Rubbish Tuesday - Morning @ Happy's

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Happy's is an old indoor flea market located in Roanoke...On a chilly March morning we went out to breakfast then stopped at Happy's for the very first time, come along!

I'm diggin' that old skool tile floor!

Remember trying to win radio contests with these old dial phones? Yeah, good luck with that!

I didn't have a 7-Up bike but I did have a bike similar to this with the old banana seat and sissy bar!

In the market for a squirrel (I think) pelt?

Your Halloween one stop shop!

Ah, but honestly, Happy's is pretty interesting and I guess there's something there for everyone. I personally buy the bulk incense they sell and not because I smoke pot which my mom always thought that people who burn incense only do it to cover up the pot smell lol...I just happen to love incense...and then...this happened...

We bought a drumset...Linking up with Rubbish Tuesday if you would like more info on Happy's, visit their website RIGHT HERE!

Gotta Dance

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I was cleaning out my photo files and wanted to show you these from last month's Steppin' Out Fest in Blacksburg. This cute man was having a great time!


“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,
Love like you'll never be hurt,
Sing like there's nobody listening,
And live like it's heaven on earth.”
― William W. Purkey

SkyWatch Friday & Willy Nilly Friday 5 Number 13

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The boys had a football game on Monday in Salem at Spartan Field. It was a terrible game. We lost 35-0. If you live local you will already know why we lost, "it was Salem". Well at least we were blessed by THIS sky at the end of the game! Linking with SkyWatch Friday

I was reading some useless facts and thought they were pretty interesting so I'm gonna make them my Willy-Nilly post:

1) Johnny Appleseed planted apples so that people could use apple cider to make alcohol. (and here all this time I just thought he was a do-gooder, turns out he was just a lush!)

2) The most powerful earthquake to strike the United States occurred in 1811 in New Madrid, Missouri. The quake shook more than one million square miles, and was felt as far as 1,000 miles away. (I actually learned about this when we lived in Missouri. Pretty wild!)

3) The Bible, the world’s best-selling book, is also the world’s most shoplifted book. (well that's ironic)

4) What is called a “French kiss” in the English speaking world is known as an “English kiss” in France. (ok Frenchies, is this true?!)

5) In Baltimore USA it is illegal to wash or scrub a sink regardless of how dirty it is. (and now I don't think I will be eating out in Baltimore! ewww)

Ok, now it's your turn! Post 5 random things about ANYTHING and come back here and link up. Visit other Willy-Nilly'ers and have fun!



Have a wonderful weekend :)

Farm Animals Behind Good Fences

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Here's some cute animals that live on the farm at the Blue Ridge Farm Museum

Linking these cuties to Good Fences :)

The Original 1800's Farmhouse

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Sunnybrook Farm told us the house from yesterday's post was a re-creation, of "I think" this house:

For those of you that live somewhat nearby and expressed an interest in visiting, next month they are having a fun Folklife Festival which would be a great time to visit! We plan to go...for more info CLICK HERE

Rubbish Tuesday - 1800's Farm House

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This is an old 1800's farm house at The Blue Ridge Institute Farm Museum. We visited a couple of months ago and for some reason this escasped my blog so there are more pics to come this week! My pal over at Sunnybrook Farm knows quite a bit about this place so hopefully he'll fill us in as we go along! Linking with Roan's Rubbish Tuesday :)

Monday Mural - Macado's

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Macado's. 120 Church Ave SW. Roanoke

Macado's is one of my favorite spots downtown. The cool murals painted on the inside make you feel like you are eating at a street side cafe in Cuba. Tres cool! For more on Macado's, visit their website HERE ...linking with Monday Mural

Willy Nilly Friday 5 Number 12 - Huckabees in Iron Gate

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This is Huckabees in Iron Gate. We have never stopped here but the colorful chairs out front always catch my eye when we are driving through. I just looked at their Facebook Page and wow, I really need to make a point to check it out on the inside one day because what is better than "6 unique shops under 1 roof" and "a great place to stop, shop, and eat"! Well that sounds like my kind of place! You've got to check out their menu and the names of their deli sandwiches like the "oinker" lol..how funny! This is just right up the road from yesterday's park :)

Now for some willy-nilly's:

1) I tried a few new recipes this week and these 2 things were winners... Tabbouleh (made with Quinoa and was soooo tasty!) and Roasted Chicken & Potatoes ...I used bone in breasts and the chicken was so flavorful!

