As I sit here on New Years Eve, enjoying a wee dram (or two) of single malt whiskey and writing this blog post, I think how differently I now spend the final hours of the year. Between the fullness of life and an overly packed schedule, it is a joy to spend a quieter evening at home, catching up, relaxing, and oh yes, watching college football. Whereas I used to stay up until midnight, I am now content to meet with friends on New Years Day.
The past three years have found me recovering from a motorcycle wreck, running for state delegate, starting a new business, and just two months ago, starting another. Even my time on WP the past few months has been limited. No wonder I’m content to be still.
Many people will ponder 2016, and put into beautiful words what the year has meant. Others will plan for the coming year and all that they hope to accomplish. Me? I’m about a week behind and am still glowing after a wonderful 48 hour trip to Atlanta to see my son and his family.
We enjoyed an incredible tapas style Christmas Eve meal at the Iberian Pig. Oh my goodness, the food and drinks were incredible! This was our effort to take a selfie afterwards.
I awoke the next morning to this lovely site. What is it about a lighted tree that brings such a sense of peace?
We spent the day opening gifts, enjoying our traditional breakfast souffle and Bloody Marys, and playing games. My granddogs, Wilson and Tela, were never far from the action, or the food.
Oh my gosh, I love these dogs!
The cheese plate was almost to pretty to eat.
Another family tradition is the Cracker, and I was glad to have it continue in Atlanta.
What a joyful visit!
On a personal level this coming year, I’d like to think that I will make an effort to volunteer a little less (doubtful) and exercise a little more (probable). I also hope to spend more time with family and friends, and of course with my camera, and riding the bike.
What I definitely know is that I will do all that I can to join the resistance against bigotry, misogyny, racism, and hatred.
Despite the fact that national and international politics have me entering 2017 with caution, I do know that there is much good in this world and I believe that goodness WILL prevail.
Welcome to 2017! Thank you for the light you bring to my life, and for your friendships.
That’s what Thanksgiving is to me. The Best Holiday of the Year.
Family. Friends. Food. Football.
Enjoying the traditional Bloody Mary and Mom’s braided bread while watching the Macy’s Parade, and the National Dog Show.
No Gifts. No Shopping. No fighting over Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas.
Just the colors and beauty of the season.
Remembering the blessing of good health, and the opportunity to give to those less fortunate.
Cheers, and Go Hokies!
Beach
Family
Storms
Food
Drink
Exercise
Photography
Fun
It all adds up to a fantastic family vacation at the beach, one where I used the cell phone more than the camera (but you already picked up on that, huh). Blessed beyond measure!
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I spent a total of two non-consective weeks in North Carolina, a state I have boycotted since the passage of HB2. What do you do when plans have been made for over a year, and deposits were paid before North Carolina decided to pass such a controversial law? You keep your plans and contribute to Equality NC. From here on out, like the NBA, lots of musicians and corporations, I will continue to avoid spending money in NC.
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And now, I’m off to visit all of you!
As you view these images, I am off to see my parents for some Mother’s Day / Father’s Day celebrating.
Following that, I’ll participate in a Saturday Board Meeting for the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners.
Then I’ll get to spend the evening with a long time friend and fellow photographer.
And hopefully, all of that work and play will be followed by a belated birthday celebration with my sister.
These images were taken during an evening with friends last week. Life, and all it’s gifts and challenges, has prevented this group of women from gathering lately. On Friday, we finally got to sit around the fire, enjoy delicious food and drink, and the company of folks who know you well and love you despite your, shall we call them, less attractive, traits.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone! I’ll catch up with you when I get back.
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!). 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.
For as long as I can remember, my family has celebrated the holidays with Crackers. They adorn the table, and ultimately our heads, for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. 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.
So how did my American family come to embrace the Cracker? 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 was a long time coming, but I finally had the chance to say thank you to everyone that helped me out after my motorcycle wreck. Bad things happen, but good things can come of them. For months I was showered with love and care and it has been a goal of mine ever since, to say thanks.
Family and friends gathered on the new porch this past weekend, and Tim captured the scene beautifully.
