Friday Fences

This is the new fencing around the old cemetery at Greenfield. According to the map I posted with yesterday's post, I'm thinking this is the Gish Cemetery. And looking at the map still, it looks like Preston Cemetery is a little walk from this one. I always stop at this one thinking that there is only this one and another bigger/newer one that sits up on the hill. Time for another walk over to Greenfield for further investigation!

Linking up with Friday Fences !

Have a good and cool weekend! Today is supposed to reach 100 and it's already 87 @ 8:30 in the morning so they aren't lying!

Friday Fences

These are the kinds of fences I'm seeing a lot of right now, fencing around baseball fields. It's baseball season after-all! That's my Braden up to bat. He and Dalton are on the Greenfield Red Sox while their older brother, out there coaching 3rd, is on the Greenfield Braves. Christian likes to help coach his little brothers' team in between his own games and practices. This game was played at Cloverdale Elementary school last week. We lost but better luck next time boys!

Linking up with Friday Fences!

Have a great weekend :)





Looking for something to do this weekend? Check out the events here!

Rural Thursday - Blog Hop # 5

This is a bit of a strange submission. My little local blogging pal Diane over @ Blue Ridge Gal was telling me on Sunday that she was in search of a grave for "Find A Grave". We were looking for something to do that day because it was too nice to be stuck inside so I thought that I should also do a "Find a Grave" search. I'm a big user of Find a Grave for genealogy and have submitted some photos for fellow genealogists and have had others return the favor. It's a great tool if you love genealogy like me! (you can find a link to find a grave on my genealogy blog, in the sidebar)...soooo anyhoooo...we had decided to go across the road to Greenfield to hike around and let Ozzy get some exploring time. Amersterdam cemetery is easy to get to from Greenfield so I gathered the names that people were looking for in Amersterdam and we headed out. When we first opened the gate to walk into the cemtery, the first thing we notice is this pile of bones:

oh well, just a dead animal....then we proceed to hunt down the names on my list...very hard to do since nobody has taken care of this poor little cemetery in a very long time...there were very prickly vines that kept sticking onto our pants and shoes and the brown grass was grown over the graves making it very hard to find them.....we continue until we get to the other side of the small graveyard and find this:

This poor deer managed to somehow get both its back legs stuck into the wrought iron fencing. It was a very sad thing to see. I didn't zoom in on the deer as I felt kind of strange taking its picture, and yes, it is already dead, although it doesn't look like its been dead long.....so then we decide we've done enough grave searching because we just can't meander through the cemetery very easily and having no luck and we stumble upon this:

yes, another pile of bones...and this is the very last picture I was able to capture at the Amsterdam cemetery because my camera then froze. It wouldn't do a thing. I couldn't turn it off, take pictures, nothing...and I had charged it before we left....soooo, I have now renamed this cemetery the Voodoo Cemetery! And that is my Rural Thursday, rural cemetery story!

For more ruralness, check out Rural Thursday!

Slave Cabins I

One of the slave cabins left standing at Col William Preston's 18th century plantation, "Greenfield Plantation".

This is a photo of the kitchen, believed to have been built as early as the first quarter of the 19th century. The kitchen has living quarters for a cook or servant on the second floor. The kitchen was located directly behind and facing the big house, but far enough away to protect from fire. Sadly, the big house was destroyed by fire in 1959.

Greenfield was a vast plantation in the 18th and mid 19th centuries. It was home to Col William Preston 1729-1783, before he moved to the present day Blacksburg and built Smithfield Plantation.


I'll show a picture of the slave quarters tomorrow.

These buildings are currently being preserved.

I want to take a second now and talk to you about jewelry. A few months back I ordered this beautiful necklace from Sarah at Jewelry Art Designs. I ordered the Antique Fleur-De-Lis pendant and have received SO MANY compliments on it. I really do love it! So, if you are looking for some new jewelry, give Sarah over at Jewelry Art Designs a try. She's wonderful to deal with! Thanks Sarah!

Willy Nilly Friday 5

1)
The old farm house at Greenfield

2)
Spring's blooming at Blue Ridge Park...this was last spring...can't wait!

3)
Got Jesus?

4)
Knollwood . Blue Ridge

5)
Last night's sunset from my deck . Blue Ridge

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!

Linking with Tom's Willy Nilly Friday 5

City Daily Photo Theme Day - Best Photo of 2018

Greenfield...Daleville/ Botetourt County

Hi! It has been quite a while hasn't it? For this month's theme I chose this shadow picture...it is one of my favorites! To see more takes on the theme visit City Daily Photo

Happy New Year!

