Some of my favorite childhood memories are those of summer’s country fairs. They were the highlight of the summer. The lights and sounds coming from the midway, the rides and games, demolition derbies and rodeos, and the food – cotton candy, caramel apples, funnel cake (I was a kid – of course all the food I remember was sweet!) Well that magical, memory-making season...
Summer means so many things – fresh produce and grilled foods, country fairs and carnivals, fireworks and outdoor concerts. Here in the summertime of Virginia though, there’s one feature of summer that can never be left out – finding ways to keep cool! The kiddie pool, sprinklers, and slip-n-slides can only provide so much relief and entertainment for the kids. What the family needs...
Crickets chirping, the song of the ice cream truck, kids splashing in the pool – these are all sounds of summer. But there’s another sound that signifies summer for me – the sound of live music drifting through the evening air. The sun begins to set and the air starts to cool. Crowds of people wander out from the air conditioned indoors carrying blankets,...
July 4th is just over a week away! It’s a time to celebrate our great country with some of our favorite traditions – barbecues, parades, picnics, and, of course, fireworks. For me, the best July 4th celebrations are in America’s small towns. Watching a community gather on a summer day to share food, listen to music out on the lawn, and “ooh” and “ah”...
How do you climb a mountain? One step at a time. That advice came from my husband, probably said as I was gasping for breath on some steep climb up said mountain. I love to hike. There’s something about getting outside and being in nature with nothing but what you can carry on your back. Hiking doesn’t have to mean slogging up a mountain,...
Spring is coming. Really, it’s just days away! I’ve seen the proof too – daffodils blooming on the side of the road, red buds popping out on the trees. I’ve even heard the loud chorus of peepers at night. Best of all, Daylight Savings Time has struck again and we’ve sprung forward on the clock, giving us those extra hours of daylight to enjoy in the evenings. I can feel myself waking...