PILOT'S PERCH CABIN VACATION - PART 1 - JULY 21ST TO 26TH, 2019

We are back home but I am sharing my diary/

journal from each day while away.  I will also be sharing the link in red to the website, for anyone who would like to take a look at this pretty place, and also if you ever want a lovely spot to stay if ever you find yourself in this picturesque area.  

Pilot's Perch Cabin Vacation - July 21st to July 26th, 2019

Sunday, July 21st, 2019

1.41 p.m.

We have just started our road trip.  It is only about 5-1/2 hours but we decided to leave later and will take a more leisurely drive.  We thought we would stop about half way tonight, as we won't be getting into the cabin until 3.00 p.m. tomorrow. 

Neither of us is sure which skyline this is.  When I asked Gregg he thought maybe Roanoke but it is just a guess. We went into Lexington, Roanoke and Blacksburg on the way to our destination, and all I remember is taking the exit ramp and thinking this was worth a photo.  If anyone out there recognizes it, would you please let me know? 

It was a very pretty day for driving.  Rain was in the forecast for later, but no problem that first day.

We enjoyed sights such as these to break up the journey.

We found a hotel in Lexington, which is about two-and-a-half hours and a smidgen from home.  We rarely book ahead, unless we are going to be on the road late.  Usually if we stop by 6.30 p.m. we have no problem getting a room.  If it is a very busy tourist area, as happened on a longer road trip when we visited the Arches National Park near Moab, Utah, we got the last room in the town.  The next one was 70 more miles.  We learned our lesson and called the day before after that, or at least the morning before we stopped that night. And then also when we are tired we head for the first hotel, as happened here.  Sometimes we might see a place just off freeway exit ramps, other times we find a place on our hotel app. 

It had a wonderful statue of a horse and foal out front and...

I read that Lexington is home to the nationally renowned Virginia Horse Center, "a testament to the area's rich equestrian scene" one website said.  I also read that this Lexington was named in 1778, and many places were named after Lexington, Massachusetts, which was known for being the place where the first shot was fired in the American Revolution, if you are interested in that part of history.  If you click here there is an interesting article about what to do in the area.

But first we were ready for dinner, and there was an Applebee's a short walk from the hotel.  I can't go by any interesting plants without stopping to look at them, and these were next to the restaurant.  They are Kousa Dogwoods and are past their blooming time.

We must have been tired and hungry as one of us usually makes a record of our meal, but the only photos remembered were ones of Gregg with our beers...

and the one Gregg took of me with the ice-cream sundae!  

The beer was a Sam Adams, very refreshing.  I had steak with shrimp, steamed broccoli and fries.  Gregg enjoyed steak with mashed potatoes and green beans, and I shared my shrimp.  For dessert we chose the hot fudge sundae and asked the lady to bring us two spoons.  

We enjoyed our meal and went back to the hotel.  It wasn't long before we decided to have an early night.  When we went for a shower this was waiting for us.  Ducky came home with me.  There is a certain someone I know who loves collecting duckies.

And on that note I will bring this to a close.  More next time.

You can find my other post about our cabin rental here.

PILOT'S PERCH - A MOUNTAIN CABIN AND OUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Gregg and I were away from the 21st to the 26th of July, spending five of those days at one of the prettiest cabins we have ever had the pleasure of staying in.

There is a driveway at the side which leads to the garage for a car, and space for other cars if there are more people.

Even if only for a few days, it was a lovely home-away-from home, and it had a truly magnificent view. 

It was a bit drizzly when we first arrived but the cloud cover and mist rising up from the hills was mesmerizing.

We made good use of the two balconies, on the main floor and outside our bedroom below. The outside seating was very comfortable and there was also an outdoor dining area.  And I must not forget the fire pit and hot tub.

We enjoyed the use of the balcony off the bedroom we used, and there was a nice bathroom beyond the closed door.  

