One week down, one to go

Tuesday April 29, 2014
Charlottesville, Virginia

 

 

We made it back to C’ville just in time for the Dogwood Festival

 

 

This time of year really is one of my favorites because of all the beautiful flowers and flowering trees.  The temperatures haven’t gotten hot yet.

The Festival includes a carnival which was at the park just down the street from where Winnona is parked.   

It stays there for two weeks and in the middle they do fireworks which Winnona could see if she wasn’t facing away from them.  :-)   It also includes a barbeque, a fashion show,  a golf tournament, a parade, the queen’s ball.  It takes up nearly the entire month of April.

 

 

 

 

 

Of course a trip to Spudnuts was in order. 

Delicious potato donuts as usual.  Coconut of course!  mmmmmmmm

 

 

 

 

 

Carrie came for a whirlwind week-end.  

 

On Saturday we walked down to the city market and were pleasantly surprised to run into the Dogwood Parade.  Nothing like a small town parade.  Too cute.  Even the bookmobile was in the parade ahead of the high school band as were the never ending princesses and little Miss this and little Mr. that.  Who talks these kids into this??

 

 

 

 

Charlottesville loves its Rivanna River.

 

Junk food anyone?  No doubt the kids will want some

 

We walked up the street with the parade and then cut over to the other side of the Downtown Sidewalk Mall to the City Market where we were going to meet Carrie’s cousin Justin and his wife and 3 children.  I would have loved to watch the parade, Carrie not so much, but we had a date.

At the market we ran into my friends Pam and Keith who are the parents of Carrie’s friend Kate with whom we had dinner later that evening. Kate and Carrie have been friends since 2nd grade.  I got a picture of Pam, Keith and Carrie at the market but forgot my camera when we went to dinner with Kate. Bummer! Kate’s a cutie!

 

 

 

We walked around the market but we didn’t see them and I didn’t see my friend Maggie the potter either.  Darn.  Then Justin called and said they were watching the parade.  ALL RIGHTY THEN!   I do get to see the parade.   Off we went to join them.

 

Does every town have Shriners in little cars?  How do they decide who gets to drive?

 

It seems everything is orange for the Orange and Blue Virginia Wahoos.  Even the tractor.
Did you have tractors in your home town parade?

 

 

Miss Virginia Desiree Williams was on her float.  Boy is she beautiful!

 

 

Big sister Norah loved all the “princesses”.  Baby John has Carrie’s undivided attention.

 

 

 

The jazzercise gals got a good workout.  They danced all the way and it was at least 2 miles.

 

 

Apparently Buford Middle School has a step team.  Is this a new sport?  They were totally synchronized and brought big cheers from the crowd.  I’m guessing the guy in the back must be the coach.  He looks a bit big for middle school.

 

 

Justin’s sister Ashley joined us.  We were very happy to see her.  She only lives about 2 blocks over so she came on out to meet us.

 

 

 

Among my parade favorites were the Green Grannies.

 

And I guess the Green Grandpas with great signboards.

 

Whole foods sent out their banana and pea pod.  Eat Organic!!   And a carrot on a bicycle.

 

Now seriously how often do you get to see a carrot on a bike.  He was on the opposite side of the street from me and I couldn’t see him until he had almost passed us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children had a great time and we did too.  We all had suckers.  Even Dad!   This is a rare picture of little Elise sitting still.  She’s a busy girl with tons of energy. 

 

Every southern town has its Civil War statue and many, like Charlottesville, also have a statue of Robert E. Lee.  He’s a beloved favorite son of Virginia.  His statue is in Lee Park next to the Main branch of the library.  The two sisters, Norah and Elise, thought they’d go make his acquaintance and see the pretty tulips in bloom

 

 

 

 

 

 

Norah returns but dad has to go round up Elise.  Too funny!

 

 

Justin and Carrie were favorite cousins as children and since he stayed in Charlottesville after attending UVA architecture school, Carrie always likes to see him when she comes home.   Baby John was just born on March 1st so this is the first time any of us have seen him.  What a darling he is.

 

 

Sunday morning at the farm it’s time to work up an appetite for the farm breakfast

 A hike along the pond and through the woods did the trick but no one though to get a picture of the big spread.  Bad…bad!  Does it seem to you we have eaten our way through this week-end?  You’d be right and it isn’t finished yet. 

Still winter in the woods and spring is just barely showing at the pond.  Although the frogs are quite vocal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday afternoon we went for visit with long time family friends.

 

Carrie and her friend Allegra met in Kindergarten and have remained friends all these years.  Allegra is now an MD specializing in ObGyn and has been practicing in Boston.  I think this past winter has convinced her she needs to move back south.  LOL    Luckily she was in town interviewing at the same time we were all here. 

Her parents, Ted and Lynne, have been friends of ours for just as long.  They invited us over for dinner and Lynne fixed an amazing spread which was just beautiful and of course I was too busy eating it to remember pictures.  So all you get to see is the empty plates.   That’s a real shame.  Guess Lynne will have to do it again.   I promise to take pictures next time!

 

However we did get a picture of Lynne cutting her walnut torte.  I mean to tell you this is one fabulous dessert.  We were all smiling just as big as she is while we ate it.  That’s a recipe I must remember to get.  If you are reading this Lynne, send it along…please!!

 

 

Carrie is a cat lover, she wanted to get a picture of Allegra and the family cat.  Now that’s some kitty for sure.

 

 

 

And now, it’s RAINING AGAIN!!

 

 

We had a nice clear spring weather week-end, just perfect, but immediately after that the rain began again.  All day every day for 3 days.  We are supposed to get major storms tomorrow with hail and strong winds.  Crossing my fingers none of the trees in the neighborhood where Winnona is parked come down on top of her.  The area is beautiful with many old trees.  In the past few years at least one of them has come down each year.  Some do no damage and one totally flattened the house next door to it.  Thank goodness no one was home at the time.   She’d be much safer at the farm but since it won’t quit raining, no work can be done on the road.   I’m wondering where we can go other than California to get away from this east coast never ending rain.