do You See The Little Green Guy?

Up The Spiral Staircase

This Print Is Called: Aspen 1910

This Brave Stands Guard

Cowboy Hats At The Ready

A Star and a Stagecoach

More Gift Bag DIY

Back in February, I posted a DIY about decorating old gift bags using recycled Valentine and Christmas cards. The gift bags shown here use merchandise bags I have collected for months.

Simply cover up the name of the shop or business with colorful tape. I used a black and white checkerboard "Duck" brand tape which comes in many fun patterns and colors. Another brand is "Frog" tape.

You can tell from the big red star what store the white bag came from. Now the name of the store is covered up and the gift bag is ready for gift giving. Some pretty red tissue paper, a tassel or gift tag and it is ready to go.

 This is just another opportunity to re-use, re-cycle and keep the earth a little greener.

"Everyone Dance!"

The fourth Saturday in every month, the Patrick County Music Association puts on a big bluegrass music show in Stuart,Va.

Andy and I try not to miss it because there are usually 4 or 5 good bands, food and lots of nice people.

The headliners last Saturday were Jeanette and Johnny Williams. We all know them around here and so does Nashville.  They sang up a storm and it was so nice talking to them over dinner.

Bill and Maggie Anderson also played as did Jus' Cause. All our favorites!

Third Bay Cafe'

I love Third Bay Cafe, not only because it houses my friend, John Matthew's lovely paintings, but because Third Bay has wonderful food. Their luncheon soups, sandwiches and salads are just great and talk about fabulous - try their homemade coconut custard pie. To die for!!!!

This is the interior of the cafe:  Those are John's paintings on the walls.

John did not paint this Rooster but it is the logo for Third Bay Cafe. Look at the fresh tomatoes!

Third Bay Cafe
1163 Spruce Street
Martinsville, VA

Lunch, dinner and catering

A Day in Roanoke

A friend took me to a great little gem shop called "Blue Mountain Gems" in the Forum Shopping Center down from Froth coffee shop. Alan and Tina O'Hara are the owners and Tina was nice enough to show us around.

Not only do they make lovely jewelry, the sell the most beautifully handcrafted jewelry from all over the country and world. They also carry one of a kind pieces by local artists.

If you need a special piece of art/jewelry, drop by for a visit.

Blue Mountain Gems
The Forum
4714-C Starkey Road
Roanoke, Va 24018

Froth

Froth is an Internet cafe and coffee shop in Roanoke. We stopped there for lunch and it was so good.

The address is: 4710 Starkey Road.

Busy and friendly - give it a try!

My turkey, cranberry and Brie sandwich was wonderful and that cup of coffee: perfect.

My friend's Curried Chicken Salad

Cute Cupcake Stand To Display Jewelry

DIY Cupcake Pedestal

This little cupcake stand is easy to and inexpensive to make. I bought several matching bread plates at Goodwill for $2.00 each. I liked the feminine rose pattern.

The pedestal piece is a candle holder from the dollar store. I glued the candle holder to the bottom on the plate and let this cure for a few hours. E 6000 is an excellent glue for non porous items.

I wanted the base to be pink to match the flowers so I used a bubble gum pink enamel paint mixed with equal parts of pure white enamel. I used Folk Art brand. Paint with one coat and let dry overnight or until dry to the touch. Apply a second coat and dry. The paint should be solid and cover all of the clear glass. Give it one more coat if needed.

My cake stand will be used as a display piece for my jewelry so I touched up a few of the rose petals on the plate to match the base.

A word of caution: do not use paint on the surface of the plate if it will be used to served food. This paint should not touch food.

The finished piece should be hand washed. Do not put in a dishwasher or soak in water.

Valentine's Day 2013

It is 2:15 am on what is now, the day after Valentine's Day. Maybe it is all the chocolate I ate this evening but I am wide awake.

Andy and I have been married for six and 1/2 years and he is just as romantic as ever. Shown in the picture is what he gave me for Valentine's Day. I think this is the largest greeting card I have ever seen!

I hope all of you, Dear Readers, had a wonderful (and sweet) Valentine's Day!

If you have a minute or two, please go to the archives for February, 2012 and read "One Perfect Rose." which is a true story from my floral design days. It is a funny little memory and "Ellen" in the story is a real person. She is going through a rough time right now and I would like to wish her health, happiness and............. a perfect rose.

