Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 22 - The Black Friday Edition

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Wednesday's snow....
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We had a nice one....Ash was able to come home....I love having all the kids back under 1 roof!

Black Friday shopping...are you going? Me, NO WAY! Christian and his girlfriend are going to be heading out really early...I'll be in my warm, snuggly bed. I like online shopping!

So here's some Willy-Nilly's for ya:

1) Check out THESE abandoned malls...so creepy!

2) Speaking of online shopping...do you use EBATES ? I've been using them for about 2 years now. It's free to sign up and you do your regular shopping through their links and get money back! Each Christmas I get about a hundred dollars back from things I bought through Ebates that I was going to buy anyway!

3) When I was looking at the abandoned mall photos I started to think about the mall I shopped in so much as a kid/teen/adult. Parkway Plaza in El Cajon. I wanted to find an old photo of it from back in the day before it totally changed, before stupid WalMart moved in, but couldn't...but I did find THIS which is pretty neat. Do you remember May Company? We had one at our mall and I shopped there a lot too but it closed. Funny, I remember buying a really cool black and white OP bathing suit there back in high school. Why do I remember that?! lol...OP was a cool brand to wear back in high school...wonder what happened...and why does WalMart carry it now?

4) Well now I'm thinking about brands we wore as kids...Vans were cool and kids still wear them to this day....Remember Le Tigre polo shirts?! How about Sasson jeans:


and Jordache jeans!


Aren't those commercials cheesy?! I totally remember them! I could go on and on but I'll stop for now ;)

5) Tried this new recipe this week Swiss Steak...I made it with rice...it was REALLY good. I found it on Pinterest and when I clicked on it, the blog it took me to is the blog that I got my Spanish Rice recipe from. I've been making that rice for a few years now. Funny how small the blogging world is!

Well that's it for me...now it's your turn!


Have a great weekend :)

Signs, Signs - Happy Thanksgiving

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Sign outside of Lord Botetourt High School, Daleville

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."
Kevin James

Linking with Signs, Signs

Getting this ready to auto post...gotta hit the hay, lots o' cookin' to do in the a.m.! Have a Happy Turkey Day!

Oh, yeah, this photo was taken this afternoon (Wed)...we got a bit of snow!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve

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Iron Gate

I want to tell you that all my computer problems are el-gone-a-roonie! Yay! The last issue I was having was that Google wasn't keeping me signed in. I'd sign in, then it would say I was still signed out. I couldn't comment on hardly any blogs but I found it in the cookies settings. Had to switch from what Chrome had as a "recommended" setting to something different. Saw that piece of awesome news on the support forum. Oh I can't even tell you how happy that makes me! Have a super day!!

A Farmhouse in Black & White

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Somewhere in Wirtz

“The old dreams were good dreams; they didn't work out but I'm glad I had them.”
― Robert James Waller, The Bridges of Madison County

I love that movie/book :)

Linking with Rubbish Tuesday

Update: I know, I know...and I apologize..you are probably tired of hearing about my computer woes and rightfully so but I did get those bugs out after doing a system restore but now I'm afraid in all my messing with my computer that I've messed up some settings, like cookies that I can't fix. Also did something to my blog which changed my comment format to Google and now I don't know how to fix that either. Is it an issue for you to comment? I'm wondering if I delete this version of Chrome and reinstall a new one if that will fix my cookie problem? Anyways, it's driving me completely crazy...

Ok, so I figured that out by reading THIS and when you switch to Google+ comments it does limit interaction as only Google+ peeps can comment...so don't ever, ever switch to Google+ comments....now, another question for you...I reverted back to my Blogger profile. Seeing if that will be better....is your blog linked to Google+ or are you still using your Blogger profile? Gosh, I really can't stand GOOGLE! They make everything so complicated!

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 21 - Virginia Beach

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Again with Virginia Beach this summer...don't judge...it has been cold and we've not been anywhere and I haven't felt like going anywhere..so it's the old archives! And something sneaky is still hiding in my computer...when I click a link, two pages open, one with my correct destination and the other, the scumbag page. Oh, this isn't over yet! I wish I could get paid for all my time I'm putting into this ha!

Ok, Willy Nilly time!

So while waiting in the dentist's waiting room this week I read Time Magazine's Answer Issue...here's some purty interesting answers ;)

1) When Will We Discover Alien Life?

