I’ve been wanting to get my ears pierced for years! My best lifelong friend, Lisa Benfield Edwards, and I had some piercing activity when we were 12 or 13. We stuck needles in our ears and put broom sticks in the holes to hold the holes open while they healed. Mine got infected. I don’t know how Lisa fared…I can’t remember, but I do know she now has pierced ears.
Forward to now….DECADES later. I still have virgin ears. I have wanted to get them pierced. I’m a little fearful, but I’ve really tried. Three times I’ve gathered my courage and went to get my ears pierced. The first time was about five years ago. I went to Claires at the Bristol Mall, and they were too busy to do it. I then went to Walmart and learned that they’d quit piercing ears two months before.
Today, I went to the Bristol Mall–again to Claires–and guess what! Today, as in January 5, 2016, Claires at the Bristol Mall stopped piercing ears. They referred me to their Kingsport store. The alternative is a good tattoo parlor that does a lot of piercing might be the best bet. I want to do it during lunch so I won’t be thinking about it too much. You can overly think these important things like whether to get your ears pierced in our 50’s.
I’m now wondering….maybe I’m not meant to have pierced ears? Maybe this is God’s way of telling me not to get my ears pierced, but why would He care? Even Mary McCroskey’s cows have pierced ears…why not me?
I’m going to try one more time. Hopefully by this time next week, I’ll have pierced ears. Here’s Lisa and me at our Class Reunion. I can’t believe she is covering her ears up. When I get mine done, you can rest assured I’ll be showing off some earrings, and all my clip-ons will go away. Far far away.
Mike and I got up early and went to Brstol this morning. We haven’t been going to church for about the last six months. I think we’ll start again in the coming weeks, but, for me–and I realize there are many who might debate this–a bit of time away from church is necessary on occasion. At any rate, we were out and about on a Sunday morning. We went to downtown Bristol seeking breakfast.
We landed at Bristol’s Manna Bagel. This bagel company is owned by a rabbi, and it’s open Sunday thru Friday. Mike has eaten lots of bagels in lots of different places, and he said these were very good. I have only eaten bagels from the grocery store or Brueggers’s in Raleigh, so I don’t know the difference. I can tell you these were yummy. I had a plain bagel with veggie cream cheese which is my favorite. It was very pleasant. We read the paper and ate our bagels in companionable silence.
This guy went with us. For you dog lovers, isn’t it fun to see their faces and ears “blowing in the wind” when they are riding in the car? It’s pure joy for them!
On the way to Lowe’s, we drove by one of two of Bristol’s new breweries. Not all breweries have food but I believe this one does. My friend, Danea, made the statement last year that “Bristol has gotten cool!” I agree!
Another thing I like about downtown Bristol is how old buildings are finding new lives. We need to do more of this everywhere. What was once Central Warehouse Corporation…is now Bristol Virginia Public Schools!
We went the “back way” to Lowe’s from downtown Bristol. We drove by VI College. I remember when being a VI girl meant you were really “up there.” I was more of a UCLA girl–Upper Corner of Lower Abingdon–which translates to Virginia Highlands Community College (for which I am forever grateful). If you believe in prayer (and I do), pray that something good will come of the VI campus.
Here’s the president’s house. It’s up for sale, too. All the buildings are up for sale.
One of the problems facing VI is that it is in a “shaky” part of Bristol. There are beautiful, old houses in disrepair. If I were a rich developer, instead of finding farmland to put my subdivision on, I’d buy a block of Bristol and redo each house. People who bought could walk downtown. Wouldn’t that be fun?
And this trip was not without a prize…from a pile that looked like this on the side of the road near VI College…
Came a treasure. Mike and I were in the truck (so handy), and I screamed STOP!! Because I saw this…
This chair, like those old buildings being re-purposed in downtown Bristol, is going to find new life. It will look something like this in the spring…only better. I’ll trick it out with fancy duct tape if Mike can’t fix the back slat.
Won’t that be grand? I hope you have a great week. This week I’m going to try and achieve one of my 2016 Goals. I’m going to get my ears pierced! Do you think I’m old enough?
Have you made your New Year’s Resolutions? One of mine is to be more organized and in the process of being more organized, I lost the very cool picture I took of my closet getting organized. Maybe I ought to rethink if I can really do that.
Here’s my first resolution for the New Year. I only have only two I’m settled on today, but I have more motivation to keep the first one than in year’s past.
I am going to have a more healthy weight and focus a little more on my health in not just one area, but all areas–mentally, physically and spiritually.
