Ballgame at Mt. Top Park

Lovers Leap

Patrick County, Virginia

How lucky to get to see this view so often!

Jack loves the view, too!

Hot dog and a ice cream cone at the
 Poor Farmers Daughter is always
        brings the smiles.

The old man(husband ) relaxing; waiting 
           for our game to start.

Mt Top Park

Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Thanks for the visit.

Have a very 

Blessed Week!

Bob White Covered Bridge in Woolwine

Bob White Covered Bride in Woolwine is one more reason Patrick County, 

Virginia is a wonder place to live. 

The Bob White Covered Bridge was constructed by Walter G. Weaver of Woolwine, named for the former Bob White Post Office which in turn was named after the bobwhite quails that inhabit the area. It served as an access route to the Smith River Church of the Brethren, located on the south side of the river. The bridge was bypassed to the west with a concrete bridge in 1981. Although closed to motor traffic, the Bob White Covered Bridge still attracts numerous visitors. The bridge is the site of annual horse-drawn wagon rides as part of the Patrick County Covered Bridge Festival which is held every June.

I also have a whole mess of pictures I took from around  the bridge. 

Old houses, leaning shacks, rusty old cars peaking through;

yes this is the south too.

I'm also excited about the 3rd Annual Covered Bridge Run that is happening 

June 15th. I'm hoping to get in on it this year. This should be very fun since the run begins at 

the Jack's Creek Covered Bridge that is also in Woolwine and end at the Bob White Covered Bridge.

Raising money for a good cause, visiting not one but two covered bridges, experiencing beautiful landscape that Woolwine has to offer just all seems like a win, win to me.

Thank you for stopping by for a visit.

Here's a link in case you too are interested in a 5k Run/Walk like this:

http://coveredbridge5k.com/

BE BLESSED!

Thoughts on the Partnership for the Arts 5K

The Partnership for the Arts have a 5K scheduled this Saturday, September 8. I was looking forward to this run. I participated in this event last year and I really enjoyed it. That was the first time I had done any running in quite a long time. I have enjoyed running in the past and it sparked me to run two other events.

Last year I was in the middle of the pack. I felt okay with that since I had done nothing in prepiration.  I had told the other runs I did was about the same. I was alittle ashamed by the next few events because I know better. My job and the kids schedules really throw a wrench in my plans or at lest I use that for my excuse.

This year is looking the same if I get to do the event  at all. I thought this week at least I would go over and walk/run the course. Well our weather has not been cooperative. It has been raining for the past week. I don't mean a little rain I mean pouring. We have had over four inches of rain just over the weekend. I am afraid my job is going to hinder me too. I find it amusing that we have been on short time since May and not worked a Friday in months but I think we are working this Friday. That will not work out for me since the Run starts at 7:00 am and I don't punch out until 7:00am. Go figure!

I'm being hopeful and not ruling it out yet. I'm hoping to be able to share how it all works out. I would love to show you some pictures of the course that has been layed out through the town of Stuart. It is begins at Dehart Park in Stuart, then it follows through a nice neighborhood on Sunset Drive. I will tell you that Sunset Drive is quite the hill. We will then run back up Main Street. Main Street is a good, steep hill. Last we make our way back to the park. The town of Stuart is almost all a hill and that adds to the difficulty of this 5K.

Well maybe it won't be a washout and maybe I'll have some pictures to go along with my post. Thanks for stopping by . Have a blessed Day.

How I Spent September 3

Hey! I am so glad you decided to drop in for a visit. I have some pictures to share with you of our visit to Larry's Variety Shop and the SUM(Stuart United Methodist) Labor Day Sale. I had lots of fun looking at all the good old stuff folks had brought out to sale. I'm a lover of the rusty and crusty items and baskets; there where plenty of both to enjoy. It is also interesting to see all the different license tags on the cars that travel through Patrick County on this holiday. Many travelers had been to Hillsville, Virginia for their annual Labor Day Sale. Maybe a Labor Day in the future I'll get up their for a visit. You would surely be amazed the way that little town transforms itself into a tag sale. The enthusiasm filters down to our region and turn any road leading to them into a pickers paradise.

 

We were stopping on the last, rainy day.

I'm so glad there were still vendors set-up.

 

Oh kids, I hope you didn't wear your good shoes!

It's going to be muddy.

This is just one glass case. This lady had six

tables full of vintage jewelry.

Here's a little something for Alisha,

my Dr. Pepper girl.

 

 

 

I could see these in my flower bed.

Old Scale

Love this color!

Oh my goodness....baskets, baskets, baskets.

 

Larry's Variety

 

 

 

 

 

  

Larry calls this the porch.

He's said it's barely fit for the yard sale but

I've found some of the best things out here.

 

 

I think Jack's found something he likes.

 

Funny...

 

Jack asked if this was a washing machine.