2) America's Weirdest Obsessions

3) The 13 Most Amazing Sandwiches The World Has To Offer

4) How Designer Dogs Are Made

5) America's Deadliest Intersection

Well that's it for me! Come on now, your turn!

Signs, Signs & A Really Good Fence In Virginia Beach

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Boo sells insurance in Hampton

"It started when we were younger
You were mine my boo
Now another brother's taken over
But its still in your eyes my boo
Even though we used to argue it's alright
I know we haven't seen each other
In awhile but you will always be my boo"

Who knew Usher was singing about Boo of State Farm...must be those khakis ;)

Virginia Beach...over the summer

I love that my kids all have a crazy sense of humor. Braden packed his banana costume because he wanted to trip people out and run the beach in it...odd thing is nobody seemed to notice...we were all cracking up though :D

Also see a Geico sign there...we've had Geico for like 20 years...they upped our rates because of Ashlyn (she's had some issues)...so we removed her from ours and now she has her own Geico policy...think this publicity should be worth some sort of discount? Hello? Geico? ;)

Linking with Signs, Signs and Good Fences

Update on my computer curse...I *think* I may have fixed it...knocking wood and crossing fingers here...everything so far seems to be running copasetic...I had to go in and uninstall tons of things that loaded with my update, that deleted a bunch but still had issues...so then, since I use chrome, I had to go in and delete some "extensions" that hid themselves in there...click on those 3 bars in the upper right, click on settings and then check out your extenstions from there...that helped some but there were still those pesky web pages that would randomly open...Found Malwarebytes on CNet which was a free download that had great reviews...that found some nasties and deleted them...then there was still one more. Since I had done that update on 11/18 I just went and uninstalled everything in my programs from that date...but then there was this strange thing that had a date of 11/8...when I googled the name "lasaoren" that was it! I uninstalled and since then everything seems back to normal....I HOPE!! So sorry I haven't been visiting...been so obsessed with getting this straight again!

I hope you will be back on Friday to play Willy-Nilly 5!

A Carriage Ride

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Homestead Creamery Farm Days

Ugh...Tuesday...I downloaded a Java update only to have a bunch of junk sneak in with it. I spent most of the day uninstalling these unwanted programs that were unknowingly bundled with the update. There is still a small issue that I can't find yet but will. On some sites when I click a link, a different link will open as well, usually a shopping type link or a link for w i x website builder...I have done a scan but it shows nothing but I know something is hiding in there...it's just a matter of time...so frustrating and really annoying! "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!" ;) Any ideas experts?

Rubbish Tuesday - General Jubal Early Homeplace

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Old Hollow Lane, Boones Mill

We happened to be driving by one day so we turned up Old Hollow Lane to see the home. In the top picture is what it looks like today, the bottom photo shows what it looked like back in 1995 when it was donated. I don't know if it is open for tours yet. There was a truck out front but the house was closed up and it looked like somebody lives there when we looked in the window as there was a dog running around inside.

For more info on Jubal CLICK HERE and for more info on the homeplace and how to help in its restoration efforts CLICK HERE and to see more neat old stuff visit Roan's Rubbish Tuesday :)

A Pair Of Tall Dudes

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This was back in May, in Hampton. I think a Memorial Day Parade had just ended. It seems at every festival we go to lately, you are bound to see a guy on stilts! What's up with that?! Is this a new trend sweeping the nation?

It's cold and rainy here today. Just a yucky day.

InSPIREd Sunday - A Church In Fincastle

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Do you ever take a picture, think you remember the name or where it is or think you captured a photo of the name, only to get home, get ready to post, then..."wah-wah" ...no name, no recollection, nada...nothing...zilch...that's what happend here. Location, Fincastle, up to the tippy top of Main Street. When you have the option to turn left for CAMS (Central Academy Middle School) which I normally do...you go straight. So now I'm calling on my friend, Botetourt County expert Anita of Blue Country Magic. No pressure Anita! :) Linking with InSPIREd Sunday

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 20 - Old Timey

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Along Brugh's Mill Rd, Fincastle

