Apple Picking

So my small group had been talking about possibly going apple picking since early October and the weekend finally arrived that most people had said they could make it. Those of us who could go decided to meet at the church at 9 on Saturday. 

Saturday rolled around and we all arrived... and then waited, mainly because we thought more people were coming. Finally we left at about 9:45 and hit the road. Since it was just four of us I offered to drive (cuz I'm so nice) actually because I have a weird thing about liking to drive when going on group outings: see control issues in the dictionary ;) and off we went!

It was myself, Emily, Josh and Rolin. It ended up being pretty fun to be such a small group simply because we were really able to all engage in the same conversations and get to know one another a little better. Had it been much larger in the number of people who came, we definitely would have been split between cars for the driving time and then probably gone off in groups once we got there so even though it would have been wonderful if more people had made it, I think it worked out well despite that.

Emily and I had both been to Carter's Mountain before but for Josh and Rolin, this was their 1st time so it was fun to show them a new part of Virginia. Fortunately there was still some color to the trees up in Charlottesville and the whole drive up and back was really pretty with all the trees along the highway.

Once we got there and got directions to where the different apples were we set off and quickly discovered that all the good apples were out of reach, even for our taller guy friends. Fortunately, Josh came up with a solution and Rolin accepted the challenge. 

 Sorry Rolin, I know I said I wouldn't take pictures but the opportunity was too good to pass up!

Yay for having brought along two tall and strong guy friends! We got all the good apples!

We all decided next time we should just find a small child who likes climbing trees to bring with us like this kid who was way up there filling her families bags full. 

 After a juggling show from the guys, we climbed up a rather large hill to get to the Fuji apples (ridiculous only because the signs really made it seem like it was just around the turn) but was actually a bit of a hike. It was worth it though for these views!

I'm just now realizing that I failed to get a photo of myself and/or Emily facing the camera, well I did get a photo of Emily but on my film camera. I really need to be better about forgetting to be in pictures. Oh well!

After some cider and apple cider donuts we went into Charlottesville for lunch and then home. It was the perfect day/weather for a road trip and it was quite a fun road trip we had! Hopefully next time our small group plans one, a few more of our friends will be inclined to join us after seeing all the fun they missed out on! ;)

Thrifty Thursday: Petersburg, I love you!

So last weekend two of my favorite girl friends came to visit! We planned this visit over a month ago and I had been excitedly looking forward to it all of July, so I was very excited when the day finally arrived and I got to have some fun with these friends. 

Lauren and Bethany are sisters and we all went to college together. Lauren and I were friends 1st but as  we've hung out over the years since graduating from college, I've gotten to know Bethany and we've become good friends as well. 

So while they were visiting, we decided to use our Saturday morning to do some antiquing and drove down to Petersburg. I seriously am falling in love with this forgotten city that is just 30 minutes outside of Richmond and full of beautiful Civil War era brick buildings. While the economy there is pretty much non- existent and it is unfortunately biased as being a not safe city to live in, I find myself understanding why artists are willing to "take the risk" so to speak and live there/ start a business there.

Ok, enoughgushing over how much I like the place and on to the fun we had! We stopped at Petersburg Pickers, definitely worth the visit, for their Goat Days of Summer sale that happens every other weekend. Fri is 50% off, Sat is 60% off and Sunday is 70% off. So everything was 60% off the morning we went. 

As you may have read in a previous post, I have been setting up a ceramic studio in my home studio and while I found a wheel, I haven't been about to find a good stool that is the perfect height. If you are a thrower, you'll understand why having the right height seat to your wheel is important. 

Well, I wasn't even looking, not intentionally anyways, and what did I find at Petersburg Pickers but the perfect stool for my studio! This fancy fella was perched on top of a table and its industrial metal and black caught my eye. I'm never one to turn down style and function! The price tag was $95 but with %60 off it came to $40. 

While that isn't really what I'd planned on paying for a stool for my studio, I was willing to for this because I know it can function beyond a studio perch in a future place. And who can turn down a height changeable swivel stool! Now I can have one seat for both working at my wheel and for working at my hand building table!

But that was just the 1st find of the day, and while it was the one I most needed and had the biggest "sale" on it, it was by no means the best find! In another antique shop we stopped into I found these gorgeous crystal doorknobs in a box in the back corner. 

Ok, so ever since I got that iron bed, I'be been thinking that using glass/crystal door knobs to cap off the corners would looks really pretty since the brass knobs it had are gone. However, the cheapest I've ever seen glass door knobs for was $15 a peice and its usually more like $20 or more. Not to mention there are never more than 2 that match. So in this box in the back where about 12 door knobs and after picking through them I selected these four, all matching and all with pretty clear non yellowed glass. 