Friends and family came from far and near. For once it didn’t rain, and the sound of laughter was the only music we needed.
Thank You. Two simple words with a whole bunch of love all wrapped up in them.
When I think of Easter, I think of my Grandma. Actually, I think of both of my Grandparents and the rest of my family,too.
My sisters, parents, and I would travel to Pinehurst, NC for the holiday. We’d participate in all the usual Easter things.
Decorating eggs for the Easter Bunny to hide (and somehow, Grandpa always found the last one!)
Attending services in the Chapel on the Village Green (where all the children received a potted Easter Lilly)
Enjoying an incredible meal, which always included lamb and homemade mint sauce.
It somehow just doesn’t seem right to not be with family this weekend, so I’m thankful that I have years and years of memories to make me smile.
Have a lovely Easter weekend!
For those who don’t blog with WordPress and may not know, the Daily Post offers a Weekly Photo Challenge. Each week, the Daily Post provides a theme for creative inspiration and the blogger is supposed to take photographs based on the interpretation of the theme.
The theme for this week?
Pick the best pictures from your 2012 and have those pictures tell everyone about your year.
I wonder if this Challenge was as hard for other bloggers as it was for me. At first I was intrigued, then overwhelmed and finally resigned … resigned to the fact that I would never be able to narrow a year’s worth of pictures down to a few.
This exercise helped me to remember what a great year it has been and just how fortunate I am. Fortunate to have amazing friends and family, and to live surrounded by beauty! No doubt there have been challenges and some heartache, but the positives won the day (er … year).
I decided to share my year in two ways … life and beauty through photography and then life and beauty through family and friends. A few of the pictures were taken with my Blackberry (yes, I still use a Blackberry). You’ll be able to tell the difference.
Life and Beauty – Photography
Claytor Lake, Pulaski County, Virginia
The Booker T Washington National Monument, Franklin County, Virginia
The Ride of Silence, Radford, Virginia http://www.rideofsilence.org/main.php
The New River, Radford, Virginia
The New River Valley Fair, Pulaski County, Virginia
Fall and The Virginia Tech Hokies
Labor Day and rain in Floyd County, Virginia
The Scarritt Bennett Center, Nashville, Tennessee (from the 2012 Solo Bike Ride)
Shooting Creek Road, Franklin County, Virginia
Somewhere in North Carolina
Along the New River in Pulaski County, Virginia
Foggy Morning, Radford, Virginia
The Home of John and Mabel Ringling, Sarasota, Florida
Just another lovely field in Montgomery County, Virginia
A train trestle over The New River, Pulaski County, Virginia
Life and Beauty – Family and Friends
Andrew’s Farewell Party before his move to Charleston, SC (in Blacksburg, Virginia)
Mothers Day / Fathers Day with the best parents EVER (Williamsburg, Virginia)
Sisters Celebrating 50 (Roanoke, Virginia)
The Annual GOA Gathering (Bath, North Carolina)
Hanging with the SoHos! (Dublin, Virginia)
Gathering with the BGs in Grayson County, Virginia
The annual Road Trip with Ruth to see the Hokies (Chapel Hill, North Carolina)
Mumford and Sons Concert (Bristol, Tennessee)
Some of my favorite Biker Chicks (Elkin, North Carolina)
Bikers riding for a good cause (Draper, Virginia)
“Divas” raising money for another good cause (Radford, Virginia)
Time on the farm with Bill
And time on the bike with some of my favorite guys (Philpott Dam, Bassett, Virginia)
I’m always ready with the camera while riding,
whether at the beginning of a trip with my good friend, Tim,
Or during the pouring rain on my annual solo bike ride (somewhere between Nashville and Knoxville)
And best yet, reconnecting with lifelong friends (not a quality picture but a quality friendship) Richmond, Virginia
So there you have it … how lucky am I?
Onward to 2013
When Billy Nunn says be there at 9:45, kickstands up at 10:00 or get left behind, you’d best get there on time.
