Back alleys, The Fan

We may no longer have country lanes or canal footpaths to potter along but we do have back alleys to trundle down. There are magical little corners, some cute pocket parks, a dash of contemporary architecture, lots of grubbiness and plenty of lush foliage...  We love this hidden side of town.

Downtown Richmond

Downtown looked particularly splendid in the late afternoon sun, after a sultry wallow in the James. There's history in those bridges too...

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens, Richmond

Marilyn had nothing on these cooling girls in 'Butterflies Live!' - our chance to walk wild amongst Blue Morphos and Buck Eyes... iridescent powder blue wings and giant 'fake' eyes plus huge stripy caterpillars - hard not to give some credence to intelligent design with this lot. Had to check our backs for escapees on exiting.

Then a canter down to the Children's Garden, via a secret pathway, some turtle spotting and chores in the native American houses filled with seed pod baskets and brooms.

Cooling off afterwards in the water fountains and then on to the dinosaurs sandpit, before a dash through the stick palace and lunch - all in a mere 38 degrees (43 on the heat index i.e how it feels!).

Plus the google street car was taking a rest in the car park!

The Last Guests, Year 1

So we've come to the end of a line of some most excellent guests...

For this close of season moment we hit the riverside once more and found the water was up, the flow was strong and the sun was delightfully mild. A bald eagle flew overhead and the trees were lush and green.

We took some chilled refreshments, only to discover they needed surreptitious consumption. The girls got confident with the wild water challenges and our adrenalin stayed at a mid-level. Some english swimwear styling got to be shared with the toned, bronzed youth on the rocks - how can a sunhat give one's nationality away?!? Not to mention the pale male torsos...

We've loved our First Year guests. Big THANKS to y'awl - Daphne, Duncan, Nick, Marie, Jason, Jake, Tony and Diana, Tina, Tante Rina, Sala, Christine, Sam, Chloe, Katrina and finally Andy, Jo, Lottie and Lexie.

Swift Creek Lake, Pocahontas State Park

You've got to know your canoe from your kayak for this challenge. We embraced the great American outdoors as we'd always dreamt - waterlilies brushing the oars, herons flying across the lake and the sound of paddles dipping in the water. Achieved some mid-lake canoe-to-canoe child transfers and effective snack sharing - no dropped Marie biscuits or oars.


It was truly magic and perfectly done with the Canadians. 

Campsites 25 & 26, Pocahontas State Park

Finally the tent got its first brush with the great American wilderness, in the company of the Canadian cousins. We pitched up and went on a bear hunt... returned for a communal camp supper and my second encounter with the more venomous end of Virginian wildlife: I felt something on my leg, looked down, registered a shiny black spider, flicked and then observed it stand on the bench all the kids had just been sitting on, focused on its swollen abdomen and the tell-tale large red dot, seconds before P's foot obliterated it.

Despite the 'insect soup' atmosphere, it was a fab site with immense trees and an awesome stillness... The cousins went trans-Disney with an endless fantasy game populated by multiple Ariels in the real-life setting of the Pocahontas legend. P had flashbacks to wandering around Disney studios in 1994 watching animators bringing her to life. It was blissful stuff and we actually got to sit back and relax (well, apart from the constant scanning for arachnids...), brew coffee and chat. The best fireside game turned out to be story-consequences that J found deeply traumatic - 'That's not my story!' she wept as Princess Bob dealt with more major life challenges than he'd imagined and plenty of poop!!!

We'll head North next - less venom, more black flies... and hopefully more of the top cousins. Thanksgiving's South Carolina plans now ditched as they have alligators!

Just sometimes I get a twinge of homesickness for the damp, gentleness of North Norfolk coast and the lovely Stiffkey campsite.

Foot Work: A Collective Rug-Making Project

Happy Hour or two at the Anderson Gallery under the guidance of the fab Hope Ginsberg. With drinks in hand we mooshed across the layers of felt, on soapy suds. Swirling circles underfoot, there was the odd conga, a great soundtrack and then the rolling and the squishing...

In the end there was a vaguely meshed square rug in layers of fluffy cream, verdant green and gentle grey. We got to pad about on it before it was bound and headed upstairs for the Sponge HQ and even more pressing...

Now I want to have ago.

