As I sat in the river yesterday, I thought of all the items on my “to do” list. Yes, I was actually sitting in the Little River, and I was oh so happy.
I looked up to see the smoke from the grill caught in the sunlight streaming through the trees, and in addition to my “to do” list, I thought about how fortunate I was.
Surrounded by friends, on a gorgeous September afternoon, with laughter and the sound of flowing water providing amazing background music.
The only thing that I could have wanted was more time to take care of that “to do” list. Thankfully, I had an extra day off for that, and today is that extra day. I’ve spent the last 8 hours scatching items off of that list, and that means it is finally time for WordPress, a chance to relive the weekend, and a visit to all of you.
After getting off work on Friday, I stopped by Rising Silo Brewery.
Part of a ground-up movement, “the purpose of the brewery is to create fermented beverages from the best ingredients, overflowing with thought and authenticity in taste”.
Rising Silo is a farm brewery, the foundation of which is Glade Road Growing, a farm located on a conservation easement, which means that it will permanently remain open space.
How can you not love their mission: to create “an evolving space that community members near and far may gather to connect, dream, celebrate and relax. We believe in fresh food, true brews, and good people”.
Saturday morning started with a solo, 17 mile ride on the bicycle, partly along the New River,
followed by a 200 mile group ride on the motorcycle.
In my quest to improve my health, I even managed to run 2.5 miles!
And all this fabulousness brings me back to today.
If being able to run, ride both bikes, and spend time on the water wasn’t enough, I’ve been gifted with this extra day, Labor Day, to get caught up. It is so satisfying to see the “to do” list get shorter.
Labor Day, a creation of the labor movement over 100 years ago, “is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country”.
While I know that I work hard every day, how is it that I still feel a twinge of guilt for being off today?
One more great thing about this weekend? The Hokies won, too.
Photo Credit: thekeyplay.com
Yes, College Football season is here, and I’ll be watching the FSU – Ole Miss game tonight while visiting all of you.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
Oh Laurie – just ‘Wow!’ Sitting in a river and on a chair too – you have the best way of relaxing!! So glad I caught this post before heading off this morning. I hope your Labour Day is/was as wonderful as you are 🙂 xoxo
Aw, thank you, Pauline! and I’m hoping you had a wonderful birthday and were showered with love. I’m bummed that my gift hasn’t arrived (I know this because I’ve not received a message saying it was delivered). Ah well, it will just prolong the birthday celebrating!
It must be still in the postman’s bag – but, what fun, it will be here soon I’m sure! Jo has just gone home after six days and my best friend arrives tomorrow – so the celebrations are going on and on and on …… Poor Siddy is exhausted 😀
So glad you got in your fun and relaxation before buckling down to your chores. We missed you today, but if it made your list shorter, than I’m happy for you. 🙂
I thought of you all so many times during the day, wishing I could have joined you. On the other hand, I woke up this morning completely content with the weekend and all the work that I got done!
Thank you for the lovely update and so glad to see you leave the “To do’s” at home while enjoying that view, good company and a beautiful view. Let that guilt go! No reason to hold it, own the beautiful moments so the working ones doing feel so heavy. Enjoy the last few hours of a day off and oh that beer looks like it is made with love. Such rich beautiful colors, yum.
Thank you, Carrie, for encouraging me to let the guilt go! I must confess, it was just a twinge, but it was still there. The question is …why?
The beer was indeed good! And so fun to sit at a small, new, local brewery on a beautiful evening.
AND
All items on the list are scratched off!! Woo Hoo!
Looks like a perfect Labor Day to me. 🙂
You can come hang out in the water with me anytime!
Your todone list looks pretty good!
Yes! It was the perfect mix of play and work!
Oooh, that nasty W word 😀
I do not feel guilty at all about having today off. Not it the least…we deserve this day, Laurie. The brew farm looks like a great place to visit, as does the chair in the middle of the river. I’m glad you had a fun and relaxing weekend and got in some biking and running. All good ways to reenergize.
I’ll tell ya, Mary, I woke up this morning feeling totally re-energized! The play was awesome, of course, but I was incredibly relieved to get the work done, too. Happy, happy me!
I was going to say the same thing! Some of us (like Laurie, hint hint) work hard and there is no sense in feeling guilt for getting a breather on Labor Day.
