Memories of Burgers and Beauty

Beauty

A Week of Random Ramblings

One night Bill and I went to see Wuthering Heights performed at our local university theater of the arts.  Occasionally we get out at night like that.  I should have taken “night” pictures but forgot in the excitement over seeing city lights and other real people.

They have Cream Cheese Jalapeno Burgers here!

On Wednesday we drove to Harrisonburg to take our grandgirl out for lunch and a stop at Costco!  At her suggestion, we dined at Jack’s local hamburger joint where oddly enough, that’s all Jack served – hamburgers.

Bill ordered a plain one in spite of a wide variety of options including a “Peanut Butter Burger!”  And  Kendall and I got Cream Cheese and Jalapeno Jelly Burgers!  Costco is always fun too but seems Enormous to us country bumpkins.

Thursday was dedicated to Getting-Ready-for-Winter.

At our house that means moving out summer clothes and moving in winter.   Somehow sandals don’t work well anymore in these cooler Fall temps.  But I am loathe to store away the new sparkly ones that make my feet look 17 years old.  The object today was to accommodate cooler weather, but the object remained elusive and the sandals still sparkle in the closet.

I did manage to go Monday and Friday to the gym!  And now increasing “footage” (walking), though nowhere near goal.  Today, due to the energy giving qualities of a new vitamin, and the usual self imposed mental delusion  that I am an energetic 17 year old, I set out in earnest.  Never made it to the gym, but…..

Hoping to find apples, there was a farmer’s market at the Virginia Horse Center.  No apples, but lots of honey!  Honey is my next recommendation for hoarding.  And as long as I was there, I did a little walking around the horse center and watched young people jumping things and a very graceful horse and buggy team.  Lovely!

 

I have determined that walking is a good thing.  You never know what you will stumble on.

Late as usual but this was a week of random ramblings gone by and it was a good week after all.

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The Virginia Horse Center

 

There is a Lexington, Kentucky known for its preponderance of horses and horsey activities.

But did you know about Lexington, VIRGINIA?

Virginians love horses!  In fact there is a 1.2 billion dollar equine industry in the state.  And of course there is a  horse center nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Shenandoah Valley – right down the road from my “Old Virginia Home.”

If you find yourself in my neck of the woods and you love horses, The Virginia Horse Center is not to be missed.  It was founded specifically to promote equestrian sport and it boasts 600 acres of rolling picturesque hills.

When you pass through the gates you can feel it – the air of excitement, an expectation of great beauty, the smell of leather, the sound of softly neighing horses.  You are entering another world of tack and training and timeless wonder.

There is a 4,000 seat coliseum.

There are eight barns to accommodate 1,200 horses.

 19 show rings and two large indoor arenas.

Cross-country and combined carriage driving courses.

Camp grounds.

Take heed Kentucky – The Virginia Horse Center is a facility that serves over 500,000 people and 100,000 animals!  There are 115 events annually and most of them are free and open to the public.

There are Arabian horse shows, barrel racing, breed shows, clinics, dressage, hunter/jumper trials, saddlebred shows, western rodeos, and non-equine events like dog shows, agriculture programs and the Rockbridge Regional Fair and Farm Show, all held at the Virginia Horse Center.

Much as New Yorkers overlook the Empire State Building, I sometimes I forget this fantastic place is right down the road.   But there is a Saturday farmer’s market at the Center now and that is where I wound up last weekend.  I wandered into the big coliseum and was reminded of what a fabulous resource we have.

If you love horses, come here for a visit!  You will not be disappointed.

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Thinking of the Great Escape

Spectator at the Virginia Horse Center

Did you think the sweet white dog looking out the window of this van was a painting?  I thought so too at first because he was so still.  But then he moved and looked right at me with that sadness in his eyes.  “I’m man’s best friend but they left me here and let the horses out.”

My heart went all the way across the parking lot at the Virginia Horse Center and landed right next to this little fellow.

He looked quite comfortable of course, and well taken care of, but I could see he was planning a great escape. “I’m going to live where dogs are valued the same as horses,” I imagined him saying.  “Will you help me get out of here?  Lemme out already!”

“You figure it out sir, ” I said.  “And when I see you get free, I will drive the getaway car.”

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