Tuesday Night Dinner Got a Little Crazy

Wonderful meal!

Dinner at Trinity and Josh's place included absolutely wonderful grilled and sauced steak bits, a truly delightful pasta and shrimp dish with pesto (I think), awesome dip stuff with chips, really amazing muffins by Kym (she's becoming an expert with the muffin pan) sweet potato soup, bread and strawberries and cake for dessert.


Boop Girls!

Then things got really fun. Trinity's theme for the evening was "first date" so we dressed up like '50s date night. Or as close an approximation as we could get. Trinity did a Patrick County version:


Mountain Gothic

More crazy pictures here and here!

How the Weekend Went....

Worskhop at Atlantic Breeze Alpacas

The weekend went by fast, as usual, and here is another month flown by and gone. Chilly walk this morning, though, but the early morning light is more like spring than ever.


Lovely Lunch!

The first of the Atlantic Breeze workshop weekends was a great success, with workshop participants learning needlefelting techniques from Jane Plaugher. I wrangled an invitation for lunch and had a wonderful time getting to know some new people and visiting with friends. Sandra's lovely meal just topped off a terrific day for everyone, despite a sudden storm across Buffalo Mountain!


Me and Mani

I spent most of the weekend on the computer; I'm revamping the shop web site yet again. It has been a challenge setting up a shopping cart, but thanks to help from Jeremy at Those Geeks things have gone pretty smoothly. Jeremy jumped in and pointed out solutions to problems I didn't even know how to begin to fix. "Buying Local", even in computer services, is the way to go! I'm not ready to go live with the new Greenberry House web site but I'm hoping to get it finished this week.

Confession..

Sarvis against a spring sky

But first a word from our sponsor...Mountain Spring (sounds like a bottled water company). Things are sure beautiful up here in Meadows of Dan right now; with Sarvis and apple trees blooming everywhere and dogwood getting ready to burst out any minute. Tiny green and red leaves are covering the trees on the slopes and it's really looking like we might have some warm weather at last. Of course the wind is blowing wildly and there's a chance of rain. I hear that Mabry Mill is open this weekend. People will be lining up soon for buckwheat pancakes!


A Few of My Favorite Things

So here's the confession.... the mild mannered bunny lady who wore flea market finds and thrift store cast-offs with chunky black shoes and black tights with holes in the toes? She's not real. I made her up. The real woman At the Top of Squirrel Spur prefers spike heels and sparkle to drab and flat. Brilliance and flash to dog hair and mud. Or does she? Who's really here?


New Fiber!

Jane brought a lovely bag of dyed roving in this morning, sent by Miss Babs. This is wonderful stuff, Blue Faced Leicester, merino and a lovely merino/silk blend. Miss Babs is so talented with color and her roving bundles get snapped up quickly here!

A few brief minutes at home....

Redbud branch in Woolwine, Virginia

between meetings and work. It has been raining, though, which prevents me from doing much rabbit shearing. Damp rabbit wool isn't much fun to work with, although I imagine it's easier to handle than wet sheep!


Barbara's felted projects

Despite the wet weather we had a nice weekend at the shop. My new neighbors opened their bookstore; more on that at Life in Meadows of Dan. I'm proud that I'm starting to get some regular customers and a couple of people that are becoming friends came by. Barbara from Vesta visited on Sunday to show me her lovely felted projects. I adore the purse, made with fiber she purchased here from one of my vendors. The tapestry beneath is a work in progress, and will be a splendid mountain scene when she's finished!


Jack's Creek Covered Bridge

I've spent most of the weekend writing articles and working on a new shopping cart for the Greenberry House web site, so it was a rest for the eyes and mind to get out yesterday. Despite the rain, I had a pleasant trip down the mountain to Woolwine for an event featuring the presentation of a grant to restore one of Patrick County's two covered bridges. Redbud is still in bloom and dogwood is starting to brighten the edge of the woods and lawns. I ran across the top of the mountain into a wall of fog, but below the ridge it was only raining. A few drops fell while we were standing at the bridge but they didn't dampen the event.


Crystal's Covered Bridge T-Shirt

Woolwine is tucked in under the mountain; if you want a real adventure take Belcher Mountain Road down. In the spring I wouldn't go that way, though, especially after weeks of rain. At one time, I understand, Woolwine was called Rock Castle; the present name came from a prominent family in the region. Along with the covered bridges, Woolwine has wonderful views, great people and some lovely apple orchards. It's one of the many areas of Patrick County that doesn't get the attention deserved by the place or the people. I hear that's a great new restaurant in Woolwine, too, but I haven't been able to get to visit. The Covered Bridge Festival takes place every year in June; it's June 21 this year. Music, food, crafters (I'll probably be one) and lots of fun time visiting with the locals. Come see us if you can!


