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Monthly Archives: June 2012
Breakfast on the Blue Ridge Parkway
Welcome to MY SWVA and one of my favorite activities. I love to wake up on Saturday morning and go have breakfast in a unique diner where home cooking is served. Those of you who know me, know that I … Continue reading
Posted in Food & Wine
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Red, White & Blue Ridge Parkway
Welcome to MY SWVA and a few of my favorite things that I have found on my 22 year journey of learning the tourism treasures in this mountain area of Virginia. My favorite scenic drive is the portion of the … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
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Heartwood is a LEED-er!
On behalf of the Southwest Virginia chapter, Nick Safay presented the U. S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Certification to Heartwood: Southwest Virginia’s Artisan Gateway in a ceremony there today. Accepting the award were People, … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
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4th of July Travel Tips
JD and I are getting ready to head to Maine for the 4th, a journey that will take us fairly close to the northern terminus of Interstate 81. As we prepare for our adventure, I’m reminded of the hidden treasures … Continue reading
Posted in Miscellaneous
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Foraging About Laughing Water Farm in Marion
Drawn primarily to the notion of foraging the mountains of Appalachia for lavender, chamomile, various and sundry greens, and culinary ‘shrooms, I found myself welcomed into the inner-circle of Antoinette Goodrich, the soft-spoken and gracious, bespectacled and silver-haired owner of … Continue reading
Posted in Farms, Food & Wine, Nature, Outdoor Recreation
Tagged Abingdon, Abingdon Farmers' Market, Antoinette Goodrich, Appalachian Trail, Duchess Dairy Products, Harvest Table Restaurant, House on Main, Laughing Water Farm, Marion, Marion Farmers' Market, Meadowview Farmers' Guild, Rural Retreat, Virginia
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The Plight of the Honeybee
Four or 5 years ago, I started hearing about the mysterious disappearance and rapid decline of honeybees from our environment, a phenomenon I have since come to know as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Wanting to know more, I watched a … Continue reading
Guess Who’s Celebrating 25 Years in Downtown Blacksburg?
Stepping into ‘Round the Mountain trail site, Matrix Gallery, on a dreary afternoon that might best be described as a mix of drizzle and gust with a touch of grey, the forecast immediately brightens as shop owner, Lana Jaurez, ushers … Continue reading
Posted in Arts & Culture, Crafts, Downtowns
Tagged 'Round the Mountain: Southwest Virginia's Artisan Network, Beverly Nachlas, craft, David Crane, Downtown Blacksburg, Floyd, George Bagnall, glass, hand-forged steel, jewelry, Lana Juarez, leatherwork, Marsha Heatwole, Matrix Gallery, Montgomery County Artisan Trail, pottery, Sally Mook, Virginia Tech, wood
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Fest for the Senses
Today’s a big day for me and JD. We just bought our tickets to Floyd Fest 11, July 26-29. We’ve been faithful attendees ever since we moved here. We had hoped to go glamping (aka glam-camping in fully tricked out … Continue reading
Wandering about Russell County
One of the first people I met after coming to work with the Southwest Virginia Cultural Heritage Foundation was Russell County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Director, Linda Marshall. I had been to Russell County only once before, and she … Continue reading
Posted in Crafts, Food & Wine, History, Nature, Outdoor Recreation
Tagged Channels Natural Area Preserve, Clinch River, Dante Coal Mining and Railroad Museum, Heartwood, Oxbow Lake Park, Pinnacle Natural Area Preserve, Riverside Diner, Russell County, Southwest Virginia, St. Paul, Virginia, Wetlands Estonoa Learning Center
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Natural Tunnel State Park
“Find your happy place.” That’s a term people use when someone is stressed or overworked. Usually it’s understood to be a mental state. I, however, discovered my happy place in a physical spot: Natural Tunnel State Park. Daniel and I … Continue reading
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