CDP Theme Day - One Colour

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Old farmhouse at Greenfield . Botetourt County

Time to flip another page on the calendar already! This month's City Daily Photo Theme is "One Colour"...see more interpretations from all over the world by visiting City Daily Photo

On a side note you might have noticed me slowing down here on the old blog...I've just been having trouble trying to find balance and I apologize for not getting Willy Nilly ready last Friday :( If anyone would like to take over Willy Nilly duties, it's all yours! Tom??? I just am not doing a good job as a host at the moment!!

Happy Monday!!
Today is our first official day of spring break!

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 167

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1)
Devil's Backbone
Right outside of Eagle Rock...everytime we pass there is a flag on the rock...we went through a week or so ago and didn't see a flag but it's up to nice volunteers who just take the treacherous hike and do it themselves..depending on the weather I'm sure... CLICK HERE to read a story about 2 young women who have changed the flag out and some great pictures! And CLICK HERE for another story along with the history!

2)
Dal Nita Hills . Troutville . Botetourt County

This is one of my favorite trees! We lived in this neighborhood for a few years before moving into the house we are in now...this tree was at the entrance and always reminded me of The Tree of Life...

3)
Colors of spring!

4)
Another favorite tree of mine at Greenfield...see that clump of trees up the hill to the right? That is where the slave cabins used to be...don't even get me started on that ha...if you don't remember all the controversy around it, type "slave cabins" in my search bar and there will be plenty o' reading haha...short version, the county moved them from their original home to turn this beautiful area into an industrial park...$ always wins right? :(

5)
More spring!!

That's my 5 this week!! I hope you will join in too! Post 5 randoms, link back and visit others!! Thanks for joining friends and have a great weekend!!



By the way, thanks for all the info about my picture storage problems!! I will look into getting an external hard drive...I had no idea!! What would I do without you all?!!

One Tree Hill

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Greenfield . Botetourt County

Happy Monday! We are out of school today, Presidents Day :)

Black & White Wednesday

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Greenfield . Botetourt County

The other day I took the boys out to practice their driving skills when we drove by this tree and I yelled "Stop the car, I need a picture of this shadow!" They don't mind obliging me since they get to practice their driving...at least right now ;)

Willy Nilly Friday 5 No. 49

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Greenfield in Botetourt...Just up the trail a bit from the bee sanctuary I posted yesterday. Up on the hill across the way sits a few old slave cabins. I've shown you them before. This is such a pretty area!

Willy Nilly time:

1) Made this yummy Fried Ice Cream for Father's Day. It was so good! We didn't top it with chocolate syrup, honey or whipped cream, just ate it plain and I don't think it could have been any better!

2) Also tried this Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajita Salad for dinner one night last week...also totes delish! A definite keeper and great summer dinner!

3) Photographer Mashes Photos Together For Hilarious Results

4) 10 Dogs Who Think They're People

5)

An amazing old tree in Raleigh, NC

Well there's my 5! Now it's your turn...post 5 randoms, link up and visit others! Have fun and have a great weekend!

A Tree on Tuesday

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Greenfield . Botetourt County

Yay, Christian's root canal was easy peasy. It took about an hour and a half and after all the numbness wore off he felt fine! Phew, what a relief!

Lookin' Like Summer

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Greenfield, Botetourt Co.

I couldn't sleep last night. I know I must have slept a little because I woke up from a weird dream where I had donated a pair of my uncles boots to Goodwill, and they were good boots and I knew he would be mad. I was going to go get them back when he came home early...strange since I haven't seen or spoke to my uncle in YEARS..where do these dreams come from anyway....

I have to take Christian to the dentist this morning for a root canal. Poor guy. Hoping it goes smoothly for him!

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?

Random 5 Friday - Decay

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Some of my favorite trains are these old rusty ones that are just waiting to be used for scrap and parts. The decay reminds me of my pal JM's series @ Lisbon Daily Photo.

Now some randoms:

1) Remember last week when I told you I was stressed? Well it was because I had a couple of skin conditions that were really scaring me. I had a sore on the side of my nose that just wouldn't heal. I had had it for a year and was by now too terrified to go see a dr. (I know, not good, go to the dr.) Then I had these pinkish things coming up on the backs of my hands and then a bump formed on the top of my head. I am fair skinned and spent too much of my youth laying out in the sun in Southern California. Then as I got older, tanning beds. I've gotten better at applying sunscreen by now but alot of damage has already been done. Anyways this has been consuming me, fearing the worst, for a year now. I finally told my husband last Sunday how freaked out I was getting. Monday he made me an appointment with a dermatologist for last Friday. I was scared to go. He went with me. As soon as my dr walked in, Dr. Jason, he asked me what was bothering me and I broke down and cried and pointed to all the things that were scaring me. He just calmly told me that it was ok, none of them are serious and I would be just fine. I had 2 very common forms of skin cancer that he was able to just freeze right off, right then and there. What a RELIEF. I can't tell you what a weight that was taken off my shoulders and like I have a new lease on life. He was the NICEST dr I've ever been to and if you are in the Roanoke area, need a dermatologist, I highly recommend Dr. Jason @ Virginia Skin & Vein.

