The Simple Life

I have got to stop popping off for the weekend - I mean it. I seem to spend so much time going on 'quick trips' and never get anything accomplished OR any work done. But, with the weather this past weekend in the mid eighties, clear blue skies and a September breeze, how could I pass up a trip to Amish country in Pennsylvania? Not the tourist kind of trip where you are obliged to take buggy rides and dress up in a bonnet but the kind where you get to drive around the farmland seeing acres and acres of corn, wheat and tobacco. Where Monday is wash day and the clothes drying on the line are fresh and crisp and sway gently in the breeze. Time has stood still in Lancaster, a better simpler time where children run around in bare feet, laughing and playing with their siblings. Where the only cars you see are from the tourists, where horse drawn carriages are the only means of transport and ~ where life is pure.









I felt so unbelievably humbled and privileged to be able to get these photos. It's very rare that the Amish allow this at all but I guess it was my lucky day and I was able to chat and laugh with this beautiful family, always being mindful not to outstay my welcome.

Onto a farm machinery auction! My poor husband drove me around for hours looking for real life events and boy did he hit the jackpot! Never did I realize that there would be so much choice! Not just farm equipment but hand cranked washing machines, buggy parts and office desks. I had a field day taking pictures there and no one minded - in fact they were trying to get in on the act!

We decided to stay over night in a charming little motel and then headed out Monday morning to see more of the breathtaking countryside. We were not disappointed - the weather was better than the day before and the cloud formations were unbelievable.








So now, of course, I want to be a photographer and travel the length and breadth of the states, snapping away at all of this beauty. Throw on my jeans and cowboy boots (I bought me some when I was in Nashville!), toss my equipment into the back of my truck (I actually own a chevy Aveo!) and take flight! I will have nothing to think about except my next destination and my long, blond hair (I have shoulder length brown hair) will flow like a river in the wind.
But for now I will just have to dream. Tomorrow I have the delight of sanding furniture all day, grocery shopping and laundry...but I always have my memories!

Wishing you a wonderful week everyone
XXXXXX ANJI XXXXXX

Inevitable

This is a piece of artwork I made last year for all the mum's whose children are going off to college. It is inevitable that our babies will grow up to be independent, young adults and leave our nests to venture out into the unknown. All we can do is make sure their journey is safe and let them know they are loved.
A little piece of my heart is still empty today but I will fill that hole with thoughts of seeing my son Josh in the fall.
Please feel free to take this image and use it any way you want. Double click to enlarge it and right click to save.
Hope you all have a wonderful, peaceful day!

Empty nest again!

I will eventually post some more pictures of my trip to Galax and Nashville but for now I wanted to add a few of my son Josh. He left for college in Vermont again today and it never ceases to amaze me how a little piece of my heart is broken every time he leaves. Each trip home seems shorter and shorter and I find myself wishing that he had chosen a school that was closer or never gone to college at all! I think that is the problem sometimes, only having one child, that it is so much more difficult to let go. But he arrived there safely tonight after his 9 hour drive and is happy to be back with his friends. I hope that this will be the best semester ever for him and I can't wait to see him again in the fall.
And to all you mum's out there who are feeling a little bit teary like me, just remember - you are not alone.

Hoping everyone has a great week ahead ~ Anji XxX

Since my last post I managed to finish the flooring in my family/work room (a labour of love I can tell ya!) and fitted in a road trip to Galax Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, Virginia, Nashville, Tennessee, Cave City, Kentucky, and lots and lots of highway in West Virginia! What a fascinating vacation it was. I wish we had had more time in each location but we were on limited time as my son, Josh, is back to school next week. We went to Galax last year on a whim and had so much fun that we made a vow to try and visit each and every year we are in the states. I never knew I was into bluegrass until I moved here 3 years ago! Coming from London, I had a staple diet of David Bowie and punk rock growing up and never for the life of me did I ever think I would be tapping my feet and doing a little jig to a fiddle and banjo! I even bought myself a pair of cowboy boots while we were there, so I could 'fit in', but I think my British accent gave me away! I felt right at home regardless - music just seems to have that effect on people. I must have taken a 1,000 photos but I will post just a few and hope you get a feel of what it was like there.

If anyone lives near Galax, and even if you don't (!) try and visit next year - it is so worth it.

And one more thing for now - am I the only one who cannot figure out this new template thingymijig? I have completely messed up my blog page, spent the best part of two hours trying to upload pictures and get them to stay where I want them. And forget about trying to add LARGE images - they won't fit on the page! If anyone can offer ANY guidance it will be very much appreciated.
Have a great weekend!

Warning!

Sunday + husband + Ikea laminate flooring = Disaster!

Photos of finished project to follow probably next year

(all 338 square foot of it)

Needless Worry

 Oh to be a mother!  You spend your life worrying about how they will cope out in the real world: will they eat enough, wash behind their ears, set their alarm clocks so they are not perpetually late for everything, get their hearts broken, forget to put gas in their car, the list goes on and on... and then they come home with 6 months worth of laundry and stories about how hard it is to juggle class work and their social life - 'it's all so hard mum"!  But for the few weeks you have them home again in the summer, those moments of stress subside and you are grateful that they are safe and well and yours.

My boy Joshua

Josh is studying music at Bennington College, Vermont.  Much too far away from home in Virginia but what's a mum to do.  Below is a link to one of the songs that he wrote recently.  He  usually plays acoustic guitar but he let rip on his Les Paul electric for this track!  Take a listen when you get a chance - this ol' mum would greatly appreciate it!

http://jangles.bandcamp.com/track/dead-man

I scored again!

I have to share yet another unbelievable find - a shop in the middle of nowhere choc-a-block with treasures!  It was a complete fluke that it was open when my husband and I drove by at the weekend.  Bill, the owner, is the nicest guy and his shop is his passion.  He only opens on Friday's (sometimes!) Saturday's and the occasional Sunday.  He bought the property 10 years ago after his wife saw an ad in the local paper saying that the previous owner was retiring and selling the shop and all it's contents.  They had never done anything in the retail trade before but once they laid eyes on this property - well, that was it.  They both gave up their jobs and lovingly restored every floorboard, door, stair tread, completely rewired, updated the plumbing, and put in air conditioning.  Bill was so gracious in telling me the history of the property:  Originally the local tavern, it has undergone very few changes in its 150 years.  An amazing place to say the least.

If you're in the Virginia area - stop by - it will be well worth it!  And tell them Anji sent you

Highland Antiques and Collectibles

1618 Zachary Taylor Hwy

Mineral Va 23117

Hope your week is going well! 

Mine is as I, at last, have my son home from college in Vermont for a few weeks.  I missed him so much!  More on him in the next few days.  I will upload one of his new songs that will definitely get your foot tapping!