ON MONDAY...

we were out bright and early that morning and were off to Costco to pick up my prescription (prism) glasses, which will fix my double vision. I went to the ophthalmologist a few weeks ago, which I mentioned on here at the time. I was told I had an astigmatism. 

We had momentarily forgotten that it was Memorial Day and Costco was closed. No matter, we decided to go shopping. Driving out of the neighborhood we saw a few houses decorated with flags and banners. This was one of them. On the way to the supermarket, we stopped at a traffic light and this dog very kindly posed for me.

He was definitely showing me his best side.

and was momentarily curious about us.

A few days ago we had glorious skies and I was interested in this cloud formation...to me it looks like someone is lying back on a deck chair.

But the skies have been more like this lately.

For years we used to pass this old house, and it had been empty for as far back as I can remember. It had seen better days. One day when we drove by, there was fencing all around. We realized its days were numbered. Not long after that it was bulldozed.

They have been building this ever since. It's for people to rent personal storage spaces. There are another two similarly designed buildings nearby, one right next to it and another not too far behind. We are still in our decluttering stage at home, and this place always reminds me, we need to get cracking on that again. 

Gregg got his linguiça (pronounced "leen-GWEE-sah) from Harris Teeters on our shopping expedition. We don't have it all the time, but I found a recipe for smoked sausage, cabbage and potato cooked in a slow cooker. I asked him if he would like to try it, as a potato and cabbage combo are a favorite dish of his. His mom used to cook it for his birthday meal when he was young, but with a boiled ham. He's not a big fan of smoked sausage and the only time we ever go to this particular supermarket is when he gets a yen for linguiça. I will use it in this recipe. We can't find it anywhere else around here.

It's a Portuguese sausage that is a real nostalgia item for him. He remembers when he visited relatives in New England. His mother's family used to fix it - very popular up there - and when relatives from that area visited, they would always bring a batch for the family. Gregg's step-grandfather was of Portuguese heritage. I only met him once, not too long after we were married. He passed away and I didn't get the chance to meet him again. I took to him right away, a dear man. Wonderfully gracious and kind in nature. He was a true gentleman, everyone loved him including me.

Added this the next day (26th). Up early again and were at Costco’s at opening time. We were still third in line to see the lady at the eye-glass department. After 20 minutes she handed me my eye glasses that I had ordered. I didn’t want bifocals/trifocals as the last time I was never able to get used to them, and as at this stage I am worried about falling, I splurged and bought three pair. I now have reading, distance and sunglasses, all prescription and prisms. 

I was very nervous but she gave me the long distance ones first. I put them on and my double vision disappeared immediately. I just about clapped my hands. It sounds dreadful but I have been living with this double vision for a year. At first I was waiting for it to get better. It took a while for me to go to my doctor, but eventually admitted to myself it definitely wasn’t going away. I did have my eyes checked by another ophthalmologist in the beginning,  as I already had a regular appointment. I can’t remember what he said about my double vision, after just getting the usual things done. Everything else was tested. He suggested going to my regular doctor if it didn’t get any better. 

Many appointments at the doctor afterwards, it was off to an ophthalmologist who was more local. She was amazing, looked so very young, was incredibly thorough, softly spoken and the kind of professional who puts you at your ease immediately (you can see the post about that visit here). She diagnosed the astigmatism after looking at all the results. 

I will take photos of the new glasses soon. They have boring frames and maybe I should have spent more time with frame designs, but I didn’t hang around and wanted out of there.

Anyway, a little bit of a ramble today.

Thanks for visiting and I hope

your day is a great one.

ON THE WAY TO THE GARDEN...

 On the way to the garden on Tuesday, we pass an old, abandoned house. One other spot driven by recently, we were surprised to see that that home had already been leveled. This was the second home in a month. I managed to take a photo of the previous place. The next day it was gone. I have been trying to get photos of all the ones in our area, and beyond. Seeing them for all these years in this state of disrepair, I have gotten used to these old homes. A lot of them look like they are just going to fall right over but I always wonder who lived there, thinking this was once someone's dream. What stories those old walls could tell.

