Out of the Mainstream in Fauquier: May 2021

Monday, May 31, 2021

365 Picture Today Post

151/365 | Monday, May 31, 2021 (Memorial Day) | #365PictureToday

Guilt-free

Picture Style | Minimalist

We had another graduation party today. Hellie and my younger son have been friends since they were little, and her older brother and my older son became friends during preschool so our families have celebrated many milestones together. Celebrating with this beautiful cake on this Memorial Day is guilt-free. Congratulations and break a leg, Hellie!

Review of 6140 U. S. 421 Scenic Bristol, TN

We recently completed a week's stay at a lovely house near South Holston Lake in Bristol, Tennessee. The house had four sleeping areas on three levels. The garage level had a large bedroom and a smaller space with two twin beds that might be good for younger children. There was a full bath on this level along with an indoor shuffleboard table plus a small area for watching television.

On the main level there was a large bedroom with its own deck, a large kitchen and dining area, a large living room, and a half bath with laundry. There was a nice chess set, and a stereo system with a large vinyl and CD collection. We all enjoyed hanging out on this level with plenty of room for everyone to spread out.

The top floor contained a loft area with its own full bath and even a private deck above and within the main screened porch.

There were wonderful views from both the deck and the loft, looking over the main living area.

There were many outdoor decks and gathering spaces. The back screened porch has a large table for outdoor eating as well as a grill. Additionally, there are several beehives.

There is a nice fire pit in the backyard and lots of lovely flowers and garden sculptures.

This was a great house for us to rent for several days while we enjoyed the Bristol, Tennessee, area, Abingdon, Virginia, the Virginia Creeper Trail, and South Holston Lake. The kitchen was fairly well appointed and was great to prepare meals for our group. There were seven people in our group, all adults, and it never felt crowded.

Sunday, May 30, 2021

365 Picture Today Post

150/365 | Sunday, May 30, 2021 | #365PictureToday

Opposites

Picture Style | Minimalist

I went back to this field by our church to focus on the barn this time. I'm not sure what the opposites are . . . old barn/new plants . . . or maybe colorful field/monochromatic barn. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory." ~Isaiah 6:5

Saturday, May 29, 2021

365 Picture Today Post

149/365 | Saturday, May 29, 2021 | #365PictureToday

Splendid

Picture You | Skill

For today we were supposed to photograph what is splendid in our life that we have skillfully managed to grow, look after, or just admired. For many years I was the youth advisor at our church, and I had the pleasure to take many different youth to different retreats in our district. Therefore I got to see these youth grow and mature. Today one of these young ladies celebrated her graduation from high school and her acceptance to Temple University where she hopes to study political science and sociology. I look forward to where life takes her in the future. Congratulations, Kendra!

Friday, May 28, 2021

365 Picture Today Post (Vacation Day 7)

148/365 | Friday, May 28, 2021 | #365PictureToday

Craving

Picture You | Skill | Self Portrait

Today is the day we travel home. I'm not sure we are craving an end to our vacation though. By lunchtime we are craving some good food. We stopped for lunch at Natural Bridge and decided to stretch our legs and walk to see the bridge. Even though it is the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, there isn't a lot of traffic heading northbound on Interstate 81 or Route 29 so we make good time and are home by dinnertime.

Thursday, May 27, 2021

365 Picture Today Post (Vacation Day 6)

147/365 | Thursday, May 27, 2021 | #365PictureToday

Engaging

Picture You | Skill

I was engaging in some shopping in Abingdon today. That's a skill, right?

First we looked around the Arts Depot and bought a few things from there.

We didn't buy this, but I thought it was interesting. The different elements are made of coiled paper.

After wandering around an antiques store on Main Street we ate lunch outside at Greeko's. Then we stopped in at the Abingdon General Store and the Abingdon Gifting Company to shop for some gifts and souvenirs. We found success on both fronts.

Lastly we wandered around Katbird's Wine & Gourmet where we found some chocolate stout and some fancy gourmet salt for my son to use in his cooking.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

Vacation Day 5

Here are more pictures from the day on the lake. Everyone took a turn tubing, including me. However, no one thought to take pictures of me. That's too bad because I took a terrific spill and apparently did a cartwheel.

The boys even attempted a double ride.

They even swam to a small island and explored it.

We crossed this bridge nearly every day. I think it's a pretty cool design. Apparently, the it's the local diving spot. We say many people jumping from the bridge railings, and in the pictures below you can see them on the bridge abutment.

Theses are just some pictures of the lake. South Holston is part of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and is part of the hydroelectric system for that area. The lake is in the valley and is ringed by mountains. Much of the land surrounding the lake is part of the Cherokee National Forest.

After dinner we had another bonfire.

365 Picture Today Post (Vacation Day 5)

146/365 | Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | #365PictureToday

5 o'clock

Picture You | Skill | Picture Time

At 5:00 we were returning the boat that we had rented for the day. We spent a great day out on South Holston Lake in Tennessee. In the morning we practically had the lake to ourselves, and even in the afternoon there still weren't very many boats out. We rented a Bayliner 22 Runabout with a 200 hp motor from the Laurel Marina, which was just a mile or so down the road from the house we were renting. We found three restaurants on the lake, but only Painter Creek was open during the week before Memorial Day so that was where we ate lunch. It was a great day of tubing, fishing, and relaxing on the water!

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

365 Picture Today Post (Day 4 of Vacation)

145/365 | Tuesday, May 25, 2021 | #365PictureToday

Pleasure

Picture You | Skill | Where I Stand

It takes skill to find a nice restaurant while on vacation. When you do, it is a pleasure to enjoy a wonderful meal. After checking out the trailhead of the Virginia Creeper Trail in Abingdon, we decided to try out the Peppermill, located in a renovated 1900s era house right on Main Street. I wish I had gotten a picture of the outside.