There were three bedrooms to choose from, all of which were a delight.  We decided on this one, so that we could wake up to that incredible view.  I saw hawks flying low and one time we looked over and there were deer out back.  Another morning there were rabbits in front of the cabin.  We saw rabbits several times driving in and out of the neighborhood.

One morning I sat on our bedroom balcony before the sun came up, still in my nightclothes.  (It is very private for I am not one to sit on balconies in my nightclothes.).  I felt at peace in this idyllic setting, and enjoyed watching the twinkling lights below.  As my eyes focused I also enjoyed looking up at all the clouds, and the view.  Oh my goodness, that view!

I will be talking about the cabin in future posts, but in the meantime you can look at this link, which will give you lots more information and pretty photos of each room and living area, and more.  

I fell in love with the comfy sofas, especially as they had built-in foot rests that popped up and head rests that lay down, like my old lazy-boy.  The kitchen met every need.  Indeed, the whole cabin is beautifully and very tastefully decorated.

Tannya and Blake are the owners.  I spoke with Tannya on the phone, a lovely lady who answers every question you might have.  There is a very large folder with things to do in the area.  Also their guest book is full of writings from satisfied visitors, all of  whom gave glowing five-star reviews of their stay, and now ours is included along with everyone else's.  

This is a place I can recommend to anyone who would like to enjoy the experience of being just off the Blue Ridge Parkway.  We would love to share this with our son and daughter-in-law sometime, and other family and friends eventually, but we are also looking forward to going back on our own. 

Sweet sentiments and so true!

Thanks for stopping by everyone, and enjoy your day.

   

WE CANNOT....

I would be interested in what you think of this quote if you care to share an opinion.

FROGS - REYNOLDA GARDENS, WINSTON-SALEM, NORTH CAROLINA

 Gregg and I were away from home last week.  We took a trip down to the south-western part of Virginia.  One of the side trips we took was to Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem, which was just over 50 miles from where we rented a cabin in the mountains.  It was a beautiful garden and I will tell you all about the place we stayed at and the gardens we visited in my posts this week.  

 In one part of the garden we saw a small pond.  It had a few lily pads, but no lilies.  

However, there was something else that caught our interest.  

Two frogs had made a home in the lily pond.

They were fun to watch and I sat on the edge observing them for a while.

 It didn't take long to see that they were raising a family.

 There were specks in the water and I realized they were eggs.

 It would have been interesting to see the eggs turn into tadpoles, the tadpoles turn into frogs...

but if you click on this link you will be able to read about their life cycle.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you all have a great week.

QUITE A STORY - GREGG'S 4TH GREAT-AUNT THROUGH MARRIAGE

This week is turning into the sharing of Gregg's relatives he found on Ancestry recently.  Genealogy has become one of his hobbies, having more time to do these things since retiring.  It is a jewel of a story I felt worthy of sharing.  We do have her name but as I mentioned before, I don't use it for the sake of privacy, not just for us but for other members of his family.  I would like to thank the person who originally shared this story, and to my dear other half for showing it to me.  It truly is amazing. 

"A satchel in her hand, this young Norwegian girl was born in Bergen, Norway, on January 20th, 1833.  She was one of a large family of brothers and sisters. 

Early in life she developed a calling for the care of the sick. It followed her from her native Norway, first to Iowa and eventually to the Dakota Territory.  Trained in the old and honorable Scandinavian profession of midwifery, she fulfilled the tradition of generations of women in her family.  

With her little black satchel, the hallmark of her profession as midwife and still a young girl, she moved to Iowa just prior to the Civil War.  There she married her husband and came with him to the Blue Blanket territory in 1886.

To the young Norwegian wives and mothers of this community, our heroin came as a gift from heaven.  Many of those homesick girls with their first babies could speak no word of English.  This small woman with her kind hands and indomitable courage brought the memory of their homes in Norway, with the firm ministrations of the trained midwives of that land.  Gradually her fame spread from her own community to those adjoining.  