2) It's a pet peeve of mine when people spell "y'all" like this "ya'll"...y'all is a contraction of you and all and when you drop the "ou" your apostrophe should hang right there, after the "y" and before the "all"...so there, my spelling tip of the day ;) but...I have probably made tons of grammatical errors all through this post so who am I to judge lol...

3) Have you heard of this: Worldwide Photo Walk? Looks pretty cool. Nothing in my area, but I did see a couple in DC.

4) Did I tell you Ash and I went and saw The Giver? I know I mentioned we were going to go but I don't think I told you that we REALLY liked it...a lot! Dalton read the book and Braden's class just started. I know someone who didn't like it but she read the book and you know how that goes, books are always better, in most cases I guess...

5) Ash saw some religious nut on campus this week. He was there with his wife and small child. He staked out a section and started "preaching" about cheerleaders being "whore-leaders" and sorority girls being "sow-ority girls" and basically calling everyone big ol sluts. I don't know why he is allowed to do this. She said he has permission because it's his "Freedom of Speech"..his wife stands by and films the whole thing. Ash had heard that he sued another school he was "preaching" to after he ended up in a fight, someone punched him and now his wife films it for evidence I guess. Sounds to me like he wants to instigate stuff and then sue..maybe that's how he makes a living. He sounds dangerous. Ash sent me a link about his visit there, someone recorded him and a student got a guitar and started to sing "How He Loves Us" and all the students joined in and covered the preachers mean ramblings. You can watch it RIGHT HERE ....it's pretty touching!

Well that's my 5 for the week and now it's your turn! Post 5 random "willy nilly" things and link back to me. Visit other Willy Nilly participants and have fun! Have a great weekend too!!

Signs, Signs & A Good Fence In Iron Gate

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Wandering around old manors and run down motels makes a person hungry. Stopped here at this little park in Iron Gate to munch on our tuna sandwiches. The boys noted right away that there is NO teeter totter in this park. Not one.

This little house sits right next to the park. What fun for kids to have a park in your backyard. We had one right down the street from us where I grew up. Our bus picked us up there. We would play on the Merry-Go-Round till the bus came. In the summer there were lots of activities held for us kids there, put on by the parks dept. We played games, made Plaster of Paris hands and let balloons go with our names and addresses attached so that when someone found our balloon they would send our address label back and let us know where it was found. I remember mine came back. Someone found it either in the desert or mountains. I can't remember but I remember my label being all dirty and a bit torn up. It was pretty exciting to hear about where it had travelled! The name of my little childhood park was Bill Beck Park in El Cajon, Ca. My favorite thing in the park was this wooden fort that was made from big logs. They had tar on them I guess because I can still smell that tar smell in my memory! But I digress! I am linking with Signs, Signs & Good Fences :)

Firmstone Manor & Longdale Furnace

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This beautiful old home sits next to yesterday's motel. Like I said yesterday, it is closed for a couple of months due to the partner's broken leg. I read the reviews I found online and for years they received wonderful reviews. I think it has been struggling in the last year or so. Probably because it is so much to run a house of this size and age! I also read that the owner rescues dogs and I think that the one in the photo is "Schnoopy" that I happened to see in an older review. I had the boys stand next to that great old tree just to show you how huge it is! I also read that they had intentions of turning the motel into cottages at one point. And remember, this is for sale for those that like a little hard work. What a wonderful old home this is...you can read its rich history HERE

Rubbish Tuesday - Old Motel on Longdale Furnace Rd

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On Saturday we took a little drive out to Clifton Forge. It was our first time to be on this side of the town, along Longdale Furnace Rd. This is just up the road from yesterday's motel. We stopped here to look at an old manor that has been changed into a B&B. Which I will show you tomorrow. The manor and this motel share the same property. We pulled up and didn't see anybody but the 1 vehicle parked there led us to believe that someone was home. Plus there were 2 dogs barking in the window of the B&B. Nick called out "hello" a few times and then an elderly gentleman came out explaining that the B&B was closed for the next couple of months because his partner broke her leg. We asked if we could wander around and he said that we were welcome to walk around the grounds. So we did and this is what we saw:

Ok, I have to tell you, this place gave us the creeps. Whoever said "Bates Motel" in yesterday's comments, that was exactly what we said when we were HERE! There was just something creepy in the air there! Linking with Rubbish Tuesday ...and for anyone who might be interested, the old man did tell us they were selling the manor and the motel ;)

North Mountain Motel

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Clifton Forge

...imagine my happiness when we drove by this gem! And yes, that is a canoe!

