My mom has been volunteering at the Wilderness Road Museum in Newbern, Virginia, and she gave us a tour and gave me the keys to go look through some of the old buildings on the property that they had renovated. There was such a rich sense of history about that place that it made me want to write stories about it :). Maybe I'll start something called Blue Ridge Fiction - write random stories based in the area. Follow a family through history - I would just have to have the time to research :(. That's what summers are for! I know enough that I could get started on something - I just need a decent plot. I tend to lean toward mysteries and romance *grin*.
Anyway, we head back to Tennessee tonight, and I'm not sure what we're going back to. Someone had mentioned that the power came back on, but I'm not sure if that's for us or not. We're heading back late into the evening so we plan to eat dinner with them before we go. We're heading to that hibachi grill in Roanoke that they all love - they do have some kickin' sushi :).
I had planned on going to the New River or going to Claytor Lake to swim some while here, but Nick doesn't like swimming in the lake. He's a bit more okay with a river, but still, I miss getting to go in it. I would love to go skiing again :).
The time to get things ready for school is dwindling and I need to get on the ball!! I've got some things done, but if I wait too much longer, I'm not going to be ready again like last year. I couldn't help it then because of the renovations - I couldn't get to any of my stuff - this year I should have no excuse, other than all the traveling *grin*.
At any rate, I'm going to sign off for now. Should return soon! :)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
SWVA and the Blue Ridge Mountains
In honor of my favorite college team, the Virginia Tech Hokies, I'm going to be blogging in maroon this evening. I'm sitting on the back porch of my mother's house enjoying the nice cool breeze, the sound of illegal fireworks being set off, and the rancid smell of OFF! because my mom's backyard is a breeding ground for mosquitos even though there isn't standing water in sight. I guess it's all the flowers and bushes she has around.
I'm not going to lie - I miss Virginia badly. I remember talking to a counselor at Lee University after my father died and talking about being from Virginia. He made the comment that Virginians were different - not sure what he meant by that, but he made it sound like we were quirky. It's funny because I always thought it was the weird people in Tennessee *grin*. If I'm not mistaken, he used the term "blue blood" and I guess it makes sense. Virginia has a rich history and culture in everything about it - architecture, genealogy, music, storytelling - there aren't many Virginians who can't trace their heritage back to when our families first came to the states. I miss the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River and the lakes.
But God currently has me in Athens, TN. I know some wonderful people there and I'm thankful for those people - especially love my students :). I just wish I could be closer to home and my family, I guess. I get homesick every time I come home. The thought of my Mother's mortality is always in the back of my mind as well. And the fear of what happens when she IS gone. I'd like to believe that Jesus will be back before then - but there is no guarantee.
I've been thinking about starting a blog or a Facebook group dedicated to some of the recipes and old ways found in the Appalachians and Blue Ridge Mountains. The homemade laundry detergent recipe mom gave me this weekend was the catalyst for the idea. Kind of like the foxfire books, but it would be copyright infringement if I even used the name in there. The only thing that has really stopped me from doing it is not having a cool or catchy name. I dunno...not sure I need another group or blog to run *grin*.
Well, I suppose I should get back inside at some point. I'm just enjoying the night air and the solitude so much. I have deep roots tied to this area, and I miss everything about it. I don't know if God will ever bring us back here, but I hope my place in heaven looks like this...and the beach :).
I'm not going to lie - I miss Virginia badly. I remember talking to a counselor at Lee University after my father died and talking about being from Virginia. He made the comment that Virginians were different - not sure what he meant by that, but he made it sound like we were quirky. It's funny because I always thought it was the weird people in Tennessee *grin*. If I'm not mistaken, he used the term "blue blood" and I guess it makes sense. Virginia has a rich history and culture in everything about it - architecture, genealogy, music, storytelling - there aren't many Virginians who can't trace their heritage back to when our families first came to the states. I miss the Blue Ridge Mountains and the New River and the lakes.
But God currently has me in Athens, TN. I know some wonderful people there and I'm thankful for those people - especially love my students :). I just wish I could be closer to home and my family, I guess. I get homesick every time I come home. The thought of my Mother's mortality is always in the back of my mind as well. And the fear of what happens when she IS gone. I'd like to believe that Jesus will be back before then - but there is no guarantee.
I've been thinking about starting a blog or a Facebook group dedicated to some of the recipes and old ways found in the Appalachians and Blue Ridge Mountains. The homemade laundry detergent recipe mom gave me this weekend was the catalyst for the idea. Kind of like the foxfire books, but it would be copyright infringement if I even used the name in there. The only thing that has really stopped me from doing it is not having a cool or catchy name. I dunno...not sure I need another group or blog to run *grin*.
Well, I suppose I should get back inside at some point. I'm just enjoying the night air and the solitude so much. I have deep roots tied to this area, and I miss everything about it. I don't know if God will ever bring us back here, but I hope my place in heaven looks like this...and the beach :).
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