Iris in March

I haven’t been on the farm this early in the season before. The snow is hiding out in shady places, but the woods are dry and last year’s leaves rustle as I walk through them. I’m able to see the “bones” of the farm for the first time; most of the year dense underbrush hides the nuances of the terrain.But today I was out taking a walk in the sunshine and inspecting places that would have taken a machete to find last summer. Tom (the tenant) had all three border collies working the sheep, a pair of cardinals was nest-hunting and the iris are starting to bloom. I even found a thinking log up in the woods. (I’m quite fond of thinking on sunny logs and rocks.) Here are some pix of the farm today.

What was I thinking about? Well, I can’t lay claim to any deep thoughts. Mainly “Why didn’t I come out here earlier?” and “I wonder how long it will really take to drive across the whole country?” and “Do I want to go to Yogaville to re-certify in laughter yoga?” (Yes, I actually was a certified laughter yoga instructor. That was your laugh for today. Don’t you feel better now?)

I was planning to go down to Yogaville anyway. It’s an ashram founded by Swami Satchidananda, who was the founder of Integral Yoga & a major force in bringing yoga to the US. And Balika, my massage therapist, friend & one of the most wonderful ppl currently on the planet, did her yoga training there.

So there just happens to be a laughter yoga training this wkend. One more of those strange synchronicities that rule my life.

After lots of angst & drama, resolution on a couple scores-

1. I have decent health insurance, that even covers pre-existing conditions, and I can actually afford it! Virginia can be my home base, although I still plan to be mostly nomadic. (And yes, I still believe strongly that we need a national single-payer system. I would not wish these last few months of uncertainty on anyone.)
2. We finally got rain, after a REALLY long dry spell. We could use some more, but at least it’s a start.

So, thanks to all who have been so supportive thru all my whining & moaning. I appreciate all the hand-holding (& patience!) Once again, things do have a way of working out.

And now I’m going to take a nap…

George Bowers Grocery, Staunton, VA

Staunton (that’s “Stan-ton,” not “Stawn-ton”) Virginia takes pride in its blend of reverence for the old, with modern twists. Like the trolley car buses that minimize downtown traffic, while allowing easy access to landmarks and shops.

Not far from Downtown , New Town Staunton is also experiencing a renaissance. As old mansions and homes are being restored, so are some of the storefronts that served their original owners.

One of these is the George Bowers Grocery, originally founded in 1881. It’s been reclaimed to service by a young duo- Brian Wiedemann and Katie McCaskey- who stock the shelves with a variety of wines/beers, including many from Virginia and locally produced foodstuffs. They also grow some of  the produce they sell, in a rented city lot a few blocks away at Lush Farms.

Katie says that while they aren’t a one-stop shopping experience, the neighborhood has been very supportive of their efforts. And why not, when each item is carefully selected by the owners, who cultivate relationships with both their suppliers and patrons, and serve as a knowledgeable link between them.

In Downtown Staunton, there is another neighborhood grocery, with a slightly different slant. Cranberry’s is a natural foods grocery and deli (with juice bar, and gluten-free choices.) Like George Bowers, the accent is on local, and healthy.

While neighborhood groceries may not supplant the supermarket chains, the idea of a local grocery as a link, more accessible than a once or twice a week farmers market, and a gathering place for the neighborhood, may be an idea whose time has come- again.

Gabalot Gardens

Well, I’ve been clearing out a couple beds for fall crops, in between peeling & freezing peaches. So decided that today I’d go get some stuff to plant in them. Fall things, like broccoli, spinach, radishes… the usual suspects.

So first I went to Southern States & messed around for a while. I did get some seeds there- lettuce, daikon radishes, etc. Also got lots of mouse & ant killer. (Whole ‘nother story…)

Then I headed for a little nursery the mater had told me about- Gabalot. As warned, Janet DOES talk a lot. But unlike many people, she actually imparts a lot of info. She’s “only” been running Gabalot Gardens for 16 years, and says she’s still learning.

Many of her seeds are heirloom (non-hybrid, which means you can save your own seed for next year) which is exactly what we’re up to here @ Mt Pleasant. Her two main suppliers are Landreth Seeds in Pennsylvania, which she also sells in bulk and Renee’s Garden.

I got some gorgeous broccoli & brussel sprouts seedlings, and then some things to dress up the planters a bit. But also got rainbow chard seeds, b/c I like them so much. (For those of you in PT, check the window boxes of the Silverwater Cafe. Those are Bright Lights chard)

What’s really exciting is that I asked her about whether she starts seeds for others in her fancy greenhouse. Not only does she, she has an interesting way that she does it. If you buy seed & send or take it to her to plant, you tell her how many plants you want. She keeps the rest of the seeds & gets the income from selling those seedlings. That’s it.

I don’t know if other greenhouses do that, but it sounds wonderful to me. Growing seedlings is really pretty labor & equipment intensive (My lettuce seedlings were a total failure… I was hardening them off & a thunderstorm hit & washed them all out. Starting over…)

Anyway, a very fun & productive day… and a new friend.