For weight loss, here’s my bench mark picture, and I’ve already lost two pounds since that was taken in November. I quit eating Pal’s hotdogs in October, and that one act has been helpful. Small changes. Also, I’ve got the tools. I’ve got the staff at About Face, my Fitbit (which I’ve already lost but I have another one), and Aaron (my stepson) got me an Apple watch. Last, I’ve got a dog that likes to walk. I can do it.
Another resolution is for my Little Man (River) in the picture with me. River and Mike and I will be going to obedience training in the coming months. We’ll be taking him to Paula Shupe in Chilhowie for help with this. River has a very gentle disposition and except for a few habits such as kissing, he could be a good therapy dog. Since I love to read and I understand there is a need for reading therapy dogs in the Tri-Cities, I’d like for River to have this job. He has to prove his good citizenship, however, and I’m hoping that Paula and I can help him reach this goal.
I have many other goals. What are yours? Writing them down and blogging about them will help me meet my goals. One of the goals is to give my blog a new look. So many things!
Happy New Year. It’s hard to believe it is 2016. A young friend I follow on Facebook, Heather Harless, said it well — “I just mastered writing 2015, and now it’s 2016!” That’s me, too, Heather!
We had some friends and family over and went to the Barter Theatre today. River wanted to look nice for our guests so he got out a few neckties to look over.
“I dunno,” I heard him say. “Nothing really speaks to me.”
He finally decided on green which was what I recommended as the others are too summery.
We’d been busy getting the house somewhat decorated. River has enjoyed helping although he gets tired sometimes.
Last week we put up a few things outdoors…wreaths..
And garland..
Our house is a country house…so we use lots of natural things that I can find around Mendota. Inside the house, I’d set the table and had it looking really good the day before and a cat got on it, knocked the flowers over and spilled water everywhere so I had to improvise. My tablecloth today was not ironed and the red carnation and greenery arrangement bit the dust as well. These flowers are just a bouquet I grabbed at Sam’s Club.
I have been thinking of getting rid of my antique dinnerware but I used a few pieces today and enjoyed seeing it out so much that I know I will be keeping it. Here’s one of my antique plates. Guess what the name of the pattern is? Bristol.
In both the Washington County Business Challenge and the Southwest Opportunity Cup Challenge, we met some great folks. One such person was Katherine of Sweetworks. She made these mini cupcakes. They are so yummy.
There’s some left over. I’m going to get one now. Christmas is just 19 days away. Can you believe that?
It’s Thanksgiving weekend, and I have started decorating. I love a natural, country Christmas. I started with the sled that I bought in Mendota for $15. Paired with stems of boxwood and a velvet ribbon, I’m so happy with it. It’s right by my front door.
I am lazy about holidays. Everything that comes out, has to go away come January, but I can leave that sled out after Christmas. Same with this grapevine snowman.
My True Love, Lowe’s, recently opened a brand new store in Bristol. It’s awesome, but no matter how good you are, when Home Depot has wreaths like this for $6.88 on Black Friday at 6 am, I’m going to be at Home Depot. I had a gift card and I bought six wreaths and four packs of pine garland. How pretty is this?
And I started making fresh boxwood wreaths…I’ll put these all over the inside of the house.
I preserved some of these a few years ago. That post (here it is if you’re interested) has been viewed thousands of times. I didn’t try that this time because it takes about three weeks to preserve the stems. They’ll keep at least until Christmas without preserving.
But all this might be for nothing. Christmas could be in trouble.
This is more of an update since I already mentioned Muffin’s house in this gratitude journal. However, what good is a great house if you don’t go in it? That’s what easily could have happened. Remember…we have a heated garage that Muffin refuses to enter.
So, I am so, so thankful that Muffin the Feral Cat likes his new home that Mike made for him. Look at him! He stays in there all the time. Well, he comes out to eat or sit by the door and hiss at my indoor cats.
River walks by and sticks his nose in — or…he did once. Muffin reached out and smacked him. Remember last year, when we hurriedly made a box house for this feral kitty that showed up? We used the grill cover on top of it? We could not get near him at that time. Now, he arches his back to be petted. I did have the pet heating pad in there, but it was not insulated like his sturdy new home is.
However, I may have to go back and use the grill cover again for extreme wind and cold because of the cut out. At any rate, I am grateful today that Muffin has such a fine house and that he likes it!!
Here’s the thing about a daily Thanksgiving journal that is also a blog. Sometimes it’s hard to post, and I’m nine days behind! Over the past nine days, I’ve been thankful for so much. Likewise, the tragedy in France makes me unsettled. Why do people have to do this to one another? I do not understand it.
