New Blog

My new blog is "words and weeds.blogspot.com" - sharing information on great places in and around Virginia...taking the back roads, writing, gardening, and sharing a view.

Jefferson's Pools -Warm Springs & The Homestead

The water temp is a constant 98 degrees - it flows constantly in and out from the warm springs that support it. You can read the list of beneficial minerals just outside the Pools.

Finally..Here is a pic of the Jefferson Pools. Just down the road from the Homestead itself. You 'Do Not' have to be a guest at the resort to go to the pools. The changing areas are those little curtained booths, very rustic - pretty much 'Everything' looks original - except for the pool noodles you can float around with :)But the second you walk down into that 98 degree mineral water your whole body says ....Ahhhh...

Healing Waters - Jefferson Pools

Just minutes up the road from the Homestead is the Gristmill Inn and Waterwheel restaurant. Accomadations are rustic but comfortable.

Besides the Homestead - the reason for our trip was to soak in the warm springs of the historic Jefferson pools - open since 1761 and America's first Spa! a favorite of Jefferson. Washington himself was reported to have joined him on one occasion.

The pool house remains pretty much as it did when Jefferson visited. Dressing rooms just as rustic as they were. But once you step into that
98 degree mineral water - your aches and pains just melt away. The high mineral count is believed to have therapeutic properties. There is a list of them just outside the bath house itself. Some experts say the water has no therapeutic properties at all...I say 'tell that to my back' ! It felt brand new for a week!!! Oh, and you don't have to be a Homestead guest to use the springs, enjoy the porch and lobby for afternoon tea and used their dining facilities if you dedide to splurge. Join them for breakfast - bring your appetite and your Mastercard!!!

*Pictures of pools themselves would not upload for some reason - working on it! **

Irene's Calling

We got back from the day in Rockfish Valley, a little wet from the rain, but no worse for wear. I quickly unwrapped and dug into a piece of the homemade blueberry pie and settled in to watch the hurricane updates on the Weather Channel, NBC's sister station. Son Jimmie's a cameraman and I knew he had been out covering Irene since Fri. 3pm. I watched the intense coverage, and found myself wishing I was there. I wanted to be back there, weathering the storm like I had so many others. To have my adrenaline pumping again, trying my best to keep others and myself safe, evacuating the elderly, driving through town assessing the storm damage, and once getting a woman in labor safely to the hospital just in time to deliver her baby. Maybe it was watching the spray from those rain bands earlier, and feeling them hit our faces, that brought me back to this place and these feelings.

Watching the ominous warnings my thoughts switched back to my son. I had no idea where he might be. But I knew he'd be ok. He has weathered quite a few storms, the first one being just five days after he was born. I tried to teach my children the same lessons I was taught; have the utmost respect for the sea, and knowing her unpredictability, is your best safeguard.


I must have fallen asleep because it was exactly 2:48 when I woke up to the phone ringing. (for most mothers with children college age and up - the phone ringing this time at night is comparable White House getting a call from the Situation Room!...(what happened? anyone hurt?) It took a few seconds to recognize my Jersey girlfriend's voice. A very good friend infact. "Hey..Wake up and smell the salt water!" she said. The phone fell silent for a second 'til I heard what sounded like a door creaking. It was all fuzzy at first, and then, there it was ...the sound of the ocean's waves crashing onto the jetties off in the distance. Though it was only for a few seconds.. that's all I needed.. I laid back on the sofa, eyes closed...and I was there!

Rockfish Valley

After a few switchbacks we arrived in Rockfish Valley. We drove through Nelly's Ford to the Nelson County Farmers Market...then on to Rockfish Gap Country Store and a great meal at Devil's Backbone Brewery. We sat on the porch watching the rain bands of Hurricane Irene drape the valley but it didn't take away from its beauty. Couldn't wait to taste some of that homemade blueberry pie we bought. But it wasn't til what happened in the the middle of the night that made this day right.



The switchbacks aren't as hairy as some up on the Blue Ridge but I wouldn't want it as part of my daily commute!



Stoney Creek is where the Nelson Co. Farmers Market sets up every Saturday morning.

If you click on the pic to enlarge it...you'll see this woman posed for me
perfectly in the background, matching my buddies...only I didn't even see her 'til after I took the shot! Couldn't planned it better - kinda funny!

So much stuff at this farmers market, 'cept my pepper jelly guy wasn't

there. Someone told me he wasn't going to be back 'til next summer. :(

Something about children and live music! It was a pretty good bluegrass band and the kids twirled and danced around in front of them!

The rain bands got a little heavier just as we got to Devil's Backbone.

The concert got rained out but no one seemed to mind though. Their

glazed cherry Jalapeno wings are the best!!!

We left during a lull in the rain and headed home. I picked up some goodies from Rockfish Valley Country store. My son-in-law Eric ought to like the hot pickled okra we bought for him.

Isn't it Ironic?