My dear other half reminded me that there was another coming up in a few miles. It is hard to slow down as there is always a lot of traffic (the photo above is a cropped version of the first). When he said we were about to drive by, I already had the window rolled down, the strap of the phone wrapped tightly around my wrist and was ready. A 'someone's-one-time-dream-home-taken-on-a-fly-by' photo. It has been in this state for as long as we have lived in the area, and that's been for over 30 years plus. The house must have been built when the road was little more than a narrow country lane, long before this heavier traveled route appeared. I guess someone finally sold the land. We have an abundance of farmland that has been in families for generations, that have gone to the building companies. We often surmise a parent passed on and the children decided it was time. Land is always considered a premium right? 

I wonder what will be built in its place? Gas stations are going up everywhere, or more homes. I will be paying attention.

A few miles on we saw police officers on motorcycles going in the opposite direction. There must have been a dozen or more. A little further on we came across these guys. I thought they looked really sharp. As you can see by their short-sleeved shirts it was a warm day. We wished them well as we passed by.

So, from old, abandoned buildings, to motorcycle police officers. Next time it will be flowers from the garden.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

TO A VISITOR…

 

To A Visitor

I live in an old house 

With two big dogs out front.

They may run to greet you.

Don’t worry, 

Just scratch them under the chins

And you will have forever friends.

If you’re hungry, pick purple grapes 

From the porch,

Or sage leaves

From that dented metal tub.

The porch is messy.

You might find a bike

Or a cooler just unpacked from camping,

Or a book turned upside down,

Or a cat,

Or three cats

Snoozing in the shade.

Pet the cats.

Borrow the book if you like.

Come in.

Tea’s on.

~Amy Ludwig VanDerwater~

I took the photo of this lovely old house on our trip along the Snickersville Turnpike a few weeks ago.  I am continuously drawn to these beautiful old homes.   It is another ArtCard effect.   

LAST OF MY PHOTOS FROM COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG - OUR OCTOBER TRIP

I am starting off with the Governor's Palace.  We didn't get off the main street this time.  No photos closer up, except for the one I cropped below.  

The Governor's Palace was the official residence for the royal governors of colonial Virginia during much of the 18th century.  It was constructed in 1706-1722 and housed seven royal governors and two post-colonial governors, Patrick Henry and Thomas Jefferson. The house served as a hospital for American soldiers during the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, and was destroyed by fire later that year.  (I couldn't find out what caused the fire.)  The site ended up in the possession of The College of William and Mary, which erected two school buildings near where the Palace once stood.  The property was purchased by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in 1928.  In 1930 archaeologist from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation excavated the site and uncovered the original foundation. The entire palace was reconstructed in 1934, and it opened to the public as part of Colonial Williamsburg on April 23, 1934. Originally decorated with inaccurate Colonial Revival style antiques, the interior was refurnished in 1981 with pieces better representing the Palace’s 18th century décor. Additional changes were made in 2006 to reflect the Palace’s appearance during the residency of Lord Dunmore. Today the Governor’s Palace is a part of Colonial Williamsburg.  You can purchase a ticket which will include most buildings (not the ones privately owned obviously) in Colonial Williamsburg.  You can take a self-guided tour of the Governor’s Palace, information of rates and times can be found at the visitor center at this link.

Queen Elizabeth II visited Williamsburg and Yorktown in 1957 and 2007, which you can read about here.  Winston Churchill before her in 1946.  There is a website at this link with old photos of other notables.  You have to scroll down to see, but the information is an interesting read also.

Carriage rides seem to be very popular, though I have never taken one in all the years we have been visiting.  We have just enjoyed walking around but maybe one day we will take a ride.

The history the Duke of Gloucester Street can be found here.  

It said that the street began as a narrow trace.  I assumed 'trace' was the same as a trail (with other meanings), and the definition of 'trace' in this instance means a path, trail or road made by the passage of animals, people or vehicles.

The Courthouse was constructed from 1770 to 1771.  As Clerk of Courts, it fell to Benjamin Waller to read aloud the Declaration of Independence here on July 25th, 1776, after it arrived from Philadelphia.

The old stocks were not in use for photo ops.  There was a sign explaining why, and I read online that they are perhaps getting too old for safe use.  

The Duke of Gloucester Street is lined with these lovely colonial homes.  A few are privately owned, so make sure you are not having a looky-loo in someone's garden before checking to see if there is a sign out front.  I am not saying the building below is one of those homes, I don't know. It's good to check though.

Next is the Greenhow Store which "offers a variety of colonial items similar to those sold by Mr. Greenhow in the 18th century, including wrought iron, willow baskets, fabrics, tinware and porcelain."  

