Suffer not the flowers

Settling in on the sofa, the daughter spots the flowers on the coffee table and asks "What's with the roses?" She knows that not only does her papa not have a standing account with the florist, he probably would be hard pressed to name the nearest shop. If I purchased flowers for myself, 3 roses would be an unlikely choice.


These flowers grace our coffee table through unusual circumstances. Saturday evening, before going to bed, I took the 2 house dogs for their customary nighttime walk. About a quarter mile from home, near our left turn, the dogs took an avid and atypical interest in an something in the grass, extended sniffing by both alerted me to an object of interest. A flashlight pulled from my pocket revealed 3 tightly budded roses, leather-leaf, babies breath and at a slight distance a ribbon bow.


Walking the dogs Sunday morning I found the vase. It, being heavier, had traveled a bit farther after being thrown from the open car window and had been less evident in the dark. The exact circumstances will remain speculation. Who tossed those roses? Did the recipient think they were inadequate to make up for bad behavior? Did the giver get a cell phone call en route to delivery and have angry second thoughts?

A mystery it is likely to remain, but I am enjoying those roses.

Carina

Live - Love - Read - Repeat

This tale is as good as any to return to blog writing. I am just back from the Festival of the Book, a 5 day, 222 set of separate events that takes place in Charlottesville, Virginia. Produced by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities, the festival is an annual celebration of reading and literacy, now in its 18th year.

Events take place at numerous locations throughout town and on the University of Virginia campus, so parking and logistics become an important component of developing your personal, book-loving itinerary.

On Friday the 23rd, I attended the 2pm event at New Dominion Bookshop entitled Fiction: Family Riddles, Secrets and Stardom with the authors Tayari Jones, Jael McHenry and Alan Shapiro presenting. Tayari Jones's current novel is Silver Sparrow, her third. In the latter part of the program, after each author had read a selected passage from their work, it was time for questions.In response to an audience question Tayari detailed her difficulty in getting her novel published.

Her previous publisher had been bought by a larger company and she was informed they were no longer interested in "quiet" novels.Sometimes it can be easier getting agents and publishers interested in your first manuscript. If it is good they can tout you as the next Danielle Steel or Mary Higgins Clark, but at novel #3 it is quite clear you are you and not anyone else.

Having been published previously, Tayari believed she could get and advance on her partially finished manuscript. Inquiries were made, no one indicated an interest. She considered abandoning the novel, leaving it unfinished. She thought about the advice she would give a student and soldiered on, completing her story. No publisher showed an interest in the completed book either.




A writer's conference had been on Tayari's schedule for a while. Without a new novel and somewhat frustrated and embarassed by her inability to secure a publisher, this was not an event she was eager to attend. Obligation and responsibilities being what they were she went. In between scheduled presentations at the writer's conference a woman approached Tayari and told her how much she admired her first two books.

As the conversation progressed, Tayari opened up a little about her publishing dilemma. The woman smiled and literally took Tayari by the hand, saying "I have someone you need to meet." She guided Tayari across the room and made introductions to the representative that would eventually become Tayari's publisher.

They started an encouraging discussion and the representative asked "How do you know Judy?"

"Judy?" Tayari responded with a blank look.

"Yes, Judy that brought you over here, Judy Blume."

Tayari was stunned. She had never met Judy before had no idea of her identity. Looking up Tayari saw Judy was gone, melting into the crowd.

I hope my repeat and retelling of this tale is fairly accurate and you liked the story as much as I did.

Carina

John Oates

You remember John Oates, don't you, half the duo of Hall and Oates, the most successful duo in rock history with 13 gold or platinum soul-infused albums and 26 Top 30 singles. Oates co-wrote three of their No. 1 hits -- "I Can't Go For That (No Can Do)," "Maneater" and "Out of Touch" - as well as top singles "Sara Smile," "You Make My Dreams," "She's Gone" and "Adult Education."

John and his band played at the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival in September. My daughter and I caught John in performance at last event on the State Street stage, the last day of the festival - the All-Star Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers Revival. It was definitely a tribute to the origins of Bristol's musical heritage. The Black Lillies' Cruz Contreras led the assembled band. A band that included the likes of John Oates, Carrie Rodriguez on fiddle, Michelle Malone, Darrell Scott, Dale Ann Bradley, Robinella, Langhorn Slim and others. On time and in tune they loaded up and played the heck out of a batch of Carter Family and Jimmie Rodgers songs.

Trying to give the 24 year old daughter some additional music history and background, I was explaining John Oates career trajectory, including Hall and Oates.

The daughter gave my a semi-incredulous look and explained that she had indeed heard of that band but had always thought that it was named

Holland Oats


Wonder if she ever saw this album cover?