A funny story about this photo. This was taken a little bit after leaving the market yesterday. The boys like the Root Beer they sell there so they each got one. They come in a plastic bottle that the lid screws on and off. So, Dalton is riding shotgun. I stop in the middle of the road to snap this shot really quick, telling the boys to be on the lookout for oncoming vehicles. Then we hear a sizzling type noise coming from the front passenger side. It gets loud, kind of quiets, then starts again...just sounds like a sizzle...sssssss...I'm getting worried thinking "what the heck is that noise?" ...Dalton thinks it's coming from the airbag so I tell him he better move into the back seat, maybe the airbag is about to explode or something. I'm driving slowly trying to figure out where the sound is...all the while looking for a place to pull over thinking I should probably call Nick, I'm not sure if I should be driving with this strange noise...all of a sudden Braden yells "Dalton, you idiot, it's your root beer bottle, the lid isn't on tight"....oh Dalton and I start cracking up, and boy, was I relieved that it wasn't something major with my car or that I didn't call Nick to come get us lol

So now for Willy Nilly's:

1) Ginny asked yesterday about the name Brugh's Mill and if there was an actual mill. Yes, there was but I think it is no longer around from my little bit of research. I found THIS interesting reading on the Brugh family, their tavern and mill. I also posted some info and a picture of the tavern before HERE

2) My dentist appt went well, except for the fact that I need some fillings done. But on the bright side, I really liked the people there...very nice...and it's super convenient to home! Ginny asked how I found my dentist and what happened with the old one. Well, I had been going to my old dentist here because he was referred to me through sports. He's local and I knew him and as a person and dentist I liked him. His office personnel not so much but I didn't worry about it until last week calling them to see when my cleanings were scheduled for this month and the woman at the desk told me she cancelled them because she had called to confirm and I never called her back, and again I got to deal with her "pleasant" attitude...so I told her that as much as I like Dr. So-and-so I didn't care for her rudeness and will not be coming back. I then just called this other dentist that is really close to home and the woman who schedules appointments and answers the phones was SO NICE and got Nick, Braden, Dalton and myself in for our cleanings all within 2 weeks. So Nick and I have had ours and the boys go next week. Ash and Christian had already went to Dr. So-and-so, but they'll have their next cleanings at the new dentist...

3) In honor of Veteran's Day this past Tuesday HERE are some war dogs...and A&E is coming out with this show Dogs Of War ...looks like a great show for a great cause.

4) A while back miss Busy Bee Suz posted about Vanilla Ice and I have been meaning to bring up this show Vanilla Ice Goes Amish ...it's really pretty good!

Here's some Bluegrass Ice Ice Baby:


5) 10 Things Your Mom Never Told You

Happy Friday peeps!! Now let's see yours!

Signs, Signs & A Good Fence Along Brughs Mill

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Stopped over at the Heritage Market that I told you about HERE to pick up some bread and lunch meats. Then noticed Happy Mart still had gas for:

Yup, $2.55...then I saw Ashlyn's boyfriend there too..and he told me he had just seen Christian ha, small town living...

So then I took the scenic route home:

Brughs Mill Road..

Today I have my dentist appointment at my new dentist. It's just a cleaning, but still, blah!

Linking with Signs, Signs & Good Fences

I hope to see you back tomorrow for some Willy Nilly fun!

Olde Towne Tavern

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Me thinks he's been playing here for a while

Alas, he was a friendly olde chap.

This is at the Olde Towne Tavern . 31 E Mellen St . Hampton

Someone recommended we try their fish tacos. And that we did. Pretty tasty!

You can check out their Facebook page Here

I have a Veteran's Day story to share with you before I forget. Christian works at our local grocery store, Kroger. He worked on Veteran's Day after school. He came home and told us how he had a couple of veterans come through his line and he'd thank them for their service. One was a Vietnam vet. Christian thanked him for his service as he went through his line and the man just kind of shrugged it off like no biggie. Told Christian and another employee about his 3 tours in 'Nam and went on his way. The man's wife came back and wanted to thank Christian for thanking her husband for his service. She was almost in tears and told Christian that it really means a lot to him and her. When he came back from the war, people threw tomatoes at him and how much this means to him now. As Christian told me, I was practically crying over it too. I knew this sort of homecoming happened...just so heartbreaking to hear that it still sticks with them.....Anyways...makes me think of this quote "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle."

Rubbish Tuesday & The Barn Collective Combo 4

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This old place sits up on a hill in Fincastle. Right next to a church. I can't think of the name of the road but I know how to get there. It seems like it has been vacant since I've lived here. I wonder what is up with it?

This view is from Little Timber Ridge in Buchanan...what a view!

