The Great Barn @ Stagville Plantation

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Historic Stagville . Durham . NC

Remember our trip to Stagville back in the early summer? Well I forgot to show you the barn and had been meaning to link up with Tom's Barn Collective ...better late than never right?!

Anyways, this barn was built in the summer of 1860 by the enslaved community of Stagville. It was built like an upside down hull of a ship with many nautical features which leave historians speculating that some of the slaves spent time in the shipyards along the coast. This large barn housed up to 80 mules...you can see some cribbing done by some of them.

For more on Stagville Click Here and to see my other Stagville posts Click Here

Woolworths

Campbell Avenue . Roanoke . circa 1920's

I've loved this art deco sign since first seeing it. I've always wondered though why it is called "The Woolworth" and in my search for info this morning I learned that this building has had several different lives but nothing has stuck since the Woolworth days and it now may or may not be apartments...I saw where they were converting it to apartments and office space but that is about how far the info went that I found and when converting they changed the name to THE Woolworth...guess it makes it sound fancier...I prefer the original though. I guess I'm more traditional :)

Linking up with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

Parking Garage

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These cut outs brighten up a boring old parking garage on Campbell Avenue . Roanoke

It sure is hard getting back into the routine after a nice 5 day weekend!

Linking with Monday Murals

Piedmont Label Company

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Bedford
The Piedmont Label Co started up in 1919 and is STILL printing labels!
Found an interesting story HERE on Piedmont and the history of canning and labels.
The sun was relentless on this day...not matter what I was trying to get a picture of, there was that blinding sun right in the way!

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Linking with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

The Little Apple

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Little Apple Dr & 460 . Thaxton . Bedford County

Another from Mark Cline also listed on Roadside America

Ready for Thanksgiving? I've got to get out today and get my shopping done for it!

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 107

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1)

The Blood Moon...this was taken either Monday night or Tuesday night, I can't remember..it was a different night than my other moon picture from this week..It was amazing looking. I just wish I had a clear view of it...it kept hiding behind a tree :(

2)

The sunrise on Thursday...no editing, it was just that pretty!

3)

Sunday's Super Moon while it was still light out...

4)

Bedford's patriotic Main Street

5)

One of the old "company houses" across the road from the warehouse I showed you on Tuesday. Found this interesting write up about the houses:

"The majority of late 19th-century residences in Bedford are vernacular frame
dwellings ranging from simple company houses located near the industrial area to
stylish upper middle class houses situated along Peaks Street, Longwood Avenue, and
Bedford Avenue. Houses built for employees of the various manufactories were located
along the blocks of North and Grove streets nearest the factories. The lowest income workers apparently lived in a row of simple frame houses in the 800 block of Grove
Street, whereas more skilled workers or foremen lived in larger and more stylish
house-s built in a row along the 700 block of North Street. A certain hierarchical
social order is apparent in the location and size of these houses. Whereas- the
factories and the railroad lay at the bottom of a slightly rising hill, company worker
houses were, located along the first blocks of North and Grove streets as they extend
up the hill. More stylish houses, however, were situated further north along these^
streets until reaching the summit of the hill where the owners of many of the factories
built their fashionable houses." copied from HERE

Okey dokey, that's my 5 for the week! Now it's your turn, post 5 randoms, link back and visit others! Thanks and have a great weekend!!


I'm linking up with SkyWatch Friday this week!

Colorful Building

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Bedford

This colorful little place caught my eye while using the parking lot to turn around. I should have drove over to see what it was but didn't even think about it till looking through my pictures. When I get back over there I will definitely get a closer look!

Linking with Tex's Good Fences

Rhinos on the Streets of Bedford

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We've driven past this sweet pair of traffic watching rhinos lots of times but this time I stopped to take a picture. I've always wondered what the deal was, why rhinos in Bedford and still don't know although I did find out they are another of Mark Cline's creations! Remember him? I've shown you some of his work HERE

They are also listed on Roadside America . com ...have you ever used that site to find interestingly odd things nearby? We've found quite a bit of stuff in our area from that site!

Hampton Looms

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Hampton Looms . Bedford . 1930's
Produced material for military uniforms and coats.

Sunday the guys were all watching football and I needed to get out of the house. I jumped in the car and ended up in Bedford. I love walking around the historical Main Street in Bedford but this time I ventured off Main Street and ended up here. Since I was alone I stayed in my car and snapped a few pictures but next time the boys are coming with me so I can walk around!

Someone is watching us ;)

This old factory will be the future home of Beale's Beer. One thing about this area of Virginia, you won't ever have to travel far for a beer. Breweries are the trend around here now. For more on the opening of Beale's Click Here also in researching what the building was I found an interesting story on "Real Life Rosie the Riveters" that talks about women during the war that worked in these factories, including Hampton Looms. You can read that HERE

Linking up with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

The Supermoon

Did you catch the Supermoon last night? Fortunately I had gone outside to trim a few bushes and then noticed the moon coming up over the Blue Ridge Mountains...I ran in and grabbed my camera and voila! It was so pretty, I'm glad I didn't miss it!

Linking with Mersad's Through My Lens

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 106

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Jump in and buckle up...this is my afternoon drive home from school on a rainy November day:
1)

2)
2 cute little donkeys live at that farm up ahead.