Wonderful post Laurie and there is no reason to feel even a twinge of guilt for today. Anyone who works as hard as you do deserves a little “me time”. Aren’t Micro Breweries wonderful. I am so glad that they are popping up all over the country so we can experience the wonderful flavors they offer. When I was growing up we only had the major brands of beer that also doubled as mouthwash. An exotic beer back then was Grolsch or Becks. Its no wonder all the major breweries are consolidating. Nobody cares for the bland flavors they offer.
Good point! Virginia was all about wineries, and now the breweries are cropping up everywhere. In fact, the next time you get down this way, Rt 151 has both. http://nelson151.com/
I just love that Virginia is breaking out in cider and breweries and distilleries in addition to wineries. Love your trip too, and your pictures, especially that chair in the river. Where is this Little River? I must look it up on the map. I learned to swim in Little River in Northern Alabama–assume it’s not that one!
I’ve learned about several Little Rivers through this post. The one I’m referring to is in Virginia, just 25 minutes from my house https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_River_(New_River)
And I’m with you about the wineries, breweries, etc. I can’t remember if I have asked you about this already, but have you visited Rt 151 in Nelson County? http://nelson151.com/
Despite our crazy mixed up politics, Virginia really has so many great things to offer, and places to explore
I have not, unless someone else has been driving me, though I’ve been awfully close. I’m going to explore your links here. I’d love the idea of another Little River…
Both bikes?! That alone makes it sound like a winner of a weekend to me 🙂
It was a weekend to remember for sure! and completing the list of chores was incredibly satisfying.
How are you healing, my friend?
I’m coming along – slower than I’d like, but really quite well.
I rode outside on Sunday for the first time since the accident and it was a white knuckle experience. I was just sooo nervous. I think it will take a while.
Thanks for thinking of me 🙂
Of course, you were nervous! Anyone would have been, for sure. I’m glad that you met your fear though. I had a patient tell me yesterday about her fall / fracture while roller blading. After healing, she got out on those blades, so she could prove to herself that she could, and then gave them away. She did what felt right to her, and you will do the same. Keep healing!
Thanks. It was really important for me to get back out because I was starting to make excuses. The window for overcoming that fear was starting to close.
Glad I did, I think I’m ready to do it again without so much anxiety 🙂
A perfect long weekend Laurie! I don’t think we could imagine one more thing that would have improved it. To do’s be damned girl, sometimes ya just gotta have fun!
I couldn’t have said it better, Tina! To do’s be damned!
What a great weekend!! I’m so glad I was able to share part of it with you.
Oh, me too, Cindy! ❤
Love these but the second image with the sun streaming through….brilliant.
Thanks Edith. If I hadn’t been sitting in the water, I would have missed it 🙂
An action-packed weekend with lovely photos. We couldn’t ask for more
It truly was an incredible weekend, Derrick, and so satisfying to get that to do list knocked out!
Yay–both our football teams won! AND Notre Dame lost!! (Although the FSU-Miss game did not turn out the way I hoped–who were you rooting for?) You have been having wonderful days, I can see, full of things you love–and your photos are perfect!
Oh my gosh, that ND / Texas game was huge and I was pulling hard for Texas! Woo Hoo!
Next up for us is the big game against Tennessee at Bristol Motor Speedway, reported to be college football’s biggest game ever. Yikes!
Enjoyed this very much. Thanks.
Thank YOU!
Great post, great photos…but oh that chair in the river!!! Brilliant!
It’s one of my favorite places to be!
Oh my goodness, I need to come spend a day with you. As long as you’re cheering Ole Miss of course. 😉
Laurie, I always feel like I’m in a chat room when you post. You have such a wonderful way with words, and of course your fabulous images to go with them. I like hearing about your well-rounded life. Time with family and friends, time in the Little River [smile], time on both bikes and a run! Wowsa. I know well the feeling of checking off items on a to do list. The more mundane the chore, the more enjoyable it is to check it off.
No guilt! I don’t know anyone that works harder than you making a difference for her family, her patients and her community at large. xo
You deserve every luxury, Ms. Laurie. That includes a chair in a river on a Monday, and bike rides to boot. Soak those moments up and know you are doing life right! Hugs.