Taking the Cousins to Blue Ridge Winery

Botetourt County has three wineries, and I always enjoy Blue Ridge Vineyard in Eagle Rock. You can't beat the views. I don't know about the wine as I don't drink, but the views are spectacular.

 

Isn't that pretty?

 

 

Cousin Kathy with the official greeter at the winery.

 

 

 

Cousin Karen looking over things.

 

 

The wine tasting.

 

 

A sampling of the vineyard's offerings.

 

 

 

The tasting room.

 

 

Apparently it was good wine; they each took some home with them.

 

 

Outside there is a big floor space for dancing and gatherings.

 

 

Wouldn't it be a nice spot for a wedding?

 

 

One year we were up here and saw bears.

 

 

A contemplative moment for Cousin Karen.

 

 

And a final shot of Uncle Buddy at my mother-in-law's, because, well, he's Uncle Buddy.

Thursday Thirteen

Today I thought I'd offer up 13 things you may not know about the Blue Ridge Parkway.

2006 Photo

1. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway in the eastern part of the United States.

2. It runs for 469.1 miles through the Blue Ridge Mountains, mostly along the ridge tops.

3. Work on the Parkway began under the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Construction started on September 11, 1935.

4. The project was originally called "The Appalachian Scenic Highway."

5. Construction took 52 years to complete; the last of the Parkway was finished in 1987.

Stylized photo of Mabry Mill, which you can see along
the Blue Ridge Parkway. (Photo taken 2006)

 

 

6. The Parkway runs from Virginia's Shenandoah Valley to the Great Smokey Mountains near Cherokee, North Carolina. Skyline Drive in Virginia, which predates the Blue Ridge Parkway, is an additional 105 mile drive through the Shenandoah National Park to the north. The two are often confused or put together, but they are two separate roads and projects.



Looking over Botetourt County from the Parkway. Photo taken 2014.

7. Commercial traffic is prohibited on the Parkway, except for tour buses.

8. The Parkway is free to drive, but the road frequently closes in winter.

9. There are miles of hiking trails along the Parkway. Some of the attractions include campgrounds. There is a fee for camping.

Another shot of Botetourt County. Below I note where our farm is in this picture.

 

10. No road signs tell you where to go or what is available at the next exit from the Parkway. Many communities are only a short drive from the Parkway. (The Parkway runs through Botetourt County and is accessible in the Blue Ridge area.)

11. You can picnic along the side of the road nearly anywhere on the Parkway. There are also designated picnic areas.

12. You are not supposed to pick flowers, gather wood, or otherwise take pieces of the forest with you when you leave.  You are, however, supposed to haul your trash back out with you.

Notation of where our farm is as seen from the Blue Ridge Parkway overlook
in Bedford County.

 

13. Dogs and other pets are allowed, but must be leashed.

More of Botetourt as seen from a Parkway overlook.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 363rd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

The Peaks of Otter

We drove on the Blue Ridge Parkway on up to the Peaks of Otter, but we did not go up the trail to the top. It was late in the day and the bus was leaving for its last journey to the top just as we arrived.

It's a good hike up to Sharp Top. It has been many years since I went up to the top.

The Blue Ridge Parkway. It's a great drive.

The lake at Peaks of Otter. We were told in the gift shop that there really are otters living in the lake.

The restaurant and gift shop.

They had some interesting items in the gift shop.

Cousin Kathy is an otter fan, which I did not know.

Uncle Buddy was the first to spy the Bear Poop.

This is Sharp Top (I think), the mountain. Spectacular views.

We can see the Peaks from our house, if I walk a little ways down the driveway and away from the tree line. The Peaks is another of those landmarks that mean you're almost home when you've been away.

Peaks of Otter Winery

We had visitors all last week. Well, actually, my mother-in-law had visitors: her brother, his wife, and their two daughters came in. The cousins are our age so we spent some time with them.

Last Wednesday we went to the Peaks of Otter Winery. I'd never been there so it was interesting to tag along.



Johnny Appleseed and a train greeted us at the entrance.



The wine tasting room and gift shop was in this structure.



A little bit of neon.

Cousin Karen (who lives in California) and Aunt Marjean
(from Illinois) examine the wine offerings.



Lots of antique stuff on the walls piqued my husband's
interest.

