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.

Aggravation...Frustration

I  wish I felt like I was in the right place or the right time. I have recently become addicted to blogging. Which has my husband questioning and my children wondering because new age and technology is not what  usually makes me happy. My parents are funny when talking about computers at all. They feel there is something not quite right and possibly a little demonic about them but for me I have come to the conclusion computers and technology is just another type of tool. You know if you need to drive a nail get a hammer but if you need information the internet is the tool. What has become ironic to me is that I myself use this technology to connect with the things of the past, the world before computers ruled, when life was physical, something you could touch. Just today I was ready a blog that really connected with me because I had a similar experience so I was inclined to post a comment and  a word of encouragement but after typing quite a comment I could not get that comment to post. I had to type that crazy word(word that's not a word to prove I'm not a computer but a real person word) but it would not except it. It would not except it several times. At that point, I was feeling like myself; very physical. It's all O.K. I didn't smash or bash anything but I wanted to. I think I might have said some devil words. Now, fully composed I am sure Gd was just reminding me that today is Friday; the sun is shining; and I should be mowing right this minute.

So if your reading this.....is the sun shining?...should you be mowing right now?

Death of the Refrigerator

Well it happened. Yesterday our refrigerator died. This is a bitter sweet turn of events for me. We went through this tragedy about two years ago and if you've every had it happen to you; you know you have a mess on your hands.

 

This picture will probably make you wonder why the thing hadn't quit working before now. The refridgerator we had before was a Frigidaire. We had bought it new but it must have been the dud. That's when this old Montgomery Ward model became our stand in. We were glad when my brother offered it because we were really caught off guard. But oh...was it ugly. I don't think Montgomery Ward has been in business for at least 20 years. It was beige and rust color but it did work and should have been a temporary fix. But I had a hard time looking at it. So I painted it. I bought a can of chalkboard paint and went to work on it.

 

My husband thought it I was nuts but it became one of my best conversation pieces and all the kids loved it no matter if they were a toddler of a teen. If you needed to leave a message it was perfect. Montgomery was host to the most amazing artwork. It was hard for almost anybody to walk past and not jot something down. I think I became the favorite aunt just because the children liked to write on that refrigerator. It was so well used that I repainted the doors twice but now and era has ended. Yes, Montgomery died. He's also been replaced with a new, sleek, black Frigidaire.

Oh well, out with the old......in with the new.

 

I wonder how many of you call a refrigerator a frigidaire? My grandpa did. It didn't matter what brand name it was. Somtimes I still do. What about you? Is it just southern slang? 

 

 

Thanks for stopping by Southern Direction!

Have a Blessed Day.

 

 



OMG! I Need More @$$ets

OMG...I have finished fridays mowing. Yes...this is Saturday so you know I'm still running a day behind. My front yard is quite a hill. I think it is even an illusion because it is so much steeper than it looks. There's where my problems usually take place. On that crazy hill. For about the last eight years I've mowed with a riding mower. Before that I mowed with a push mower. In my mind I know I should still push mow that hill but the fact is I have become lazy. My mower can bearly pull the hill. My husband can mow it without any problem. My cousin came by while I was mowing and wanted to mow the hill because I think he thought I lacked the good sense to mow the hill. But I have concluded the real truth is that they weigh more than I do. I will start spinning so I'll sit to whichever side so the wheel will get the traction it needs. Sometimes I still find myself in a problem spot.

I always hearing women gripe about the size of their behind. Mostly that they think what they have is too big but I want to encourage you to be happy with whatever you've got. It may be that you really need it after all. That also got me thinking about how annoyed I was with the last few magazines from Good Housekeeping and Ladies Home Journal. The only point I can get out of any articles is that if your a woman of any age you must be lacking in one way or the other and if you have a small fortune to spend they can surely tell you whatever product will help you through your situation. When I read these articles I think there's no wonder so many woman have so many self-esteem issues.

We all have things about ourselves that we wish we could change but I think we just have to learn to do the best with what the good Lord has given us. Well I think I'm through blurting out what's on my mind. If you've endured this negative post I do want to thank you for stopping by Southern Direction. I wish you a blessed day.

Good-Bye Cotton

                                       Edmund Franklin "Cotton" Williams
                                       November 8, 1932-August 13, 2012

Last night my mama and I drove to the funeral home for the viewing of my great uncle Cotton. Visitation at funerals always leaves me with a mixed bag of thoughts. Of course, there is always a wish to comfort the family of there loss but often there's a kind of connection a person can only get from being surrounded by family and true loved ones. I am blessed to come from a large family on both my mothers side and my fathers side, so when a death comes along there is quite a turnout.

I hadn't attended the Williams family reunion in quite sometime. Seeing aunts, uncles, and cousins I hadn't seen in a long time is honestly entertaining. The comments are always made about how good the older relatives are looking or at least how well they are looking for there age and of course they always hug my neck just like I was twelve years old again. I have to admit those kind of hugs make me feel like I'm twelve again. My sister and I sat down on the bench beside Mama and we whisper to each other, as we compare who looks like who, and how nice it is too see everyones children. I also get a little melancholy while noting all the family members that have past on since the last visit at the funeral home. I'm not a person who dwells in the past but it makes me wonder what will become of our world when the souls that make-up the foundation of our families are gone.

Uncle Cotton was one of those stones. He had been nicknames "Cotton" when he was a small child because of his cotton white hair. I have only know him with white hair so the name Cotton always fit him well. Cotton was an excellent farmer. He grew some of the best tomatoes you'll ever see. He loved his wife and two daughters. He always had a smile and a kind word. There was no doubt he loved God. I also want to share a poem Cotton wrote about thirty-five years ago. It is about the church he attended. When the church was first established it was located in old store building on the side of Highway 704. Since then, the church has grown to a wonderful number and resides in the beautiful building. It is the church he attended until he was called home.

   The Old Country Church

by Cotton Williams

I love the Old Country Church

Even though it doesn't have a steeple.

You can look everywhere.

You will not fine any better people.

We have as good a preacher

As I have ever heard.

Why? Because he preaches the true gospel Word.

I know that people are falling away.

It is not the Preacher.

Oh, how I wish they would stay.

I know that it's hard to face empty pews.

But wherever you go, you will find just a few.

He teaches the Word of God,

That's why they won't stay.

But to me, it's good until judgement day.

I have heard lots of other preachers,

They all know the way

But he is the on that makes me want to stay.

I know this poem is probably very simple to alot of folks but I liked it. It was the words of his heart. Thank you for stopping by Southern Direction. I encourage you to make time for your family; they can't be replaced and as always I wish you a blessed day.