Tennessee Vacation

I spent last week vacationing in Nashville, TN.  It was my first visit to this beautiful city and I loved it.  If you ever want to experience true "southern hospitality" this is the place to go.  Every person we encountered was helpful, friendly and welcoming!

The highlight of my week was stopping by to visit Jeri Landers from Hopalong Hollow Gazette blog on the way home.  After having lunch on her porch, she showed us around her country gardens and introduced us to all her farm critters.  Everything about her home and gardens looks like pictures in a magazine.

Peahen and her baby

Jeri is giving everyone an "afternoon snack"

Vacations are always fun, but I must admit that coming home to see my corgi girls and their feline sister was great.  Being away for several days makes you appreciate your home and surroundings when you return!

Fun Friday!

 

My high school friend, Diane, and I spent this past Friday in historic downtown Fredericksburg, VA.  The first thing we saw when we parked our car on the street was this lovely face in one of the shop windows.



 

Every shop window was decorated beautifully for the holidays.  This ladybug bathtub was one of my favorites.

 

 

 

This was a sidewalk art display.

 

 

Fredericksburg has lots of historical sites and old buildings.  The brick building is a bed and breakfast.

 

 

This animated scene of a candy factory was in the window of a kitchen shop.

 

 

Our last stop was this beautiful tea room for tea and chocolate pie before we started the 45 minute trip back to my house.  It was a perfect day with a treasured friend!

Great Day and a New Friend!

Handsome Mr. Brodie!

Once in a while you have a day that is perfect in every way!  Yesterday was one of those days! 

My daughter, Amy, her neighbor, Ann, and I went to Appomattox, VA, to visit friends who relocated there two years ago.  The weather was perfect so we drove with the top down on Ann's lovely convertible.    There are lots of dairy farms in that part of our state.  My daughter blew the horn to all the cows as we passed.  Silly girl!

I'd say the highlight of the day was meeting our friends' new corgi boy, Brodie.  They adopted him in June from a rescue organization.  He looks like a teddy bear.  This couple has one other corgi and this little guy has an awesome "forever home".

Appomattox is rich in  history and is the site where Lee surrendered to Grant at the end of the Civil War.  Our friend relocated to that area to be the director of a new Confederate museum that opened this past January.  She took us on a personal  guided tour and it was extremely interesting!

Of course, we managed to fit in some shopping at the antique shops in the charming little town.  My daughter found the perfect dining table that she's been looking for several years!

We came home last night tired and with lots of great memories!



Southern Maryland

Today was just too pretty not to take advantage of the cooler temperatures so my friend and I headed to Southern Maryland on a day trip.  We always enjoy seeing the Amish farms in St. Mary's and Charles counties.  Of course, I had to stop at a few thrift shops along the way and this buggy was parked outside one of them.  Two lovely Amish ladies were "thrifting" too!  I couldn't help but notice that their aprons were held together in the back with straight pins.   I've read that they do not use buttons because they are too decorative.

I loved this antique/gift shop.  It was packed with beautiful things!  In the side yard was a small pond full of waterlilies.  I've never seen these gorgeous flowers up close.  Aren't they breathtaking?

We bought fresh corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and beets from an Amish vegetable stand for dinner when we got home.

Population 540 and One Cute Corgi!

Today I went with my daughter, two granddaughters and several friends to Tangier Island, VA.   The island is located in the Chesapeake Bay and although it is closer to the state of Maryland, it is part of Virginia.  It took about an hour and half to get there on a cruise boat that left Reedville, VA.

The island has one combined school for all 12 grades.  The graduating class for 2012 was three students (all girls).  Last year there were 5 grads (three boys and two girls).

This is the oldest house on the island.  It is currently a bed and breakfast.

Most of the residents are water men and make a living by crabbing, fishing or harvesting oysters.  

There are no cars, only mopeds and golf carts.  The island does have a small airport.

Can you imagine only having one grocery store?  We were told that many people travel to the mainland by boat, shop at Wal-Mart, Food Lion, etc. and bring groceries back to the island. 

We saw several very old gravesites. 

And last but not least, there's at least one adorable corgi on the island and his name is "Toto."

My beautiful granddaughters!

Great memories were made today with family and friends!



Ocracoke Island

A friend and I drove to Nags Head, NC, last Thursday morning to spend a few nights with another friend.  We decided to get  up early Friday morning, drive south to Hatteras (about 70 miles) and take the 40-minute ferry over to Ocracoke Island.   We drove through a few rain showers on the way but otherwise the weather was beautiful with lots of sunshine and breezes.  The beaches on the island are totally undeveloped and preserved.

We ate lunch at this restauarant and I would highly recommend it if you ever go to Ocracoke.

On the way back  that afternoon, we stopped in Rodanthe to see this cottage that was used in the Nicholas Sparks movie, Nights in Rodanthe.  It is now rental property.

The view from the market.

This morning I participated in the Manteo Market as a vendor. My sales were good and as always, I loved the market.

This mural of Manteo was painted on the wall in the restaurant where we ate lunch. 

The Roanoke Island Inn is about a block from the market.  I'd love  to stay there sometime when I participate in the market but I'm sure it is expensive!

My Trip to the Outer Banks

 I love the sight and sound of the ocean!

I just got back from spending four glorious days in Nags Head, NC, with great friends.  My trip could not have been more perfect!  The temperature was in the 70's most of the time, we ate at great seafood restaurants and I had a successful day of selling at the market on Saturday.

The market was outside in a beautiful waterfront park  in the charming little town of  Manteo.  Manteo has  great shops, old southern homes and very friendly residents.  It is about 15 minutes from  Nags Head and the ocean.

It seemed like everyone who came to the market brought their dog.  The SPCA was sponsoring a "Dog Wash" and it was hilarious to watch all the different breeds  being bathed.

I had breakfast this morning at Mel's Diner in Grandy, NC.  I couldn't resist taking picture of this antique Ford parked in front of it.  It sure seems strange to refer to a car that was popular during my early years as antique.  So, what does that make me?

I'm excited about having dinner tonight with my daughters for Mother's Day.  I hope all of you are having a great day!

Bella La Vita Inn

 My daughter and a friend recently had a wonderful stay at the lovely Bella La Vita Inn in southwest Virginia.  The inn is located in Floyd, VA, very close to the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

I love the picture below that she took of a cat door with a stuffed opossum coming through! 

They enjoyed getting to know the couple who owns the inn and Redmond, one of the fur hosts.