More stuff.

Cousin Karen, Cousin Kathy (back to us) and Aunt Marjean.

No highway attraction is complete without the Jack-o-Lope.

Uncle Buddy from Illinois. He is 88 years old.

The California Cousin.

Some of the jellies and jams for sale.

My mother-in-law.

Uncle Buddy.

Pretty display of gourds.

Nothing else says "spend money here" like a big red devil.

Map of visitor locations.

More rustic stuff.

Uncle Buddy observes the women doing the wine tasting.

Hmm. Yum! Good enough to buy a bottle!

Another little building at the winery.

My mother-in-law, my husband, and Aunt Marjean.

Everybody but me: my husband, my mother-in-law,
Uncle Buddy in the rear, Cousin Kathy (Illinois),
Aunt Marjean, and Cousin Karen.
 

September Sunrise

Every hour, it seems, the leaves are turning. Each time I look out the front window I see a touch less green and a bit more yellow, a little rusty red.

That certain slant of sunlight slips softly through the thinning leaves. The shadows dance, delighting me, and it is Autumn.

The deer drift like shades, gliding as if never touching the ground to disturb the cobwebs that now litter the forest floor like diamond dust.

The sunsets are lengthy, the sun reaching out and over the clouds, chasing after the mountains, until only a small glimmer remains. It vanishes - poof - and darkness descends.

Sunday Stealing: Ask Away

From Sunday Stealing

Ask Away!

1. What is your zodiac sign?

A. I am The Twins (Gemini). Dual personality and all.

2. What is your favorite color?

A. Blue.

3. What’s your lucky number?

A. Eight.

4. What talents do you have?

A. I have a way with words. I play guitar. I can sing on key. I can cook when I want to. I've been told I give good advice.

5. Are you psychic in any way?

A. I knew you were going to ask that question. But yes. For example, the days before my husband actually hurt himself on the farm, I was overcome with abnormal worry about him, so much so that my friends remarked on it. And then he did get hurt, so it was like I knew it was coming.

6. Favorite song?

A. I don't know that I really have a favorite song. It depends on my mood.

7. How many pillows do you sleep with?

A. Um. Four.

8. What position do you usually sleep in?

A. Because of a boo-boo in surgery last year, I have since June 2013 slept on a wedge-shaped foam thing, with pillows under my knees and feet. It's the only position I can rest in that does not cause extreme pain.

9. Have you ever tried archery?

A. No.

10. What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without sleep?

A. About 26 hours.

11. Do you have any scars?

A. Oodles.

12. Have you ever had a secret admirer?

A. If I knew that, it wouldn't be a secret, now would it.

13. Can you do any other accents other than your own?

A. Not very well.

14. Are you a good judge of character?

A. I am mediocre.

15. Can you curl your tongue?

A. Yes.

16. Are you a clean or messy person?

A. I'm a medium clean person.

17. How long does it take for you to get ready?

A. About 30 minutes.

18. Do you have much of an ego?

A. I am the greatest thing to ever walk the planet. Not really. I do have a lot of sarcasm sometimes.

19. Do you talk to yourself?

A. Yes. I answer myself, too.

20. Do you sing to yourself?

A. Yes.

21. Can you name all 50 states of America?

A. I don't know. I can read a map or look it up, it's not something that really matters. I'm certainly not going to sit here and see if I can.

22. Have you ever been scuba diving?

A. No, unless diving in the pond and feeling around for dropped items counts.

23. What makes you nervous?

A. Loud noises, lots of people, guns, overstimulation, and ignorance.

24. Do you correct people when they make mistakes?

A. Not unless they are in danger.

25. Are you ticklish?

A. Sometimes.

26. Have you ever been in a position of authority?

A. Does being Chairman of the Library Board count? Or President of a local historical society? Or the person who sends out notices to book club? If so, then yes. Otherwise, I am simply the mistress of my domain.

27. How many piercings do you have?

A. One in each ear.

28. Can you roll your Rs?

A. I suppose so. I sat here and tried and it seemed like I could, but it is not something I cultivate.

29. How fast can you type?

A. According to this online typing test, I type 82 words per minute. Apparently I've slowed down, as at one time I typed 110 wpm.