On November 7, I was very thankful I had the weekend to myself. Mike went to Akron, and I had the house for three full days. I enjoyed having this space. I had started to go with him but decided against it. I wanted to clean the house. I’m cleaning and trying to sort through things that I still like but do not have a place for….does anyone locally want this? I do not want to ship it. If you want it, please message me. I am not selling it. I’m giving it away. I stitched it in 1986. My kitchen was all done in Williamsburg blue, and I made this to go with that kitchen. Love what it says “Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want but the realization of how much you already have.” Isn’t that true?
On November 8, I was so excited because I picked up a few things a local person, Pennie Jarrett, painted for me. Here’s one of them..(excuse my.terrible picture). She did this for me for $25. Pennie rocks! She actually made several things which I’ll show you later.
I’ll be using this at Christmas. I’m decorating with Christmas carols this year. All of my rooms are Christmas carols.
On November 9, I was glad that Mike was back home and had arrived safely. I had the space I needed and was done with it. On every day, I am grateful for this sweet face. He’s enjoying having toys.
Who could not love River?
On Tuesday, November 10, I had a great day at work. It was nothing special, but I am lucky to work for nice people, have interesting work, and I have a BFF at work. I am grateful for my “real” job, and following that day, I got to do something I’d wanted to do for a while. I also do a bit of work for About Face, a great (as in “the best” !!) med spa in the Bristol area, and Sue, the owner, recently purchased an IPL laser. We’ll be rolling this out in December, but Rhiana gave me my first IPL treatment for those “spots” on my hands. We took a before picture. This will take a few treatments, and I’ll show you the “after” pictures in six weeks or so. They’ll be gone. This picture is not of my hands but this is what I can expect.
This laser is really smart and our estheticians, Lisa, Rhiana, and Nina are loving what it can do for clients. I’m grateful for my relationship with About Face and Sue. She’s a sister from another mister.
So, Wednesday thru Friday flew by. I so enjoyed listening to the book from Jan Karon called “Come Rain or Shine.” I love a good book whether it’s on audio or in pages. Oh! And I’m thrilled that Hallmark has started Christmas movies.
I was fixing dinner one of those nights, and I realized how grateful I am for locally raised beef. I’ve quit eating processed meats but I still eat red meat, and Mike fixed me a rib eye steak that was the best. I asked him what was different, and he told me that “it was one of the steaks you bought from your girlfriend.” I could not wait to tell Sabrina Fleenor. I’d bought the beef several months ago and just not got around to fixing it. If you are local and want to get in touch with Keith or Sabrina Fleenor for your beef, let me know. I love small business people. Local beef packed locally at Russell County.
Sometime during the group of days that I missed in my gratitude journal, I went shopping. In Mendota. Can you believe that? I went up to the old store building in Mendota and bought a couple of things from “Doc”. For $15, I bought this sled which I’ll put a wreath and bow on and have a great outdoor Christmas decoration for the porch.
This is all so counter to my plan to get rid of things, but I’ve wanted an outdoor sled to put up on the mantle or out by the door for a long time.
I also bought a chair to make a spring garden chair. I have so many plans for spring. Look at that chippy green paint? I guess I’m thankful for chippy paint. LOL.
There’s all kinds of good stuff in that old store. After Christmas, I’m going to buy an old headboard with plans to do something like this for RiverCliff Cottage–our overnight guest house. Someone tagged me with this on Facebook. I love it. Sorry it is so little.
There’s old wrought iron headboards up there that would look great on a wall. I saw lots of old lanterns. There is a Hoosier up there. Lots of yummy stuff.
Finally, I’m thankful for those feet in the left of the picture –that’s Michael’s feet; he’s been hanging pictures for me. He’s got some good help with our little man.
I’m still droning on about the My Southwest Virginia Cup Challenge. Bear with me, I seldom win anything. I showed you this picture before. Why didn’t you tell me my sweater was too big? Seriously. I thought we were friends.
This is my favorite picture (below). It was our publicity photo. Of course, my little man…my little prince…River…had to be in it. Look how shiny and pretty he is. And a special message to the person who shot at this little dog and hit him before he found his furever home….”may you rot in hell.” He is healthy and loved and even has health insurance now!! He’s a rock star!! However, Mike had a drill in his hand walking toward River and me last week, and River tucked his tail and hid. When my friend had her camera tripod in its case and it looked similar to a rifle case, again, River was frightened. We’re going to obedience training soon. I hope he can handle it emotionally. He certainly needs it. He’s running things around here right now.
Today while being immensely thankful for River, I’m also thankful these were decent pictures. I normally am not so lucky. Normally I look like I have a jar of prunes nearby and just cannot keep them out of my mouth. Example:
But this one was much better, but wow…what a lot of teeth. No wonder River is good for me; he’s afraid I’ll bite him.
This is the last mention of the Cup and I’ll put the pictures of me away. My 15 minutes of fame is over. Sigh.