3)

4)
Usually you can see a bunch of cows over there to the left!

5)
All photos taken in Botetourt County

Thanks for joining me!

Now let's see what you've done this week! Post 5 randoms, link up and visit others, it's that easy!


Have a great weekend!

Happy Veteran's Day!

Jail, Shadows & Wrought Iron

Fincastle

The old jail was built in 1897...I've shown it to you a time or 2 before...maybe it looks familiar? ;)

Took this photo on Saturday when Ashlyn and I had to visit the Elections Office to get all our paperwork signed for our duties on Election Day. I wanted to walk around and snap some pictures because it was a pretty morning but Ashlyn just wanted to go home and go back to bed! She won.

Linking up with Tex's Good Fences

A New Day

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Yesterday was so fun working the polls! Ashlyn and I arrived at 4:45 AM (luckily the precinct we worked is only 5 minutes from the house!). There were 13 of us helping and we all brought food to share during the day like a potluck! Everything was so good! The polls opened at 6:00 AM and by 5:30 AM we had quite a large line waiting to get in!

I stood at the front door directing voters where to go while Ashlyn gave them their ballots and explained to them how to do it. She was so professional and clearly chose the right major (Political Science) as she really was good at it! We saw people we knew come in so it was fun visiting and even saw some new voters from school and also past students that I hadn't seen in a year of more! (I work PT at the high school)...Sweet elderly couples that came in helping each other out and watching them leave holding hands made my heart happy :) Everyone was really in a great mood no matter how long they had to wait!

When voting ended at 7:00 PM the doors were locked while the 2 people in charge got all the voting numbers crunched. We picked up and cleaned the kitchen and then were able to leave at about 8:30 or 9...It was a long day but time passed rather quickly and the people we worked with were a lot of fun! I would definitely do it again and I think I will be called upon as the guy in charge said I was definitely working the next one haha

On top of all that, the weather here was absolutely gorgeous! I was lucky to be at the front door getting all the sunshine!

Have a great day!

Franklin County Courthouse

Franklin County, Va

Built in 1909. See more about the courthouse HERE ...note to self "I need to see it dressed up for Christmas!"

Ahhh Election Day! Ashlyn and I are working as Election Officials at Rainbow Forest Church. We were told it is one of the biggest precincts in our area with 2400 expected voters to come through! Someone Ashlyn knows said that our county, Botetourt County, needed more helpers and so Ash asked me if I would sign up with her so I did! Ashlyn's major was Political Science so this is something she loves...I think we will have fun together although we need to be at our precinct by 4:45 in the morning and will be there till past 7:00 p.m.! Needless to say I won't be around much tomorrow but will catch up with you all later! Now get out and vote! (We were able to vote early since we won't be at our own voting precinct tomorrow.)

Linking up with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures

Roanoke Mountain Lookout

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These were taken on Sunday from the Blue Ridge Parkway at the Roanoke Mountain Lookout point. The 1st 3 photos were taken by the boys, not sure which took what as they were just snapping away passing my camera back and forth each trying to outdo the other...I tell ya, everything is a competition with these 2 ;)

The last photo I caught as I was starting to back up and noticed this couple set up their chairs and a cooler so they could enjoy the sunset...the 1st 3 photos were looking east and this last one is on the other side of the lookout looking west :)

Since it was just the boys and myself on Sunday I had them gather up some of their old sports equipment they can't use anymore and we took it to Play It Again Sports so they could trade it in...they ended up with a bit of money and decided they just wanted a new video game so we went and did that. Afterwards we drove to Rocky Mount and had lunch...walked around a little bit then headed home via the Parkway...It was a good day :)

Linking up with Mersad's Through My Lens

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 105

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1)

Thursday night was Braden and Dalton's last football game for this season. They ended undefeated, 10-0! What a great season! They really enjoyed it, never once complaining even when their summer was shortened with 2-a-day practices and weight lifting...then practicing 2 hours each day after school...not once a complaint!

2)

Getting pumped up before the game!

3)

Halftime...Ashlyn and I went to use the restroom and I left my camera with Christian...came back and he took a few random photos like this one lol...this is a lady from the visitor's side going to the port-a-potty!

4)

Final score

5)

Winners!

That's my 5 this week and I sure hope you will play along too! Post 5 randoms, link back and visit others! Have a super weekend!


I apologize for not getting around yet to visit you from last week but I will! This week got past me in the blink of an eye! I thank you though for linking :)

Some Fall Colors, A Fence & Ozzy

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Sunday was so nice we decided to take Ozzy out for a little walk. This was his first time to ride in the back of the truck. Ozzy loved it...I was a nervous wreck. He was tied down but I was still a nervous wreck. Luckily we only went about 5 minutes from the house! (Doesn't that sun flare make it look like he's wearing a little saddle?!) Here Ozzy is showcasing the fence in the background for Tex's Good Fences

more of that same fence...

such pretty leaves!

climbed up to the top and this was our view!

Ozzy really had fun but was definitely ready to head home and take a loooong nap, which he did!

Confederate Cemetery

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The Confederate section at Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg. This is a beautiful old cemetery, HUGE! I wish the sun hadn't been shining directly on that sign so you could see how pretty it is!

Linking up with Tom's Tuesday's Treasures