9/16/12 and 9/17/12 -  I'm in the small, quaint, art-centered town of Abingdon, Virginia visiting Jim and Jimmie Lou Bowden.  The parents of my deceased true love John Brevard.  As I passed the exits leading to the family home, I felt Brevard's spirit so strong as if he was sitting in my passenger seat. Dearest Brevard, our love will never die.  You are with me always.

Jim & Jimmie, the performance at Barter Stage was grand!  Sure wish Dick could have joined us too! Barter Theatre is such an amazing place.  It began in 1933 with one man's idea to have patrons pay with produce and has grown today into a year-round theatre with more than 160,000 visitors each year.  If any of you readers visit Abingdon, go to Barter!  Check it out at:  www.bartertheatre.com

In Abingdon, Jim pointed out to me this cotton plant displaying beautiful blossoms and nut shaped boll.  Inside the boll are the cotton fibers.

 
As I gazed upon this plant, I am being reminded that when cotton was harvested by hand, folks toiled in those sweltering cotton fields day after day separating the cotton fibers from the seeds within the boll, picking up to 450 lbs. of cotton a day and paid 1 cent per pound. Can you imagine?

There are many wonderful places to visit in Abingdon, and one of my favorite besides Barter Theatre on this trip was visiting the Olive Oil Company on Main Street.  I've never been big on wine tasting... but now oil tasting... thats my kind of place.  32 varieties/combinations of extra virgin and infused olive oils from estates in both the northern and southern hemispheres, and balsamic vinegars aged 12-18 years from Modena, Italy.

 
These beautiful handmade baskets on the shelf are designed and created by Deborah Partridge, and I am thrilled to say that I will be visiting this amazing Appalachian artist on my next stop. Yahoooooo!

 

I've spotted wolf sculptures around town - what's the story? Similar to the artfully designed whales along the shoreline in Connecticut, there are 52 uniquely designed wolves of varying sizes, shapes and decoration spotted around Abingdon created by local artists. In the Fall, an auction will be held and the proceeds of wolf sales will go to the town of Abingdon in support of needed beautification improvements of the town.

Why Wolf?  Abingdon was formerly known as Wolf Hills from 1775-1785.  This name came to be in 1956 when Daniel Boone gave the name Wolf Hills because his dogs were attacked by a pack of wolves while exploring this area on his way west.  Later this area became known as Black's Fort, and  finally Virginia Legislature named Abingdon in honor of Martha Washington's ancestral home in Abingdon, England.

Jim & Jimmie Lou,

My heart has been deeply blessed by our coming together again, and how wonderful that Eitra could pop in for a virtual visit too. Brevard's spirit shines upon and within your home and I know that you feel that as I do, and we all know that he is delighted that we shared this precious time together.

I will always remember those famous "Bowden-isms" 

Jimmie Lou's "Bless your heart - sweet thing" 

Aunt Jane's "Thank you Sugar"

 

...and of course ringing the goodbye bell family tradition

 

  - such a special tradition -

Postscript: All my life growing up in New England, I pronounced Appalachia with a (long a) sound and discovered here that its pronounced with a (short a sound as in cat). Thanks for letting me know Jim!  The education of traveling is such a wonderful thing!

9/15/12 - THANK  YOU Margaretta (Maggie) for that incredible transformational healing! I am so grateful that I listened to my heart when it whispered the night before to ask you for a healing. Thank you Christine for encouraging that opportunity. Being very particular about opening my energy field to others, it is only when I am encouraged from within, that I know that all is divine accordance, and I open myself up in trust. Sure glad I did because that healing session was LIBERATING!!!  When you said you saw flames rising up in my energy body, it brought to mind all the fire spirit work I'd focused on the prior two weeks. This session unhooked and burned away limited patterns, defaults and beliefs that have held me back in specific areas of my life.  I feel this glorious shift and celebrate!

 I feel like this sculpture on your wall - birthing a new and fuller me!

The Rebirth of  Dancing Flame! The fire of spirit is dancing and singing through me!

 

As you suggested, I am taking note off all that I have done to bring me to where I am now. It is an important reminder to honor all the steps, no matter their size.  Acknowledging our steps cultivates gratitude and integration, which informs the next step.


Honoring the presence and synchronistic timing of full bloom cactus and the healing presence of feline Satchi.

Maggie, thank you again for that marvelous outdoor bathtub experience.  A perfect way to follow up that magnificent healing session! ahhh.......

9/13 & 9/14/12 -  Quantum Queen Reunion unites!  What can I say except that it was and always is ecstatic to be in Keswick at the Bridge Between Two Worlds Retreat Center; it is indeed a glorious place with wonderful energy inside and out.

