Power Restored!

It's Monday! Here we are again. Winter is still leaving its mark on Southwest Virginia; now past the start of spring. It's kind of getting ridiculous. 

Here's the progression of the weekend in photos:

Snow began falling around 11;00 or so Saturday

Snow begins falling in earnest in the afternoon. And Bella doesn't like the snow. 

Nighttime falls. Snow is falling heavily with no end in sight. 

Need to go out and dig potty spots for Bella. 

At least 12" fell before the night was over. 

Am I not the most enchanting storyteller ever? Available to write your life story but I must warn you: every story will start with "It was a dark and stormy night..." 

It was a dark and stormy night when Bam! The power went out! 

Saturday night was ROUGH. Partially because there was no heat (I didn't leave the fire on downstairs) and mainly because I couldn't have a fan on! WTH? Like the majority of my immediate family members, I cannot sleep without a fan (the noise AND the air) so total silence is a no-go. 

The power came on around 11:15 the next morning, so a little over 12 hrs without power. There were a ton of power outages and some still without today in more rural or outlying areas. 

The cobalt sky shines bright against the 16-18" of snow total!

Let me tell you, shoveling snow is no joke. But a girl has to go get her prescriptions so she doesn't go ape-shit on everyone. So I put on my shades and started shoveling out a path for my car to get out. I was about halfway done on my self-made driveway when PTL (praise the Lord) the plow guy shows up. No matter that there were gentleman plowing all over town who didn't want to help the struggling damsel in distress (I would have given them my $20 in cash and a heartfelt smile). 

Bella and I made it to Walgreen's (after calling to confirm they were open) successfully and stopped at the Mercer Mall for some JCP sales. 

Always down for a car ride (once she gets her shit together and settles down)

Peace, love, and Springtime wishes,

LMJ

*** STAY TUNED FOR BIG ANNOUNCEMENT END OF THE WEEK! ***

Chocolate Poop and the Weekend Scoop

Ominous view from the Bland Fairgrounds

I am so thankful that this Manic Monday is over. I wish it was Sunday...

So off to the races: Let me explain the first part of my post title and I won't delve into details. Bella and I were out and about all over Virginia (or so it seemed like) yesterday and she got into some non-pareils chocolates. Yes, I put them away and no, I didn't think she could get to them. But I always forget that my dog is a genius and can do anything she puts her mind to so I come back after going in somewhere and there are white sprinkles all over the floor of the backseat and maybe like 7 chocolates left? Since that incident she has thrown up now maybe 7-9 times and 7 of those times have been chocolaty. You can imagine what I was referring to in my title now. Bella is on the mend- I know she's ok because she's still barking like a banshee.

Before chocolate

After chocolate

So the weekend scoop. 

Saturday was uneventful, ran errands, took a nap. The usual. I was going to do my mini road trip (after all, what I am doing is largely a road trip anyway) but there was a forecast of snow where I was going. Whatever. 

Mountains I don't know the names of... 

A beautiful view of the BR Mountains

On the Lord's day, we got up early and set out for Shenandoah National Park- The West entrance is approximately 3.5 hrs away. I went in the West and came down at the South with the initial intention of going to Charlottesville (didn't happen). I called to check the damn park information  again because apparently they close the Skyline Road at the slightest hint of ill weather. I understand why but it's annoying. So I paid $25 to drive down a freaking road, a road that would still be there even if I didn't pay money. It was pretty even though the trees were bare. Bella and I did a short trail (very short) and drove down and out- it's roughly an hour from the West entrance to the South Entrance. Since I'm no Sally Hiker, I took pictures and enjoyed the views and the day and then hustled out of there. 

Visiting National Parks are no fun without my road dawg and bestie Jenny though.

Here's your National Park takeaway in 5 words- pretty. long. views. hiking. quiet. 

Signs of winter linger

Sometimes soon this will be green and full of bugs

'Heaven came down and Glory filled my soul (filled my soul)"

When we left there I decided hell no I'm not going to Charlottesville- I mean if I want to go back and see Monticello, it will still be there. TJ's home isn't going anywhere. So it was more efficient to go to the Natural Bridge State Park on the way home than drive that distance again. As Pa Ingalls said "it's time to make hay while the sun shines!"

