5-9-16 ~ Bubbling Springs

Buddy and I went out to Bubbling Springs last Sunday. It is one of our spots in the county to visit.. You can walk in the water, cook on the grills, and  pick the watercress to bring home for sandwiches. I have included a 22 second video showing the springs bubbling if you would like to look at it. You can see the movement of the water and the sounds that it makes. 

We passed this old barn that we have been watching for years now. Don’t know how much longer it is going to last. It is full of junk.  If it falls down, I would love to have some of the old wood.

 In this area where Bud is, the underground springs really bubble.

The water is SO cool. I remembered my creek shoes :-=)

 My feet  at 77 still have a lot of little girl left in them.

 This area is gorgeous with all the little pebbles and the bubbles.

Eating Area

Video of the Springs

This post is linked with:
Tom’s Barn Collective
and
Our World Tuesday

3-29-16 ~ More Pictures from Crabtree Falls

"There is a waterfall in every dream.  Cool and crystal clear, 

it falls gently on the sleeper, cleansing the mind and soothing the soul."

~Virginia Alison

All of these pictures were taken by Buddy because I was afraid to get too

close to the water for fear I could lose my balance and fall.

\

\

#22 ~ A Cow Critter and a Snow Genie

"In seed-time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy.”

~William Blake

The Start of the Snow 1-21-16. The sky is still blue.

The blue sky is still showing.

Sorry about the fence post. I cropped it so you could see the cow better

The Skies are clouding up...big snow on its way.

The snow is coming down. This is the creek in front of the house.  1-22-16
A few hoodoos are left from the summer and fall.

Another shot of the creek. 1-22-16

Now, here is how an old lady makes a Snow Genie ::-)

These were taken this morning by Buddy. It snowed all day yesterday, all last night, 

and all morning today. Now it seems to have moved on...thank goodness.

I will post photos of the barn tomorrow for Tom’s Barn Collective.

These were taken today - 1-23-1

“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”

~C.S.Lewis

(I am already there, and I am 76.)

                 OK...Do I really want to go through with this. When Eloise and I did it when she was 5,
                                          that was five years ago. I am now five years older.

I DID IT!  WOO HOO! 

With multiple  ayers of SmartWool long john bottoms, 3 tops plus the parka,2 hats

and heavy duty boots with two pair of wool socks...

I was warm.

How do I get out of this cold stuff?

OK, Stupid....CRAWL to the walkway Buddy shoveled.

I finally made it! Thanks for all the help Jack.

The broom handle saved my life. I was able to pull up. 

Bud was long gone shoveling The Bridge to Somewhere
so was nowhere around to bail me out of a rock and a snowy place.

“Deep meaning lies often in childish play.”

~Johann Friedrich von Schiller

This post is linked with:
The Weekend in Black and White

Saturday’s Critters
Camera-Critters

#13 ~ High on Coffee in My Favorite Tree

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as 

sunshine flows into trees.  The winds will blow their freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.”

~John Muir, The Mountains of California

Go to Skywatch Fridays to see more beautiful skies from around the world. Thank you Yogi, Sandy, and Sylvia for hosting the meme.

Genie’s First Race ~ TheThanksgiving Gobble Wobble 5K

Walked My Race ~ Smile on Face  

"Keep your dreams alive.  Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hardwork, determination, and dedication.  Remember all things are possible for those who believe."

~Gail Divers                                        

After years of sitting on the sidelines waiting for Buddy to complete his races, I decided it was time for me to at least walk in one for the fun of it. Every Thanksgiving Day, Lexington has the Gobble Wobble 5K thru the streets of old Lexington. It was a crisp 50 degrees when it al began.

There were around 375 people registered for the race today, but most of us walked. The runners flew by us on they way to the finish line by the time we got to the top of the first hill.

#325 and #326 

My head was so cold that I put on one of those funky round thingies Bud gets at the races in his goodie bag and one of his hats. This was taken by a friend just before the race began.

Of course, Buddy had to have his picture taken with the Turkey...

Then we were off up one of the many hills I got to huff and puff on.

When we went by the Lexington Fire Department, they had a huge American flag hanging from the top of one of its tall ladders. Now, only in Lexington would you see something like this. It was great.

 Washington and Lee University Blue Bikes
Check Out ~ Lock Up


I saw some beautiful color along the route.

In the distance is the steeple of the old Robert E. Lee Episcopal Church. 

Ann Smith School where Buddy attended 1st-3rd Grades.
Now it is a frat house at Washington and Lee
Thank goodness they saved this beautiful historic building.

Main Street with Virginia Military Institute on hill in the far distance.

After walking and huffing and puffing up and down all over the city, we finally hit our last hill. In front of us are 2 of the volunteers just behind the end-of-the-race police car. He had to tell Bud and me two different times to move over to the far right so the cars could get by...that they has reopened the streets. Shucks...there were still people behind us trying to finish and not trip on the jagged sidewalks.