30. What are you allergic to?

A. Everything. Perfumes, cigarettes, pollen, mold, certain foods, and stupidity.

31. Do you keep a journal?

A. Yes.

32. Do you like your age?

A. I can't do anything about it, so I may as well.

33. What makes you angry?

A. Class differences, people being mean to other people, hypocrites, anyone who does anything bad to someone I love, unjust actions, law-breaking, evil people, pollution, environmental degradation, war. I'm sure there are other things, but that is a good start.

34. Were your ancestors royalty?

A. Not that I am aware of. Mostly they were Irish potato farmers, gunsmiths, millers, and farmers. Hardy stock, the backbone upon which others build their riches.

Saturday 9: A Day in the Life

Saturday 9: A Day in the Life (1967)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) According to Rolling Stone, this is the greatest Beatle song of all. What's your favorite Beatle song?

A. Let It Be.


2) "A Day in the Life" took 5 days to record. Looking back on the last five days, what did you accomplish?

A. I wrote four newspaper articles out of five due on Monday (yes, I will finish them all). I entertained members of my husband's family, in from Illinois and California. I went to physical therapy. I cleaned the house, did the laundry, wrote in my blog, took photos, watched deer, and saw the premiere of the new Survivor.

3) This song is the highlight of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band, the first album released after the Beatles gave up touring. Critics predicted that, when they abandoned live concerts, their creativity would wane. Obviously this wasn't the case. When has someone underestimated you?

A. I think I underestimate myself most of the time.


4) The song says our hero "woke up, got out of bed, dragged a comb across my head." How is your hair right now? Are you prepared to go out and face the world?

A. I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go. I've been writing but I have to go to dinner later, so I have my makeup on and my hair combed even though I could have been sitting here writing in my PJs.

5) The lyrics tell us he had to hurry to catch the bus to work. When is the last time you rode public transportation?

A. I think when I was in high school! No, wait, we took a tour bus around Asheville, NC. Does that count as public transportation?


6) "A Day in the Life" was a true Lennon-McCartney collaboration. Conventional wisdom is that Paul is easy going while John was edgy. Is your temperament more Lennon or McCartney?

A. Lennon.


7) "A Day in the Life" came out five years after the Beatles replaced their drummer. Taking over for Pete Best was undoubtedly the biggest break of Ringo Starr's career. Tell us about a time when fortune smiled on you.

A.  When I married my husband.

8) It would be hard to overestimate the Beatles' impact on popular culture. Their story and music have inspired a Broadway musical, a Las Vegas show, two movies and, according to Amazon, 900+ books. What's the most recent biography you read?

A. I'm currently reading Factory Man by Beth Macy, which is not exactly a biography but kinda sorta is. To be honest I don't read a lot of biographies.

9) The Beatles are an ongoing boon to England's tourism industry. Fans from all over the world visit Liverpool each year to see where the Beatles grew up and got their start. If you won a trip to England, tell us what you'd like to see.

A. Big Ben, Stonehenge, and my pen-pal Inga, with whom I've corresponded with more 15,000 times over the last 15 years, but never met.

Thursday Thirteen

Today is one of my aunt's birthday, and in counting I realized I had a lot of aunts.

1. Happy Birthday Aunt Carolyn. This is my mother's sister. She is 64 today (I think. I hope I haven't aged her a year).

2. My father had a sister, Elizabeth, who was also my aunt. She died last year at the age of 61.

3. My other aunts are all by marriage. I have a large family so there are many of them. Aunt Sherri is actually younger than me, as is my uncle. She's married to my mother's youngest brother.

4. Aunt Jennifer is also married to one my mother's brothers,

5. as is Aunt Pam, who is retired from the Air Force, and

6. I have another aunt in Kansas who is married to another of my mother's brothers. I am not sure we've actually met. If we did it was long ago.

7. My father's oldest brother's wife is Aunt Julie.

8. Aunt Joanie is my father's other brother's wife. His brother is now deceased.

9. My husband's family became mine, and Aunt Nancy is my husband's father's sister. She lives in Georgia.

10. Aunt Franny, also my husband's father's sister, lives in Salem.

11. Aunt Jenny, also my husband's father's sister, passed away several years ago.

12. Aunt Marjean is my husband's mother's brother's wife. She lives in Chicago.

13. Aunt Cass was my husband's mother's other brother's wife. They are both deceased.

I hope I didn't miss anyone. I know there are some ex-wives in there that I also refer to as "aunt" but I am not listing them here.