So the Natural Bridge is in, you guessed it, Natural Bridge VA. there are a lot of caverns and shit that would be cool if I had the time. Thank goodness I've been to Meremac Caverns in good ol MO and Carlsbad Caverns.  You pay a fee (much more worthwhile than Shenandoah NP) and walk down towards the Natural Bridge on a trail that has other sights on the way. 

Thar she blows

So here are some NB facts that I'm not even going to pretend I learned there. These are from the postcard I bought (a preview of whomever I send this one to):
- Once owned by TJ
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- 215 feet tall
- carved out of limestone by the Cedar Creek

So there is a trail leading from the Bridge to other sites along the walkway including a salt peter cave (WTH is that), beautiful views of the creek, and a simulated village by a Native American tribe. I think the trail from here and back was about a mile? a little over? It felt like 500 miles and no, I don't want to walk 500 more. With BJL in tow, we explored and sniffed, this is also the siting of the first and second chocolate pukes. Lots of people out enjoying the day. Really pretty. More enjoyable than SNP.

At night they do a light show

Look closely and you'll see me. Blink and you'll miss it. 

Cascade Falls, end of the trail

A natural explorer 

Thanks for bearing with me while I figure out the photo layouts. Hope you enjoyed my colorful commentary.

Peace, love, and the Lord above, 

LMJ 💖

BIG NEWS STILL TO COME !!!!

Country Roads take me home...

 💜🌈💚Dancing Rainbows💛🌈❤

Before I even to the title of this post I must make an important comment. Because I'm really cool, one day I decided if I were to adopt a Native American name it would be Dancing Rainbows (because I love prisms). Little did I know that Dancing Rainbows is the name of a children's book about a Pueblo boy and all about their rituals and things in relation to this topic. I feel slighted cheated because I thought I had a great idea going here. Mad props to the Native Americans and a pox on my terrible knowledge of Native American history. Maybe I should change my NA name to Refractive Light Index? 😏

West Virginia

🌲 🌳  ⛰ 🌄 🍃 🌱 🍄 🐛 

I digress. Sorry I got excited there- about the name AND the emojis. 

So I took off Thursday (census very low) and decided BJL and I would venture up into 'Ol West Virginny to go see the New River Mountain Gorge; bridge and subsequent scenery. It's about an hour and a half (give or take) to Lansing WV to where the bridge is and the Canyon Rim Visitor Center. Prior to visiting the center, I inadvertently drove to the bottom to Fayette Station and the river's edge. It was nice drive and the snow was melting and no traffic.

I think the RHCP wrote a song about this bridge?  

This bridge is the longest arched bridge in the Western Hemisphere. Eastern Hemisphere what you got?

It was a REALLY pretty and quiet day so I'm glad we went and were able to take in the scenery. It was a little windy but nice in the sun. I climbed over the rocks (mountain goat dog in the car) to get a better look at the rapids and the bridge.  2 fun facts:
1. There are some Class 6 rapids on the New River (thanks Callie) and it's kind of a big deal. I admire the perseverance of those thrill seekers but I prefer to float lazily down the river.
2. The bridge is ridic tall: tall enough to stand the Washington Monument, TWO Lady Liberties and still have room to spare.

This is the view of the gorge from the visitor center where you can sit a spell and enjoy the scenery.

I decided to drive south towards the other end of the river to go towards Sandstone Falls, another point of interest on the river. So we were basically following the river the whole way down and it was so beautiful. Some of the towns along the way were quaint and charming, others needed the Property Brothers and Chip & Joanna's help...

Public stream access point

This a view of Sandstone Falls from the overlook. 

I decided seeing it from this point was enough because it would have been another 40-50 minutes to traverse the roads to get to the bottom and I thought this view was enough. 

Quite a lovely drive. Local gent here said the river was pretty high.  

The end of the river and the beginning of Bluestone Lake- Blue Stone Dam.  

