What's New

Rosie and me Rosie's story is one of love and survival, which seems perfect to blog about in light of new fears and new restrictions this week relative to the pandemic and wondering how our "new normal" winter holidays will roll out this year in 2020.   Rosie was one of about 300 horses - and counting, born on a friend's acreage.  Normally that's not terribly unusual but read on. This huge herd started with one rescue horse and through the years, the owner, Bill acquired more horses one by one.  Some were sick or abandoned; some were born blind, and some were given to him by people no longer able to care for them because of their finances or circumstances.  Bill could never turn even one of them away.  But they all grazed together on his acreage, and ultimately formed their own families and hierarchy through the years. With over 300 acres, Bill divided them up into smaller, manageable parcels he kept in his head, and he would drive through and check on the horses

UPDATE!  On 10/13/21  Wicked Tuna began offering a new and delicious lionfish dinner at their 4123 US17-Business, Murrells Inlet location, known as "The Seafood Capital of the South."  We're hoping they will bring them back soon for 2023, whether it be there or in their newer Myrtle Beach location. Given our 2020 "new normal" this year in light of the stress of the pandemic, restrictions, and overall uncertainties, several friends have mentioned that they want something new and different to put a little excitement on their holiday dinner tables and asked if I had any suggestions.   Lionfish immediately came to mind!   Another adjustment for all of us in the throes of our "new normal" is that restaurants are not open or as available to us as in the past.  So now, many of us have stepped up to the plate and the stove-  literally as well, and are doing a lot more experimenting and finding a new joy and fulfillment cooking at home.  For those of us also in

  2020 will be on record for undoubtedly one of the most challenging and unusual years for all of us, with many of us unable to travel.  But we are a resilient bunch, and so we are taking more time to explore and make new discoveries in our great outdoors.    What better time than Fall to make new and beautiful discoveries, forge new bonds, and make irreplaceable memories.  Whether I'm exploring the  Blue Ridge Parkway in the east or making my way through the rugged terrain of the west, Mother Nature always helps me through difficult times. A shy nubbin buck peeks cautiously out from behind an apple tree where he spent the day enjoying fallen apples and a few up in the tree, as high as his small young legs could take him   I'm always surprised and enamored with the beauty of the BRP, and this area in Bedford, Virginia ranks at the top of my list for favorites to hike and photograph, or just to relax and revel in the beauty of it all.  Here on Lake Abbott under the shadow and cu