You can't escape Irene, not even in Southwest Va. Yesterday we spent a good part of the day and night speaking with family and friends from our hometown and watched this mega storm move up the coast. Steve and I even swapped a few old 'storm stories' of our own. So this morning we decided to take a break from all the storm stuff and go to the Nelson Co. farmers market as planned. When we left home it was just a little breezy with a sunny mix. But the closer we got to Rockfish Valley the lower the clouds draped over the mountain tops. We got down to the valley after
rounding a good mix of switchbacks and well...there it was! We had to turn around and go back but I'm glad we did. I took this picture which speaks for itself. Hurricane Camille - Aug. 20th, 1969, 114 deaths and 37 people remain missing. We stood there for a minute, reading the story, compelled to pause for a moment and to acknowledge the tragedy and to honor those who perished. We both thought how ironic it was to come across this historical marker after trying to escape all the hurricane hype. Though
only a kid I remember Camille. I remember how my grandfather, brother and cousin baled water for hours from our basement in a desparate attempt to save the furnace. But had no idea of the devastation it brought to Rockfish Valley and people of Nellysford. The bands of rain were so fierce and hit so fast no one could out run the 25 inches of rain that fell in 5 hours. I can't even begin to imagine that much rain! Who would ever think any hurricane could be that deadly so far inland? We stood there for a couple minutes and then decided to press on. We went to the farmer's market and later watched Irene's outer rain bands come over the mountains while sitting on the porch of Devil's Backbone Brewery, a micro-brew pub at the base of Wintergreen. They had a Summerfest concert planned for today but unfortunately the the clouds won out and the only bands playing the rest of the day were Irene's. We still had a great time at the Backbone. It's a pretty friendly place. We spoke with some locals about Camille and swapped a few storm stories with them. Turns out we never did out run Irene..we drove right into it. But it all turned out good. As soon as we came out of the valley and got cell service back we had gotten a few calls, and I gladly returned each one. I know I'll be watching coverage of Irene tonight..only now it'll be with a slightly different point of view.

Oh Mercy, Mercy, Me!

It was nearly 3 weeks with every chance of rain just passing right by us. But last night we finally got some relief. The initial storm was rather intense with lines and tree limbs fallen, some blocked roads and a few power and phone outages. But the rain that fell later on was just a steady and so badly needed in our neck of the woods. My koi pond this morning now filled to the top with some happy fish swimming in the cool water. And finally!! We got through the night without one aftershock from our my first earthquake. I never thought I would see my entire house shake,but I did! The old grandfathers tilted back and forth and pictures upstairs fell to the floor! I don't think I could ever live in California! I'm used to dealing with hurricanes! But here I sit feeling helpless. I'm sitting watching Irene heading right toward my home town. I've been keeping in close touch with friends and our two sons. One just moved back to town and lives three blocks in from the beach! Our other son is a cameraman for a major news network in NYC. He's been working since yesterday and I suspect he won't see his bed til sometime late Monday. He'll be driving here and there between New York and New Jersey covering storm related stories. Seems ironic, I brought him home from the hospital and two days later we had a major hurricane. Growing up along the sea my kids were taught the do's and don'ts. For him, safety issues overide sensationalism!

I listen to his stories as he calls and updates me. I admit to being just a little
bit envious of his being out in the middle of it!! It's that adrenaline rush I used
to crave. I liked being right in the thick of it. It's partly why Firemen, Cops, and EMS workers do what they do. It's the rush!!! The largest storm I've experienced was a NorEaster in Dec. 1992. My partner and witnessed waves crashing over a bridge. We witnessed the ocean lift a long section of the boardwalk including the light stantions and turn it east to west. It came to rest laying across the road and into the first floor of a condo! My partner and I were sent out to film the storm's damage when a huge
gust went to toss me into the inlet. If it weren't for him grabbing the back of my leathergear I would have been blown straight into the water! Thanks to him the only thing lost was my rain hat! I may still owe him a beer for that one!

But her I am, sitting on my soft, DRY, comfortable sofa and watching the coverage. I admit just a hint of adrenaline starts brewing! But it quickly fades as I remember standing out in the middle of many storms during a police call. The rain would drip off my hat past the collar of my raincoat and down my back! Hate that creepy crawly feeling!!I don't miss that at all! The adrenaline fades and I grab my hot coffee and sit out on the porch to watch the rain. Til I look on the screen and there it is, a stink bug! Thanks to the internet and a crafty husband we now have several stink bug traps made simply from an empty cut up coke bottle. The large one in the barn is more elaborate with some pvc pipe attached to the large end of the bottle with an led light to attract them. The small one is simple, place it near one and they seem to jump right in! A used wine cork fits the top nicely to keep in the 'stink!! Once it's filled, toss it!!

Mother nature certainly has been challenging us these past months. OR,Maybe she's trying to convey an important message. If so, I think it would serve us well to stop and listen very, very, closely to what she's saying! Oh-Oh Oh Mercy, Mercy, Me...

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