Friday Fences and Randoms

(click on photo to enlarge) Peaks of Otter Winery, Bedford

This is one of the cute inhabitants at the winery. Isn't he adorable? I love his eyes, so full of expression!

Linking with Friday Fences

And now I'm playing along with Nancy and her Random 5

1) I am reading a really fun book right now called "Goodnight Nobody" by Jennifer Weiner...it is funny. It's about a mom who lives in an uppity CT neighborhood and doesn't quite fit in. I'm only 28 pages in but she really made me laugh starting on the first page. I only read at bedtime once everyone is asleep.

2) Speaking of bedtime, I had a dream about Oprah this morning. We were at some sort of event and she was signing autographs but instead of signing "Oprah" she would sign "Nikki Nikki Nikki"...I was about to ask her why she signs her name that way when the alarm went off...booo...now we'll never know.

3) What's for dinner tonight? I'm thinking of making fried chicken. My boys LOVE fried chicken and ask for it often!

4) Speaking of unhealthy meals (see what I did there? lol)...I just started my second round of P90X on Monday. I've owned it for a couple of years and completed one full round as soon as I got it, 90 days. Since then I've just kind of maintained my weight with it by integrating some of the workouts with other workouts. But Monday I joined a challenge group and I WILL complete my second round. Today will be day 5....after I drink my coffee!

5) Our county is hosting a County Fair tomorrow that we'll go to. I was reading that it is the first time they've held a county fair in years. There will be pork chop dinners and ice cream sold by the FFA, local entertainment, tractor driving contests....cake, cookie and pie baking contests...just sounds like some wholesome, old timey fun!

Have a great weekend!

Signs, Signs - Kelso Mill

(click on photo to enlarge) Bedford

When was this built you ask? Well I don't know. Another great old place that I can't find anything on unless maybe I want to dig 20 pages deep in my google search that just wants to show me page after page of home sales at Kelso Mill or Burger King and Kroger popping up in there for some reason... BUT....I'm not going to whine through a whole post about it again today, I'll spare you...so I'll just put the picture up and shut my mouth ;)

And about the other mill I posted, the only thing I heard back was from a worker in the museum who would only tell me they had some books with the mill mentioned. Wouldn't tell me anything else and I never heard from the historical society or the few others I emailed....gosh, I do sound whiney!

Linking with Signs, Signs

Rurality Blog Hop - Peaks of Otter Winery Collage

(click on photo to enlarge)

Big photo: Doing the wine tasting. The strangest wine was "Chili Dawg". Our wine tasting host sprayed a tiny blob of that spray cheese on our hands and we had to lick that then sample the wine. It was good, just very unusual lol...We ended the tasting with "Kiss The Devil"....HOT! The wines are all made with the fruit they grow right there on the farm. For a list of wines CLICK HERE

Dog photo: This is a guest's dog, Zeus. Dogs are welcome at the winery!

And for a history of Peaks of Otter CLICK HERE

I'll introduce you to some of the animals that live there on the farm tomorrow!

Linking with Rurality Blog Hop

A Mill Without a History

(click on photo to enlarge)Bedford

On our way to the winery Sunday, we saw this "barn" so Nick pulled over for me to take a photo. I thought for sure it was a barn until about an hour ago when I googled it to see if I could find any info. It looks OLD right? Well, I found out that it isn't a barn at all but a mill. I found a few images online naming it Penicks Mill or Pattersons Mill or Upper Pattersons Mill. Did I find any historical info. NOPE, NADA, ZILCH. I searched and searched until I felt like banging my head against the computer desk. I even asked the Bedford Historical Museum if they have any historical info on this mill to which they replied "I'm 90% certain we do". What? What kind of answer is that? Anyways, I sent out a couple of emails to the historical society and a man I found online that had a Bedford history page so we'll see. I just have a difficult time posting a photo without the proper history/info on the place! Kills me!

So anyways, this mill is very near to the winery, like 5 minutes from there. And, hopefully I will have a bit more info on it by the end of the day. I just don't get how these gorgeous old relics sit there without a story.

Peaks of Otter Winery

(click on photo to enlarge) This gentleman is showing us where to park.

Sunday we jumped on the parkway and headed north. Ended up at Peaks of Otter Winery. We partook in the wine tasting and tried some very interesting and different kinds of wines. It was fun. We packed a lunch to bring along so we sat under the pavillion at a picnic table and ate lunch. Then we walked down the pathway to see the farm animals. I'll show you more throughout the week!

SkyWatch Friday Fences - Football & Randoms

(click photo to enlarge) Lord Botetourt High School, Daleville

Our first practice of the new football season. Stretching those neck muscles. This is Braden and Dalton's last year of rec ball. Next year they can play for middle school. Looks like we will have a pretty good team this season! Go Hurricanes!

"No son of mine is gonna play any foos-ball." Mama Boucher from the Waterboy :)

AND! Today is my Ashlyn's birthday! She is 19. Where has the time gone?

Linking with Friday Fences and SkyWatch Friday ....have a great weekend!!

Ohhhh, and a little game of Random 5!

1) So like I mentioned, today is Ashlyn's bday! She is at the dealership right now having something done with her car so that in a few hours she can head to the beach. For her present I got her a couple of beach chairs, a cute zebra striped cooler and a bunch of snacks to fill it up for her weekend. I'm going to make her some "cone-cakes" (which is what the boys call them)...cupcakes cooked in ice cream cones. My kids LOVE those!

2) Got that basement cleaned up. Hauled tons of stuff to Goodwill, the curb for trash day, and donated a lot of children's books to the elementary school. The books were kind of hard to get rid of since many were from when Ash was little, and books I bought for Christian and the boys. Picture books that they'll never look at again. I did however manage to still save a big bin of them, the ones I just couldn't part with lol

3) Thinking of cooking Talapia for dinner. I saw a recipe for Talapia topped with tomatoes, olives and feta. I love feta!

4) I want to go do something fun this weekend. I want to see something new. There is an event at James Madison's house, Montpelier, but that is a 2 hour drive for us and Nick is whining about not wanting to drive that far. I'm kind of mad about that...grrrr

5) I better get those cone-cakes going so they are finished before she gets home!

August Theme Day - Street Lamps and a 2fer

(click on photo to enlarge)
Yup, that time again. Another first of the month and another City Daily Photo Theme Day. This month's theme is "Street Lamps" and I was thinking since today is also the first football practice of the season for Braden and Dalton, we might as well feature the lights at the football field.

This is the football field at Lord Botetourt High School. My oldest graduated from here last year and my oldest son will be a junior here this year. Braden and Dalton will be practicing here tonight. Excited about football starting but at the same time a little sad as summer is quickly coming to an end :(

And this post is a 2fer, linking with Signs, Signs and to see street lamps from all over the world, you can visit City Daily Photo