Meadow Farm Museum, Henrico

One aspiring farmer-musketeer found her dream base today. In the morning shade we ventured up to Henrico's Meadow Farm. An option we'd always foregone but today was the perfect moment. Almost deserted, we were greeted by wandering lambs and their mums, then went off to seek other beasts only to find the best bit - a bucket and pulley system! When it got sploshed back into the tub it created the perfect water shower for our legs. J duly stripped down. 


Then there were giant cattle with horns, a stallion with some very large features (!) and lovely free-roaming speckled hens. We went to see if there were any eggs and were greeted by a turkey, who then leapt over the fence - we ran... 

The fencing style crops up in the more historic bits of Virginian. The farm here dates from 1713.

Before and After, The Shelves

Seriously you better be able to spot the difference because this was a full-on job that spread from one week into the weekend and up to today... Three coats of Home Depot's best semi gloss white, used up to the last teaspoon on this pair of floor-to-ceiling delights. Plus that sheen of sweat! Knobs were chased down to World Market, Charlottesville, who had a stash of these discontinued oregano green ones that are intended to echo the sofa - though just maybe, they are a detail to far.

'Like Summers Used To Be' Camp, Sabot at Stony Point

Both girls went off to summer camp, with their healthy snacks stowed in their backpacks each day. They returned with sculptures and damp cozzies and tales of construction and shared snack time. There were actual local friends in the mix, which made them both very excited. 


So a mud river system had been dug (by J!), outdoor pees accommodated with a hose-down and just endless studio-time for M, which she loves. We like the fact that summer is as great as it used to be...

Carter Mountain, Charlottesville, VA

'Movin' to the country gonna eat a lot of peaches', so sang the The President's of the USA - our anthem for the quick jaunt to Carter Mountain, high above Charlottesville. 

There was a light breeze, warm, dry earth and the amazing smell of peaches in the orchard groves. Virginia Gold apples were also on offer and though really a very pale greeny-gold they were light and fresh - a cross between a Granny Smith and a Golden Delicious.

Creme Brûlée on the menu for P and apple pie for the girls, if there is any of our horde left.

Independence Day, Wintergreen Ski Resort

The first day of the Republic and we embraced it in style - flag waving, fireworks and fab company on the ski slopes of Wintergreen. We went bedecked with stars and stripes jewels and as it got darker, rave-style luminous red, white and blue wrist bands, as well as tattoos! All thanks to Ameigh.

There was great music and J took to the stage bopping to wild and familiar tunes - The Clash, 'Walk the Line' and 'Sweet Home Alabama' amongst the mix. Back on our rug we saw an immense red moon rise, stood for the 'Star Spangled Banner' and lay back as the fireworks began, booms and blasts ricocheting across the valley. 

In the afternoon we'd hit the ski lift for a turn or two or three around the slopes. In the accompanying festivities were rescue dogs up for adoption. The girls and I spotted our new baby... but knew we had to make do with some tummy tickling.

The return road-trip tune of choice was the Hot Seat's 'Cheesy Beef Boogie'.

Blue Ridge Mountains, Virginia

It was definitely, "a really romantic view" as M observed when we came to a standstill on a rocky outcrop and gazed over the hazy Blue Ridge Mountains. A stone 'hot tub' enclosed us and for the more adventurous there was a further hop down. It was magically stunning and serene. Distant thunder could be heard and we scampered back to the car just in case... 


In the morning warmth we hiked downwards to the Shamokin Falls, dappled in the sunlight and deliciously cool. Egged on by the more intrepid element of our crew we clambered up alongside the waterfall, no snakes or mishaps for now and just when my legs were beginning to wobble at the foot of another rock climb, a path was spotted close by and we trailed our way home amongst huge trees.

King Family & Veritas Wineries, Abermarle & Nelson Counties, VA

To read this you need to imagine a slick of sweat across your body and breathing in air as warm as soup... then gaze at the mountain, the fresh green vines and the idyllically, over-perfect buildings and add in the easy-win of a chilled glass of white - Voignier, to be precise.

Virginian wine is not a given love but it's fun getting to know it. No polo on the King Family pitch today, though I suspect we'll be back for a match in the Fall and a touch of tailgating, which is the American take on the picnic!

Donkey petting en route with a two peppermint ration per beast.

King Family Vineyard

Veritas Vineyards & Winery