1. I’ve learned a whole lot about gardening. Weird stuff that’s not in books- like to not plant hot peppers w/sweet peppers.
2. I can tell the difference between a sweet potato vine and a weed
3. Ditto potato bugs and lady bugs
4. Praying mantii mantises ( thanks, Brad!) BITE. They’re not all cute like Zorak
5. I can make yogurt & granola
6. Know how to freeze green beans & raspberries
7. Can make juice in a steam juicer
8. Can make myself understood (kinda) in Spanish & can kinda understand what’s going on.
9. Have quite a collection of pink shirts, most of which cost less than $2
10. Can name 3 places where I can get a double Americano in less that 20 minutes. But have to get out of the car.
11. Started taking yoga- like it a lot
12. Flea marketeers fear me
13. Can shelve books, check them out & also do the dreaded vacation check-0ut.
14. Am the most wired person in Shenandoah County (both senses.)
15. Can eat out for years on my story of getting new tires in Maurertown (pronounced- Maurytown.)
16. Know how to hang clothes on a line.
17. Know that oriental carpets can only be vacuumed every 10 days.
18. I may have a career in killing those spider-things w/the webs that feel like hair. Ugh! Ugh! I want them all DEAD. I am on a mission!
19. Know that they don’t know what to do ’bout hippies @ Food Lion. They sell recyclable bags, but aren’t quite sure what to do if someone actually uses one for the 2nd time. Especially if they’re wearing clogs. Not sure whether to call me ma’am or call 911.
20. Know that if I say “slippah chayah” instead of slipper chair, my mama will slap me upside the haid. That is not why she sent me to Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. (Strange, but true.)
21. Know that they are serious about drinking & driving here. 1/2 the natives have to drive the other 1/2 around, b/c they’ve lost their licenses. I want to be the 1/2 in the driver’s seat, thank you.
22. Realize that I may never spell the word license correctly the first time.
23. Yes, I can make a wicked garlicky hummus. I have personally evicted all the vampires in Shenandoah County.

Namaste!

Where did this come from? And why?

Cross my heart, we did not buy this! So why is it in the house?

Well, b/c the mater was attempting to corner the VA market in brass candlesticks. After negotiating $10 for 14 of them, she saw more in a basket. It was near the end of the day, so the gal said, “Give me a dollar, and take the whole thing.”

So, after having spent a good 10 hrs stopping at one sale after another, eating weird Chinese food at a mall, and sundaes @ a frozen kustard stand, we unpacked, and the little hussy had included all kinds of weird, unsalable things in the basket. Of which Ms Chicken is prime exhibit #1. Do you want to hear about the chipped statuette of a person of unresolved gender preference? Or perhaps the bookend depicting equine/canine inappropriate behavior?

What I’d like to know is:

1. Who came up with these ideas?
2. Who bought them in the first place?
3. How the heck do we get rid of them?

At any rate, we did get a whole lot of good stuff. Brass candlesticks, natch. A parisian dress pour moi. Several books we hadn’t read. Lots of canisters for all the bizarre non-flour flour substitiutes the gluten-intolerant require.

And three copies of a CD by an obsure Bluegrass band. WTF?

Next stop, Rio Mall… but first a quick trip to the dump, in the dead of night.

Star Tannery Carnival

So, last night’s entertainment was to go to Star Tannery, for the annual Firefighters’ Carnival & BBQ. Star Tannery is a little town up in the mountains, where the mater has owned property for over 20 yrs.

Star Tannery is one of those little places that almost nob0dy knows about, except the ppl that live there. And those people love it w/a passion. The same creek (Cedar Creek) that runs thru the farm here, starts up there.

Star Tannery has had various industries since the Civil War, & has a tradition of both parents being employed. First a tannery (duh) for the hides that made shoes for Star Shoes of Baltimore, MD. Then chicken farms to supply food for WWII, then clothing factories. Now, it’s kind of forgotten, except by folks who’ve struggled by for several generations (and newcomers, who’ve had 2nd homes there, from DC).

Anyway Star Tannery has a volunteer firefighters dept that is run by (mostly men) who are passionate about their community. And each summer, they have a carnival, parade & bbq. People from Star Tannery, and ppl who love Star Tannery come together & have a real old-fashioned “big time.”

I’d kind of expected a carnival w/rinky-dink ferris wheel & all that… but no! This was the real thing. A dime toss, hosted by Debbie, where odd cups & shot glasses were stacked. And pay a dollar to dunk Bobby in the tank. Or buy a pie or cake from Jack, the mutual insurance guy.

And REALLY good bbq chicken, cooked by local people, with baked beans & “almost” homemade ice cream from the local place.

And yup, a creek ran thru it. Just a good time, with good people, and good food.