How To Turn A brooch Into A Necklace

This is such an easy tip to turn a pin or brooch into a necklace. You might just have the supplies in your kitchen and it will only cost a penny or two.

Take any brooch with a horizontal pin back, cut a drinking straw the length of the pin back and slide on.  Fit the small end of a chain or cord through the straw.

That is it!

Upcycled Gift Bags

I am on a frugal kick and when I can save a few dollars, I am all over it. After the holidays, I hated to throw away our pretty Christmas cards so I cut off the fronts and opened my "bag drawer."

I can't seem to throw away a perfectly good shopping bag from a gift shop or boutique. You know, the cute little paper bag with ribbon handles, stuffed with tissue paper that the clerk of some ritzy shop presents you with a flourish after you hand over a wad of money.

Now, usually this bag has a company logo or design on the front. I took those pretty Christmas and an old Valentine card, edged the back of the card with double stick tape, stuck the card front over the logo. Voila! Recycle chic!

You can get creative and add buttons, bows, glitter or stamped snowflakes. Do this with birthday, anniversary or any kind of card. Don't throw it away - reuse, recycle and make something pretty.

Shipping Hints

I don't know about you, but many of my friends and family members live in other cities. I always have several boxes of Christmas gifts to send out over the holidays, birthdays and though out the year. Rather than spending money on boxes and padded envelopes, I recycle the packaging that comes in my mail.

For storage, I break down larger boxes to save space and keep packaging material, including boxes, tape, wrapping and tissue paper, together so I can find what I need quickly. I usually print out address labels on my computer and tape it to package, covering the label completely with wide, clear tape.

Potato Joke

Dear Readers,

I have been cleaning out my desk and papers. I found this little joke and would like to pass it on to you. It is silly, I haven't heard/read it for years. I hope you get a little chuckle out of it.


Well, Girl Potato and Boy Potato had eyes for each other, and got married. They had a little sweet potato and they called her "Yam."

Of course they wanted the best for Yam. When it was time, they told her about the facts of life. They warned their daughter about going out and getting half-baked, so she wouldn't get accidentally mashed, and get a bad name for herself like "Hot Potato" and end up with a bunch of Tater Tots.

Yam should get plenty of exercise too, so not to be skinny like her Shoestring cousins.

When Yam went off to Europe, Mr. and Mrs. Potato told her to watch out for the hard-boiled guys from Ireland, and the greasy guys from France called French Fries.

When she went out to the Westthey told her to watch out for the Indians so she wouldn't get scalloped! Yam said she would stay on the straight and narrow and wouldn't associate with those high class Yukon Golds.

Mr. and Mrs. Potato sent Yam to Idaho P.U. (that's Potato University) so that when she graduated she would be in the chips! But, in spite of all they did for her, one day Yam came home and announced that she was going to marry Tom Brokaw.

Tom Brokaw!!!!!!!!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Potato were very upset. They told Yam she couldn't possibly marry Tom Brokaw because he is just  .............................................................................................................................

(Are you ready for this?)...................................................................................................................

Are you sure??????............................................................................................................................

OK, Here it is!

Yam couldn't marry Tom Brokaw because he is a     COMMON TATER !!!!!!!

Handy Household Hints

I came across two great household hints and wanted to share them with you.

1....You can press roasted or simmered tomatoes through a potato ricer to easily separate the pulp from the skins.


2....To keep gift wrapping paper from unrolling:  take an empty toilet paper tube, split it down the center, lengthwise, and wrap it around the wrapping paper roll. It will hold the paper in place.

What great ideas!

Song From Grandmother

I remember Grandmother singing this song to me when I was a child.

Six little mice sat down to spin,
Kitty passed by and she peeked in.
"What are you doing my little men?"
Making good coats for gentlemen.

"May I come in and bite off your thread?"
OH NO! Miss Kitty, you will bite off our heads!
"Oh no I won't I'll help you spin."
That may be so....But you CAN'T COME IN! Author unknown

Grandmother Loved Poetry

When my sister, brother and I were children, our Grandmother would recite poetry and sing songs to us, like all good Grandmothers do.

  I have been going through many pages of my Great-Grandmother Kirkpatricks work. She was a song writer and publisher of music. I have her original sheet music and handwritten lyrics and poetry. I will treat you to some of it soon, Dear Readers.