2) I've been listening to Johnny Cash Radio in the mornings after everyone clears out of the house. I love that music! When I was a kid my mom always called him my boyfriend. I went to a JC concert with her and my grandma and I got to go up on stage and get a kiss from JC. I don't remember this so I must have been super young, I only remember through the story my mom always told ;)

3) I'm ready for spring. Spring is my favorite season.

4) And the thought of spring just NOW reminded me that I need to sign the boys up for baseball. Today is the LAST day. Completely slipped my mind. Writing myself a note right now to attach to the computer!

5) Basketball season ended on Monday but tomorrow we start the tournament. Double elimination. Our first game is a team that's pretty tough. We lost once to them by 1 point in overtime and then won our last game with them. But it's hard. This team plays dirty. So good luck to our Greenfield Thunder!

Have a great weekend :)



Linking to Nancy's Random 5 Friday

Friday Fences & Randoms

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Taken @ Mountain Lake Lodge

Friday Fences

Random:

1) Wish people would stop dreaming about me and let me get a full nights sleep

2) The boys played playoff game number 2 on Wednesday. We lost so we are now eliminated. The boys played very well so I hated to see them lose this one. The refs were not good to us either. We were on Hidden Valley turf with Hidden Valley refs. Lots of penalties called on us. A lot of "imaginary" penalties. It's hard to win when you also have to play the guys in stripes. Our coaches were so upset over the horrible calls that they made a phone call to the athletic dept yesterday. I don't know the outcome.

3) Tonight we are going on a haunted trail walk @ Greenfield. Some of you may recall a few of my many postings about this place. It's one of my favorite places to walk. You can read about the hike HERE and click on Oct 25 on the schedule.

4) Yesterday I got a text from Ashlyn that her school was on lockdown. A potential bomb threat in her building. They wouldn't let the students leave because of possible weapons on campus. Her teacher started to freak out saying "I can't believe this is happening". Which in turn caused the students to become terrified. You can read about that HERE

5) Was hoping for a snow day today. There was a small chance for snow/rain overnight and Botetourt is a BIG county with lots of rural roads that become messed up from the slightest wintry mix. Woke up and it's dry out. Boo.

Have a great weekend!

Random 5 Friday

Mandarin Orange Monday - Arbor Day

On Friday, the fifth graders (my own Braden and Dalton included)at Greenfield Elementary School planted a tree to celebrate Arbor Day and dedicated it to Sandy Hook. It was a wonderful event, the news even came out. Our principal wrote a letter to send to Sandy Hook, along with a picture, similar to this one, of all the 5th graders and teachers. You can read the letter here in the Botetourt View.

Linking with Mandarin Orange Monday

Rural Issue #206

"I drove behind a tractor" is a valid excuse for being late to anything...

Heading home on Etzler. If you take a right, you will end up at the Botetourt Sports Complex. The boys play baseball there in the spring/summer and we have football practice there in the late summer/fall. Plus the trails from Greenfield, which I yap about all the time, come through here.

You liking that time change over the weekend? I am so excited about it. Picked Christian up from work at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday and it was still light!

Today I am taking Braden and Dalton and a few of their friends to the movies after school to see Escape From Planet Earth. It's a belated birthday party for them. Their 11th birthday was on Feb 2nd but with everyone's basketball schedules it made it difficult to plan something with their friends. Should be a fun time. :)

SkyWatch Friday Fences - Etzler Road

Coming out of the parking lot of Greenfield Elementary School. A right turn will take me home and a left will take me to town.

All of this snow is almost completely melted. By the end of the weekend there shouldn't even be a trace. Supposed to be enjoying sunshine and weather in the 60's! I hope it is true!

Linking with Friday Fences and SkyWatch Friday

Have a good one!

Rurality Blog Hop #4 - Revisiting Summer

As I sit here on Tuesday afternoon getting this post ready for tomorrow, I am freezing. Today started out with a freezing rain, delayed school for 2 hours and hasn't stopped all day. The temp is only in the 30's and it is wet and miserable. My feet are frozen. I want summer. I'm done with winter and I'm going to be a big baby about all this cold! I had to run out to the store and took my camera with me but I'm so tired of winter scenes that I decided to just go back and dig through my summer archives to warm up a little. This photo is from summer, first part of August. Football had just started. Those 2 battling it out are my boys, Braden and Dalton, doing some sort of drill. Would you look at those mountains in the backdrop? There's several trails back there that some of the moms and I walk on during practice. I've shown you parts of Greenfield HERE on numerous occasions since it happens to be one of my favorite places to walk. Next warm day I'm heading over there!

Linking with Madge's Rurality Blog Hop!