The Farmer's Market

I'm partial to a great farmers' market; they're usually buzzing with good tales. Every booth and vendor has a different display and, if you take the time to listen, they will tell you their individual stories. Today, while visiting my daughter and her husband, we took the day to hang out in downtown Lynchburg, Virginia at the Lynchburg Community Market. It was such fun. Besides enjoying time with my husband and our daughter, we got to visit with several of the vendors. I discovered several new favorites.

The Brio Chocolatier was a delightful stop. I do LOVE chocolate, so this was a sweet (pun intended) pause for me. Each little bite of glistening chocolate was beautiful. The shine on each candy tempted us. We tasted a couple there and then bought a few (they're waiting for us to enjoy after our evening meal tonight). Sigh…dark chocolate is so soothing. 

The next stop was Evergreen Lavender Farm. The smell of their products is just heavenly, and their presentation makes lavender very interesting. If you check out their website, you’ll see how they grow their lavender and create their products. You can even take a class with them to learn about growing lavender or constructing a fairy garden. 

Then there was Helga’s Yarn Designs. Helga makes one-of-a-kind crocheted everything— from rugs to hats, cozy sweaters to unique neck warmers. She is from Germany, and I imagine she could tell me some great yarns (yes, this pun is intentional too). 

A day of new discoveries with two of my favorite people really hit the spot. The weather was perfect, the company perfect, the day was…perfect.

Here are a few pictures we captured of our day:

I'm a liar.

I told a lie on purpose. I admit it: I'm a liar, and I'm proud of it! I'm telling the truth about that. Honest. Okay, maybe I didn't really tell a lie, but everyone thought I did.

It happened at a Tall Tales and Liars competition, where I recently won both the Judges' Favorite and the People's Favorite. I can now say that I am an award-winning liar! That's kind of fun to brag about. The competition was held in Waxhaw, North Carolina at Made in the Carolinas, a quaint little shop that sells artisan work made by North Carolina artists. It was such fun to be there with all the other tellers and listen to their stories. They told tales about Johnny Appleseed, Southern Accents and college adventures; there was even one about a mother who was carried into space by stray fireworks. All in all, it was a pleasant evening of lying. 

When my turn came, I told a story about a farmer's unconventional way of protecting his cattle from city deer hunters while, at the same time, sparking an open air forum where children could learn to spell their very first word. Thing of it is, the story is based on truth; it actually happened! Since it was a Liars competition, perhaps you think it was unfair for me to win with a story of truth. But, if you really think about it, I did lie by saying the truth was fiction.

Sometimes life really is unbelievable.

Nap Time

Short update this week: Bryon finished his chemo on Friday — four rounds of treatment, with each round being five days, and six hours in the chair each day. What a relief I feel.

In 3-4 weeks he will have a scan and additional testing to make sure the tumor is dead (chant with me: kill the tumor, kill the tumor...). Then we will know what the next step is. He still has lots of healing to do and I feel like I have missed pretty much all of 2018. Maybe I'll catch up, maybe I won't... It'll be fine; I've decided not to worry about it.

With Bryon’s chemo done I think I can go take a nap and even rest through it. Looking forward to better, happier days!!