This little poem, may have had music, but I don't remember. It was one of many that my Grandmother wrote down for me years ago. It has no title and I have no idea who wrote it. Maybe someone will remember it.

Baby's boat is the silver moon, shining in the sky,

Sailing over a sea of dreams, while the clouds drift by.

Sail Baby sail, out upon life's sea,

Only don't forget to sail, back again to me.

Author unknown.

Happy New Year!

Dear Readers, The stories that follow come from a trip to New York City a week before Christmas. I am a little late in posting but I am now up to speed and have many more fun things to tell you about in the future. Happy New Year and please come back and take a look when you can. Lynn

Flying is Hell

My flight at 2:45 PM out of Greensboro was delayed. I found this out when I arrived at the airport. I had spent an hour that morning trying to rebook from the cancellation to New York that had kindly arrived in the form of voice mail on my phone as I was pulling my suitcase out the door. The lady on the other end of the phone, earlier, was obviously from India and had a thick accent I could barely understand. She told me the only way to New York City that day was to layover in Atlanta but I would still arrive at Laguardia at 4:30 PM. Far from the non-stop flight I had just lost, I took it. Ok, fine, done, whatever gets me there. Now the ticket agent was telling me that my flight to Atlanta was delayed and when I did get there, I would have only minutes to catch my next flight. Or......I could sit in the Greensboro airport for the next five hours and if all went well, would arrive at Laguardia at 7:30 PM. I had a good book. I chose to wait. The sports bar seemed like a good place to pass the time with a turkey, bacon sandwich and a glass of white Zin. With kettle chips and my book, I was good to go.... er.... wait.

Sports bar. Big TV. Denver vs Baltimore. I settled in. The guy at the next table was yelling at the TV - just like my husband does. I called my son, already in New York, to tell him I would be there some time after 8:00 but from Greensboro, not Atlanta. I told him I was drinking wine to pass the time. I think I heard him mutter "Uh oh..." Finally, five long hours later, and on the plane. It was 6 PM. Only an hour to Laguardia. OK and we are off. Short trip after a long wait. But, all is good. Or is it? "Fog in New York and all airports shut down." Now that doesn't sound very good. Detour where? Allentown, PA? I never really had any desire to go THERE! Still don't!!! We land, sit on the tarmac. And sit and sit. Call son, call husband. We sit for an hour. OK.... "Ladies and Gentlemen - there is a break in the weather, please buckle up." We taxi.... about 3 inches. Nope, Fog alert! We aren't going anywhere. The engines shut down. I call my son. After another hour of sitting, we begin to smell something. Out of blue stuff for the toilet and it won't flush anymore and as our ever perky flight attendent passes out the last of the Biscoff cookies (now you know what airline I was flying) peanuts and pretzels, it seems we are also out of water. I think about easing my own personal bottle of water out of my purse and taking a gulp, but feel guilty and decide to suffer along with my fellow captives....er....passengers. As an aromatic mixture of bathroom and body odor waft through the cabin, I say a prayer under my breath and just then a miracle happens! "Buckle up" booms over the intercom. We quickly oblige. Maybe.... NO! Maybe..... NO! We are instead of racing down the runway, being taken to the Allentown, PA airport terminal. A chance to use the ladies room and to find an electrical outlet to charge my cell phone doesn't sound half bad at this point. Cell charged, call son who tells me there is food waiting at the apartment. My stomach growls remembering the last meal, which wasn't a meal at all but 2 red licorice whips, 2 cups of airplane coffee and 12 mini pretzels. I might still have a Biscoff cookie in my pocket. It only takes 16 minutes to fly from Allentown to New York City. We all sit close to the door at the gate in the Allentown airport. We are ready to dash toward the door and jump on the plane at a moments notice. All eyes are on that door as it opens and a man tells us we must hurry. There is a break in the fog. I call my son as I hurry onboard. We clap as the plane takes off. Another prayer seems in order. We fly low. It is rainy and very bumpy but I don't care. I just want to see this guy!

He was my driver, who had been on call all evening and who, I am sure, was very frustrated with the situation. But, he was there, grabbed my bag, held an umbrella over my head and then cheerfully drove me to the door of the apartment building on 150th Street. I peeked in on my sleeping grandson. My son and daughter-in-law chatted with me for a few minutes, gave me a bite to eat, showed me to my room and at 10:30 PM, we all turned in. It was a very long travel day.

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.