The Crooked Road is a place of beauty and a place of song. It’s also known as Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail which winds through almost 300 miles of scenic terrain in Southwest Virginia. Here, music is woven into the rich tapestry of tradition. Passed down from generations, these mountain ballads and toe-tapping, old-time dance music continue to echo across the […]
Originally posted on The Off Key Of Life:
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its stupidity. DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER, January 10, 1946 We sometimes have a tendency to glamorize war in books and movies. Those who have been there understand it’s much worse than anything that’s…
“Where the skies are so blue…” ~Lynyrd Skynyrd
This beautiful work of art was given to us by our good friends, Donna Tuten and Doug Frassa. I love its colors and texture as well as its composition. The artist, Susan Miller Bradbury is a fine artist who resides in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Roanoke, Virginia. She enjoys painting with both acrylics and oils. To learn more […]
I first discovered the Shenandoah Valley artist, Marsha Heatwole several years ago while visiting an art gallery in downtown Lexington, Virginia. I love the way she captures farm animals and their personalities in such a delightful and whimsical manner. Farmguy and I purchased this painting a couple of months ago at the Roanoke Sidewalk Art Show, and I absolutely love […]
Originally posted on Meals With Mel:
Hi everyone and happy Monday! Things have sure been busy here in Texas recently and when we are not busy we’ve been out of town. Recently we took a lovely trip to Virginia to meet up with a good blogging friend of mine, Tonya, from Fourth Generation Farm Girl. So here’s a little peek at…
*This is simply an account of a personal experience. I shall not debate any aspect of politics, religion, or cultural issues on this blog. Disrespectful comments will be deleted. Thank you. Not too long ago, I visited a quaint town north of the Rappahannock River in Virginia—a place with lovely architecture, scenic views, upscale shops, galleries, and restaurants. One day, as I was exploring the town, I decided to go into one of the art galleries. I entered and exchanged a few niceties with the salesperson. Accustomed to tourists, she asked where I was from. “Virginia,” I answered. “What part of Virginia?” she probed. “I live between Roanoke and Lynchburg,” I said. To which she responded, “Oh, you’re from the other Virginia.” Let me just say…..I knew what she meant. Her tone and facial expression conveyed arrogance and superiority. It was a comment that carried a negative connotation regarding a particular view of the political, religious, and cultural identities of people living south of the Rappahannock River–what some historians call the “grits line.” I glanced in her direction and smiled. Because, y’all know in the other Virginia, many of us are taught the old adage: “If you can’t say something nice, then don’t say anything at all.” So, I continued to walk around, viewing the artwork silently. As I made my way through the gallery, these questions crossed my mind. “Is she trying to be offensive? Or, bless her […]
Winter morning on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Meadows of Dan, Virginia.
October is Virginia Wine Month, and I thought I would share this early post regarding a Virginia winemaker and his story. Rutger de Vink and RdV Vineyard are quickly gaining notice and for good reason: beautiful wines that are a cross between Napa and Bordeaux, characterized by the perfect balance of fruit and minerality. These boutique-style wines are becoming sought-after […]
It doesn’t quite feel like Christmastime in my community until the Christmas Lighting Ceremony has taken place at the Bedford, Virginia landmark formerly known as the Elks National Home. The Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks is the fraternal organization that has operated the facility for over a century. The Elks National Home was recently sold and the new […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 