Burr Datz...aka Santa
Burr was a volunteer standing at the last turn to cheer us on to the finish.
I taught his daughter, and she was a leader in one of my first student groups
that I took to England. He kept yelling...”Genie, Genie”...telling me I could make it. In turn I teased him saying he looked like the race Santa to me.

Please note John Anderson of Crozet Running...I wore my loud pink shoes you sold me.

They are so good. You definitely hit the nail on the head for me that day. I am convinced they saved my back.FINALLY, I made it. What a relief! My first race...but to really be honest...my first walk. 

And Buddy was a real sport to walk along with me.

We really did have a good time. Lots of dogs and strollers, screaming babies, and poop bags. 

It all added to the family atmosphere. We just might do it again :-)

 This is the proof. We made it. Woo Hoo!

And my rotten back survived. Walked carefully, with heel down first 

and then rolling my foot forward and it really did work.

I came home in far better shape that I would have thought I would have.

No medal. No ribbon. Just the knowledge that I did it and actually had a good time.

“There are victories of the soul and spirit.

Sometimes, even if you lose, you win.”

~Elie Wiesel

This post is linked with Scenic Weekends and Six Word Saturday.

\

Bud’s Canary in the Cave Race ~ 2015

Welcome to Bud’s Latest Race

Canary in the Cave

Fayetteville, West Virginia

The night before the race, Bud took me to a Cajun restaurant...YUMMY!

The other side of this sign reads FINISH.

Runner Waiting in Red

Runner Waiting in Orange

Runner and Daughter Waiting in Blue

Father and Daughter

(** If you can’t tell it already, I love to take pictures of braids.)

 All of the following shots are of little Ina. Her mother was running  in the race, and she and her daddy were waiting. I watched her before the race, and then I ran into her again when I went to lunch. She is almost two and the most precious and animated little girl you have ever seen...and very well behaved :-)

I’m ready for this race to begin.

Oops...how am I gonna get over this yellow thing

 to get to my mommy?

Well, I did it!

Thanks,Mommy, for the drink. 

All that running around made me thirsty.

I do not like this hat. It has to go!

Here her daddy and I were trying to get her to pick out two jelly thingies that went together. I have to admit she did pretty well at first, and then she decided it was way too hard and proceeded to put them all into the bowl.

This is the Cathedral Cafe where Ina, her daddy, and I were eating while waiting. Great food. It is an old church, and inside the light comes through all of the old stained glass windows onto the floors. Gorgeous. Did not realize the reflections until I uploaded the photo to the blog.

O.K. It Is Time For the Race

And it is is off. 5 hours to run about 17 miles...

25K plus some more trail to finish.

While looking at the runners taking off, I spied this Jeep 

with reflections on the hood  so just had to take pictures of it.

 The residents used the walking track all during the race. 

For some reason I named this lady, The Bag Lady.

While I was there she went around two times with bag in hand. Heaven only knows how many more time she walked it. She is definitely a woman on a mission.

This lady was walking the dogs while her husband ran the race.

She and I chatted for the longest time. All the people there were so cordial and nice.

 

This was where I waited for Buddy to come out of the woods.

The shadows in this part of the forest were absolutely gorgeous.

 

Here came my Buddy.

He was almost out and at end of race.

Woo!Hoo!

Here he is almost to the pavement with me screaming....”Faster...faster, Buddy, pick it up!!!!

Time is running out. You can do it, Bud."

 Here he is coming into the Finish Line

Buddy paid for the use of this picture of him at the finish line. If you enlarge it or look real hard, you can see me following him from behind still yelling for him to “Hurry Up!". I did not have to make the time limit so I am just puttering along... but he did and he did it. 

And here he is with me...The Finish Line

4 hours~59minutes~08 seconds

The race had a 5 hours limit.  God bless Bud...

he made it in the nick of time!

Thank you, Dan, for taking this picture of us.
I saved the best photo until last. I just love it. 
Just look at that grin on Buddy’s face and his 
“lucky sherpa hat" on his bald head.  

Our friend, the one and only Dan Leaman.

He was the “Commandant” at “The Trilogy” 3 day 

competition at Spruce Knob, West Virginia last month.
Next year I hope to be a rest station volunteer
and on the last day attempt to walk the 5 mile race. 
We shall see.

FINALLY,  FOOD for the WEARY!

Many Pizzaa, even Gluten Free Pizza, Kettle Chips, 5 Carrot   Cakes, and Soft Drinks ~ After pigging out, we got back in the car and drove the three hours back to Lexington. Bud and I had a blast.

Now to get ready for next weekend at Rocky Mount, VA.

Crooked Road 24 Hour Race

This time I will stay at home sweet home.

This post is linked to:

 Blue Monday 
Our World Tuesday
Ruby Tuesday Too
Signs, Signs