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.

St. Andrews UMC Outdoor Service July 2009

We finally had our outdoor Sunday Service at Saint Andrews UMC. This time the weather totally cooperated. While was pretty warm, we had the shade of the big tree in the church yard to sit under, plus we had a pleasant breeze. I had to change clothes when I got to church. Joanne said the other two churches probably wouldn't appreciate my jeans and "Grumpy" t-shirt.

We had told the church that this was a casual service and anyone showing up in a tie would be sent home. Just kidding, they might not come back. ;-) The choir sang acappella and sounded great.

The congregation also sang without musical accompaniment. Rather than carry the hymnals outside, we had the words to the hymns printed in the bulletin.

Bill Wyatt brought his grill from home and cooked the hotdogs and hamburgers. We had that cooker fully loaded and it was seriously smoking.We had originally planned on fixing our plates inside and eating outside. But, once every one got inside, they liked the air conditioning and lack of flying pests.

After lunch there were some games out in the front of the church.

Most of us just hung around and talked. It was pleasant, it was relaxed, it was a good day.

Some of us stayed and talked until 4:30 in the afternoon. If it hadn't thundered we probably would have been there longer. I guess it was like church was when it was the center of the community. You worshipped together, ate together, played together, and spent time together. How did we get to this idea of its an hour, times up, let's run for the door.

Snow Report from Java

Tammy Daniels and Donna Adams sent me some pictures of the snow from Pittsylvania County and the community of Java. I'm glad they did, because by the time I get down again it will all be gone.

It's nice to see that I'm not the only one who likes the way the snow looks on the trees.

Doesn't this third picture remind you of the scenes from "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe"? I almost expect to see the lamp post shining in the middle.

This is Providence United Methodist Church in Java. I'm sure the parking lot will be clear and dry by Sunday, since they are saying the weather will be turning unseasonably warm by the weekend.

Thanks for the pictures ladies.

Well, we finally got some...

Well, we finally got some of the white fluffy stuff. It was just what the weather forecasters call a dusting, but it was enough to cover the ground and stick to the trees. The weather had been warm the day before and the asphalt held the warmth, so the snow didn't stay on the roads.
I love the snow on trees. It makes the woods look like a living black and white photograph. I went up on the roof of the doctors office for a better view.

This was my kind of snow fall; pretty to look at and safe in drive in, doesn't get better than that. Unless you're a student and they don't cancel school. Oh well, everyone can't be happy all the time.

Why can't we just have the snow?

On Tuesday we had a bit of an ice storm here in Lynchburg, Virginia. A long way from as bad as what they had in the midwest, but it was enough to close schools and businesses, plus cause a lot of folks to lose power. Fortunately we didn't have to close the doctors office and we didn't lose power at home or work.
This is looking at the trees at the end of our street, all coated with ice. We didn't lose many branches or trees lost due to ice.

These are the icicles on my Bradford Pear tree.

The Dogwood tree was well coated with ice.

Check out the glazed berries on the Nandina bush.

This is our Forsythia bush in the back yard.

Even the grass was coated with ice. You could hear the crunch when you walked.
It's pretty to look at, but fearsome to walk on or drive on. Why couldn't it have been that white fluffy stuff?

Old Trees

I've always loved old trees. I remember climbing the big oak tree in front of our house in New Hampshire. I'd climb to the highest point I could and sway back and forth on the limb, kind of nature's amusement park. Old trees just seem to have character. I really got a new appreciation for them after I read "The Lord of the Rings". I loved the part about the Ents, Tree Herders, Shepherds of the Forest. I remember when Treebeard said, upon seeing the destruction of his forest, "Some of these I knew since they were nuts or acorns. Some of them had voices of their own."

Anyway, last Sunday as we were driving home from the churches Joanne saw this tree. She made me stop, turn around, go back, park, and take a picture. It may not be what you would call beautiful, but it was to us. It had character, you could see the age and wear in its limbs.

So don't be surprised if you see an occasional tree on the page. Wouldn't it be something if they could talk and could tell all they have seen change before them. I would love to hear a church's history from a tree's perspective.