We met on a cool, cloudy morning, 17 bikes, most with riders on the back, pulling into the parking lot two or three at a time. Considering that we’d had an unplanned party at Sharkey’s (http://www.sharkeyswingandribjoint.com/) the night before, more than one biker was feeling the after effects on Saturday. Just like the carb loading pasta dinners that cyclists have the night before a big ride, this group of bikers enjoyed a slightly different type of pre-ride carb load.
In another similarity to a big cycling event, we had our own SAG support, the term the cycling community uses for “support and gear”. These are the folks who ride in vehicles and are prepared to offer aide to a cyclist in trouble. Jerilyn provided SAG for our group. By following the motorcycles in her car, Jerilyn was certainly there for the fun, but also to offer space for a rider and as a place to stow over night gear. While waiting for everyone to get there, Jerilyn made a new friend and I set up the tripod in preparation for a group shot.
In spite of the late night, we were a happy group that morning.
Soon enough it was time to pose for the group shot and get on down the road to Mt Airy, NC to ride in the 2012 Layne Creed Memorial Ride (https://lifeonthebikeandotherfabthings.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/layne-creed-the-reason-behind-the-ride/ )
The ride was chilly as we progressed slowly down through the mountains on Rt 52. The slow pace was not purposeful, I guarantee (the pictures show the problem) but it allowed for the photo capture of our line of bikes.
Pulling into 13 Bones (http://www.eat13bones.com/) on a day threatening rain, the crew from Virginia was a welcome site to the team of organizers of the Layne Creed Memorial Ride for the Rescuers. This was the 6th year of the ride and monies raised get donated to local rescue squads, fire departments, a children’s home and to support 2 scholarships. The owners of 13 Bones, in addition to being regular contributors to community events, were close friends of Layne Creed and they provide a great place to start the ride.
As soon as we got there, we lined up to get wrist bands, purchase T-shirts, pull a card for the Poker hand and buy tickets for the corn hole raffle. This year, TW Signs (http://www.twsigns.net/), the company that makes the annual ride T-shirts, also made a Harley Davidson corn hole board that was donated and put up for raffle.
(photo: Velvet Creed Leonard)
It was 11am and everyone enjoyed wings, sausage biscuits and beverages at 13 Bones.
Meanwhile out in the parking lot, riders checked out Layne’s old truck, and got ready to ride.
Folks looked at other bikes, reconnected with old friends and listened to pre-ride instructions.
60 bikes and many cars and trucks pulled out for the ride that honors the memory of Layne Creed. Stops along the way included Dodge City in Elkin, the Yadkin Moose Lodge in Mocksville, Cooper’s Sports Bar in Pilot Mountain and finally the Elks Lodge in Mt Airy. Each break offered food, beverages, and another card for the poker hand.
I’ve ridden in this Poker Run 4 times, but have no experience with any other rides. All I ever hear from more experienced riders is that this one is the most organized that they have ever been involved with. Every stop sign and intersection is monitored by someone from police, fire or rescue. Traffic is stopped when necessary and the bikes ride on by. In a few instances, folks in cars pull over out of respect for the ride and what it represents.
(photo: Velvet Creed Leonard)
We rode in pouring rain and chilly temps, but never lost the purpose, spirit and fun of the day! Once wet, it really doesn’t matter … you just keep riding for the cause.
(the previous 5 photos courtesy of Velvet Creed Leonard)
Somewhere along the way, a key became embedded in Josh’s back tire and caused a flat. Thanks to good friends on the road, the bike was safely loaded on a trailer and the ride continued on.
(photo: Velvet Creed Leonard)
By 5pm, a long line of wet riders pulled into the Mt Airy Elks Lodge. Those who had them, changed wet clothes for dry ones and it was time to enjoy good food, door prizes and a silent auction.
Many pictures were taken, dancing was done, and in the end, $5500 was donated to the Children’s Center of Surry and Yadkin and scholarships were given to two Surry Community College students.
Even with a flat tire, a broken peg, and a couple of wrong turns and a dropped bike or two on the way to the hotel, it was a great day … rain and all! The next morning dawned beautifully and it was a perfect day for a ride back home to Virginia.
We’re already looking forward to the 7th annual ride in 2013!
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 