The guy (Isaac Bowman) who built this house in 1812 had 80 grandchildren. So you can imagine, when they have their reunion every two yrs, how many people show up.  (And this is VA, where every conversation starts w/a pedigree.) The other local properties are handled by foundations & the commonwealth of Virginia.

Until this yr, Mt Pleasant has not been on the tour, for various reasons. But we decided this yr to allow them in. Thank goodness for cousin R.U. (Edward  Randolph Underwood) who directed parking, and friends M & S who handled the upstairs. The mater handled gardens & I did downstairs.  There were Hite-Bowmans from all corners of the earth. One had even written a book.

We were working until wee hours getting the house in order. I spent the day pointing out mantels and elbow-latches & the original hearth. Oy, I don’t have much in common w/British royalty, but one day of ppl traipsing thru the house, pointing out woodwork just about did me in. I don’t know how they do it. I wonder how many B-H’s will return home, discussing the Brad room, the Martha room & how to get heartwood pine floors.

And then in the last group, someone asked me if we were open every weekend. FREAK OUT does not cover it. “This is not a museum. We LIVE here. It’s a working farm!  We opened the house to descendents who had legitimate interest, but the next public access will be sheepdog trials in November. That will be the grounds, NOT the house.” I’m sure one of the Hite-Bowmans caught my panic, b/c he very seriously thanked me for allowing them access.

The funniest thing is that we really are FFV (First Families of Virginia); my mother is a Randolph. But we have absolutely no connection with Bowman/Hites, beyond owning their house. (Except that I think one of my Beatty forebears fought in the same unit in the Revolutionary War. See, I’ve caught Virginia fever.)

So now it’s back to normal, after I pour myself a very, very  stiff Screwdriver to savor on the screen porch & watch the rain pour down. And then start blanching beans.

Dayton Farmers Market

Well, I was getting a bit restless again, so Friday we (Mom & I) decided to take a little jaunt down to Dayton Farmers Market, south of Harrisonburg.  (She got a taste of what my little jaunts are like and was still recovering the next day. I think I need to find a new co-conspirator.)

Anyway, we fed all the livestock (8 cats & a dog) and took off about 10 on Friday morning w/a full tank of gas & Pete’s CD playing.

After we passed Luray, VA, we were in new territory for me, so I was oohing & ahing all over the place. Really liked what I saw of Harrisonburg, which is home to James Madison University and also Eastern Mennonite University.

Then we saw what Mom remembered as a really super thrift shop. She was right, so we spent about an hour there. I finally found the step basket I’d been wanting for a LOOONG time. (It’s a basket made to sit on steps. Very cool. I’m always setting things on the stairs so that I don’t forget to take them up or down. Now it looks nice, instead of trashy.)

Sooo… On we went to Dayton. Really liked the Farmers Market, although it was not exactly a farmers market. More like a collection of cool little shops.  (For more info, click the picture above.) We spent a couple hours there, b/c once again, I had to touch everything. (Maybe Hanuman should be my shopping buddy. Just a suggestion.) And then, we found an espresso stand there. So of course I was happy, but mater had had nothing to eat since about 10 AM & was not looking so hot.

So, we piled back into the car (with all the almond & rice flour, salsa, pastrami, etc we had bought) and headed for a new Guatemalan restaurant we’d heard about near Woodstock. Going thru Harrisonburg, we saw the strangest store called “Save & Prosper” (I’m not making this up!) So we had to stop to investigate. It’s run by a couple of recent immigrants, and they seem to buy up odd lots of groceries, produce, etc. We got garam masala, a couple lemons, a stack of tortillas & passed on some really fancy teas.

Back in the car & by this time we’re nearly fainting w/hunger. It was a really nice drive, but the last 1/2 hr, we kind of buzzed thru Timberville & wherever else we were.

FINALLY got to Alma’s (“The best Guatemalan cousine”- also not making that up) and had bowls of spicy chicken soup w/rice, with the History Channel playing in Spanish a documentary on cockroaches (no, I swear, I do not make these things up!) We were the only ones there, and I have to say, the food was terrific. And the horchata was homemade. I’m sure we’ll be back, but I sure hope something else is on TV.

So that was our expedition. Next time, I’m going to check my stock of Clif Bars BEFORE I leave- promise.

Skyline Drive

Mom’s been teased for many yrs about not going anywhere, and her reply is that the world comes to her. Which is pretty much true, I’m finding. The farm is a little like Brigadoon, and in the past wk we’ve had a whole lot of visitors.

At the same time, I’m not the sitting still kind. So Friday I started getting a bit stir-crazy. I mean, after all, I’m here to explore the East coast a bit, and Virginia in particular.

I decided to make one of my first forays to Front Royal, and then drive a bit down the Skyline Drive. It was kind of a hazy day, but I could still see most of the valley from the various viewpoints. I only went as far as Luray, VA, but got a season pass so that I could go as many times as I like.

From our farm, we could see fireworks from about 3 municipalities, but I’m thinking the Skyline Drive would really be an excellent fireworks viewpoint.