Working at the beach...

Woke up to a beautiful sunrise on a cool late March morning....taught 16 attentive,polite students information that will help them pass the state board LPN licensure test. I forgot how long it has been since I was in the high school environment with the morning announcements and the Pledge of Allegiance.

After a quick trip to my hotel room to change clothes, I walked along the boardwalk and snapped this picture of a retro style walk up Dairy Queen ice cream shop. I enjoyed a messy,tasty pita sandwich at the Jewish Mother - mushrooms,peppers,tomatoes,cream cheese, sauerkraut and thousand island dressing - sort of like a veggie Reuben sandwich but then what would you expect at a restaurant named the Jewish Mother?

Walking back to my hotel I had to snap a picture of the signs discouraging obscene language....these signs were posted during an effort to make Virginia Beach more "family friendly". Wonder how they determine the effectiveness of this campaign?

On the road...

I love the variety of terrains seen in Virginia when driving just a few hours - I took this at a scenic view overlook on I-64 near Charlottesville (~2 hours from Roanoke)...
About 2.5 hours later I was looking at a beautiful beach!



I'm teaching a 2 day review course for a group of LPN students at the local votech school....Walked 20 blocks (one way) for a quick tasty burrito at Pelon's Baja Grill....Planning a walk on the beach and a delicious vegetarian Indian dinner tonight....

First Day

Spring is officially arriving sometime this PM - to celebrate I ran/walked for 1 hour in my neighborhood. I will get back to where I was last year! I've also started a new knitting project in a beautiful springy bamboo/cotton yarn


....this is the back of a baby sweater I'm making for a coworker.

Roanoke St. Pat's Celebration

Good fun with a nice bunch of people - a good time was had by all.

Much work ahead...

Wind and snow flurries greeted me as I stepped outside to go the first 5k of the year.Brrrr..... This race was the first one I did 2 years ago and I use it as the benchmark to gauge my progress. Well, I have much work ahead of me.....but like a running friend said to me - how many women our age are even trying? Oh well...

Another pair of nonleather shoes in my favorite style - clogs - and my latest pair of handmade socks to go with my St.Patrick's Day ensemble. Meeting some friends for some festivities in Downtown Roanoke!

Lost Spring...

Winds and rain - I feel like hiding too. Planning to run the Shamrock 5k this AM...

Spring approaching?

With the early "spring forward" of the clocks and the near 70s today I celebrated the anticipation of spring...I uncovered and watered the pots of spring bulbs I planted late last fall hoping for early spring color... I pulled fresh spring onions from my little garden...
I cleaned up and watered three geraniums I overwintered .... they're now perched in my kitchen garden window...
I bought a cute pair of nonleather flats for my spring wardrobe. I've decided to buy nonleather products as I replace my leather items. I'm pleased to see the fashionable, well made nonleather items available. I tried to go nonleather ~10 years ago but just couldn't live in Converse All Stars and frumpy shoes....not a problem now...
Last but certainly not least of my joys today, I received a box of beautiful afghan squares for my Bookcrossing afghan project!

Good..

Long weekend at Marco Island Florida was good for my soul…rest, sunshine, knitting…what more do you need? Flights down were right on schedule; flights back were delayed due to snow in the north but when we landed in Charlotte, NC at 5p the temperature was 66 F – not bad at this time of year. Flowers were beautiful …
beach was a little breezy and cool … Two trips to Knitting with Nancy in Naples so of course I now have two more projects but NO MORE SOCKS! Had an energetic 3 mile walk round trip to the local library so I have not completely forsaken my exercise. A highlight of the time was a delicious Italian dinner at Capriccio of Naples followed by a Merce Cunningham Dance Company performance at the Philharmonic Center for the Arts I attended with my sister in law and two of her friends.The dance was challenging but I've gained a greater appreciation after reading about Cunningham's philosophy of the independence of music and dance. I'm also familiar with the work of John Cage,his long time music director who died in 1992, so I knew I was in for an unusual experience.Well...it was...I'ved continued to put together the squares for the Bookcrossing afghan today ….here’s the latest along with my lazy helper, Virginia the cat!