Tuesday Morning

Well I'm back in my usual spot at the table in the cabin in N.C. with just a few minutes past 6 AM. It's still rather dark here and I suppose that is because summer is dwindling down. It's usually been very light with the dawn the past several weeks and I suppose soon the evening shadows will be upon us much earlier than the 9 o'clock or after the past weeks as well. It's still rather warm and humid here but not nearly what we experienced this past week end at the beginning of the Shenandoah Valley around Woodstock, Star Tannery and Winchester. Yikes the heat index was well over the 100 degree mark several days in a row. I didn't let that interfere with our great time we had visiting with family at the outdoor picnic at the Gravel Springs Church. I even got in one dance with sister Josie to the Blue Grass Band despite the heat on the concrete slab. I did pass up the the country ham dinner and opted for a bowl of delicious ice cream which satisfied any hunger. I will expand on some of the activities later in this ramble.

Monday morning started with us rolling out a little before 7'ish. Mike had gone to work much earlier in the morning and sister Dee had to head off to work as well at 9, so we got packed, had a lite breakfast then headed out for the mountains about 250 miles or so down or should I say up the valley. We made a stop at a meat processing and packing facility that specializes in the best bacon ever. I learned the country ham used at the picnic on Saturday at the picnic comes from there also. We picked up 2 large 4 pound vacuum packs to bring with us and we will freeze it in one pound packs for the kids in Florida. We got back on I-81 and traveled on it the next three hours or so until Christiansburg where we got off onto RT. 8 and headed to the town of Floyd, Va. We made a stop at Mickey "G's" an Italian eatery we stopped at a couple years ago with our "cool peoples gang"(the Botbyl's, Tracy's and us). The food was excellent then and even more so now and the place has been remodeled as well with much more seating capacity. One of the best Italian eateries ever except for Pietro's in Vacaville, California. We split an Italian salad much like an antipasto then split a veggie pizza. Both were excellent in flavor and loaded with all fresh ingredients especially the portobello mushrooms. We got there just ahead of the lunch crowd and then it quickly filled with diners both inside and out.

We made a stop in Galax at the super Wal-Mart to stock up as well then headed for the cabin. It was 86 in town and by the time we reached the cabin it had dropped down into the 70's with a lite rain shower as we headed in the drive. By the time we unloaded the truck the rain had increased and the water ran down the drive for a few minutes. I don't think it was a gully washer. The sun soon came out after one bolt of lightning struck very close to the cabin which sent Nancy into a frantic mode. She closed all of the windows in fear. After the sun came out I headed out to check on the gardens and picked 14 very nice cucumbers as well as a couple small yellow squash and three ripe tomatoes which had the blossom end rot. It seems only this one set of three plants have this blight so far. I have lots of green tomatoes on the other plants so maybe I will get a few but if not sister Dee's plants are producing the prettiest tomatoes and she was very generous in loading us up with a sack full as well as cabbages, green peppers and dill pickles Mike canned.

I don't remember it I had a chance to elaborate on the West Virginia trip on Friday but it was good to see the area where we last visited more than 20 years ago. The river and the one lane wooden bridge is still in place but the old summer place is in awful shape and in ruins with horrible mold and mildew. It's not salvageable but the 2.5 acres on the river bottom is a selling point. Many folks were in the water on that hot day. The river itself is beautiful set in the mountains. Nancy was most excited to see the old summer place where she shared so many memories with her siblings and cousins. I'm glad we made the trip with Paw Paw, Mike and Dee. The eatery in Berkeley Springs at the Earth Dog Cafe was memorable as well.

Well its always great to see and travel never before traveled roads and we did a lot of that over the four days we were gone; on the way up to Woodstock and then around the area with Dee during the day on Friday. They were most gracious and generous as always and we had a marvelous visit with them as well. It was sad to have to leave their beautiful home and surrounding community but they both still work as they are Nancy's age and are looking forward to retirement in a few years. They now have 2 grand children are are so much in love with them as well and both of them are coming this next weekend to spend a day or so with us here at the cabin while visiting in Woodstock for a couple of weeks. Their youngest daughter Kelly is a wonderful mother and loves this area where we have our cabin.

Well its nearly 7 in the morning and I'm waking Nancy as we have the Tracy's and their son, Ryan visiting around noon for a hike to Stone Mountain and then supper with us here at the cabin. He will be here for a week so and we will get together with them when possible, LATER