And guess how much I paid for all four!?  $21!!! They were $5 each! There was no way I was gonna pass that rpice up! I even kept trying to think of other uses I might have for them like one of those door knob shelf/hanger things but I was watching my spending and didn't want to just buy more becuase they were so cheap. At least now I know where to find them! :)

The last thing I got was this pretty green book for $5. Its called the Judas Tree and I have no idea if I'll ever read it, though when I perused it the story seemed interesting. I just like collecting books for their covers, its a bonus if its a story I love or one I enjoy reading. This cool pastel lime green was too nice to pass up!

My friends had some great finds too! Bethany got a beautiful Oval mirror on a stand for $40 and they both got a bunch of pretty vases and table decor. We went to the Blue Willow Tea Room for lunch and then drove around exploring the real estate... and even got out to check out a few houses that had for sale signs on them. 

Lots of fun! A perfect day with dear friends who equally love old houses, antiques, a good sale and exploring! :)

A Tea Room Luncheon!

My mom and I are pretty close and we try to spend at least one Saturday a month doing a girl's day. 

Today, we went to Petersburg, just a skip down the road for us Richmonders and discovered a delightful city full of old brick, beautiful civil war era architecture and amazing antique shops!

And then, we discovered the most charming little Tea Room ever! I couldn't have imagined something more charming! This is seriously my new favorite place and I believe I will be taking many a girl friend to check it out with me!

 We ordered the Full Tea, which serves 2 and came with scones, a cup of the soup du jour, and a 3 tier selection of dainty sandwiches, canapes and sweets! 

 I was definitely cheating on my no gluten rule but it was worth it :) 

It was the perfect Saturday girl's day full of antique treasures, a bit of exploring the beautiful if somewhat forgotten city of Petersburg and finding such a charming place to have lunch!

Lynchburg Part 2: Big Old Houses

The 2nd day I was visiting Lauren we drove into Lynchburg which is about 25 minutes away and did some exploring around the city. Lauren took me to one of the oldest parts of town where all the big old homes are. We had her adorable 4 year old niece with us that day and we got out and walked around the streets for a bit. 

This big place was dubbed "the Castle" by Lauren's niece. This is where my iPhone photos don't do justice to the houses.. because this one had so much detail in all the little nooks and crevices of the stone work. 

This house was my favorite.. I loved the oil stained glass windows and the detailing in the upper windows.. not to mention the periwinkle color!

 There was of course a lot of wrought iron with lovely detailing.

Lynchburg Part 1: Country Roads

One of my best friends lives up near Lynchburg. We try to take turns visiting one another with most visits including a lot of similar things regardless of whose home turf we're on... those would include thrifting, antiquing, movie watching and eating. While visits at my place also include visits to the VMFA for our mutual love of art... we did after all meet and become friends in Painting 1 & Photo 1 my fall semester Senior year... her Junior year while both majoring in Studio Art, along with eating out a few times at one of the many great eateries RVA offers. 

Visits to Lauren's include lots of driving... its kind of required to get anywhere when you live in the country (but I love it!) as well as exploring abandoned houses and taking photographs in open fields, of old farm houses and visits to Lynchburg and Appomattox.

So when I went to Lynchburg two weeks ago to visit Lauren during her school's spring break (She's an elementary school art teacher.) you can only imagine my deep frustration when I realized my camera bag which I had packed the night before was missing my camera. I had taken it out to download some photo's after packing and forgotten to put it back in my bag. Fortunately Lauren had a 35mm film camera I was able to borrow which was great because I love shooting on film. And then I forgot the roll of film when I left 3 days later... womp womp womp. So I don't have any amazing black and white photos to share from my most recent trip.. not yet anyway. Not til I see Lauren again and can get the film to develop. Instead all I have are the photos I shot with my phone, thank goodness for modern technology and my iPhone!

The 1st day I was there we went driving around where Lauren lives and came upon a very pretty old house with some outlying barns that was right by the road. 

 So we pulled over and got out to take some photographs after knocking on the door to see if anyone answered... no one lived there. 

 A few minutes later an older gentleman came driving up in his tractor and pulled over when he got to us. Turns out it was his house and he lived in the smaller more recently built home just next door. We explained that we just wanted to take some photographs and asked if that would be ok which fortunately he didn't mind. "So you like taken pictures of old stuff, huh? Well just be careful, some of the structures aren't so sturdy anymore." Awesome! 

 He told us about how he'd grown up in this house and that eventually they'd had to move out because the well (which is under or near on the left front side of the house) had started to fall in and part of the foundation was affected and even after filling in the well with stones it wasn't structurally sound. It was too much to fix up the place so now its just locked up and aging into a slow decay.. which I love for photographing sake but which made Lauren and I sad in talking about it later on our drive that such a pretty old place is just sitting there falling apart. 

If only we could have explored inside.. I'm sure she held lots of treasures and beautiful photo ops. Maybe next time.