Two Free Printables

Recently someone commented and said there were looking for a poster with the poem that I have featured in my right side bar, Home Is Where I Belong.  This was a poem that I found YEARS ago, probably around twenty, to be honest. I fell in love with it then and I love it still. That being said, I couldn't find it anywhere, especially not as a poster, so I decided to make my own.  I also have a similar poster I made some time ago, You Are Welcome In This House, and so I've decided to share both of them. I hope you will enjoy them!

You can find the link for this one, here.

 And the link for this one is, here.

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Summer Bingo Challenge - Visit A Small Town

VISIT A SMALL TOWN

Yesterday I marked the first square off of my Summer Bingo Challenge, Visit A Small Town.

My husband had arranged to pick up an item he purchased on FB Marketplace around 3:00 p.m. in Roanoke, so we decided to make a day of it and take the long road through Rocky Mount, Virginia.

Rocky Mount is just a little over an hour's drive from our front door, so it was the perfect day trip. I chose Rocky Mount because a few weeks back they had a festival, Vintage Market Roots that was co-hosted by a couple of vintage/antique shops there. But alas, it fell on my daughter's birthday weekend, and as that was not something she would have enjoyed, I made a note of the two shops that were hosting and decided to visit them another time. The description on the flyer sounded like they would have things much to my liking, but alas, I was a bit underwhelmed. There were definitely a few pieces that I liked, but it was a pricey and the biggest turn off was that the owner of one of the shops was, well, a bit smug, so that was a real put-off for me. But, aside from my disappointment with the shops themselves, I found the town completely delightful!

The picture at the top is of this post is Trinity Episcopal Church. I am not sure what it is that draws me to Episcopal Church buildings, but I can typically spot them from a mile away. They seem to often have similar architecture and brightly colored doors. I just love them!

This building was another favorite, and yes, It did actually used to be a Coca Cola Bottling Plant, but more recently housed a cafe which appears to have been closed for some time now. It's hard for me to imagine why something else hasn't taken up residence because it is just such a cute building! But I'm glad to see that in spite of it appearing to have sat empty for some time now, they've done a good job with the upkeep of the property.  It makes me sad when so many of these beautiful buildings just rot away.

A few things that I learned about Rocky Mount.

It is located in Franklin County, which is considered The Moonshine Capital of the World. There is apparently a Moonshine Musuem, though we didn't visit, but I liked this little town so much I'm already considering a second visit in autumn, so maybe then.

They are big on music and local bands, which I LOVE! Rocky Mount is considered the gateway to The Crooked Road which is a 333-mile-long driving trail that connects 10 major venues and over 50 affiliate venues that preserve and promote traditional Appalachian old time and bluegrass music. Being reminded of this today is inspiring me to plan for a few more summer road trips and visiting some of the venues that are featured on their website.

They have an event every weekend in June, River of Lights, which I so wish I had found out about sooner. You tube down a section of a river with lights strung overhead in the trees, which to me, sounds simply enchanting! Definitely putting this on the list for next summer.

We had such a wonderful time in Rocky Mount, and like I said, I'm already planning to go back in autumn. Just the drive there will be breathtaking that time of year! One of the things I love best about living in Virginia is that within a few hours drive in almost any direction you arrive at another small quaint town just full of wonderful things to discover. I'm glad that while what initially brought me to Rocky Mount turned out to be a bit of a disappointment, the town itself offered more than enough to make up for it. If you're ever in the area, I highly recommend spending at least a couple of hours exploring Rocky Mount! 

So what about you, what are some things on your summer bucket list, have you been inspired by my summer bingo challenge, and if so, what things have you marked off so far?

Whether you've made your own list or you're trying to get that first bingo, I'd love to hear about your plans and adventures, so be sure to share in the comments!

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Beautiful Things

As we hurry along on life's journey today

With the joy and the sorrow it brings,

And never a thought what we pass on the way

Let us look for the beautiful things.

There is music that's free, that will surely beguile 

'Tis the song of the bird as he sings.

And the sun-kissed breeze makes us linger awhile

Just to look for the beautiful things.

Let us close our eyes to the faults of a friend 

Drop them deep in oblivion's springs,

As we travel along to life's golden end 

We can always find beautiful things.

- LUCILLE B. BALLARD

Small Things - The First Saturday of Summer / 2024

"Life is not, for most of us, a pageant of splendor, but is made up of many small things, rather like an old fashioned piecework quilt. No two people have the same, but we all have our own, whether it be listening to Beethoven's fifth with a beloved friend, or seeing a neighbor at the back door with a basket of white dahlias. Or after a long, hard day, having the family say, "That was a good supper."

- GLADYS TABER

In no particular order, here are six SMALL THINGS that have saved me this week.

1. This book, *The Art of Mindful Gardening: Sowing the Seeds of Meditation  by Ark Redwood. One of the things I am practicing in this season is single-tasking, so I was thrilled when I read this in the introduction;

"The art of being mindful is simple really. It lies in the practice of being in the present moment, and attempting to hold that attention to whatever you are doing, gently bringing the mind back to the present whenever it starts to wander (which it inevitably does!)"

Ark Redwood is the head gardener at Chalice Well, one of Britians most sacred gardens (I hope to visit it one day!). In this book, the author guides you through the changing seasons, drawing upon years of practical gardening experience and meditation. The author is a practicing Zen Buddhist, but I am comfortable enough in my own faith that it is not a problem for me. Read at your own discretion.

2. Finding this gem on You Tube for free, Tammy and the Millionaire. It was a short lived TV series in the late 60's based off the Tammy movies, that originated with Debbie Reynolds and also starred Sandra Dee. Debbie Watson reprises the role in this film, which is a conglomaration of the few episodes that aired before it was canceled. I really like Debbie Watson, and found another movie, as well, The Cool Ones, which I will probably check out soon. She was also in a TV series, Karen, and there are a few episodes of it, though I wish there were more! Here's are the links to the first episode, which is in two parts, Part 1, Part 2. The thing that really excited me about this, are the original commercials!

3. And if taking a trip through memory lane is your thing, you might enjoy this You Tube channel, America Before. Here's a description of what you'll find;

"Welcome to 'America Before,' a captivating journey into the heart of nostalgic Americana, spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s. Our channel is a treasure trove of memories, dedicated to reliving the golden eras of American history. Dive into a world where classic cars ruled the streets, rock 'n' roll and disco beats set the rhythm of life, and iconic TV shows and movies defined a generation. Explore the cultural, technological, and social revolutions that shaped modern America. From vintage fashion to retro gadgets, 'America Before' brings the past alive, offering a nostalgic escape and a deeper understanding of the decades that significantly influenced today's America."

I subscribe to several channels with this sort of theme, and enjoy watching a few episodes from time to time before I go to bed. 

4. Watching campy beach movies with my family. Have Prime Video? Here are a few selections we've enjoyed, Bikini Beach, Beach Blanket Bingo,

5. This recipe for coffee flavored ice cream, and the best part, you don't need an ice cream maker!

6. This post, from @megangilger

"Summer

The sparkle on the water. The rush of that first dip of wildness. The full to the brim. The skinny dip. The smell of bonfire. The ache. The relief. The reward. The feeling of being alive. The smell of tomatoes. The hanging towel on the deck rail. The sand in the car. The nostalgia. The reunions. The floating cosmos. The dirt road. The deep breathe. Being weightless for only a moment . . . being held by the lake.

Love in this season!"

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