Pictures are more effective than words, so I’ll start with a picture of the 2019 Mendota Cemetery Quilt we’re calling Crossroads. This is our primary fundraiser for the upkeep of the Mendota Cemetery. To date, we have never turned a family in the community away in their time of need; and while we do ask the families to pay the backhoe fee, we do not charge for the burial. Yet our cemetery is as beautiful–or even more beautiful–than most I’ve seen. When you arrive as a permanent guest at our country cemetery, you’ve reached the “crossroads” that we all must reach.
The quilt was lovingly pieced by Chris Schanzenbach and Margie Dean. I didn’t do very much so I take no credit. Most of the fabric on the front was donated, but we purchased the rich blue and gold paisley on the reverse side. We were a tiny bit short on our purchase, however, so Chris inserted a row of pieces. She’s a master.
We did not hand stitch the Mendota Cemetery Quilt Pam Sprinkle did that for us and she, as always, did an awesome job. Look at the leaf pattern from her long-arm quilter.
The Mendota Cemetery is so peaceful. It’s one of my favorite places. There is at least one Confederate grave there, and there also is the grave of a gunslinger turned preacher.
If you wish to be a part of of maintaining this historic cemetery — and I hope that you do — message me and I will tell you how you can purchase a raffle ticket for just $1.
Last Saturday I attended a craft class at The Store@Mendota. It was a pumpkinpalooza of sorts! There were five of us, and we each paid $25 which included everything for two pumpkins. It also included refreshments. Here’s what we were making.
We could either bring our own fabric or pick a fall fabric that was on hand. I brought my own fabric and made two white pumpkins. Everyone else used fabric that was provided by The Store. Here are some pictures…the one below is a sweater pumpkin!
And more…
And more…
And it’s just so fun!
My pumpkins where out of a white cordouroy that I brought with me to the class. I wish I’d used the fabric that was provided as mine was a little harder to work with and I think the others are a little prettier than mine. Also, who in the world wears sunglasses to a 6 pm craft class? What was I thinking?
I am loving these pumpkins. Here’s a few I have in a bowl at the house. One is white sweater pumpkin. It’s 95 degrees. Why is my pumpkin wearing a sweater? Because she looks good in it.
Finally, here’s a few on top of my hutch in the dining room. Some of these are old pumpkins that I made a different way a few years back. Here is the post on that. They’ve held up well except for the one that Tippy Jo (my rescue dog) destroyed last week. It’s gone — went to pumpkin Heaven.
So that is what we were doing in Mendota last week. This week, we had the Hawk Festival and sadly, I did not go. I am still catching up from the summer and I had an agenda for today that didn’t allow much fun in it. Bad me!!
If you are interested in taking a pumpkin making class at The Store, please call 276.669.2401 and ask for Katie or Dottie. If you wish to buy one of the sweet little pumpkins already made, please give them a call. They’ll fix you up.
A little over a week ago, Adventure Mendota hosted a kayak day as our part of the Virginia Rules Camp. This is an awesome camp for Washington County, Virginia students entering sixth grade. It’s first-come/first-serve and there are two sessions. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office applies for a grant from the Virginia Attorney General’s Office, and they’ve been awarded it for the past three years, and Adventure Mendota is fortunate enough to have the gang out each year.
I’d used all of the picnic tablecloths on that day and then I threw them in the back of my car. It began to rain the very next day and rained off and on pretty much for an entire week. We are now getting ready to reopen for kayaking tomorrow (June 14), and I realized I’d never washed the tablecloths! I immediately tossed them in, and they are on the clothesline tonight as I go to bed. Someone has reserved the picnic tables for tomorrow and they’ll need the tablecloths. I like surprising our guests with these tablecloths and a small flower on the table. We do this at no charge. It’s based more on southern hospitality vs. profit. Plus I get the awesome task of taking them off the clothesline and breathing in that clean, sweet smell.
Just before Virginia Rules, we also did something else really fun. We made a promo movie for Adventure Mendota. I wrote a brief script story and gave it to Brad Deel. Brad then used his creativity behind the camera, and here is the end result.
Best yet, I get to see some of the people I care for over and over in the video. We’re currently working on a shorter version for Instagram. I’ve worked in so many jobs, but being an entrepreneur and owning Adventure Mendota is by far the most rewarding experience.