These are some of my thankful thoughts on this 6th Day of Thanksgiving. I hope you find many things to be thankful for in your life, too.
Today I am thankful that Adventure Mendota placed in the My Southwest Virginia Opportunity Cup. I’m so happy with the whole way the evening went except that I wanted everyone to win. Everyone.
I heard some awesome people speak of small businesses and of Southwest Virginia, and I realized we are kindred spirits. It’s not just about small business; it’s about Southwest Virginia. We love it.
One speaker, and oh my… I do not know his name, spoke of the rise and now the fall of coal which has been Southwest Virginia’s economic engine. He recalled when there was no need for entrepreneurs. The “company” took care of everything from painting the house to fixing the roof. Today, I realized how different things must seem to this gentleman as Alpha announced they did not feel that they could pay their retired employees benefits. Everything has changed so much. The folks at Alpha are good people; I know they do not want to do this.
But there is hope. There are seeds of vitality. We must reinvent ourselves, and endeavors such as the My Southwest Virginia Cup Challenge reward efforts. Southwest Virginia must have the most pristine and beautiful natural resources. Our food must be better than food anywhere else. We must be nicer. We must be better! And you know what…I think we are!
I was so sure that we did not place that I didn’t want to go to the event. Mike made me go. If you do not believe that I was surprised that Adventure Mendota placed, look at the crazy look on my face! Yes, I’m holding a big gold cup in my left hand and a big ol’ check for $10,000.00 in this picture, and I have an insane expression on my face. However, do notice the grip on that check. It wasn’t going anywhere.
Here’s a picture of a few of the contestants. This is the second entrepreneur’s challenge I’ve been in. The first one was early in the spring, and Adventure Mendota came in second in that one as well. We didn’t win money but we were happy with the Chamber of Commerce Membership we received. The winner was a hot dog place called the Political Dog. We were beat by a wiener the first time.
In the picture above, to my right stands the first place winners. They are the Wolfes of Wolfe’s Barbecue. Do you know what this means? This year, I got beat by pork! What is this conspiracy???
As day 5 winds down, I am thankful that Mike and I took Adventure Mendota to the “Cup” and came in second.
I took a picture of both the check and the cup together on the kitchen counter. Then, the three of us (the check, the cup and me) went to bed.
Another funny thing happened in an interview following the presentation. Hannah, an intern from UVA Wise, was assigned to interview the contestants. She keep looking at me and finally said…”do I know you or your husband?” I told her I didn’t think so, but she added, “do you like Pal’s tea a whole lot and does your husband drive a gray truck with a black dog in it? Turns out, she occasionally works at Pals in Gate City. Note to self…cut back on the tea or wear a disguise.
Or…better yet. I’ll start drinking my tea in my new, gold cup.
As day five winds down, I feel very happy. I’m grateful for that.
Today I am thankful for my husband Michael and our shared compassion for Muffin, the feral kitty that arrived at our house last winter. Muffin was a feral kitty that lived several miles from here and my young cousin had been watching over him for a number of years. Somehow he got lost in the snow and ended up here. At first, we had no idea where he came from and even when we learned he came from my cousin’s place, he’s not the type of cat you can easily transport in a car, so we decided to care for him as long as he stayed here. So far, he’s still here. He’s actually gotten quite friendly.
Last winter, we quickly made him a make shift box home..actually a box inside a box with bubble wrap and a heating pad. It was not great, but it provided him with heat and the necessary shelter to survive the -8 degree temps we experienced.
This winter, we wanted to make sure he had something more sturdy…so here’s what we did:
We bought two Rubber Maid storage boxes. One was larger than the other.
We inserted pink insulation inside the large box surrounding the smaller box.
Mike cut openings out in each of the boxes so he could easily get inside.
There was a gap between the small box and the large box at the entry point. We had to build Muffin a foyer.
We inserted this foyer in the entrance. Muffin’s house is really quite well appointed.
His heating system is powered by a “pet pad” which is designed for outdoor cats.
This required drilling some small holds for the cord to exit the house and be plugged into the wall. The great thing about this house is that I can open the top and look in and make sure that the bed is clean and dry.
I thought he’d be a little scared of the new house, but that was not the case. He went right in. And stayed the night.
I am so grateful to Mike for fixing Muffin a solid house that is well insulated and dry. His pet heating pad has a much lower temp than a heating pad that we’d use ourselves, but I know that with his fur, the insulation, and the heat that the heating pad does emit, Muffin will be snug and warm during the cold winter months ahead.
And that is what I am so grateful for as day four turns into night.
This laser is really smart and our estheticians, Lisa, Rhiana, and Nina are loving what it can do for clients. I’m grateful for my relationship with About Face and Sue. She’s a sister from another mister.