Linking with Rubbish Tuesday & The Barn Collective

Hope to see you back on Friday for Willy Nilly Friday 5!

Happy Veteran's Day!
And now I want to take a second to appreciate my boys Braden and Dalton. In the U.S. you know how the Veterans pass out poppies for Veteran's Day...well, it was over the weekend and the Veterans were set up at Kroger. I gave the boys a few bucks to run in and get the couple of items I needed while I was waiting in the car. I watch them come out and go to the table set up by the Veterans. I watch with pride as they hand the money they have leftover to the elderly gentleman and in return get their poppies. This is something I have done every year. You know, our children really are sponges and pick up on these things when we don't really think they are even paying attention...well, they really are.

A Thelma & Louise Day With My Bestie

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Beaver Dam Road, Buchanan

“Well, we're not in the middle of nowhere, but we can see it from here.”
― Callie Khouri

What a day! Ash was home this weekend. While her boyfriend worked on Sunday she came over for a visit. I said "Come on Ash, let's go for a ride!" She of course wants to take Ozzy so the 3 of us load into my mini van, with camera ;) ....we decide, let's hit up Taco Bell for "Happy Hour" and get a frozen Dr. Pepper. 5 minutes into our ride, I was pulled over. I have a back light out (a Chevrolet problem that can never seem to be figured out no matter how many fuses and lights, etc, that are replaced) an expired inspection sticker, oops, and no license on me. Thankfully the Botetourt Sheriff that pulled me over was very nice and only wrote me up for my inspection and didn't seem to mind that I could only communicate through a very slim crack in my window or else Ozzy would have his whole arm if he tried to reach inside...we exchange pleasantries and are on our way...Taco Bell...no lie, 2 minutes down the road I am pulled over by this time a State Trooper. He catches us as we roll into Taco Bell. Ashlyn and I are absolutely cracking up. He must think we are on crack. I explain, again through a slightly, very slightly rolled down window that not even 2 minutes ago I got a ticket. We show him...he smiles, reads the ticket, hands it back and tells me he was pulling me over for the inspection too, just be sure to get it taken care of. Ash and I are still laughing, get our drinks and hit the road. Now I'm a bit worried that this is going to turn into a hat trick. Ash suggests we drive out to Buchanan, near her boyfriend's house, that it is so pretty out there right now. She talks about how she misses Botetourt, she talks about how pretty Botetourt is and she didn't appreciate it till she left. I have to agree with her. Botetourt might just be the most beautiful county in all of Virginia :)

And now:

Happy 239th Birthday Marine Corps! Now for those that don't know, my husband enlisted in the Marine Corps fresh out of high school. We got together in 10th grade. I missed him terribly through his 12 week boot camp...he came home for 2 weeks then went to Infantry Training School for a couple of months at Camp Pendleton. He was then stationed in Twenty Nine Palms, Ca. We married. We missed each other like crazy. We were high school sweethearts, not used to being apart like this. I moved up (3 hours from home, San Diego) and we made our lives. I worked at the PX. I loved our life there. The Marine Corps motto is "Once a Marine, always a Marine"...and boy is that true! I am a Navy brat. My dad retired from the Navy, served in Vietnam. My grandfather was in the Army, served in the Korean War. Nick's grandfather was retired from the Marine Corps, so they shared stories and that bond. And the military history goes on and on. Now my husband never saw war, thank GOD. BUT, war is something every Marine is trained for and ready for. I heard many stories of how they would be woken from a dead sleep and told "this is it" they would gather their things, jump in the helo, and mentally prepare themselves for what was next. Nick wanted to see combat. Nick was trained for combat and felt a bit deprived that he didn't get to do what he was trained to do. He did not join the Marine Corps to "wear a shiny hat" as one local blogger recently declared on why my husband joined the Corps when she didn't agree with an Obama link I shared on Facebook lol.... I can attest that not one person joins the Marine Corps to "wear a shiny hat..." it's much too difficult for that and what an insult to everyone that has served our country.

Happy Birthday Marine Corps! And my Marine will celebrate, the same as he has every year since 1985, a steak and shrimp dinner with cake :)

Read how Marines in 29 Palms celebrated HERE

InSPIREd Sunday - Valley Christian Church

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Valley Christian Church . 32 Shavers Farm Road . Fincastle

For some reason I'm always drawn to the sign.