Carina

Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair

No, we did not attend the antique tractor show, that would have been down the street.

The daughter and I just happened to make a day trip over to Asheville, North Carolina the same weekend as the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, an event I had heard of but never managed to coordinate my travels to accommodate. This would be the 18th annual such event held at the Western Carolina Ag Center.

While there was every shade and variety of yarn, thread and fiber at the fair, I most wanted to see the animals. Take me to a state or county fair, that's where you'll will find me, at the animal barns. All those years in 4-H made an impact.

First and foremost on my list were the angora rabbits. Having raised rabbits in 4-H, both French and English angora rabbits were known varieties. This fair featured German angoras, a breed I had never heard tell of, perhaps because it is not an ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) recognized variety. The German angoras have their own separate association, the IAGARB.

German angora rabbits are not only known for the quantity of wool they produce, but for quality as well. Through 8 decades of selective breeding, the quantity of wool produced by many German angoras has surpassed their ancestors by hundreds of grams per shearing. Shearings occur at approximately 90 day intervals Yearly totals have increased from mere ounces to over four pounds. The wool is silky, crimpy, yet strong and can be commercially processed without damage to the wool. The soft wool is pure luxury to wear next to the skin, yet will not mat or felt with wear.

On the other end of the spectrum, as far as human breeding intervention goes, are the unusual looking Jacob sheep.

Jacob sheep are a rare breed of small, spotted, multi-horned sheep. They may have from two to six horns, with four being the most common configuration. Most of the Jacob sheep are black and white. They are an heirloom or unimproved breed that harken back through history and have survived with little selective breeding input from us humans. Their bodies are much more goat-like than most breeds of sheep. They are a variety of sheep that harkens back to biblical times and lands.

Maybe this will become an annual event. With additional planning I could participate in the myriad workshops that were offered.

Carina

Lily & Charlie's Union of Hearts Ceremony

Customize your own slideshow And this concludes my coverage of Lily & Charlie's very fascinating wedding! Carina

Bicycle Parade

Friends on bicycles and bicycles, lots of bicycles, gathered at B.B.Clark beach on the shore of Madison's Lake Monona to await the arrival of the bridal couple. The word is their arrival will be slightly unusual.


They have been spotted. Arrival is by canoe with bicycles aboard.



As the sandy beach is roped off for swimmers, they must make land along a steeper portion of park shoreline.



Bikes are off loaded.



Standard wedding photography often features the bride carrying her bike ashore. (Trust me on this one.)


They look ready to lead the 5 mile bicycle trek to our campgrounds in Lake Farm Park on the shores of a different lake, Lake Waubesa.



All the folks that were local brought their own bikes. Several bikes made trips to the shop for a little refurbishing and upgrades.


For those of us coming from out of town, bicycles were obtained.



This green beauty was mine for the weekend.


It was nice having a girls bike complete with....

....a Tyrannosaurus shift knob.

After getting everyone organized....


....we're off.


Up (or is it down) Jenifer Street...


..onto a variety of streets, sidewalks and bike paths.



A rest and water break takes place in the shade of a few trees in a park off John Nolan Drive.



As inviting as the shade is, after a short interval, the group is off again toward the destination.


John Nolan Drive, generally a very busy divided highway is under construction. While this allows us to ride without traffic,it also presents a few obstacles.



Part of the railroad bed has been pulled up, necessitating walking your bike.


The pedicab (where the bride's father got a ride from one of his other daughters) needed an extra boost.

Bikes safely over this obstacle we ride on.


When we reach Lake Farm Park everyone hydrates a little.


And hangs out in the shade watching others pull in.

H2O tastes pretty good after a long ride.


Of course some of us were fortunate enough to have someone else do the pedaling for our ride to the park.



But Heidi says she still wants a drink of water!


Hope you enjoyed this very pictorial installment of the Lily and Charlie wedding saga.

Carina

Lily, Lily give me your answer ...do

It was the hippiest of weddings, the union of a nephew and his Aussie ladylove. A wedding so unconventional and noncookie-cutter that the invitation came with a multipage manual, an invitation that arrived in a homemade envelope, folded from a magazine page.

Lily & Charlie writ in bicycle chain

And a manual was a handy item to have. Otherwise, how would you know to gather the requisite vial of water and fire token for the last of three planned ceremonies, the Union of Hearts? How could you select appropriate clothing for a 3-Day wedding event, an event that included a 5 mile bicycle ride, overnight camping and a formal evening soiree?

Taking place Friday, Saturday and Sunday August 19, 20 & 21st, I took so many pictures and have so many little tidbits to relate, that I have decided to split the tale into several shorter blog posts.


So come on back and visit my blog if....



you're interested in the sweet story of Lily and Charlie's wedding.

Carina