Edith Piaf - Non je ne regrette rien

After seeing "La Vie En Rose" I am obsessed with learning (and hearing) more of this talented woman...

Saturday Knitting

I started this hot Saturday by visiting the Indian Festival at Elmwood Park in Downtown Roanoke. Native dances were presented as Indian music played with the wonderfully spicy yet cool aromas of Indian food breezed on the humid air. I enjoyed a veggie plate from one of the local vendors while watching a group of young people dancing on stage.

Water lilies were in full bloom in the pools in the middle of the walkways in the park. Most of the year these are covered - it was quite a joy to see them open with the beautiful blooming lilies. I wonder how many people were tempted to dip their feet in the water?

Leaving the festival I heading to Lynchburg for the second session in my two day knitting socks on two circulars class at Backstitches. I've tried to learn this technique by studying books but had no luck - this class was just what I needed! Watch for pictures of socks again very soon - I know you can't wait. My little road trip took me past the area where I grow up ...

My first job was here .....taking orders, doing fast food prep work and serving soft serve ice cream cones and sundaes.


My family lived in this little house for about a year just before I started first grade. We called this "the little rock house". I still love the rustic rock work and the tin roof but I fear this house will be demolished soon. It's vacant and much construction is going on close by.

Traveling back from class I spotted this curious building - wonder just what Rachel's Inn was? Maybe a diner? Obviously, it's been closed for some time.

I enjoy seeing the soft serve ice cream shops with the red, white, blue color scheme...

Another fun highway sign...

Lunch and a Movie

After too many days of feeling so sickly I decided to venture out to see a movie and have lunch at a new restaurant. As I was climbing into my vehicle, I saw these beautiful blue morning glories clinging to our fence. Why are these plants with such beautiful flowers considered thugs? I have seen the seeds for sell...hum...maybe I'll plant some next year.



Grandin Village is a neighborhood shopping area I just don't visit enough. Issac's Restaurant will lure me back soon - the falafel was fresh and tasty - one of the best I've ever eaten!

Around the corner from Issac's I spotted this grocery store. Mick or Mack was a small chain of grocery stores in Roanoke that were scattered throughout the valley. I remember shopping there as a child with my parents. This is the last one in the valley - the retro letters spelling out Mick or Mack have sometimes been purchased and reused in other settings. I enjoy seeing this creative use of such cool illuminated signs.

I seldom go to movies...I prefer watching movies at home comfortably lounging in my favorite chair when knitting. Netflix has a great selection of documentaries that I particularly enjoy and the convenience is wonderful. After my trip to the Grandin Theater to see La Vie En Rose I promise to better support this Roanoke jewel. I remember sitting in the balcony with a group of high school friends watching The Towering Inferno and later on seeing John Prine in concert there. The theater closed for a period of time but seems to be stable financially these days with a combination of private and public support.

After the movie, I explored the shops located in the renovated storefront that once housed a drugstore. Coda Coffee Shop is a spacious open area serving coffee, desserts and beer and sponsors music regularly. Village Flowers offers a wide variety of floral arrangements,potted plants and cut flowers. On Friday afternoons, cut flowers are half price so I picked up a bouquet for my work table!



No blog is complete unless I mention knitting .... two more cotton washcloths. What about exercising...well, I walk a lot at work....

Sick Day

Called in sick to work yesterday with a cold and the aches .... little better today but no energy AND the insanely hot weather doesn't help. I cooked up a healthy dinner of fresh roasted grape tomatoes with zucchini "pasta". I sliced the zucchini with a madoline and dunked it in boiling water for just a moment. If this doesn't make me feel better nothing will!


I enjoyed knitting my top down raglan sweater so much that I made another in a child's size to give a coworker. A quick knit and no seams!


I ventured downtown to pick up some vegetables and found another wonderful soap fragrance at Rebecca's market stall- sandalwood - once of my favorites. The soap is resting upon yet another cotton knit washcloth I've made lately.


We were blessed with a brief rain shower this afternoon - it will take a long steady rainfall to penetrate this rock hard clay soil so prevalent in SW VA...

Carilion Riverfest

The Carilion Riverfest was a public event celebrating the move of the pediatric and obstetric services from Carilion Roanoke Community Hospital to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital one mile away. For those of us who have been around a while this is really a move back to CRMH - the peds/obstetric services were moved from Roanoke Memorial to Community in the late 1980s. That move was done with little fanfare and minimal public notice - I was a new graduate working at Community Hospital then and remember little communication either to the employees or the public. This time around I think the public and employees have been well informed and support this move.....I look forward to seeing all acute care services under one roof again. A parade began the festivities with

A doctor riding a unicycle...
Another doctor on a bike....
Floats depicting body systems ...... lungs.....
Heart......
And a crowd favorite - the endoscopy lab's colon float....
Complete with polyps.....
Tropical themes...

Cartoon characters....

Could Ronald McDonald be hanging his head in shame about the high fat food that is so blatantly advertised to kids?
Music....

Clowns in old cars....
Politicians.... hummm...funny that I placed the clown picture just above...

Police officers on horses...

The parade ended with Roanoke's very own Elvis riding a bike!

I picked up a paper nurses' cap that was given out to the children. I still have my nurse's cap from school but haven't worn it since graduation. Interestingly, a group of nurses at the hospital have started wearing their caps (not required). Say what you will, when you see a white cap you can identify who the nurse is. My nod to tradition is that I always wear white pants with my scrub tops. I am also starting to wear white tops as well - when you see the person in brown delivering packages you know they are from UPS. Shouldn't RNs be as readily identifiable?

My favorite catch was the Fleet's enema man stuffed toy. I will have some fun with this!

After the parade I walked to Wildflour Restaurant for a tasty veggie burrito with fresh greens and home made salsa.
Back to the fairgrounds I had another Elvis sighting!

Lots of children's activities....

Finally the highlight of my evening - Delbert McClinton in concert - this 67 year old man can rock with a liberal helping of the blues.

What a wonderful day!

More Knitting for the Home...

A cotton knit washcloth....

A wool felted potholder.....limited outdoor exercise due to the record breaking heat...

A Dorothy Parker Sunday

I walked 3.4 miles round trip on Sunday to see "Dorothy Parker's Laments" performed at the Star City Playhouse. Taken from the program - " The Star City Playhouse is a labor of love. Formerly, the Elizabeth Playhouse located 11 miles from Manhattan, owners Marlow and Karon Sue Semones Ferguson brought the ready made theater to the old Pete More Warehouse....

The purposes of this little theater will include the training of actors for professional careers, the creation of affordable art for the Valley and to encourage others to renovate old landmarks into useful spaces for the community. The Fergusons bring 45 years of NYC theatrical experience to the Valley and this is Karon Sue's gift back to the neighborhood and valley who raised her." What a treasure for Roanoke and how wonderful to be located in the blue collar, most ethnically diverse area of Roanoke ..... and only ten dollars a ticket with discounts for seniors and students.

Cookies and hot water for tea and instant coffee are available in the lobby for whatever gratuity you see fit.
I loved the vintage coffee maker filled with hot water.

Patrons are able to buy stars for the ceiling for a donation of $500.00. Chair plaques are available for a $200.00 donation.

These beautiful doors open into a small area with simple chairs and exposed ceiling pipes. The area is air-conditioned but hand fans are available for those who desire a little more air movement.

About a half block up from the theater I saw just the perfect partner for the Big Blonde. Along the three blocks I walked on Williamson Road I saw these signs and businesses. I can safely say no other area of Roanoke offers this diversity. I love my neighborhood....and the Star City Playhouse.