Odd Bird

On the way home I came across this odd fellow. He was standing bolt upright on the pavement at the edge of the road, for all the world like a tin soldier at attention. His back was ramrod straight and his bill was straight up in the air. I stopped, backed up and got out of the car and he never moved. His entire attitude was "You can't see me" even though he stood out plainly against the wet pavement. By the time I got the camera out and set it for a close-up picture, he settled out of his "invisible" pose and started ambling lazily across the road. I suppose, since I didn't try to grab him, he figured his strategy had worked. He didn't seem at all concerned about an audience as he wandered along the edge of the road, and he never once looked my way. From a quick bit of internet research I think this guy is an American Bittern; the looks and behavior fit the description.


Spring Mayapples

Last night was the first time in awhile I've been able to do Monday Night Dinner, which is now Tuesday because of my weird schedule. I forgot my camera for food pictures, but Kym got some, uh, interesting shots. Be sure to click the photo for a close-up!

This morning at long last we were able to have our walk. I got out just before daylight under cloudy skies, and heard a wild bird call that I later realized, upon seeing the bird, was a killdeer. Even in our lovely little community, it's rare that everything is totally still. There's always the distant hum of an engine, the bark of a dog, the low of cattle. But this morning, just as I reached where the dirt road crosses the wandering creek, everything seemed to go suddenly still. Just the ripple of the stream and the soft rustle of leftover rain falling from the leaves. Even the dog paused, head up, body quiet. It only lasted moments, then a vehicle passed on the main road and Lily pulled toward an enchanting scent and we walked on to meet our friends.

Baby Showers and Spring Rain

Lovely baby things

Most of the people I know are grandparents now, and have been for awhile. Or they have grown children that have decided against babies. So there aren't many reasons to celebrate new life around here, except in the bunny house and alpaca fields. It was fun to head north next weekend with the SO's sister to attend a baby shower for his son and daughter-in-law. The sister will remain nameless to protect the innocent (or guilty, as the case may be.)

We set out early because we were crossing the entire state of Virginia, under cloudy skies. Occasionally the sun broke out, though, highlighting the blaze of redbud that bloomed wildly all along our route. I never get tired of redbud, which doesn't grow well on our mountain. It was putting on a show all the way up the valley of Virginia, though, and into Charlottesville and beyond. It was hard to get a picture and drive, though, so I refrained from trying.



It was lovely to see good friends when we finally arrived in Fredericksburg, and we soon settled in to chat, eat and admire all the lovely things the mother-to-be was showered with. She now has enough clothes for this child until the age of two, plus a lot of the necessities that the modern baby requires. A lovely little bed, stroller, diaper pail and humidifier...and some things I have no idea what to call them!

Later in the afternoon we headed even further north, and I spent a lovely evening with friends, including a nice meal out and talk about recent books we'd read. I didn't take a picture of the meal; I was almost too tired to eat but it was lovely!


Atlantic Breeze Alpacas

Then home again to a busy week; we received some more gorgeous yarn from Little Bit of Heaven Alpacas and I've been running to meetings again. Sandra from Atlantic Breeze came in and restocked her booth, making some beautiful changes. Wednesday I spent a pleasant day in town with a dear old friend and then yesterday I traveled with a group from Patrick County to a Virginia Welcome Center to do demonstrations (more on that later). We saw some snow flying earlier in the week and I thought it would never stop raining. But today is an absolutely perfect spring day. I saw some bloodroot on the west-facing slopes along the Parkway; another one of my favorite signs of spring!

Trekking Around...and Out!

The eternal sock project

Well, maybe not eternal. I started these in January, but I had a more pressing spinning project going and lots and lots (and lots and lots and lots) of meetings through the winter. I didn't get nearly as much done during the down time as I had hoped. But I never do. I'm almost finished with the socks, though, and I love the Trekking yarn, purchased at Mosaic Yarn Shop in Blacksburg on the advice of lovely Cheryl. I'm still not quite finished, but when I can bring myself the close the toe I'll be done!


Spin a Yarn...Weave a Web

I headed into North Carolina on Tuesday to pick up hand crafted triangle looms from Lura, who lives just across the line. It was another dull, overcast day but I enjoyed the trip across the hills to tiny Grassy Creek. Mom went with me last time we visited Lura but she was busy with book fair at the school this week. Lura's farm is nested under the hills across from an old white frame church. It would have been nice to see it in the sunshine. The looms are in the shop now and look very handsome!

After I left Lura's I headed through the hills along a winding mountain road toward West Jefferson, to visit with friend Jane at a yarn shop she frequents. By the time I reached the town I was starving and cranky. Poor Jane rushed me out to a wonderful restaurant on the main street and fed me, and I was soon more myself! While we were eating we caught up on the news; Jane has been doing some traveling herself and we had some notes to compare about things.


Good fiber friends

I was in a much better frame of mind after lunch and ready to enjoy a yarn shop visit. Gracious Nancy greeted us with the news that a guild from Virginia had arrived, and to my delight I discovered that it was the Mountain Homespun group that I used to belong to, oh, so long ago! Several of the original members were still part of the group and it was lovely to catch up with how the years have been treating my old friends. It was especially nice to see sweet Shirley and Lou, and beautiful Susan, who is one of the most talented knitters I've ever known. Delightful Sandy had lots of news to share for the guild, and I think they had fun shopping!


