Tag: small town life


Nov
2012

Thanksgiving at the Barn

categories: Pets

There’s nothing my daughter loves more than spending time at the barn with her beloved horses. So I thought I’d share some photos of Thanksgiving at the farm. Simple pleasures are the best. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday.

The drive to the barn:

View of the pastures:

Greta’s horse, Abbott:

Greta’s horse, Erin:

Greta riding Erin:

Katie, the mule:

Napoleon, the miniature horse:

Greta’s new horse trailer (just delivered this week):

Steve at the barn:

What a wonderful way to spend the day. It’s easy to see why my daughter spends so much time here.


Oct
2012

Farmer’s Market Goodies

categories: Lifestyle

I went shopping at the farmer’s market again yesterday. It was a great day to be outside. The weather was gorgeous. The air was cool and crisp–just the way I like it. And  look at all the fabulous goodies I bought. Since there’s only one week left to shop before the market closes for the season, I stocked up on all the fresh goodness I could carry home. I’ve got lots of cooking to do this week.

For just $20.00 I bought two types of apples, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, eggplant, kale, jalapeno peppers, tiny white potatoes, and sweet potatoes. What a deal! I also bought farm fresh eggs, home-made applesauce and apple butter, barbequed chicken, and plenty of pulled pork and barbequed beef brisket to stock my freezer so I can enjoy it over the coming winter months.

I’m going to miss my weekly trips to the farmer’s market and all the people I met there this summer. I’ve grown so fond of all of them. See you next spring.


Aug
2012

Pig Racing and Other Fun at the Fauquier County Fair

categories: Pets

For those of us who live in a rural area, one of the highlights of summer is attending the local county fair. The Fauquier County fair is a fun-filled, four-day event. This year’s festivities included pig racing, dairy cow and goat shows, a chicken parade, a 4H dog demonstration, a pizza eating contest, cake walks, watermelon seed spitting and pie eating contests, lawn mower and tractor pulls, corn shucking contests, rodeo shows, an apple pie contest, horse shows, and much more.

My daughter and I had a great time riding the amusement rides, watching the events, viewing the contest entries, and eating deliciously unhealthy fair food. Here are a few pictures of our fun-filled day.

For more information on the Fauquier County Fair and the upcoming Fall Harvest Fest on Labor Day weekend, visit the Fauquier County Fair website.


Aug
2012

Bealeton Flying Circus

categories: Lifestyle

(Photo courtesy of the Bealeton Flying Circus.) This weekend the Bealeton Flying Circus hosted its annual hot air balloon show. Hot air balloons cannot fly in windy conditions so balloon activities typically take place in the early morning (7:00 – 9:00 am) and late afternoon (6:00 – 8:00 pm), when the air is calm. It’s a fun and colorful event the whole family can enjoy.

This year I was able to enjoy the evening show from the comfort of my deck (my dog, Piggy, alerted me to the event with some fierce barking at the balloons passing by my kitchen window–what a good boy!) The setting sun made photographing the show a bit tricky but I thought I’d share the best of the lot with you anyway. Note the spotter planes in all the shots. Apparently they are there for safety purposes, since every balloon had a spotter plane.

Hot air balloon rides last 1-2 hours and, the last time I checked, cost ~ $400.00. I’m way too chicken to take a ride, but my sister has been wanting to try it for the last several years. I’m more than happy to photograph her taking a hot air balloon ride from the safety of the ground. For more information on the Bealeton Flying Circus, its live airshows, annual hot air balloon festival, or hot air balloon rides, visit their website at www.flyingcircusairshow.com. Here are some shots I took.

You can even see the folks in the basket in this photo!

Note the orange glow from the fire….

And the last photo taken in the setting sun. I love small town life.


Aug
2012

The Farmer’s Wife Shop in Remmington, Virginia

categories: Lifestyle

The next stop on our Saturday morning shopping outing was the Farmer’s Wife–a small Amish market in Remmington, Virginia. I love living in a rural area where the next town is, oh, about a minute down the road.

This shop offers lots of old-fashioned goodies, farm-fresh dairy products and fruits and vegetables, home-made breads and pies, a variety of interesting canned goods, and unique bulk items.

Mom browsing the aisles.

Fresh butter from local dairy farmers and Amish roll butter.

Fresh tomatoes.

And locally grown corn on the cob.

A peek inside my mom’s shopping basket. Even the shopping baskets are quaint.

A variety of jams and jellies.

Including old-fashioned F-R-O-G jam. I haven’t tried that yet, but I’m sure my curiosity will get the best of me.

And mini peach pies. One of those went into my basket. I should have bought two; boy was that good.

You can also order lunch at the deli counter and enjoy it at one of these brightly colored tables.

Another view of the dining area. Isn’t it delightful?

And when you’re done shopping, they ring you up at the front counter. How charming. The next time you have some grocery shopping to do, why not check out the small mom and pop shops in your area? They sure beat the big box stores and they turn the weekly chore of grocery shopping into delightfully fun outings.


Jul
2012

Work in Progress–Parrot Tulips

categories: Watercolor

I went to the farmer’s market this morning and followed that up with a visit to a quaint Amish store called The Farmer’s Wife plus a quick stop at a local Mexican shop called Cinco de Mayo to pick up some goodies to get us through the week. I love living in a small, rural area. Everyone calls me by name when I enter their shops and we chat for a few minutes and catch up on what’s going on around town.

I spent the remainder of the afternoon working on a new painting but had to stop at sunset when the shadows got so intense that it was difficult to see my sketch on the paper. That’s normally the time when I grab my camera and snap a few pictures to post on my blog. I love how vibrant the colors look in the strong afternoon light.

I hope you did something equally relaxing and enjoyable this weekend. Watercolors on cold pressed Acquarello Artistico paper by Fabriano.

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