She’s still here! In Southwest Virginia!
Between work and play, I’ve found it challenging to keep up with WordPress, and believe me, it is not easy to admit that! I’m not one to make excuses, but somehow, I’ve found it harder to create blog posts now than it was during the time after my motorcycle wreck and during my campaign for office.
So where have I been spending so much of my time, outside of my work as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner?
Riding in the 10th Annual Layne Creed Memorial Ride.
Photo Credit Dale Sands
The family of Layne Creed has worked hard over the past decade, raising money for local charities in memory of their loved one. It is time though for this to be The Last Ride.
I’ve been able to ride in six of the 10 rides, but this was the first on my beautiful candy orange Softail Slim.
Dining with Friends
After riding 220 miles, it was such a joy to spend the evening with friends. They served an incredible Paella, which I now know is a dish which combines vegetables, and meats. The history of Paella is that servants or peasants created rice dishes by mixing the left-overs from royal banquets in large pots to take home. The incredible food was accompanied by great conversation, in a beautiful home with generous hosts.
Supporting Local Business
I attended the first Grow & Gather, a partnership between Hazelbea Catering, the Radford Chamber of Commerce, and Farmers Market vendors.
This Radford Supper Series, offers multi-course meals sourced from local growers and paired with wine from White Barrel, a local winery.
Supporting Local also means catching up with a dear friend at Al’s on First, an independent restaurant, AND putting my cell phone camera to work.
Ah! The perfect summer drink: A Gin and Tonic
Book Group
What a welcome relief it is to spend the evening discussing an eye opening book, and to escape the media’s focus on the unfit man who is running for President.
Exercising
I’ve always been a power walker, but somehow I’ve become a runner, albeit a novice runner. The only way to fit exercise into my schedule is to start early in the morning when it is still dark.
Weekends though, give me a chance to start a bit later. As I tell each of my patients, and as you already know, exercise is good for the heart, good for the bones, and great for the energy and mental health.
In addition, I can work on my #cellphonephotography.
Finally, Civic Work
I’m involved with several groups, but one of my passions is helping to elect more Virginia women to public office. This weekend I hosted an event for Women Leaders of Virginia and Emerge, two organizations who work to train and support women running for public office.
I love the passion, the commitment, the vision, and the stimulating conversation.
Next?
I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit many of you this week, and I truly hate to miss out on the happenings in your lives. In the comment section, please leave a link to one of your latest posts, and I’ll be sure to check it out!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 
Laurie, I truly admire your social activism for positive causes. The world needs more people like you – willing to be involved for the good of the human race and community. I’m glad you were able to enjoy friends, food and drink during the time away from WordPress. No worries about being away this week. Enjoy whatever the days bring.
Since you are honing your smart phone camera skills, I thought I’d leave a link to a post in which I also honed those skills. Let me know what you think.
https://maryjmelange.wordpress.com/2016/09/19/charlottes-web/
You are truly the busiest person I know Laurie but please save some energy for New York 😀
Can’t believe it’s getting so close! No worries … I’ll be ready!
Just wow!! Joe said it right! I haven’t made a new post yet, but guess what has just been found on my doorstep? ❤ Email coming xoxo
It’s been fun touching base so much the past couple days … even if part of the reason isn’t good.
You though, have had a great birthday month, and you deserve every bit of love!
Laurie, you are one busy woman!! I like seeing the bikes parked together like they’re conspiring or having a chat about their riders. And I do like that spider web with dew. Ah, enjoy life!
Lisa, you made me look at that bike shot in a new light and I LOVE your take on it!
I have a tendency to anthropomorphize…
I don’t have the excuse of good works for not posting or visiting much. You are one busy lady with a wonderfilled life. That was awe inspiring. Great photos with the cell phone. I’m so glad someone invented them. 🙂 Have a wonderful week ahead.
Hi Maureen! Thanks for the praise for the photos. I can never hear that enough. Hope you are well; I’ll get over to your place soon!
No rush. Not much going on there. 🙂
Ph psshaw, Marlene. You are among the busiest people I know. Even your down days are only filled with “some” projects instead of many projects, ha ha. I think since we’re busy women ourselves, it helps us to be in awe of Laurie’s packed schedule. Oh, AND she has a regular job in addition to all this. Wow.
She is an amazing person that raises our bar a little higher. How are you doing???
Well! Sane!! The end of the fiscal year has passed at work and it’s not as hellish to be there. Happy with the rain, and the woodstove, and my napping kitty (just one), and the apples are finally ripe on the trees!
You are welcome to stop by anytime you have a free few moments.
🙂
You are entitled to a life 🙂
Thanks for the support, Derrick! I’ll be over to your place soon!
Busy is a good thing. New bike, awesome 🙂
Well, it does seem new still, but it’s the bike that replaced the one that got totaled in the wreck. It’s a beauty and so fun to ride. How you be? Hope to get to your place soon!
Oh i see. I thought it was a new, new one.. All good. Just waiting for some good weather! Drop by when ya do. Coffee and/or beer sounfs reasonable 😀
Busy, yes, but in all the best possible ways–living large!
If I can just keep juggling it all! I’ll look forward to visiting you soon!
No matter what type of camera you use, you manage to capture the moment in the most artistic way possible. I love the trail in the dark, you should send it to the city for their website. Nice spider web too!
Thanks for the photo complement, Karen. And I’m glad you like the shot in the dark. It’s pretty cool out there!
Laurie, to borrow your words, I love *your* passion and commitment. I’ve never known anyone who was so involved in making their community a better place. Your photos are incredible, with or without a “real” camera as we say around here. I’m glad you are enjoying life.
Alys, thanks for the photo complements. It’s always means so much to hear that.
It’s been so good to be in touch lately … even if part of the reason has not been a good thing
Agreed! xo
Wow, you are really busy, I loved your wonderful photo series. I need to get a little more busy with my life.
The photos in this group are outstanding! The fancy camera and the phone camera both do what you tell them to do, and that’s where the art comes in. Those cafe umbrellas are wonderful!! The light through the drink with the lime – so nice. It sets the atmosphere. Your photo of the paella looks like its right out of an ad, or a food magazine or something! Perfect! And the one with glasses and book on the porch – so lovely. Of course, nothing beats the early morning empty running paths.
It’s very sad albeit very understandable that Lane Creed’s family has orchestrated the Last Ride. I love it that you participated in this event each year. Now the calendar opens up for another great idea for a good cause, and we’ll just have to wait and see who steps in.
You just rock the known universe, girlfriend! luvitluvitluvitALL