Crimson Clover

One of the most amazing sights for me is the Crimson Clover. It turns the fields red and is a wondrous sight in the Spring.

Last year it appeared right on Pentecost Sunday. This year it was a bit later, but it always reminds me of tongues of fire.

I love being able to witness God's artistry.

2010 Advent on the Mt Airy Charge

Visiting Disney Epcot in December

When Joanne and I arrived at Epcot the first and foremost place we had planned to head to was where you get your pictures taken with the characters.

Joanne had to get her very own, up close, by herself, personal picture with Mickey. But, I was standing close by to make sure she behaved.

You might notice that I didn't get my very own,up close, personal, by myself photo with Minnie. I was told that people were waiting in line behind us and there wasn't time for that. Aha, I think I see a problem here.

This was the "Finding Nemo" Ride at the The Sea exhibit. I call this picture "Joanne on a Half Shell".

This is the Italy Pavillion in Epcot.

We had dinner Tutto Italia Ristorante in the Italy Pavilion . It was the first time we had eaten there and it was excellent. The food and service are great, the old world atmosphere is great if you're looking to slow down a bit and catch your breath.

The real highlght of the day way going to the Candlelight Processional at the American Gardens Theatre.
The event retells the story of Christmas with a special celebrity narrator, Jodi Benson was the narrator that night, accompanied by a 50-piece orchestra and a mass choir.

Joanne and I had finished eating dinner and were just walking by as it was getting ready to begin and decided to try and get a seat. They escorted us to the front row, right in front of the sign language interpretor. They may not have been the best seats for seeing the entire choir and orchestra, but we were pleased. The sign language interpretor on our side of the stage was a show in herself and I mean that in as good of a way as can be inmagined. She didn't just use her her hands; she had the facial expressions and body movements all incorporated. I could imagine someone not being able to hear the music, watching her, and thinking, "That's what it sounds like."

There was a family seated next to us and when the narrator was reading, the mother and the children would be whispering. At first it was annoying, but I realized it was a different language. After the program, I spoke to the mother and asked her what she was doing. She told me that they were from Brazil and that her children didn't speak a word of English. So as the narrator was telling the story of the first Christmas in English, this mother was retelling the story to her children in Portugese. I was reminded of how we, as Christians, are to retell the story of Jesus.

Joanne was trying to sneak in the side door of the English Tea Shop. But, why? To get in line to have a picture with Winnie the Pooh and Tigger, too.

Father Christmas came out to the Tea Garden and told us of the Christmas traditions in the United Kingdom. That is a ball of mistletoe atop his walking stick. When we got our picture taken with him, we had an opportunity to make use of it.

This was Brunhilda, who related the Christams traditions of Germany.

Another wonderful day at Walt Disney World.

Visiting Disney Hollywood Studios in December

The first week in December, Joanne and I went to Orlando for our yearly visit to walt Disney World. Our forst park to visit was Disney's Hollywood Studios. It was probably our last warm day during our visit, but we had a great time.

We enjoyed the rides and shows. I got to ride the Rock'nRoller Coaster twice, which is one of my all time favorite rides. We also went threw the Narnia set.

We ate at our favorite restaurant in the park, the SciFi Cafe. You are seated in seats the are like a car and watch old scifi movies. The food is great, the movies are a hoot, and the atmosphere is relaxing.

When the sun went down we headed over to the Osborne Family Christmas Lights. Christmas lights cover all the building and a lot of other things. The lights blink in time with some fantastic music like Mannheim Steamroller's "Carol of the Bells".

Every fifteen minutes there is a manufatured snow storm. Actually is small soap bubbles, but it's really cool to watch.

Even bicycle props were covered in lights.

It was a great ending for our first day at the parks. Its hard to walk away and not feel in a Christmas mood, especially if you got one of those hot cups of cocoa.

The White Fall Farm Pumpkin Patch in Mount Airy

It's time for the White Fall Farm Pumpkin Hunt of A.J. and Lisa Nuckols in Mount Airy, Virginia. The Pumpkin Patch is 10 miles east of Gretna on route 40 and then 1/4 mile south on route 640. If you want to plug it into your GPS use this: 6001 Riceville Road, Gretna, Virginia, 24557.

The hay bale castle is a whole new design this year with a hay bale maze around the outside, that you have to find your way through before you can get up into the second and third levels of the castle. But the view from the top is worth the effort. It took me several tries to find the correct way through the maze, but I do tend to be a bit directionally challenged.

The view to the front of the castle is great, looking back at the picnic area on the left and the corn maze on the right, and the view from the back of the castle is acres of bright orange pumpkins. They also have white pumpkins and gourds of varieties that I have never seen before.

They have farm animals for the kids to see, petting not recommended. Their is the mobile chicken coup, with a rooster who never heard that crowing was supposed to be done only when the sun comes up. There is Stu the pig, Tessie the goat, and two Angus calves #53 and #14.

They have tractor pulled hay rides, that take folks all over the area. Its also used to take people out in the field to pick a pumpkin. Which is a really good idea since some of those pumpkins are huge.

Joanne, Jean Shelton, and I manned the St. Andrews United Methodist Church Hot Dog Stand. The proceeds from the sales go to the church's "Community Help Fund". Last year the church assited several families in the area with groceries, elctric bills, and other personal needs. All the people that were helped were not members of the church. We are really excited about this opportunity to reach out beyond the walls of our church and to be the hands of Christ to others.

You'll notice in the above picture that when it was slow between lunch and suppertime, Joanne got on the computer and checked her Facebook. Okay, I checked mine too.

There were organized Tug-o-Wars throughout the day. There is also a small hay bale maze for the little kids. The corn maze for the adventurous. Don't plan on coming and spending a few minutes, think about staying for the afternoon and evening.

There was also pumpkin painting for the kids. Some of the kids were minimalists and some were way over the top, with barely any space not painted. They had volunteered Joanne to judge the art works, but in the end did the wise and safe thing, rewarding all the kids for their efforts.

It was an abolutely georgous day in the country. The forecast was for chilly temperatures, but it warmed up nicely with barely a cloud in the sky.

This is A.J. Nuckols, the owner and designer of the Pumpkin Patch, carrying the American flag out to plant at the top of the castle. I have to admit, that as I watched him placing it on the upper hay bale, I had chills.

In the evening we had a Blue Grass music played. Some very talented musicians got together to entertain folks at the Pumpkin Patch. There is music scheduled every Saturday through the month of October.

As the sun goes down, the sun peaks through the tree and the fire is lit. We had hoped to roasting marshmallows, but that will have to wait for another week, when we remember to bring them

When the sun went down, the outline of the castle was on the horizon.

It was a really nice, nice weather and good firends. I tell folks that this is my Walt Disney World in Pittsylvania County. I look forward to this every year andtry to visit as often as I can while its going, because then I have to wait another year to do it again. If you get a chance come on out and experience it for yourself.