Heading Into 2021

 "In every heart there is a room, a sanctuary safe and strong, to heal the wounds from year just past, until a new one comes along." -- adapt. from Billy Joel, "And So it Goes"

I don't know why this song makes me think of this year and its ending, but so it goes... This has been the strangest, hardest year for most of us in this world. I have been focusing my thoughts on the new and good from 2020, and here's what I came up with for me:

• I read more books this year than in any year since college -- 65! 
• I did tons of puzzles.
• I spent a bunch of quality time with my daughter and son-in-law. It just so happens that I moved in with them 2 days before the big shutdown in March. We took lots of walks, sat outside, (Ok, I sat and watched while they built a fence, built a pergola, planted a garden, and laid a walkway, but we were outside together.) watched a bunch of movies together, and went on our trip to the mountains.
• I visited my parents and just hung out.
• I might not have gotten to take my usual big summer trip, but I visited several new places on some shorter jaunts and really enjoyed myself.
• I got Just Be's website going stronger.
• I delivered an unbelievable number of packages to Just Be's great family of customers. 
• I spent a greater amount of time in prayer than in recent years and a greater amount of time delving into the Word on my own, as well as under the direction of my pastor.
• I learned that there are so many new ways to teach, some I which I may not be crazy about, some of which I love, all of which have come in handy this year.

God has taught so many lessons this year, not the least of which is that He is in control. We may think or hope we've got this thing called life, but it's ALL in His hands. I, for one, am glad of that. Just knowing that I can shut my eyes at night with the full knowledge that He in charge of everything gives me peace. When Shel Silverstein's "What Ifs" crawl inside my ear, I just turn my heart to Him and receive the peace that passes understanding. This year has taught me that more than any with the exception of 2007. I trust that He is working things out in me and around me and through me. I will not fear plagues, civil unrest, political issues, poverty, homelessness; I would fear a life without Him, and thankfully that is not a fear I have to deal with. My prayer is that friends and family who do have that fear (whether they know it or not) would come to know and trust Him as a result of the events of 2020.

Heading into 2021

I do not know what 2021 will bring. I do know that God will still be in control. I will continue to live for Him, to trust Him, to praise Him. I will do my best to live a life that will lead others to Him. 

To end with a quote from my favorite, Anne, "Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it...yet."

Weekend in Wytheville, Part 2

 “What day is it?” asked Pooh.   "It's today," squeaked Piglet.   "My favorite day," said Pooh. -- A.A. Milne

This just about describes my day in Wytheville a few weeks ago. I awoke to a gorgeous fall day, not too hot and not too cold, just right. I visited a little park downtown, just wandering around enjoying the crisp mountain air and the fall-painted leaves. Wytheville is such a charming little town; I find myself wanting to return there as often as I can. I know though, that there are countless other small, charming towns that I just haven't seen yet, and I can't wait to visit those also!

Next on my agenda was Fort Chiswell Animal Park. This private "zoo" of sorts has a petting area and a guided safari bus tour. There are animals from all over the world, just waiting to be enjoyed. The cool thing is that the animals also enjoy it. They are well taken care of , have tons of space, and seem to love interacting with the many visitors. I personally know that the camel who stuck his head inside my bus window was enjoying himself. He got extreme pleasure from locating the bag of animal food I had wedged beside me and then grabbing it greedily. He proceeded to dump the entire contents of the bag into his mouth. I could swear he had a grin on his face when he finished.

In addition to the food-stealing camel, I encountered zebras, water buffalo, llamas, alpacas, a bison, ostriches, and several other animals, including my favorite, the giraffe. Most of the animals can be fed, and a few can be petted. The safari bus tour lasts about 45 minutes and is well-worth the $12 entry fee. I had a great time and got lots of pictures (see below). 

After this fun morning, I returned to Wytheville for lunch. I ate at Moon Brick Oven and was not overly impressed. I have included my lunch pictures below. It was pretty much just a sandwich and cheese bread, nothing you can't get at any sandwich shop.

My trip home was pleasant and uneventful. I stopped right near the VA/NC line and bought apples, apple butter, and pumpkins at a roadside stop. There are many of these stops along the VA roads.

Overall, I had an extremely enjoyable weekend and can't wait to get away again. It may be a while due to the busy upcoming holiday shopping at Just Be. We'll see what lies next for this Travel Junky Teacher...

Link to Fort Chiswell Animal Park

Peaceful Autumn Weekend

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” -- Nathaniel Hawthorne

With Nathaniel Hawthorne, I completely agree. This past weekend was full of precious autumnal sunshine, and I took full advantage of it. Whenever I can escape the cares of life for a weekend, I head for the mountains. I enjoy the beauty, the peace, the quiet, the time to read and think and pray. 

I wasn't able to rent a bike and ride down the Creeper Trail this time because every single shuttle service was full for Saturday and Sunday. This has never happened to me before; I'm not sure if I waited too late to call, or if they just can't rent the same number of bikes during this abnormal time. I was not to be deterred though. I headed straight through Damascus and on to Wytheville. I was determined to find a way to enjoy the lovely October days. 