 

Some items under glass.

A little something for the car fan.

 

I just showed you a small bit of what's here. If you liked this, there is so much more I have to show you. If you like tag sales. vintage treasures, and antiques then you've only began to see what Patrick County and the surrounding areas have to offer.

                                                     Have a blessed day!



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior Advisory Meeting

Patrick Country High School held their first meeting of 2012 about college preparation, FASFA, and deadlines that must be met. This was not the first time I have attended this annual meeting. I had hoped to get my husband to go along thinking it might help him see some of the rigorous events that will take place. Of course he bailed out on me and Tori. I suppose it is easier to stay in the dark. It also makes it easier to complain about the various things that are going to take place within a few months. It was a real eye opener for Tori too. Before she had come to live with us she had fell way behind in school and lost one grade and was on the verge of losing another. Through hard work and the grace of God, she has caught herself up and is doing quite well but to get this done she has a tremendous load when it comes to school. She has taken on extra classes to graduate on time. I'm praying that she doesn't become overwhelmed. Judging from her face and her heavy breathes, she was feeling stressed.

I am personally grateful for these guidance counselors that Patrick County High School employees. They are very informative and they cover all the gray areas of college preparation. When I graduated from high school there was almost no information given unless you knew the question to ask or the directions you were trying to take. This is probably why our school Patrick County are so successful.

The meeting was totally geared to students but they also touched on areas that I have been trying to work out in my own life. Ms. Lackey, the counsellor showed statistics on income and job retention that definitely affirmed I probably need to further my education. I am a high school graduate but I have no post-graduate  education. In 1989, this wasn't a problem work was plentiful for those willing to do it. That is not the case now. I'm not really convinced it will help me in finding a better job. I also wonder where are all those professional jobs at because they are not in Stuart, Virginia. This is just another thing to pray about.

Thank you for stopping by Southern Direction Blog and thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and concerns. As always have a very blessed day.

Saturday At Chantilly Farm

What a fun way to spend a Saturday. We loaded up and drove up to Floyd, Virginia to Chantilly Farm. They were putting on there annual car show. The town of Floyd is a wonderful artisan community but it is also deeply steeped in the old southern tradition. I am quite ashamed that I forgot the camera but in the rush of getting out the door I didn't realize I had left it until we were about half way there. Oops.....

The town of Floyd is amazing; main street is full of artisan shops and speciality restaurants. Don't let me leave out the music that bubbles right out from every corner. They had a very nice Farmers Market going on but we didn't have time to stop but it was full of vendors and folks.

We had to keep focused on our destination. Chantilly Farm is on out of town and the drive leads you through the beautiful rolling fields and working farms, tractors, trucks, and various farm equipment. It is makes a country girls heart feel very at home. We passed a white frame church that was simple and quite beautiful, rolled on through a crossroad and we were there. There we found the huge rolling field full of old classic cars, trucks, and tractor. There is a deep love for old cars here in the south and the folks at Chantilly coupled that with a stage with local bluegrass bands, barbecue cookers, sweet pastries, and don't forget the corn hole tournament. My husband tried to not be a total kid as he rummaged through parts hoping to find those special things he needed for his own projects.

With our bellies full and our interests peeked we rolled on back down the winding mountain road to home. It is well worth the gas. I hope to go back to Floyd again with my camera in hand. I'll be sure to share with you. If you get a chance to travel in the southern direction stop by Floyd,Virginia; you'll love it.

Hiking the DeHart Bike Trails

Woolwine,VA

Map of Bike Trail

Jack, Alisha, and Petey

Pic of DeHart Park in Woolwine

Beautiful Park

This made a cool pic but we couldn't figure out

what it was.

Lots o' Obstacles

teter-toter

I thought I would share some pictures of the kids and I hiking the bicycle trails at DeHart Park in Woolwine. I had been thinking of cleaning up my bike at trying out some trails but I thought it best to walk them to see what I might be in for.

First let me say that if you have never been to Woolwine, Virginia it is simple beauty at it's best. DeHart Park in Woolwine is tucked in the folds of the mountain and is very nice. The park has restrooms with working water and nice tennis and basketball courts along with a good shelter for family picnics.

We took a good look at the trail map and decided on walking the shiner's trail. The trail is full of grades and obstacles that would be great for those riding bikes. A small creek with narrow a bridge was quite enjoyable for my son Jack and Petey our dog. Mountain larel is all around and wonderful moss and of course there is wildlife. We encountered a box turtle and I almost stepped on a black snake; so keep you eyes open you are in the woods.

For us this was about a 20 minute drive from the house and made it very convenient; but if you are traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway it's just a little skip of to the park. I hope you enjoyed the pictures from our day hike. I hope your inspired to take a hike in your neck of the woods and as always thanks for stopping by Southern Direction.

Have a blessed Day.