Willy Nilly Friday 5 Number 11 - Memorial Bridge & Dollar Shave Club

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Memorial Bridge in Roanoke opened to traffic on May 6, 1926. For more info CLICK HERE

Have you ever heard of The Dollar Shave Club. They are having a fun little promo right now. I've heard about the Dollar Shave Club on the radio and have also seen postings on Facebook. I've always meant to check into it since I do have 2 current shavers in the house, with 2 more up and coming shavers. Not sure if it's for women or just men but shhhhh, don't tell, I do steal my husband's razor ;).....anyways...the Dollar Shave Club's motto is "Shave Time, Shave Money" and pride themselves on "helping people NOT have to "squeeze" too much use out of their razors by providing great razors that are shipped right to your door for as low as a buck a month!"

So I was thinking that it would be fun to involve my readers and Willy Nilly participants! My Willy Nilly Friday 5 will be about things we should or shouldn't squeeze and in my comments, play along, let us know something you should or shouldn't squeeze! So here we go!:

Willy Nilly Friday 5 things you should or shouldn't squeeze:

1) Well sometimes I love to squeeze the stuffing out of my kids because I love them so dang much....that could be good...or bad...depending on how strong you are ;)

2) I squeezed some lemon on my fish for Thursday night's dinner, yum!

3) I Googled "things you should squeeze" and found this: Science Explains Why We Want To Sqeeze Cute Things To Death and it is also known as "Cute Aggression" haha

4) I HATE when I have to squeeze into my favorite jeans... :(

5) My husband has been running a bit more this week after a little hiatus...he just asked me to massage his legs...guess I'll be squeezing some thigh ;)

Now it's your turn friends! Link up to Willy Nilly Friday 5 and post 5 totally "Willy-Nilly" random things. Leave me a comment about something you should or shouldn't sqeeze! Have fun and have a super weekend!




Oh, one more thing, I wanted to share this funny thing with you that I saw earlier on Facebook 32 Animals Being Total Jerks ...haha, some of the pictures are just hilarious, enjoy!

Signs, Signs: The Muffler Man & A Good Fence In Salem

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This hipster is the Muffler Man located at 3110 Williamson Road in Roanoke. I must have been drunk this day. I could not get a straight photo to save my life, or one without the side mirror. Anywho, for more info on the Muffler Man CLICK HERE Linking this with Signs, Signs

Yes, there is a fence there...the tippy top of a split rail! We were driving along one day in Salem when I noticed this kid out on his porch playing his guitar. So Nick knowing what was next (turn around, I want to get a picture) turned around and slowly crept passed him while I secretly snapped his picture from the window...by this time he probably had noticed us and was texting for help "help, some old lady is driving by slowly and taking my picture"... Linking this with Tex and her Good Fences meme.

ABC Wednesday - I is for Identical Twins

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DC & Mount Vernon

Ok, don't hate me for taking the easy road! I was looking through my many picture libraries, and I DO mean MANY and came across this trip to DC back in 2011. I love these pics of the boys and miss them being so little! Gosh time flies in an INSTANT! INSANE ISN'T IT? Ohhh lookie there, a hat trick! For more on the letter "I" visit ABC Wednesday :)

Rubbish Tuesday - The Patrick Henry

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The Patrick Henry was once a swanky hotel, now it is being turned into fancy apartments and commercial space. We stopped by one day during the summer while we were walking around downtown and tried to get in thinking there was a restaurant inside but all the doors were locked. So I don't really know if anything is open yet or not. Their WEBSITE is not very informative or even useful but their Facebook Page is pretty interactive. Still clueless though about what is inside and open to Joe Public. I did see THIS STORY about a restaurant to open soon-ish. There's also haunted stories about the Patrick Henry you can READ HERE

The Patrick Henry is located at 611 Jefferson Street in Roanoke.

I am linking with Roan's Rubbish Tuesday...click on over to see lots of other neat old stuff!