Jane and the little one

After the guild left things settled down a bit and I was able to look around the shop a bit. I found samples that Jane had knitted from some of her handspun, and a display of her yarns near some roving and some funky hand made hats. A shipment of yarn had come in and we got to fondle some new purchases and admire the colors. In between her many tasks I was able to talk to Nancy a little and find out about the shop and what they do. Spin a Yarn...Weave a Web was staffed that day by four generations of her family, including fourteen-month-old Chelsea (I hope I have the name right!). Along with the yarn and tools for knitting and spinning, Nancy stocks hand crafted items by local artisans and locally grown foods. It makes for a lot to take in with one visit to the shop.


Recent Yarn Purchases

Of course I had to buy some yarn; how can you visit a yarn shop without buying? I chose more sock yarn, two skeins of ONline Supersocke Cotton Beach. I haven't worked with cotton sock yarn yet but I love the softness of this yarn in the skein and the delicate colors. I have an idea I might make a pair of cabled knee socks with this. The little skein on the left is Toofutsies that I fell for at Mosaic when I visited last. My other purchases at Spin a Yarn included some local honey and some heritage seed packs for planters at the store.

The rest of the week has been quiet, but the sun finally came out yesterday. There have been no walks for the early morning crew in over a week, thanks to damp and drizzle, but yesterday Lily and I ventured down Concord road to meet Kym and Bently. We had a lovely walk with lots more talk to catch up on the news. I came home in the early morning light as the stars faded; it was lovely to see daylight across the wet fields.

Speaking of Kym, she introduced me recently to an absolutely awesome place to buy clothes, and it's seriously cutting into my yarn stash budget. The Ross store in Christiansburg opened up recently, and I think we've hit it three times, for hours of shopping. I'm not a shop-till-I-drop type, either, but this place is awesome. I'm ruining my thrift store image, but Oprah looked at me one day last winter out of the TV screen and said, "Girl, loose those sorry-**** ugly flat shoes you been wearing for THREE years now." Yes, ma'am.

This morning one of the local sheep farmers got me out of bed (not really; I was reading with Lily tucked in beside me after our walk) and sold me some beautiful carded Coopworth. And I'm expecting Sandra from Atlantic Breeze Alpacas in just a few minutes to show me a new shipment of alpaca yarn and roving. I'd tell you about the wonderful yarn that Linda from Little Bit of Heaven sent down, but it almost all sold over the weekend!

Where Have I Been, You Ask....

or maybe not, as the case may be. But I've really been doing more than sitting around in torn stockings knitting the never-ending Trekking sock. Seems like every time I turn around, there's a meeting to be attended, a web page to be updated, a friend to enjoy time with or a fantastic meal to be eaten. From the picture it looks like I should be doing a good bit less of the last!


Elegant Grilled Chicken Salad

But speaking of wonderful meals, yesterday was top of the line as I went off to Chateau Morrisette for a lovely day with the Virginia Fiber Folk from Ravelry. "Stitching with the dogs" was a smashing success despite a foggy, drearly day. Ten knitters and two crocheters (me and Mary!) made it to the lovely restaurant at the winery for a lively day of visiting, eating, knitting and just enjoying pleasant surroundings with congenial folk!



Liz did a wonderful job of putting everything together, and decided to bring door prizes so everyone had something great to take along home (she was nice enough to include me in this as well; it was fun to give away a crochet hook to Mary and a fancy knitting counter to Kimberly. She also had a commemorative T-shirt made up for us that I'll treasure along with the memories. There was a lot of knitting done along with the chatting and eating, so I think we all felt that we accomplished a great deal. The minute most of the ladies sat down they whipped out their needles and hooks.

After lunch and a leisurely time knitting, most of the group headed over to the winery for a tour and some wine tasting. I went back to the shop to handle a few things and talk with one of my vendors before the knitters came down, but we had another nice visit while they were here. It was a full and lovely day. I know Liz blogged about the event and I'm sure I'll find some other accounts of stitching at the winery.



Lately I sort of feel like the towel that Lily and TJ are playing with, pulled in a lot of different directions! But things are settling down now, I think. The shop is open for regular hours now, from 10 AM to 6 PM on Thursday thru Monday. I've been working a lot on other web sites this winter, but will probably concentrate on my own for the shop and getting some vendor products on-line. I just put up a big shipment of knitting needles, circulars, bamboo and metal (the wretched people backordered almost all of the lovely Rosewood) and vendors are sending in some beautiful yarns that are going fast.

We have a new bookstore opening in Meadows of Dan next weekend; I'll try to sneak over and take some pictures when they unlock the doors. And sister-in-law Sue opened up her shop this week. She's going to be very busy with the shop while Sammy and the Lonesome River Band are off touring in Japan!