John Greenhow came from High House near Kendal in England, and settled in Williamsburg, America.  The emigrant ancestor of the Greenhows in America was a prosperous merchant of Williamsburg, carrying quality merchandise and fine teas.  He was active in the commercial and social life of Williamsburg for more than a third of a century.

Next is the home of Catherine Blaikely, explanation in the photo below this one.

There is a fascinating podcast about being a midwife in colonial times, not for everyone I know but its more historical than anything else.  You can listen to it at this link.

Next you can see another building with a ladder on the roof, which is there in case of fire.  It is the Hartwell Perry Ordinary.  Hartwell Perry was the gentleman proprietor.  An Ordinary was similar to a tavern or inn but was usually less elegant.  

The sign outside is a rebus based on his name (rebus is defined as a representation of words or syllables by pictures of objects or by symbols whose names resemble the intended words or syllables in sound.  Also, a riddle made up of such pictures or symbols). Now when I go back, I will be looking at all the signs hanging by these shops, trying to figure them all out.  For this 'rebus', someone explained that a male deer is known as 'hart', the 'well' is another part of his name).  Perry (as in his last name) is a drink made from pears.  I found a blog that shows how Perry is made if you'd like to take a look.  You can see it here.  

My research takes me all over the place.  And to repeat something I have perhaps shared before, my parents always said, "She was always a very curious child."  I am not sure that was meant to be said as a good thing or a bad thing, hehehe!  They loved me, that's all that counts.

Also, Gregg made a good point, that many people in those days were not taught to read, and the signs would point them in the right direction.

The last two photos I took I was near Merchant Square, and looking at a sign in the flower bed.  At the bottom it thanks us for giving the Ground wasps their space, and a short explanation of how they protect our deciduous trees.  At this link you can read more about them, but here are a few facts:

Solitary wasps are common beneficial insects in landscapes * they hunt and capture other insects or spiders to feed their young * they are not aggressive toward people and rarely sting * Solitary wasps should be tolerated and ignored whenever possible.

And, if you enlarge the sign below, you will read that they are Cicada killers and protect deciduous trees from leaf damaged caused by Cicadas.

I found two interesting articles, the first of a blogger on a walking tour around Williamsburg.  You will find it here.  Also, a gentleman who is one of those in costume, was interviewed here.  

That's about all for now, and the 'curious child' is going to give you all a break.  This will be the last of my photos from Colonial Williamsburg, until we can go next time.  We are hoping to see it all decorated for the holidays before the end of the year.  Fingers crossed!

Have a great weekend everyone. 

CONTINUING OUR WALK AROUND WILLIAMSBURG ON 10-21-22

I have enjoyed looking up a few of the homes in the town.  This is the Bowden-Armistead House, a three-story Greek Revival surrounded by black wrought-iron fencing.  (There is a good explanation of what Greek Revival is at The Spruce.)  It is an antebellum relic, the last remnant of the post-colonial homes and businesses present before the 1930s restoration of Williamsburg was finished.  I also looked up 'antebellum'.  It is defined as "Occurring or existing before a particular war, especially the American Civil War."

The Bowden-Armistead house is privately owned so is not open to the public.  I noticed a few privately owned homes along the road.  I was surprised and wondered how many tourists had walked through their gates without reading the sign.  This one was built in 1858 by prominent lawyer Lemuel J. Bowden, and the locals were astonished at the cost, which was more than $10,000.  It is located on Williamsburg's main street.

I loved the old wrought iron fencing.

Stepping right back into the past with all its history.  There is more information at this website.

You will find several people walking around town or at the entrances of some of the old stores, dressed in colonial garb.  They must have been asked a thousand times for a photo, but they are always gracious and speak as if they were actually from colonial times.

On one of our trips here many years ago, I remember a colonial gentleman with a lovely smile,  nodding his head as he touched his hat to say, "Good day to you Mistress."  I could get used to that!

Old-world charm at its best, very gracious indeed, and they do the town proud. 

The leaves put on a gorgeous display of Fall, and the weather was incredible!

Here is a poem from Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

"Go sit upon the lofty hill, 

And turn your eyes around,

Where waving woods and waters wild

Do hymn an autumn sound. The summer sun is faint on them

The summer flowers depart

Sit still - as all transform'd to stone,

Except your musing heart."

That's the end of my post today.  There will be more as soon as I can put another post together.

Have a great day and...