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| A picture just doesn't do the view of this farm justice! |
Monday, October 21st was the local Young Farmers Round-Up. All of the Augusta and Rockingham County Young Farmers Chapters met at the Mount Crawford Ruritan building for a delicious dinner. We then had the opportunity to visit the Mount Crawford Creamery. This farm started bottling their own milk earlier this year and we got to see the pasteurizing and bottling equipment. The best part- free samples which prompted us to come home with loads of chocolate milk! It was also interesting to hear the owners talk bout their experience. While they don't seem to regret their decision to bottle at this point, there was a sense of disappointment as they spoke about the community response. As they mentioned, their seems to be a big push for local foods in this area; well, at least according to bumper stickers. The owners shared with us that it has been much harder than expected to get into local stores and restaurants than they expected; even if they promote that they carry local and fresh products. I can imagine that after a huge investment that it would be just as hugely disappointing to not receive the community support that is advertised. We wish them loads of success and will try to buy their product whenever possible!
The following weekend we had visitors! Bob and Deona Blake, our good friends and Clark's former co-workers, came up so that we could all go to the UVA vs. Georgia Tech football game in Charlottesville. West Rowan has former students playing on each team, so we thought it would be a great opportunity to go see and support each young man. They arrived Friday night and we took them to our dinner go to- the Bistro. The next morning we grabbed brunch at our breakfast go to, Kathy's, then headed over the mountain. Our tickets were with the Georgia Tech Fans, but having no real allegiance to either team, we just rooted for each player to do well. In the end, GA Tech won 35-25. It was a beautiful day and UVA has a beautiful campus.
It was so good to see Bob and Deona so that we could catch up on all the happenings at home and give them a glimpse of our new lives up here.
The next week Clark got to travel with the Riverheads FFA to the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky. Clark is technically not an Ag Teacher at the moment so we were very thankful that he got the opportunity to travel to Convention. He is trying hard to serve as a second advisor at Riverheads, so not only was it good for him to go and bond with his new students, but he also got to see and support his former students as well. NC's Dairy Judging team was from West Rowan that he had helped to coach and another former student was recognized on stage for being in the top four nationally for his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). Like I said, I was very glad he got to go, but I missed him while he was gone. Particularly on Halloween night. We may have lived apart for the first nearly three years of our marriage, but I have gotten fond of being with him every night. Being in a more "urban" area I was pretty excited that we would get a lot of Trick-Or-Treaters this years. I invited my friend Erin over (she lives more out in the country and wasn't expecting any visitors) and we sat with the porch light on and a big bowl of candy (the good stuff might I add!) anxiously waiting. We only had about 13 kids but we enjoyed the polite and gracious ghouls and goblins that rang the doorbell. For supper that night I tried a new recipe, Ultimate Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes. The website for the recipe is weird, so watch out for that. Also, in true southern fashion I must say, they could use more salt and butter. However, the recipe did halve pretty easily.
November 1st we celebrated the return of one of the small animal veterinarians from maternity leave. To show her how much she was missed and give her a hearty welcome back we brought in food. Since I was off the day before, I made two things. The first is one that has become my pot luck go to: Crack Dip. It is so delicious and always a hit. The other recipe was a new one for me, Apple Pie Bites. They are very good and fairly easy. Unless you are using GIANT apples, I recommend you do as I did and half your crescent rolls length wise so that the apple is overpowered with breading. Now I have to tell on myself.... I made the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture up early and was keeping it the microwave. Later I was baking something in the oven and used the timer on the microwave to countdown...so I thought. Clark asked me if I was making tea. I let him know that I wasn't. A little later he asked, are you sure you aren't making something in the microwave. I walked into the kitchen prepared to assure him I was not when I saw the light on in the microwave. OOPS! Rather than using the timer feature I had hit the cook time. This is what happens when you microwave brown sugar and cinnamon for nearly four minutes:
No worries, after a lot of soaking and little scrubbing, it came right off! :)
That weekend the Mary Baldwin Fighting Squirrells (I'm not kidding) hosted a volleyball tournament and visiting teams included the Meredith College Avenging Angels. That meant that my family came to town! Mom and Dad drove up Friday and we had wonderful dinner at The Depot. The next morning we had breakfast at Kathy's and then headed to the campus to watch Meredith take on Greensboro College. There was a pretty big break before the next game so we ventured downtown and grabbed a snack at Cranberry's Grocery. Cranberry's is a little more... earthy... than our typical restaurant choices, but the muffin and cake that Dad and I had were very delicious. We went back to campus to see Mary Baldwin and Meredith take the court. Meredith won and Molly got to play so it was great all around! Even though Molly came to Staunton, she has yet to see where we live! She was required to stay with the team the whole time. I'm dying to get her back up here and show her around! After the team headed back to Raleigh, Mom, Dad, and I grabbed dinner. First, we went to Luigi's Pizza. From the outside, it looked like it could be a great little hole-in-the-wall place. Once we got in there however, we realized it was just a hole-in-the-wall. Yes, unfortunately I have to give my first bad review for a place in Staunton. I'd say if you're looking for a place to get alcohol, you'd probably be in luck. But if you're looking for tea, sodas that do not come out of a flat 2 liter bottle, more than one person serving as waitress, bar tender, and cook, or something that requires the use of a fryer even if it's on the menu, Luigi's is not for you. We quickly realized our first stop wasn't going to work out so I quickly guided us to a place I KNEW we could get good food and service- Shenandoah Pizza. Our meal there was awesome and Mom and Dad seemed impressed. They headed back to NC and Clark got home from Convention later that night.
The following week week we made a new addition to our family...
The Altima has been a great and reliable car for me. However, we have moved north where winter weather will bring the need for four wheel drive. Not to mention that ever since I left my first vehicle which was an SUV I have been dying to get up off the ground again. I am loving the Tahoe and we were so blessed to make a good find! And the best part is we were able to quickly and easily sell the Altima!
On Friday evening, my landlord, Julia, and I went downtown to the Sparkles and Sweets event. That night a lot of the shops in Staunton stayed open late and had refreshments as a way to kick off the Holiday Season. It was so fun having a girls' night with Julia!
The next morning Clark and my professional world's collided at the Market Animal Show Steer Nomination Day. I've mentioned it before, but showing livestock is a huge past time for the youth of this area. The Market Animal Show is not until May, however the steers have to be registered in November. Clark went as an advisor for Riverheads and I volunteered to help tag, vaccinate, and deworm the steers so we got up bright and early to be at the Staunton Stockyards. By lunch time we finished up and 126 steers had been tagged, weighed, and vetted. It was great to spend time with the the students and other folks passionate about supporting youth involved in agriculture. We're so happy to be a part of this community and look forward to being a part of the Market Animal Show for many years to come.
This week Ray and Georgia brought us a very special visitor...
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...Cathryn, our youngest niece! She has grown so much since her last visit here and is talking up a storm! They arrived Tuesday night and I had Wednesday off so I got to spend a wonderful day having fun and making memories. We made several stops that day including Pufferbellies Toy Shop and Riverheads High to have lunch with Uncle Clark. This little girl is so funny and we miss her already! We can't wait to see her (and her Mom, Dad, Sister, and Brother) soon we hope!
I had to work yesterday morning, but after finishing up I headed to Riverheads for their first playoff football game where the readily beat the Arcadia Firebirds. We can't wait to see how far the Gladiators go in the quest for the state championship!
Well, that should get us caught up for now :) I hope to not fall so far behind again! Everyone have a great week!