Our creative vision united, Our wisdom voices heard.

Our sacred kinship collaboration divinely ignited,

 woven, and extended for the highest good.  

When we come together and mirror one another, the power of light illuminates!

       

                                                        Sharona - you were with us in spirit sistah!

                                A blessed space that inspires the spirit of creativity and sacred collaboration


Bridge Between the Worlds is a center for healing, rejuvenation and restoration with a focus on Transformational Healing work with Margaretta McIlvaine. Her approach to transformational work combines extensive formal training, coupled with discoveries based on her own experiences of self-healing and self-transcendence.
Nestled in the woods on twenty acres, Bridge Between the Worlds offers many ways to enjoy and reconnect with the natural world. Relax in the hot tub by the lake under the stars and enjoy the sauna. Be nurtured by organic meals, healing gardens and the elements of earth, air, fire and water.
Throughout the year we offer workshops, retreats and events, featuring guest speakers who help us explore and further our understanding of healing and transforming ourselves, our environment and our relationship with each other and the natural world.
To discover more, I invite you to visit:  www.brigebetweentheworlds.com

9/13/12 - Deb, what a delight it was to see you.  We sure did a whole lot of creative idea swapping in the short time we were together. Isn't it amazing that even though we met only once several years ago it's as if we've been friends forever. Such is the power of uniting kindred spirits. The artist in me and the artist in you ~ so easily in tune.   The power of your creative vision and generous spirit has blessed me.

Readers of this blog, be sure to check out Deb's fine art photography and fractals at www.differentlightstudio.com

What makes Deb's work unique is that she sees the world in a different light.  She told me, "Every single day, we are privy to in brilliant bits of glory which we miss in the headlong rush of our daily lives".  Deb takes time to see, and share, those bits.  She likes seeing "what is" and turning it into "what could be".  She feels beauty and art are EVERYWHERE - we just need to adjust our inner eye to be able to see and appreciate the wonders that surround us.

9/12/12 - I'm about 30 miles West of Charlottesville in Waynesboro visiting Maia and Jasper.

I've been looking so forward to this stop over/sleep over.  Your home is as sweet, peaceful, and creatively inspiring as I sensed it would be.  The perfect place for highly gifted artists to dwell.

Sam, sorry I missed not meeting you on this trip; perhaps another time.

I am deeply grateful and nourished by our deeply woven kindred connection and your generosity of home and spirit.  Waking up those two glorious mornings I stayed with you continues to fill me

with deep divine blessings. Thank you * THANK YOU * Thank you!  ~and for taking me on the neighborhood stroll to the delightful Stone Soup cafe/bookstore.  

By the way, I highly suggest Maia's exquisite album called:  "Hidden Queen" - available for audio preview and purchase at Amazon, cdbaby.com, and www.herbalmedicinehealing.com

Maia Oden’s Hidden Queen, speaks of our love for the Goddess.  The songs range from slow hypnotic invocations to soft saudi/samba dance rhythms.  Lyrics that combine poetry with the melodies of ancient memories.  Beautiful harmonies and instrumentation giving beauty, power, and fullness to all her songs.  Since childhood in the meadows near her Smokey Mountain home, she listens to the voice of the earth and gifts us with her amazing music in response.

9/12/12 -  Bob & Belle, aka Handy-Dandy and Hearty HarHar (clown names).  What a miracle that both of you were home when I came to visit... and what a great visit we had! With U.S. map in hand, we sure did cover a whole lot of territory in our brief time together!

 

Thank YOU both so much for traveling with me down memory lane, recalling many of the travels and stories you've experienced through the years.  Thank you for the recommendations of places for me to include along my way and HUGE THANKS for bridging me with the Oklahoma "woofing" (organic gardening community) opportunity.  I'm looking very forward to connecting with your dear friend Betty.  Surely I'll reach out your way once I find myself there.

Bob, what a thoughtful gesture to bring this memorable photo of Brevard to the table during our visit!

9/11/12 - Some folks might wonder if I miss not having my own home to go to.
I don't, except for when I deeply desire to fulfill my one and only TV show craving.
THANK YOU Betty & John for coming to my rescue! In addition to watching 'So You Think You Can Dance', we managed to share a whole lot of stories, dreams, and resourceful information.
John ~ thank you for contributing all the valuable tidbits for on the road living.
Betty Ann ~ thank you so much that yummy no-mayo coleslaw.  My mouth is watering
just thinking about it.

My heart deeply cherishes our friendship sprinkled with many precious moments! XOX