Many years ahead of her generation in the firm conviction that cleanliness was the first requisite in the care of any illness, she went on to calmly combat age-old superstions on the one hand, and the rather sour disapproval of the medical profession on the other.  With quiet insistence she substituted clean hot water for warm chicken blood or weasel skins for treatment of infections, boiled water and boiled milk in typhoid cases, clean linen and rigid sanitation for obstetrics.  The physicians of her day gave her first grudging acceptance, and finally whole-hearted admiration and respect.  

Digressing for a moment, let it be said that there were no hospital-trained nurses in these communities at that time, and the average so-called midwife entirely untrained, justified the physicians darkest suspicions.  They were well meaning enough, but too often the doctor's best efforts were frustrated, and his work undone through sheer ignorance. 

Our heroin as I call her, delivered countless babies alone, often under the most trying circumstances.  No one ever asked for her help in vain.  Night or day, in the bitter cold of winter, the mud of early spring and fall, the prostrating heat of Dakota summers, she traveled to aid the sick, minister to the newborn or the dying, rejoice with the happy relief of convalescence, or comfort the bereft.

Her stature was small, she was a tiny woman, but she was mighty in spirit.  Though not entirely understanding, her patients and friends learned to respect her principals, and it became a standing joke to say, "She is coming, put the kettles on!"

Many times a weary doctor, worn out with the battle for life on a difficult case, drew a deep breath of relief at the advent of this small, calm, smiling woman, knowing that in her capable hands his work would be safe.  One early day physician, receiving tearful and heartfelt thanks for a life saved, paid her deserving tribute, "Rather thank this dear lady" he said.  "The doctor is the big gun but she is the man behind the big gun!"

Men and women, grandparents in their turn, recited her legend.  The stories of her exploits are many and varied.  One elderly lady tells of the birth of her first born child during the dreadful winter of '88.  Seven times on ski and snow shoe, our heroin made the perilous distance over deep snow and ice and through a raging blizzard before that baby made his reluctant appearance.  

Another time during the breaking of the ice in the Missouri River, she crossed the river in a row boat helped by two American Indians, one of whom rowed the boat, the other fending off the swirling chunks of ice that threatened to smash the frail craft to kindling.  One small woman sat in the middle of the boat, no doubt she prayed.  She was needed on that farther bank and she went.

Many were the anxious eyes during those years that watched for her tiny figure, carrying her little black satchel.  A little black satchel of magical properties, for out of it came all sorts of comforts and necessities, and such an amazing supply of pepperming drops for "good children."

In her later years she became Grandma not only to her own grandchildren, but to the whole community.  She died in 1914 at the age of 81.  Of her living children (not sure the date of this article), one son lives in Selby, South Dakota, one in Bremerton, Washington and one somewhere in California.  Across half of the world, from Bergen, Norway to a pioneer community on the South Dakota Prairie, our heroin carried her gift of service in her heart.  A Florence Nightingale of the Prairie, with a little black satchel in her hand."

An amazing story, and no doubt one of millions brought to this country by immigrants who came here from every part of the world.

One of my longer posts and thank you for taking the time to read.  Have a great day!

MORE OLD FAMILY PHOTOS

Here are more finds from Gregg's genealogy search, old photos of his side of the family, distant cousins, on his mother's side.

 All these photos we are guessing were taken in the early 1900s.

This young lady lived to be 104 years' old.

OLD FAMILY PHOTOS

Every now and again my dear other half comes across very old photos of relatives, either through Ancestry or from relatives who often identify them.  We are always grateful, as we love these old photos and consider them treasures. In the photo above is a great-great grandfather and his new bride we think, perhaps on their wedding day in 1907.  We do know their names but out of respect for the rest of the family members, we keep that to ourselves.  The two young ladies below we are not sure of except they are sisters. I love their coats, that big hat and the big bow.

In the next photo we thought they were sisters, but it could be a mother and daughter. I noticed in many family photos the similarities are striking between all members of the family, especially noticeable in the larger families.   

"Families are like branches of a tree.  We go in different directions, yet our roots remain as one."

~Author Unknown~