Color Inspiration

Posted April 28th, 2011 by Ellen and filed in Birds, Garden, Personal, Travels
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Bark, bark, bark and BARK!


We spent part of Saturday with the kids.  While DH helped plant their container garden, I found inspiration around their yard.  The three photos of bark, above, are from the same tree.  Oh how I wish I could replicate those colors when I dye fabric!  The last BARK is Darby, their great Dane.  What a sweetheart!

I also fell in love with this bird’s nest, saved in their outdoor shed.

Click on the photo for a close-up view of the skeletal leaf on the left.

Sorry for the photo layout.  I have yet to figure out how to save an edit of a published post.  No update or save buttons appear at that point, at least not that I’ve found.

Family

Posted April 27th, 2011 by Ellen and filed in Personal, Travels, Uncategorized
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 Addison

 Spring break at the U of I brought us Illini  visitors.  Above:  Olivia, Lisa, Charlotte (named after our fair city),  Addison, and my nephew Joshua.

  

During the Powell’s brief visit, we drove to Greensboro to see our son Matthew and his wife Suzie.  Above, back row:  Josh, Lisa, Olivia, Suzie, Matthew.  On table:  Addison and Charlotte.

Before a beach trip last September, first cousins Joshua and Matthew hadn’t seen each other in years!  Unfortunately that’s what happens when families live hundreds or even thousands of miles apart.  I just don’t even want to think about it.

Vacation

Posted September 28th, 2010 by Ellen and filed in Personal, Travels
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Sunset – Sunset Beach NC
Our vacation this year was fabulous!  Temperatures were perfect and skies clear with warm Atlantic waters of 80 degrees.  Enjoy these few photos of my family.
My nephew Dr. Josh and DIL Suzie help Addison jump a wave.
Joshua, Addison, Olivia, baby Charlotte and Lisa
Olivia and Suzie get ready to boogie board.
My son Matthew and his wife Suzie at Lisa’s luau.
My sister Sue and her husband John
Suzie, Matthew and 5-month old Charlotte, Josh and Lisa’s baby.
The whole luau gang

Photo credit:  http://mattandsuzie.com/

Great Side Trip

Posted June 29th, 2010 by Ellen and filed in Travels
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This darling shop is at an entrance to the
Blue Ridge Parkway.  Note sign to the right of the flag.
I’d never been to Fancy Gap VA, but its name always fascinated me.  A billboard for “pottery” caught my eye as I buzzed down I-77 following my trip to Blacksburg.  One exit later, I was in Fancy Gap.  I couldn’t find the shop I’d planned to see, but accidently came across something ever so much more exciting.  It was purely fate; my intention was to use the shop’s parking lot as a turnaround. 
Welcoming rockers seem to say, “Come and sit a spell.”

Welcome
Co-owner (with Dee Dee Price) Lynn Logan was rocking on the porch.  As I got out to ask directions, I saw what a cool shop she had.  It was full of  not only locally thrown pottery, but all sorts of wonderful country and folk art whimsies, paintings, photography, bluegrass music CDs, jams, and monogrammed pillows and purses Lynn and Dee Dee make themselves. 
I loved the shop!  Lynn was gracious, giving me info on each potter whose wares she carried. Hammered dulcimer music played softly in the background as I browsed.  I’ll share photos of my purchases in the next post.   
Lynn Logan
Co-owner
 
Inside Fancy Gap Designs
A sign pointing to greater Frog Spur can be seen
in front of a stone bridge on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Note the truck image, warning Hwy. 52 will be “down the mountain” as we say here,
 all the way to Mt. Airy NC.

To read more and see a slide show of Fancy Gap Designs, click here:  http://www.fancygaptourism.com/dining-and-shopping/shopping/16-fancy-gap-designs

Lynn suggested I take Hwy. 52 all the way to Mt. Airy, as the stretch has a plethora of  stands selling veggies and fruits (especially cherries), antique shops and other treasures.  Although each was enticing, I resisted the temptation to stop.  The hour was late and I still had 100 miles to drive. 
Thanks, Lynn, for a delightful afternoon.  I plan to return to the area soon – this time with friends!

Dorothy – A Breath of Fresh Air!

Posted June 21st, 2010 by Ellen and filed in Travels
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I’m on the left with the amazing Dorothy.
While teaching for the Blue Ridge Quilt Festival I had the great good fortune to stay with an incredible woman.  Dorothy was so welcoming and caring and so much FUN!   I liked her instantly. And she
REALLY knows how to drive in the mountains.
In her Subaru she drove me  to the top of Clover Meadow, where her beef cattle graze.  As we neared what seemed like the fast approaching edge of a cliff, I began laughing  and was a little “white knuckled” as I asked her, “Am I Thelma or Louise?” 
Dorothy introduced me to a new way (to me) of cooking/eating/thinking. I’m anxious to learn much more about this ancient diet.  Although I consumed fewer  calories than normal, I was totally satisfied and never hungry.  I even lost 3 pounds over my four day stay!  The book “Ayurvedic Cooking for Westerners” by Amadea Morningstar is highly recommended. 
Dorothy adds minced garlic and ginger to a stir-fry of asparagus and spinach.
Coconut milk was added along with Eastern spices.
The dish was served over a mixture of rice and mashed mung beans.

Dessert was freshly picked blueberries.  YUM!
What a glorious view!
I loved being in VA.  Every minute was wonderful.