Mathews Christmas Parade, Part I

Saturday's sunny skies drew a great crowd for Mathews County's Christmas parade.

There were way too many, my ears are still ringing lots of loud sirens.

And several silent striders.

It was warm enough to wear shorts!  I'm guessing those guys in the heavy cloaks and fluffy, feathered hats were wishing they'd opted for another outfit.  Bermuda shorts, polo shirt and a pith helmet, perhaps? 

This look says it all: "Meeeeeeerry Christmas!!  Is this over yet? It's 70 degrees out here, and that's in the shade, which I'd sure like to be sitting in right about now."

There were some real cuties in this year's parade.

How I resisted the urge to go cup this boy's cheeks in my hands and
smother him in kisses is beyond me.

Hello, neighbor!  She and her husband--who attended the Waverly Lane Christmas party later that evening--sponsor the high school's robotic team.  

The cast of characters was seemingly endless.

Be still my heart!  Someone else in Mathews has a crab hat!!

This is my favorite daytime parade yet, there were so many more unusual entries and lots and lots of horses, which I love. These are but a few of many photos I took; I'll post more later in the week.

In other news, I am still at home resting up from my surgery and return to work this Friday, just in time for Christmas and New Years.  But I'm feeling stronger every day.

It feels good to feel good.

Market Days

This weekend was Market Days, our version of a county fair.

This young lady was part of the pet parade. She couldn't get over the fact
that a chicken (pushed in a baby stroller) and a cat (pulled in a wagon
covered with crab pot wire) were also participating in the parade.
She kept saying, "A chicken?  In a stroller? How undignified."
(I did get a picture of the chicken, however it wasn't very good.
You'll have to take our word for it.  There was a chicken.  In a stroller.)

Of course there was lots and lots of food.

I had a BBQ only because I didn't see that clam fritters were
available until it was too late. I love clam fritters.  And oyster fritters.
Fritters are my friend. 

This woman's outfit and pocketbook match the Market Days sign.
Sort of.

Saturday morning's race was big fun. I wore the crab hat but neglected to get any photos, although the YMCA folks took a few. Son and his Governor's School counterparts happened to be departing that morning on a field trip to the Outer Banks.  As luck would have it, the bus pulled out of the high school parking lot just as I happened to be jogging by.

In my crab hat.

Cheers erupted from the bus.  (Something tells me CB Son was not among those cheering.)

Although I don't intend to mortify my children, I happen to do so on a regular basis.

Thankfully, they are used to it well adjusted and adaptable to all sorts of mortification situations.

Stay tuned for more photos from Market Days.

Weekend

This little shed lives tucked away in a small field near the nursing home just below the Court House.

This weekend, the Court House will be bustling with activity as we usher in the 39th annual Market Days. Although the festivities begin tomorrow, and school lets out at 1:00 p.m. just for this event, I probably won't get into the middle of it all until Saturday since I have to work.

There will be plenty of music, food (kettle corn, funnel cakes and BBQ, oh my!), arts and crafts, and as mentioned yesterday a 5K run on Saturday morning.  I'll be the one wearing a crab hat (among others, I am sure).

Little known fact: The very first (and come to think of it last) time I ran in a Market Days race was back in high school. My mother organized it to help fund the track that envelops the high school football field.  That was a long time ago, and the track hasn't changed much since then, sadly.  I keep saying if I win the lottery, Mathews High School will have a new track and all new equipment.

But that's another story for another time.

Plus I don't play the lottery that often.

Still, it's nice to dream.

Anyway, after stuffing yourself with fried sugar and Lions Club BBQ all day, you can burn off some calories at the street dance Saturday night.  It's always a fun time.

If you live nearby, I highly encourage a trip to Mathews Court House to experience Market Days.

Have a great weekend no matter what you're doing.

West Point Crab Carnival II

One of the highlights of Saturday's 

West Point Crab Carnival was the parade.

Grand Marshal.  Nice car.

This fellow (and the propeller on his cap)
certainly made me laugh caught my attention.

As did this painting which was in the booth just
over the clown's shoulder (above).
The colors sort of match the clown's attire.
(Also, it looks like she's staring at him,
thinking, "What the......?") 