It was a scenic and slightly stressful drive back through Small Towns WV due to the locals tailgating my ass sometimes and probably cursing my Yankee self. However, I did get out of the way and turn off when I could but I didn't want to end my life on a guardrail where no one in my family would ever know what became of Poor Lindsey and Bella.

BIG NEWS COMING SOON!!!

But for now, 

☮, 💙, and ✨(those are sparkles)

LMJ

"We'll weather this blast!"

View from behind the cabin

The snow began melting this afternoon when the temperatures came back up to the low 50s. However, earlier this week was not the same situation. This post is mostly going to be photos and bonus points to anyone who can name the title quote.

We were asked if anyone wanted to work Sunday instead of Monday and I took our boss up on that as I have a long drive to work. I was freaking out thinking about hills and semis on the road. Thankfully, most people don't drive like assholes here like they do at home so that's nice. Actually, I should back track on that- today on my outing I felt I was being tailgated and I couldn't pull my ass over fast enough for these WV drivers (another post on that outing). Anyway.

"Monday morning you sure looked fine"- view of the town 

Wide open spaces- Pearisburg VA

I went to Pearisburg Tuesday after work (just outside Bland County) to go to the Amish Market because I wanted one of their folding drying racks for laundry. It is all I could ever wish for and more. I shall give it a biblical and Amish name- Rebekah. 

Now for pictures of my adorable and terrible dog. BJL had the audacity to look annoyed at me this afternoon when we were getting ready to take a nap after we got home from our WV outing. It's like 'bitch you been annoying all day in the car but I still took you! Don't give me your stink eye!'  

Second post to come soon about our Thursday WV outing but for now I must bathe and check on Rebekah.

Peace, love, and chocolate, 

LMJ

In like a lion...

I love this dino almost as much as I love you. #littlefoot

View of Bland from the elementary school on the hill.

Hi from Bland. The weather can't make up its mind here. It's been snowing pretty flurries on and off today and yesterday but the sun has been shining as well. Weird. But pretty. Thankfully, no accumulating snow- less than an inch or so. I have a patient who is like an unreliable Farmer's Almanac; every time he retold it today, he added another 5-12 inches to the forecast.

Not much has been going on here other than work. I've been working hard on my cross stitch projects and watching some HGTV. I'm in the process of figuring out my next OT move but I'll update at a later time when things are finalized. I caught some of 'My 600lb Life' then decided Bella and I should go on a walk in the snow wearing our blinking light gear.

Parent Trap vibes

So last weekend the sun was out but it was cold and windy. Saturday we ran errands and I took Bella to the vet down here because I thought she had perhaps a tick bite on her butt. And since we all know how cooperative and calm my dog is when you need to look at the back half of her body, it went well. After waiting 1.15 hrs (we did make an appointment for a reason) we were told it was nothing, which is good but frustrating after that wait. Patience is something I tend to lack when I'm not working. 


This past Sunday we went to Hungry Mother State Park in Marion, VA. Legend has it that a soccer mom's minivan broke down and her Apple watch stopped working so she couldn't make it to the soccer team party at Chick Fil-A...

Kidding. I don't recall the story. Look it up. That's what Google is for.

Anyway, it was sunny out and really pretty so there were a lot of people out, probably a lot of hungry mothers too. We walked a good distance around the lake and soaked up the sun and the views.

I am not a water dog. 

And I'm tired of pictures...

Not much else to say. It's been hard planning to go anywhere on the weekends because of the weather. There's still a lot of places I'd like to go but don't want to go so far if its raining, really cold, or snowing.

We have a patient who was admitted last week after being found wandering in another town filthy, confused, and alone. His SO is largely to blame and I hope they can her ass (if not already). Anyway, he has some medical things going on and isn't able to communicate but does understand. The DON asked me about communication stuff since she thought I was the SLP. So, I put on my honorary SLP hat (thank you Nicole and Mikki) which goes well with my autism OT persona to help make some communication pictures for him with a larger, more gross motor plan for him to answer basic questions and communicate. He is very sweet and I think just thankful to be taken care of.

Two new words I've learned this week:
1. Cowboy catheter
2. Pannus

Peace, love, and crescent rolls,
LMJ