The Chautauqua Festival, a week long celebration of life in the Blue Ridge, is underway in Wytheville. Sponsored by the Wythe Arts Council, the main festival is taking place in Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park off 4th Street in downtown Wytheville. Chock full of fun, food, and entertainment for the whole family, the festival began June 16 and runs thru this Saturday, June 26.

Each day’s events vary. So far there has been a chili cookoff, a flower show, booths for gardeners, classes for both adults and kids, and, one I found particularly useful, an outreach health program for military veterans.

Much of the daytime program Tuesday was devoted to activities for and by the Mt. Rogers Community Services Board, our local mental health and rehabilitation facility. The band “Common Ground” led the festivities which also included a crafts table featuring work by community members.

Some of the activities for the kids have been particularly fun and will continue throughout the week. When you go, look for Brenda Boone, the clown princess. Her motto: Humor, Don’t Leave Home Without It. Today’s activities include a magic show and storytelling.

Compared to most festivals I’ve been to, the food here is surprisingly good. Many of the vendors are local, and some of our local restaurants are participating. Look for Rose Gonzalez and her Tex-Mex booth. At 3 for $5, her tacos are the best value there.

Rose Gonzalez, the Taco Queen

Night time entertainment so far has included nationally known country rockers, “The Kentucky Headhunters,” and Michael Angelo Batio, one of the 100 best metal guitarists of all time. Tonight (Wed.), the musical program begins at 5:30pm and features 4 bluegrass bands. Hope to see you there!

Between the two of us, Anne and I have driven past Exit 175 on I-81 probably 200 hundred times or more. Invariably one of us would say something like, “I want to stop here one day. Natural Bridge is supposed to be spectacular.” Saturday, the day finally came. We met our son-in-law, Jon, at the visitor’s center so he could deliver the Little Prince and Heir Apparent to us for a week’s visit and spent an excellent afternoon along Cedar Creek Trail exploring one of the Ancient Natural Wonders of the World.

Called the “Bridge of God” by the Monacan Indians and once owned by Thomas Jefferson, Natural Bridge is truly awe-inspiring, rising some 215 feet above Cedar Creek whose waters eroded the limestone which forms the 36,000 ton natural arch, estimated to be 500 million years old.

Along the way, one can view an authentic Monacan village, the entrance to the Saltpeter Mine, the Lost River, and Lace Falls. Though we didn’t go ourselves owing to time and my extreme claustrophobia, the largest underground caverns on the east coast (located 34 stories below ground) can also be explored.

The park is open year round. Admission is $18 for adults and $10 for children, which also includes the Wax Museum and Factory tour, the Toy Museum and The Drama of Creation, a light show each evening at dusk which unfolds in words and music.

cedar creek

entrance to the saltpeter mine

the lost river

lace falls

the little prince and heir apparent

One of the things you learn pretty quickly when you live in the country is that you aren’t the only ones who consider your property home. There are a number of critters who share the land and live on the property full time. Some of them occasionally move into the house with you. A number of them are beneficial. Others, not so much. Here are some of the ones who have been with us for a number of years.

George the Groundhog

George has been here about as long as we have. He has an entrance to his burrow under the remains of an old chicken coop. I usually see George early in the morning munching away on dandelions and clover in the side yard near the bamboo grove. Anne is particularly fond of George because she has less work to do as a result of his fondness for weeds.

Bozo the Side Yard Rabbit

Bozo likes the dandelions and clover all most as much as George. Bozo is pretty skittish though. He goes into his “rabbit freeze” stance at the first sound of anyone stirring in the kitchen. A second sound sends him hauling his little bunny ass back up the ridge to his burrow.

DeWayne the Black Snake and his buddy

Little Wayne

For a long time we thought we only had one snake who moved around a lot. A couple of weeks ago though, we came home around 4 pm and found DeWayne on the deck in back and Little Wayne on the front porch. Both of them spend time in the attic feeding on whatever they find there….birds, mice, insects. Periodically, one of them will climb down the front wall and scare the shit out of anyone nearby. Black Snakes are good to have around as long as you don’t mess with them. I’m told that their bite quote, “hurts like a sumbitch,” unquote.

