At our women driven fundraiser, with 100% of the monies raised going to local organizations, we served this yummy Divatini.  The non-alcoholic version was just as delicious – or so I am told 🙂
I haven’t had much time for photography and with temps in the 20s today, I wasn’t able to get the bike out of the shop. Â The good news is that I have had the day to catch up on so many things, none of which were holiday related. Â Maybe next weekend!
Now I’m off to see what you all have been up to.
Sending peace and love and hope to all on this Thanksgiving Day in America
Memorial Day is the most solemn American holiday.
Originally called Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service to the United States of America, and this year is the 150th Anniversary.
It is an honor to serve on the committe that plans Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service. Â A couple of the veterans on the committee arrive at the park the night before Memorial Day each year to set up the Field of Crosses, and to hang the flags that represent each branch of the Armed Forces.
I stopped by this evening, to deliver some home baked cookies, and spend a little time with these devoted vets.
Armed with only my cell phone, I tried to capture the scene. Â It was slightly cool, with a gentle breeze, a truly beautiful evening, and I couldn’t help but think of the soldiers, sailors, airmen/women, and marines who are in harms way every day.
One of the vets on the committee made this memorial, and it remains in his front yard year round.
As we celebrate the holiday weekend, let’s all take just a few moments to remember the reason for this day.
As noted in my previous post, the month of May is a time of significant civic obligation. I’ll be back to visiting all of you soon!
Wishing you a peaceful holiday season, and to those who celebrate it, a very Merry Christmas!
This re-blogged post is about a beloved family tradition, and as you read this, I am traveling to Williamsburg to spend a few days with the whole fam damily (thanks Jan for that fun description!). Â Not a day goes by that I do not reflect upon the fact that I am fortunate to have such a great family, and the most amazing parents.
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For as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated the holidays with Crackers. Â They adorn the table, and ultimately our heads, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Â While crackers have become all the rage these past few years, my family has been celebrating with them for decades.
According to Wikipedia, crackers are part of Christmas celebrations primarily in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada, NewZealand, and South Africa.Â
So how did my American family come to embrace the Cracker? Â My Grandfather hailed from the Isle of Wight, and I am quite sure that he and my Aunt Christine brought the tradition to us.
The Cracker was created in 1847 by Tom Smith ( http://www.tomsmithchristmascrackers.com/ ).  In its simplest form, a cracker is a small cardboard tube covered in a brightly colored twist of paper. When the cracker is pulled apart, a chemically treated card strip, similar to that…
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It’s been two weeks since I’ve posted!  Where did the time go?  🙂
Thankfully, in between closing down the old practice, opening the new, and campaigning for Delegate, I was still able to find a few moments with the camera.
This first photo is from Carson’s Courtyard, a little resting spot in downtown Radford, created with Community Development Block Grants.
On another day, I stopped by the American Legion Building.  Built in 1928, the building has served as a temporary courthouse, Catholic church, daycare center, Radford Arsenal hiring office, dance hall, voter registration office, polling place, and home to Main Street Radford.  The American Legion members have started a restoration drive to raise funds for this historic building.
On July 4th, I rode the motorcycle to visit a few of the communities in the 12th District.
One of three covered bridges in Giles County, the Sinking Creek Covered Bridge was built in 1916.
This next one was taken with my new Samsung Galaxy. Â Those of you who know me well, will realize that I have changed phones after 15 years as a Blackberry user. Â Not sure it was a good move yet …
The Newport Parade
was followed by the Blacksburg Parade,
and then it was back home to the City of Radford for music and fireworks.
A few days later, the campaign office was buzzing with the sound of volunteers and staffers working the phone bank.
So thankfully, despite the pace of life, I’m still finding moments to pull the bike over and enjoy the view.
Next Stop: Â Your Blogs!
I’m quite sure that there is no better holiday than Thanksgiving.
If fortunate, the food and drink are plentiful,
 and family and friends are near.
From my home to yours, I wish you warmth, shelter, sustenance, and peace. Â I’m thankful to have you in my WordPress World.
My son, Andrew, and me. Â
Do you have a favorite holiday?
You were expecting Fireworks? The Stars and Stripes? Â Burgers and Potato Salad? Â While I did enjoy all of the traditions of the 4th of July, for some reason, I wasn’t moved to photograph them.
Instead, it was the simple things, on a clear, almost cloudless day, that drew my attention.
It was a day of friendship, laughter, sunshine, and celebration.
What a wonderful way to celebrate the 4th of July.
Happy Summer Everyone!
Participation on Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service committee is one of my most favorite volunteer duties. Â 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! Â 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.
In this next image, you can see the spent shells in the air after being fired.
More to come from Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service.
Despite spending a couple days in Charleston for Christmas just one week ago, I still had the itch to travel, and Blowing Rock seemed like the perfect destination.  Not quite 3 hours from Radford, Blowing Rock is located right off the Blue Ridge Parkway in the mountains of North Carolina.  It’s a small community only 3 square miles in size and visitors can easily walk to shops, restaurants, galleries, and opportunities for recreation.
Knowing that my only time constraint was the start of the VT / UCLA Sun Bowl Game, I took to the back roads. Â Old Rt 221 provided pretty views and incredibly curvy roads that really made me miss my bike.
I tuned the radio to the 740 AM station, WPAQ out of Mt Airy, and in addition to hearing some good old time music, I soon found myself listening to a man reading the obituaries.  Sure enough, it was just as if I was reading them from the paper.  It somehow seemed fitting as I drove those back roads and I imagined what it would have been like to have lived there during a time when local AM radio might have been the only real connection to life off the farm.
The town of Blowing Rock takes its name from an unusual rock formation which juts over 1,500 feet (460 m) above the Johns River gorge. Due to the rock’s shape and size, wind currents from the gorge often blow vertically, causing light objects to float upwards into the sky.
Upon arriving in Blowing Rock, I checked into the recently reopened Blowing Rock Ale House and Inn, before heading out to find a place to watch the game.
The Town Tavern offered a comfortable seat at the bar, right in front of a TV showing my game. Â The food and microbrews were great … too bad the Hokies weren’t. Â Sigh. Â Even still, I enjoyed practicing photography and chatting up the folks coming and going at the bar.
In the next couple days I’ll be sharing more of Blowing Rock with you, but for now I’ll leave you with a few pictures taken during my walk back to the Ale House.
Once back at the Inn and while sitting in front of the fire with new found friends, I enjoyed a delicious Grilled Flatbread with Wild Mushrooms, Grilled Vidalia Onions, Smoked Mozzarella, Basil Pesto and Porter-Balsamic Reduction accompanied by a lovely glass of cabernet.
Not a bad way to spend the last day of 2013.
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 