Saturday, June 24, 2006

A Sentimental Journey

Today we took a drive down Rte. 15 thru the middle of Virginia, something I have wanted to do for a long time and never have done in all my years of living in Virginia. I loved passing thru towns I've heard of all my life but have never actually seen. We stopped for lunch in Farmville at a restaurant that was in a restored warehouse area. This one part of the complex had an insane amount of statuary for sale - I thought I might pick up something for Anne's garden, but it was all much too large and much too expensive - not to mention just ugly.


Next stop: Nathalie, VA!


Some Nathalie signage:


Not exactly a thriving metropolis.


But wait - there's a big new post office!





Who knew there are Amish in Nathalie!


On to Bedford County, just outside of Lynchburg, to check on my vast land holdings. Here I am surveying my kingdom.


I wish I could have gotten a picture of the two little fawns who were gamboling around when we first pulled up. Do you think I should post some of those No Hunting signs? But who would enforce it?


I'm afraid that when you get right down to it, the land is very rocky and very steep - not really good for much of anything. And I'm guessing that $20K assessment by Bedford Co. is a joke...


While in the neighborhood, we visited the little family graveyard behind the chapel across the road. Another Nathalie!


Proof that West is a family name in our family, too.


A monument commemorating my uncle Sam, who was killed in WW I and is buried in France. I think next time we're in France we may try to find the cemetery and his grave.


Ivy Chapel. This picture was taken seconds before the skies opened and rain started coming down in torrents. Little did we know it was only the beginning.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

The Long Anticipated Day With Thomas

Here are a few pictures from our day out with Thomas, taken by Granddad. Old Thomas looks uncharacteristically cheerful here; usually he's in a snit about something!


All aboard!


Anne won't thank me for this picture, but it gives a good indication of just how hot it was and how unenthusiastic Jasper was about the train ride.