The Damn Deer

These are two of the four deer who winter with us. In fact, these two were born on the ridge and tried to climb up the front steps when they were fawns. They spent most of the winter about 20 feet from the back door. They also spent most of the winter pruning a lot of our decorative evergreens. During most of the warm weather, they fade back up the ridge. During hunting season, I think they go to Florida.

There is also Rocky, the Demon Squirrel, and That Effing Chipmunk. Both of them have eluded the camera so far. If they don’t leave the strawberries alone, they’re gonna have to evade a fusillade from a .22 rifle. Anyone for squirrel gravy ?

The Wytheville Farmer’s Market successfully launched its 3rd season Saturday, and all indications are that this will be the best season yet. Located in the old R.P. Johnson parking lot on Main Street, the Market is sponsored by H.O.P.E. Ministries (Helping Overcome Poverty’s Existence) and the Wythe/Bland Community Foundation. The Market is under the enthusiastic leadership of full time director, Suzie Richert (276-389-9306) (wythevillefarmersmarket@live.com)

Virginia grown organic vegetables and herbs, grass-fed beef, free range eggs, home baked goods, flowers, handmade crafts…this year’s market has it all.

Home Gardener George Krause with some of his organic produce

Several of the vendors, Anderson Grass Fed Beef, and Lazy Bee Farm, we have encountered before at other locations and can attest to the quality of their products. Lazy Bee’s sourdough bread makes excellent French toast.

Martha Holder of Lazy Bee Farm in black tee-shirt

For two people who don’t eat a lot of red meat,  Anne and I have a goodly amount of hormone-free, grass-fed beef in the freezer thanks to small producers like Cassell Family Farm, whose ground beef provided the basis for a yumalicious meatloaf I made last night.

One vendor I would particularly like to point out is Jason Hounshell of Earthganic Greenhouse. Jason was last year’s market director. 100% of his proceeds go to support Crossroads Shelter, a local homeless shelter.

Jason Hounshell

Market Shots

Miss Mattie's Delights

Home baker Sue Govin who has been at the market since the beginning

Dave Richert, Suzi's husband, with some of their Wilder Woods Farm products

The folks at West Wind Farm and Winery celebrated the fourth anniversary of the opening of their tasting room with a beach party in the mountains Saturday afternoon. A crowd of 150 plus danced to the soul sounds of Winston Salem’s Envision.

There was great food, fine wine, and happy faces all round.

The party lasted ’til sundown. If you weren’t there, you missed a really good time. Here’s the party in pictures:

If it’s Memorial Day, then it’s flea market time in Hillsville. Twice each year, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, the entire town of Hillsville turns into a huge flea market. Upwards of 500,000 people are expected for this year’s unofficial kick-off to summer.

Vendors from the professional circuit, collectors, and local crafters join together for four days to offer fun, food, and bargains galore. Despite predictions of huge crowds, on Saturday there seemed to be almost as many vendors as there were patrons.

There were Brahma bull rides and blooming onions.

There were kids and ladies in hats. And ladies with guns.

It’s a carnival, it’s a sideshow, it’s a bit of Americana. If you hurry, you still have time to make one of the best free shows around.

Woodcarver Tom Brannock

Some of Tom's carvings including the "whimadilly"

Troubador John Allen from Mt. Holly, NC

With apologies to Mason Williams and all my friends in one of the coolest little towns around.

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Them Floydians

How ’bout them Floydians,

Ain’t they fun?

Bitchin’ like crazy, while suckin’ they thumb.

Trashin’ they neighbors on Ol’ Doug’s blog.

Pushin’ they causes like,

SAVE THE HOG!

Hippies and Yuppies and the Old Families too,

Livin’ they life in an internet zoo.

They all come together on a Friday night,

Pickin’ and dancin’ with ‘nary a fight.

How to be a Floydian?

Ain’t nuthin’ to it.

Just grab a firm opinion and hang on to it.