There were lots of really cute kids.

Some were waving.

(Others were picking.)

I want to know what I have to do to get one of these outfits.

Must. Have. 

I wonder if this place works on crabby people too?
I might need an extended stay.

Y indeed.

There were lots and lots of cars in the parade.

(I just love the older cars.)

Smokey and the Bandit, anyone?
( Jackie Gleason's was my favorite character in that movie.)

This car was one of my favorites.

She color coordinated her outfit with the vehicle.
(I love that hat.)

There were a few horses.

And at least one pig hat.
(Evidently I'm obsessed with hats.)
(Yes, I did bring my crab hat but 
only wore it briefly, towards the end.)

The West Point Crab Carnival was more fun than a bushel basket of crabs and a barrel of monkeys.

I highly recommend if you've never been.

I highly recommend even if you have been.

I highly recommend it.

The End.

Three Things

Once upon a time when life was a little more predictable, Thursdays were declared days to share three things, no matter how random. From what I can tell, I've not celebrated Three Thing Thursday on this blog since June! It's time to change that.

For those who can't remember aren't familiar with Three Thing Thursday, just spurt out the first three (or more, or less, we're not huge fans of rules or numbers on this blog) things that are on your mind.

I'll go first.

1. It's time to get serious about this half-marathon thing I'm signed up for in November. October is the month for me to kick it up a notch.  Although I'm not quite sure what "it" is to be kicked up, the good news for me is the only place to go is up a notch. Unless it's down, as in falling, due to calf muscle cramps. Or trying to run 13.1 miles at the ripe old age of 47 and 3/4.

2.  Friday night a few friends from high school are coming over to put the finishing touches on our 30th high school reunion, which will coincide with the Mathews High School Homecoming football game on October 26th.  An idea I had was to invite Mrs. Trusch to the game and honor her during halftime. Ours was the last class she taught before retiring. She's had such an enormous impact on so many people's lives, I think it's the least we can do.  Click here or here for previous blog posts about this inspirational teacher, who also taught my father.

3. The West Point Crab Carnival is this weekend. This year I missed Mathews Market Days because of my son's surgery, so I'm really excited about the possibility of  a carnival-like atmosphere that is separate and distinct from the three ring circus of my regular life an event dedicated to frivolity, filled with people who just might appreciate my crab hat.


Now it's your turn to share three things or more things.  Five things or four things.  Whatever happens to be on your mind at the moment.  Anything at all.

Three Things

This old house lives in an area known as Blakes.

It sits just off of Route 198 near the intersection with Route 626, Hallieford Road.

(These photos may or may not have been taken from a moving vehicle.)

The aging building below 

is nearby.  There used to be a dead school bus in the thicket adjacent to this building, however I haven't seen it in a long time.  For all I know the bus is still there, and the thicket which has grown even thicker has completely consumed it.

My father knows what this place used to be--and I should know because I've heard him talk about it.

However, as I write this the hour is late and the day has been long.

Questions about the particulars of these places can be answered another day. (Or in the Comments if you happen to know the answer.)

For now since it's Thursday, if you feel like sharing Three Things, please do.

My three things are:

1.  I'll be relieved when today is over with, thanks to an hour-long presentation this introvert must give at work. Believe it or not, I am using the crab hat as a prop. My boss couldn't believe it when asked, but after I explained its purpose in relation to the topic, he not only gave me the green light, he gave me props for creativity.  

2.  Saturday will be a good--nay, great--day spent with great friends.

3.  For the life of me I do not understand why I continue to use the word nay.  

4.  (Because 3 is only a suggestion.) Friday night Chesapeake Bay Daughter and I will be working the dinner shift at the Courthouse Restaurant in Gloucester to raise money for her 8th grade trip.  If you're local to the area and are in the mood for a spaghetti dinner, stop on by.

Feel free to leave your thoughts (three, four, however many) in the Comments section.  When I return home from the grueling day that will be tomorrow, I will be thrilled to read them.  If you can incorporate the almost extinct word "nay" (which dates to the 13th century, just like CBW's cell phone) into the mix, all the better.

Thanks in advance.