Linking with Inspired Sunday

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 19 - Live From Benny's

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Yesterday the infamous Birdman of Port City Daily Photo admitted to stalking photographing the inside of restrooms and I came clean too (stole his pun)...sometimes bathrooms are just so photogenic! I was reminded of one in particular:

In this one above I am heading to the loo but I am so in love with all the brick, and that old door! This is at Benny Marconi's in Downtown Roanoke. I don't think the guy that worked there knew what the old building was orgininally but believe you me, I asked. Did you really think I wouldn't?!

So, here I am, in the bathroom looking out the window. That is the Taubman Art Museum. It's kind of a neat building and I read somewhere it was designed to resemble a Viking Ship. Did the Vikings land in Roanoke? Ever?

It's a very controversial building to say the least. It has its share of haters. I think it's kind of neat though.

Pizza, pizza...yeah, those are big slices and you are right, I did talk about Benny's before Right Here ...gosh you have a great memory!

Ok, now lets get random:

1) Click Here to see my Menu Board on Pinterest from the past week. Let me tell you, the Pepper Steak and Cashew Chicken were da bomb. Everything was good, but those two were the stars!

2) If you are into genealogy, I found This Site ...each week there are new free databases to search.

3) Does your dentist send out a reminder in the mail or give you a phone call? I hate phone calls, I miss half of them. I prefer a note in the mail, which most of my dr's/dentists have done in the past. Well, had some cleanings scheduled this month and I called to get the dates and was told by the rude woman at the front desk that she cancelled them because I never called back and she made "several calls" to me...I told her she should send out a little note card instead as a reminder...rudely she says "what do you expect me to do, mail out a hundred cards a day?"...YES...so anyway, got on the phone with another local dentist and was able to schedule 4 cleanings within 2 weeks, plus the woman was nice as pie.

4) Wine

5) I just started watching About A Boy ...oh what a cute show! I caught the first season on Netflix and now recording the 2nd. I knew I would love it though since the creator is the genius behind both Parenthood and Friday Night Lights.

Well that about does it! Tag, you're it! Have a great weekend :)

Signs, Signs & A Good Fence At Homestead Creamery

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Taking you back to October and Homestead Creamery's Farm Days...I showed you some piccys HERE ...

A Happy Birthday sign attached up high on the silo...

Linking with Signs, Signs & Good Fences

Hope to see you back tomorrow for Willy-Nilly Friday 5 :)

Election Day

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Greenfield Elementary School, Braden and Dalton's old stomping grounds. This is our voting precinct. Here they hold them in the schools. Back in Ca they hold them in peoples' garages. School is out on election day here. We were never out since voting didn't affect the schools. I like voting here. The boys come with me and all the people working the polls are so friendly and let B and D be a part of the voting procedure. It's quite educational for them!

Where do you vote?

Rubbish Tuesday & The Barn Collective From Fincastle

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This is the house the artist in yesterday's post was painting. Circa 1873, known as Academy Hill or Bolton's Hill. I found this old newstory from back in 2009 showing the rennovation... CLICK HERE for the story and pictures

This barn sits right down the road from Academy Hill. Notice the clothes on the line? That's what drew my attention!
Linking with Rubbish Tuesday & The Barn Collective

Monday Murals - Open Studios Tour

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A couple of weeks ago we went on the Open Studios Tour around Botetourt. One of our stops was the studio space of Ed Bordett which is housed inside of this 1930's dealership building:

Here is a piece he is working on:

This is an historical home not too far from his studio. I will show you what the old house looks like tomorrow.
Mr. Bordett's studio is located at 5 East Main Street in Fincastle. You can visit his website HERE

Linking with Monday Murals

November Theme Day - Landmarks

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Lord Botetourt High School . 1435 Roanoke Road . Daleville

Ashlyn was home for the day from JMU. I took her out to lunch and was telling her I needed a landmark photo for the theme. "Think of a landmark in Botetourt" I kept telling her and we drove past the high school...I said "You know what, I'm just going to use LB (short for Lord Botetourt High) since that's a pretty big landmark for the area." She thought it would work as well. She graduated there in 2012 and Christian will in 2015...then the twins in a few short years...to see landmarks from all over the world visit City Daily Photo

Friday night we went to LB's football game. The boys dressed up as:

And about that give-a-way from yesterday...the winner is Marie from A Colorful World ...Yay Marie!! Thank you so much to all the people who entered! I'm looking forward to hosting another give-a-way real soon, that was fun!