Do you like the movie? Tell me!!
So the movie is over, the second Virginia Rules is a couple of weeks away, and we’re back kayaking following the rain tomorrow. The only other thing that is going on are these two little beings that have been tossed away like trash on the Mendota Road. I can’t take in every dog that is dropped off around here–I am not above calling animal control–but occasionally, I can help out. I’m going to help these two out. They need it.
This is the puppy. Sorry about the small picture. I’m going to call this one Tippy while I am fostering it. I am assuming I can get it to stay here.
And the mother…looking pretty rough. I am calling her Dolly. Her boobs. Know what I mean? She’s the one that I”m more likely to have trouble placing because she’s not a beautiful dog. However, I think when she’s healthy and clean, she’ll show a different side and she might be a great pet.
They travel around begging food, but I’m giving them the best food — full of good stuff that they need right now. They’ve made it to my house three of the past five days — maybe more and I just didn’t see them. They get two cans of Science Diet and two cups of IAMS. They were eating River’s Blue Buffalo, but I could not afford to feed everyone that. (River has to have grain free in his diet or he itches.)
Today they were wormed. Tomorrow I’ll be treating them for ticks and fleas. They will be so much more comfortable. And then we go back to more worm treatments. As soon as possible–when they’ve built just a little more trust so I can catch and crate them–they’ll be crated and hauled over to Dr. Dotson for their shots and spaying.
So there is always something to do in this retirement life. It’s dogs and kayaks this week plus Mike’s son is coming in for Father’s Day so it’ll be a busy, fun weekend.
And one final thing, if you believe in karma, just imagine what bad things are going to happen to the person(s) who threw these dogs away leaving them on their own to suffer. I would not want to be that person.
This building has been a been a part of the fabric of the lives of those of us who grew up in Mendota. I took this picture a long time ago.
Today I did not take a new picture of the exterior, but it has not changed much since this picture except that now it is really a store! The store that was built in 1929….a building that has hand-made blocks that my father made as a young man…a building that closed in the 1980s…today opened again to welcome the public. It’s The Store@Mendota!
I’ve spent many hours in The Store. When I was a teenager, I got off of the Battle bus because my mother worked in the store. I’d have a Ginger-Ale with Terry’s potato chips and played Rook until it was time for Mom to get off work and for us to go home.
The only ones more excited than me that The Store was opening was the owner, Katie Benfield Harris, her Aunt Dottie, her sister Lisa, and her daughter Dawn. These four have worked their tails off. They really needed a few more days, but Katie said she was opening May 4, and she held to it. She’s like that. Bull-headed. Stubborn. Tenacious. Day and night, I saw her vehicle there as she and the others cleaned, prepared, planned and dreamed. Aunt Dottie is the only one that doesn’t smack you if you take a picture.
Today’s opening was a simple menu made up of primarily hotdogs. The staff knew that many would be coming and wanted to keep it manageable. The actual menu will include box lunches, hamburgers, etc. with soft drinks, tea, water and coffee. I purchased a Coke in a glass bottle. The profit margin on these small Cokes is less than the canned drinks, but how could The Store@Mendota not have them? I opened it and it went psssss. It tasted good. So good.
There were lots of people present. This is the Mendota Trail Head where everyone parked today. The Mendota Trail folks do not mind sharing a little parking space today as they know this store is a needed and welcome addition to the community; and as the trail continues development, it’s hikers and bikers will enjoy having The Store for refreshments, etc.
I had to actually stand in line for my hotdog!!
Want a Moon Pie?
How about a tee-shirt to help support the Mendota Trail?
Oscar played while I took pictures. This man knows his way around an autoharp! Some say he is the best in the nation. I think so. Each time he plays, he honors Jeanette Carter who encouraged him to learn to play the autoharp because she was afraid its music would be forgotten.
More pictures…Sew Lillie is the label that Katie Harris makes. Lillie Millard was her grandmother.
A beautiful, one-of-a-kind Katie-made dress. They are $50. If you have purchased nice fabric lately, you understand why they are $50. They are one-of-a-kind, custom dresses made by the talented Katie Harris. They are worth every cent. I hope someone sees this post and buys this little dress. There are lots of cute little dresses at The Store, but this one..with it’s color and those cupcakes! I love it.