With the help of a really neat app, I found a place to hike in Wytheville that yielded a gorgeous view at the top. If you are someone who travels a great deal and loves to hike, I have the perfect app for you. It was recommended to me by my friends in San Diego when I went to California, and I have used it several times since then. It is called All Trails. You can plug in a place you are planning on going, or just search trails nearby. The app gives you directions to trails, the distance of each trail, rates the trails, and includes reviews from other hikers. Here's a glimpse at what All Trails picked up for me in Wytheville:

I headed straight there, with a small stop at a riverside park I noticed on the way. The trail is definitely moderate, due to the climb involved, but it is also definitely worth it when you see the view from the top. At least one reviewer suggested wearing hiking boots instead of tennis shoes. That was not an option for me, but I did see the value in the suggestion. The trail is extremely rocky, and some of those rocks are loose in the ground; ankle protection might not have been a bad thing. Below are pictures from the little park I found, views along High Rocks Trail, the view from the top, and my "activity info" when I got back to my car.

Obviously, I got a real workout. It felt so good to be outside, maskless, exercising, enjoying God's gorgeous creation. Even the drive back down the mountain, windows and sunroof open, made me smile. I made my way to my hotel, cleaned up, and got ready to go eat. On an impulse, I called the restaurant first and made a reservation. I was so glad that I did. They were extremely busy, and the hostess later told me that in the fall, they often have to ask people to wait up to an hour or even turn people completely away. Now you're wondering where I ate and if it was worth it. Yes!

I ate at Log House Restaurant. It is housed in a log cabin which was built in 1776. They use period furniture and decorations. There was even a fireplace near my table which was in use because of a nip in the air. The cuisine is American and delicious. One of the draws of the restaurant besides the ambiance and the yummy food is the outside area. There is a garden with a winding walkway which visitors are encouraged to visit. In the garden are doves and bunnies -- live ones! It was a lovely, interesting place to spend some time before my dinner. I also visited the adjoining gift shop and browsed around. If you are in the Wytheville area, I recommend this restaurant, but do call ahead. I have attached a link at the bottom of this page.

Steak, corn pudding, broccoli casserole

Kentucky Derby pie -- amazing!!!

After this, full and tired, I went back to my hotel and experienced Hallmark overload. (Note -- I have had no access to cable for almost 8 months, so this was allowed.) I spent the next day in and near Wytheville but will save that for another post.

Log House Restaurant

Wytheville, Virginia

Labor Day in Lynchburg

 "Down to Gehenna, or up to the Throne, he travels the fastest who travels alone." -- Rudyard Kipling

 

-- That being the case, on Labor Day morning, I hopped in my car alone and drove two hours north to Lynchburg, Virginia, one of my favorite little towns. The drive from Greensboro is along Highway 29 which is quickly becoming one of my preferred thoroughfares. It provides pleasant views, little traffic, and a satisfying pace. 

Labor Day was a pleasant day, not too hot, plenty of sun, and hours free from the stress and strain of socially-distanced, mask-wearing, hand-washing school. I began my journey anticipating a day of planned solitude, time alone with the Lord, a walk along a gorgeous trail, and unexpected surprises.

I always like to stop about 10 miles outside of Lynchburg at an antique mall in Rustburg, Virginia. It sits at an intersection right on Highway 29 and is convenient entering and exiting. The name of the establishment is Circle A Antiques, and it is filled with the wares of many antique owners. The walkways inside meander through various rooms, between stacked shelves and display cases, and up a rickety staircase to additional hidden treasures on the second floor. The owner allowed me to take pictures to share here, which I have done below. I was thrilled on this visit to find an old hymnal, something I have been searching Amazon for and was happier to purchase from this store. If you love to spend time wandering among old books, toys, games, lunchboxes, dishware, and jewelry, Circle A Antiques is the place for you!

After an enjoyable 45 minutes at Circle A, I continued on my way to Lynchburg. My destination this time was the trail that goes along beside the James River and across to Percival Island. It is a lovely walk through the woods, along the river, and across bridges. I find it relaxing and rejuvenating at the the same time. Getting to the area is a very simple process involving an exit off of 29 and a couple of turns. Parking is safe and plentiful.

There are several restaurants very near the trail area, but I chose to bring my own lunch this time. I ate and read my book on a bench before beginning my walk. There were people going and coming, many on bikes which got me curious. I saw a shop across the street called Bikes Unlimited and looked it up online. Sure enough, they rent bicycles! That is already on my list for my next visit. It always takes me too long too walk the entire trail and back; on a bike I will be able to go to the end before turning around!

After my reading - lunch, I started my walk. The trail is paved and wide, which is a good thing with so many bikers taking advantage of the pretty day. It is flat and easy to walk. There are some smaller dirt paths which jut off to the side and end up closer to the river if that is something that interests you. I usually choose to walk the dirt paths on my way back for a change of scenery. Below are my views of and from the trail.

After walking about 4 miles, I was ready for my drive back to Greensboro. I returned home in time to make dinner for Kathryn and Saber and enjoy an evening with them. Lynchburg is really so close and easy to get to!

 I had such a lovely day. I am already planning to return, possibly for the weekend. There are a couple of hotels overlooking the river quite close by. I can't wait to rent a bike and ride the entire trail. I have been to one of the nearby restaurants in the past and would love to revisit that one and try one of the others which are sprinkled around the old-town area beside the river.