One Month in Our Town

By one month, we had gotten a sense of our town.  Its curvy, backwards, one-way roads continued to turn us around, but we never got too lost.  Unlike in California, where the road stretches ahead, it is visually impossible in our town to predict the next twist around a hill or turn down an unknown road. See that bridge straight ahead that we need to get to?  The road we're on takes us right by that bridge, but it really just takes us right by it, and bye-bye it goes, as the road we're on is now taking us away from that bridge we need to be on...

David began his graduate classes immediately, and Amy was accepted into a Post-Baccalaureate Ceramics program and was given a studio to work in on campus.

We were feeling a bit homesick, but we were very much looking forward to a visit from Rick and Sharon during Rick's birthday.  We toured them around town, had yummy meals, and very much missed them when they had to go.

Rick tries to doctor the hand-me-down washing machine in our basement.

  It washes fine but shakes like it has a cinder block inside.

The family thinks Amy got a spider bite down in the basement.  A short trip to Student Health Services says it isn't so.
 Phew! 

Before we go out for birthday dinner at Madeliene's, a few snaps of the buildings downtown.  This is a little over a mile from our house.  This antique shop is never open.

The Warner Theatre has a lovely art deco facade.  It houses bands and special events.

We cannot share any pictures of the birthday dinner, because it was so delicious we had to eat it all!  There's just a couple pictures of Dad with his dessert and good company.

 

On the next day, we took a field trip to Heston Farm Winery and Distillery.  The Heston family has a colorful history of distilling farm whiskey, specifically buckwheat moonshine.  Revenue agents caught up with the family in 1932 and distilling was put to a halt.  Years later, production has been revived and the Heston Farm line of spirits now seeks artisan status.  The property is located 20 minutes away in nearby Fairmont.  The sprawling parcel of land hosts dinners and live bands during the summer.  In the tasting room, you can sample a large variety of their moonshine and wine. It was a treat to sit in the garden and soak in the bluegrass music.

Birthday boy awash in bluegrass pickings.

The next day, its time for parents to get back to California.  It had been a bit drizzly during their visit, but the clouds parted for family photo time.  There are a few misfires with the camera...

But finally we get it right!

We are a bit heartbroken after they leave.  We're on our own again in our little town - Back to the books, home cooking, dances in our kitchen, and looking forward to December's two-week vacation visit back to California.