I feel lucky to have that many aunts, even if many are by marriage. I don't see them much but it is nice that they are there.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here. I've been playing for a while and this is my 362nd time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

When Girls Go Missing

I am saddened that it seems like every time I turn on the TV, another girl has gone missing.

This is not just in my state, my little corner of the world, where girls go missing.

Lots of girls go missing every day. Why do girls go missing?

The most recent girl to go missing is another UVA student, up in Charlottesville, where it appears something is very wrong. Five women have gone missing in that area in the last five years. I have found references to girls going missing as far back as 1996 on the Internet. The Route 29 Stalker, some articles call it.
 
What frustrates me, though, is the "blame the victim" mentality. Why shouldn't a young woman be able to walk safely from one area of a city to another? Not just Charlottesville or Roanoke, but any city?

What gives anyone the right to touch some other human being, to reach into that personal space and cause physical harm, defilement, or death? What gives them the right?

They have no right. It doesn't matter if the girl has been drinking, what she was wearing, or how she was acting. That doesn't give anyone the right to harm another. It simply doesn't.

And yet the first thing I heard was "she'd been drinking" or "look at what she was wearing" or "why was she walking alone at 1 a.m." As if it is her fault. As if she is "asking for it" - why?

Why are the standards so different?

I am old enough now that I am always careful. But young people are not careful. When I was an older student at Hollins, the young girls had no qualms about running around a dimly lit campus without a care. Those of us who were a little older always made sure we had somebody with us when we walked to our cars. The young girls worried us then and that was 25 years ago.

So I am angry. I am angry that a young girl can't do what she wants and live her life as she wishes without doing it in fear. Because fear is what it is to be a woman in today's society. Fear of being alone with a stranger in a parking lot. Fear of going to the mall after dark. Fear of hurt, fear of pain, fear of drawing attention to yourself so that someone takes notice, and hurts you.

I am disappointed in the double standard. Why do we not have the righteous indignation that we should against these men who hurt women? Aren't they raised better? Are men really that primitive, that they can't control those urges, can't master their feelings, can't be human beings long enough to leave someone else alone? If that is the case, shouldn't they all be locked up somewhere, in zoos like animals? Doesn't the problem rest with them?

Why don't we ask those questions? Can someone tell me that? What is it always that poor missing girl's fault?

I consider myself a feminist, and as a feminist, this reaction angers me. If a young man was out running around shirtless at 1 a.m. and he went missing, would we ask the same questions? What was he doing out in the street without a shirt? Why was he drunk at 1 a.m.? No, we wouldn't ask these questions. They wouldn't even come up in the conversation.

There are facts, sure. The latest missing girl was wearing a crop top at a party. She'd been drinking. She was walking alone. But do those facts mean that she is to blame if she was assaulted, kidnapped, or killed?

Why do we blame the victim? In any assault, absolutely any assault, whether it's a mugging or a rape, a kidnapping or murder, it is not the victim's fault. The person at fault is the one who committed the crime. Always. Every time. Regardless of circumstance. Nobody "asks for it" or deserves it.

Just because I am female doesn't make it my responsibility to ensure I live. That is a societal responsibility. But I have a young niece to worry about, and she needs to be taught to be careful, to be alert, to be, I'm afraid, fearful of the world around her.

Because the truth of the matter is everyone make a mistake, and there is always some jerk out there waiting to take advantage of someone he considers "less than." And in today's world, in today's political climate, a lot of men think of women as "less than."

The media and the political arena have ensured that women are nothing more than political toys and they persist in dehumanizing females, from the abstract way they discuss our "lady parts" in the political sphere to the way they sell automobiles on television.

In an ideal world, no woman would have to worry about rape or murder. But we don’t live in that world. The best we can do is try to create that world. But does anyone really want that world?

Wouldn't there be more outspokenness, more objections, more efforts, if this type of activity were really unacceptable?

I am disgusted. I'm fed up with the media, with politics, with the whole damn patriarchal system that insists that I am less than human because I don't have a penis. What I want to know is, are you disgusted, too?