And another..
This one (below) went home with Angela Hildebrand for her grandaughter, Ava.
Signs..signs…everywhere there’s signs!
The inside…those picnic baskets will be incorporated into basket lunches where customers may swing by for a picnic lunch which will include a deposit so the basket will be returned. The quilt is a family heirloom which is not for sale; but this is Mendota where we love quilts, so it would not be a proper opening without a beautiful quilt.
As the staff of The Store@Mendota gets their rhythm, there will be classes added. Classes to learn to sew, paint gourds, sip and paint, make baskets..
Classes to make things like these cute pumpkins…Mendota will probably have a whole field of these pumpkins this fall! There will be many classes of many different things…it will be so fun!
Outside, Vickie Roark sold plants. It gave it a sort of “Farmer’s Market” atmosphere. Maybe this was a first step to a small Farmer’s Market in Mendota. It’s not a bad idea.
A closer look at that chair…
I am so happy The Store@Mendota opened. It will be such a nice addition for Adventure Mendota. Our kayak guests will be able to drop in for an ice cream, a soda, or a lunch. They’ll be so appreciative. Likewise, folks who walk the Mendota Trail will enjoy The Store for the same reasons. And finally…people like me who live here and crave a candy bar once in a while. Boom! We’ve got a source!
Mendota is changing. It’s slow, but it’s happening. I call this Mendota Rising. I want Mendota to be more like the community of my youth, and this store is one more step toward that occurring. Mendota — we’ve been called one of Virginia’s lost communities — but there is a growing movement challenging that statement.
So if you are out and about, stop by The Store@Mendota; and if you get the Bristol Herald Courier, look for the article on The Store in the Sunday (May 5) newspaper!
I do not think anyone can look at a picture like this and not think how pretty the river valley community of Mendota is in the spring. This is Nordyke.
It’s lush. This is farmland on Appaloosa.
So when we drove up Nordyke about a week ago and discovered 160 tires had been tossed on the roadside, it was hard to imagine who would do such a thing. Furious did not begin to describe how mad our community was.
But sometimes, the long arm of the law reaches out and justice prevails. Last week, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and VDOT coordinated a clean up about the time the four litterbugs responsible were caught. They will have their day in court. What were they thinking?
So they were caught and the tires cleaned up and then there is some more good news. We’ve made great progress on the Mendota Cemetery Quilt. We had to sew more strips for the border today. It will have a red border.
And here’s the quilt draped over Chris’ couch. This is with the first border. It has a SECOND border that will go around it as well. Whew! This could be the quilt that takes forever but this beauty will be worth it!!
And the back of this quilt…it’s not what you think. We talked about muslin, but we decided on this.
Mike and I had a great drive over to the Devil’s Bathtub in Scott County, Virginia. Until kayak season opens, we’re going to absorb as much of Southwest Virginia as we can between working and getting ready to open Adventure Mendota.
I posted a whole post on our trip over at Adventure Mendota’s River Blog. If you want to read it, please follow this link and it’ll take you right over there.
I am enjoying taking my pictures in a raw format now as I get much better photographs to post on the website. If you have any photography tips for someone who knows nothing and is using a Canon EOS Rebel T5 camera with its in-the-box lens, please let me know. I need all the help I can get.
Speaking of pictures, we saw the rockiest creek yesterday. I explained to Mike that it “had to be the rockiest creek ever” and it was probably named Rocky Creek. I was close. It’s Stony Creek. Kind of famous in Scott County Tourism history.
It’s a busy day today. I’m heading up to see how the Mendota Cemetery Quilt is doing and then off to Horticulture Class this evening. I can’t wait to show you what progress has occurred on the quilt.
I’m working on a blog post on how dog friendly our area is and seeing if it’s something suitable for some of our travel partners. I’m trying to photograph in RAW, but I don’t fully understand what I’m doing.
This requires research. I need an assistant. Here’s a cute one. I took this with my iphone X. It takes a pretty good picture.
Sugar Hollow in Bristol, Virginia is our romping grounds, but I decided to check out Bark Park which is part of Robinette Park in Bristol, Tennessee.
