Bella Mondo: Staunton, VA

 

This weekend we went to Staunton, VA, one of the cutest little towns ever.

I admit, this was my fourth trip, and I fell in love even more than last time…

2009 Staunton VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

 

My husband had a music engagement in Staunton, so we went up a day early
to enjoy the town.

The best draw in town is Blackfriars Playhouse where we saw Macbeth.
Blackfriars has my vote for best theatre ever, the acting is so authentic and yet unique.

In the past we have stayed at the Stonewall Jackson Hotel, a historic hotel
built in 1924.

This time I discovered lofts at a new place called the Storefront. I can’t even describe to you how amazing it was!

 

I really enjoyed these old photos on the wall:

 

Staunton is a great place to visit for a weekend! It’s a town chock full of
antique stores, sandwich shops, and historical sites.

Only Jonesborough, TN holds a higher place in my “old downtown” heart.

Riding a scooter in the Target parking lot. At night.

My brother has turned out to be one of my favorite shopping companions (I know, who’da thought?), and we always manage to find some sort of trouble…

A van with blacked-out windows pulls up behind me near the end, that’s why I keep saying, “Are we in trouble?” I never figured out who it was.

Pastels

 

A gorgeous bouquet by an local artisan florist, thanks to me Mum!

Gardening: Spring 2011: Building Raised Beds

 

On the Monday following finals week, we began building four 4’x8’x12” raised beds in the existing flower gardens.

If you remember, I discussed how to build beds in this blog post.

Before we began, I had to move all of the flowers from the garden area:

Then Andraé finished digging out the sides & adding edging:

		Edging VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

They got the edges dug, boards placed and the 4 beds built in one day!
They are supermen.

Building and setting the beds:

 

That’s all folks!

 

-jessi

Now, for the news...

Life: The Epic Journey is moving!

Right now we are at http://www.andraeswife.blogspot.com/

When I created this address, lifetheepicjourney was unavailable on blogger. However, that account has been closed, and I am moving in. ☺

Another reason for the change is that when I started here at blogger, it was after a 2-year break from blogging. I restarted with the intention of making this an online diary of my likes and gripes.

After some soul searching I realized that I didn't like griping (although I really do) and I would like to
take my blog to the next level. Right now, writing isn't in my future as a profession, so I must make do as a blogger. And that's just fine, because I really love blogging.

So (as my micro lab teacher says at the beginning of every sentence), in about a month, I will be posting at http://www.lifetheepicjourney.blogspot.com/

It is still private, but once I get some of my favorite posts moved over, I will be opening it up.

This also explains why if you go to my profile, there are like 4 blogs with the same name. ☺

Bella Mondo will also be moving and changing.

I think there are only about 2.5 people who read my travel blog, so that means it needs to be changed.

I realize that people with ADHD can't handle my travel blog because it is more like a travel-log, instead of adventure writing. But that is what I enjoy. There is nothing that frustrates me more than reading about someone's travels and they don't give you any advice or knowledge about how to do it yourself. In my perspective, I am not reading your travel blog because I want to feel happy for you. I am reading it because I want to know how I can go there myself.

Yes. I'm selfish. I don't care if you had a good time. I want to know if your hotel manager's restaurant suggestions were any good. ☺

There's a happy medium and I intend to find it.

Speaking of travel blogs, you need to be reading Story of My Life by Jenni. She just got back from a trip to S. America, and I am LOVIN' her posts. She's got awesome pics, but she doesn't gloss over the trip. No frou-frou here. ☺

Bella Mondo will be moving from http://www.bellamondomeander.blogspot.com/

to: http://www.bellamondotravel.blogspot.com/

So, keep this in mind, I will be posting reminders as the day draws nigh, I hope you will continue following me at my new addresses!

P.S. I am not dissing photo-centric travel blogs, because I realize that most people enjoy those more. If you have a frou-frou blog, more power to you. That's what's awesome about blogging. We each get to write in our own style. ☺

Summer Festivals

We have some awesome spring and summer festivals around here, and we spent last weekend at the Racks On The Tracks festival.

It's a rib cook-off/awesome music/beer tasting event, plus the "downtown" organization hosted Spring For Downtown in the morning, so the whole place was totally packed with to-die-for southern food, antique dealers, artisans and even a big tent full of local and regional writers.

I was in a BBQ-bluegrassy-rock-induced heaven.

[Photo quality is raunchy, I forgot my camera, iPhone to the rescue.]
*Note: I finally figured out how to transfer photos from my phone to the
computer w/out emailing, so I replaced these photos. They should be
much better.

The kiddy train passing Jan Mar, a local watering hole

 

 One of the local loft owners took advantage of the crowds and gave loft tours:



These doors were freakin' awesome!
Honey, can we have a loft??



 


He took us to see a private loft down the street, and I WISH WISH WISH that I could post pictures, but I don't have permission to, so....you guys will just have to imagine a gorgeous 3 story loft, designer decorated, 3500 sq. ft with a 360 view from the rooftop sunroom and two car garage. It was jaw dropping.