Category Archives: Community

The Fullness of May

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The month of May is always full … of flowers, and rain, and a lift in the step of folks who have been longing for warmer weather.

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  For me, it is also filled with planning and implementing the Ride of Silence and the Annual Memorial Day Service.

It is such an honor to work alongside others in remembrance of those who have died in the service of the US, or on our public roads.

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Despite the full schedule, there is still time for book group.  I read late into the night on Wednesday in order to be prepared for our Thursday discussion.  We met on the new porch, surrounded by flowers made even more beautiful by the late day sun.

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Have you read “How to Tell Toledo From the Night Sky” by Lydia Netzer?

Life is ever full … of friends, of flowers, of books, and service, and I am thankful.

Blow It Up!

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While on the campaign trail this past weekend, I arrived at the Prices Fork Fair just in time to see the Bubble Gum Blowing Contest.

I hope to be back here later this week to finally share some photos from the beach, and to pay a visit to you!

Fish Fry!

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While the campaign has whittled my bike riding time down to just 6 hours per week, it has also offered me the opportunity to attend some community events. This past Saturday, after knocking 90 doors in the City of Radford, my campaign Field Director and I attended the Mt Tabor Ruritan Fish Fry.

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Before joining the long line of hungry patrons, we walked and talked and enjoyed the atmosphere.

The pastoral scene,

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the local music,

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the opposition to the Mountain Valley Pipeline,

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and finally, the fish, fries, and coleslaw, served up by hardworking Ruritans.

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I’m tellin’ ya, that fried fish was yummy!

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All you can eat for $8, in a lovely Virginia setting.  Not a bad way to spend the evening.

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The Mt Tabor Ruritan Club has been serving the Blacksburg and surrounding communities since July 16, 1965.

 Ruritan National’s purpose is to create a better understanding among people, and through volunteer community service, make America’s communities better places in which to live and work

The word Ruritan is a combination of the Latin words for open country “ruri” and small town “tan,” interpreted as pertaining to rural and small town life

Kindness in the WordPress World

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The great wide world of WordPress is filled with talented, creative people.

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Some put words to paper that inspire me, make me think, and bring a tear to the eye.  Others fill my screen with photographic images that are so visionary and incredible that I exclaim out loud.  History and humor are found here, too, as are recipes, travel tips, gardening ideas, and of course, motorcycles!

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And then there are the crafty ones.

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The ones who spend hours using their creative spirits and their hands to make items that have the rest of us wondering how they do it.  The quilters, painters, scrapbookers, knitters, crocheters, candymakers, and artists of every sort.

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Since beginning my blogging journey with WP, I’ve been blessed to be the recipient of valuable friendships, and gifts of photography, handmade cards, folded books, t-shirts, and most recently a chrocheted bunting, which arrived all the way from Australia!  Incredible! How on earth did Dani from Teddy and Tottie find the time to make so many festive buntings and then to mail them to friends all over the world?

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 How did she know that, because of family, work, and civic commitments, I have not yet put even one Christmas decoration out?  How did she know that her gift of time and kindness would be so welcome in my home.

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Thank you, Dani.  You are, in addition to being talented, a kind and generous woman.

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These gifts, and the people who make them, inspire me to up my game!  I frequently read blog updates where one blogger is sending gifts to another.  Their planning and organization is impressive; the generosity incredible. You all know who you are.

You inspire me.

21 Gun Salute

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Participation on Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service committee is one of my most favorite volunteer duties.  Working with veterans and other civic minded folks is a great reminder that Memorial Day is more than cookouts and blockbuster sales.

Don’t get me wrong … I do love a cook out!  Volunteer service on this committee however assures me that each year, I spend a few hours on the last Monday in May remembering the men and women who have died in military service.

Towards the end of the program, a 21 Gun Salute is provided by the Veterans of VFW Post 776.

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In this next image, you can see the spent shells in the air after being fired.

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More to come from Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service.

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