I love “real” houseplants. I have philodendron plants in every room plus a few others that I don’t even know the name of.
This is a good opportunity to show off my recent quilt. I use any opportunity. Mike made a little quilt rack for me a few years ago, so I opted to display my “Quilt of Many Colors” and I love the philodendron that accompanies it!
Okay…back to my original train of thought…one plant I adore is the Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree. Here’s the one that I have.
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a workhorse. It likes moderate light and doesn’t mind getting dry. I water mine about every ten days. Two years ago, I posted on Facebook “Does anyone know who sells Fiddle Leaf Fig Plants in the Tri-Cities?” I learned that Evergreen in Kingsport occasionally gets them in. I visited Evergreen, but there was not a Fiddle Leaf Fig to be found, so I requested they call me when they got some in. I reminded them in a message on Facebook. Finally, one day they called. I hurried over to Kingsport to get my plant; and when I got there, there was some mistake. There was no Fiddle Leaf Fig. It either was sold or never was there to begin with and someone made a mistake. I left with a few marigolds or something and a frown.
On the way home, I started thinking about how Amazon sells everything else, so why wouldn’t they sell live plants? I will say that my desire to do all things local cringed a little, but my want of that plant crushed any shame. I went home–and sure enough, for $29 plus tax but still with free Prime shipping–I could own a mail order Fiddle Leaf Fig. That was July of 2017 and my plant arrived in a box. I transplanted it and you now can see it in the above picture. It has been a huge success.
It got so tall it didn’t look good in the little nook I had it in, so I moved it to its current location, but I then realized I needed another Fiddle Leaf Fig to take its place.
I’m sharing this because I wonder if there are other places in rural America that for whatever reason, places do not stock Fiddle Leaf Figs. In other cities, they are at Home Depot, but not here. So…I want to show you how easy it was to purchase and receive these plants via Amazon. I returned to my Amazon account and found my old invoice and just clicked reorder. The price remained $29. I was happy about that.
There is one step I failed to mention above. I waited until I knew we’d have five days of warmer spring weather since this is a live plant. Warm weather started this week, so I placed my order. It arrived today in a box. I received a text saying it would be here, and the UPS man was so careful as he handed it to me since he knew it was a plant. I appreciate that! One of the great things about living in a small community is that we know one another, and he was careful because he’s a good employee and he knows us — if not by name then by address and face. Yay UPS!
I opened the top of the box and peeked in…she was all in there in a little nest.
Pulled this little lady out and here she is standing in her brown wrapper. I think of this as her bathrobe.
Mike helped me unwrap her. We moved her outside since she was dropping a little dirt. She is a beauty….absolutely gorgeous. I’m so happy. I have to find her a pretty pot to live in, but I don’t think I even need to repot her at this time. She’s not root bound.
This wraps up my second–and very positive–Amazon Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree buying experience. I’m going to go to Amazon and write a good review. It’s well deserved. While it’s always best to buy local, sometimes you can’t. When you can’t, Amazon and Amazon Prime are a great resource.
We started on the Mendota Cemetery Quilt about eight weeks ago. We named it Mendota Crossroads because of all of the fabric crossing back and forth. The majority of the fabric was donated by local quilter Chris Schanzenbach; my sister’s friend, Judy Shannon; and a few pieces from a friend of mine, Edwina Proctor, in Naples Florida.
The fabrics used are blues, reds, green, golds and browns and muslin. Lots of strips sewn together followed by lots of cutting with the rotary cutter. Those rotary cutters are ‘the thang!”
More…
The blue really pops when the quilt is all laid out. We started laying the red blocks and the muslin squares. Doing this is easier when done on hardwood as you have a straight ruler of sorts to work with.
Added a few more pieces here…here’s where it started coming to life.
Below is where we ended it. This is the center of the quilt. We are swapping colors around to ensure that we do not have a lot of “like-minded” colors grouping together. Lots of foot pushing during this phase as we use our feet and toes to move the blocks! Again, I am loving how the blue really pops. I like bold colors.
So that is where we are on this March day. After this picture was made–plus a few more shifts of color– the diagonal rows were all pinned and the sewing began. It’s going to be a beauty.
