Bohannon

This quaint building is directly across from the one in yesterday's post.

It's one of the landmarks that make up downtown Bohannon,Virginia.

Business isn't exactly booming in downtown Bohannon, but that suits us just fine.

If we want a Starbucks or a Walmutant or a 

McDonald's --and many of us don't, ever-- we drive to Gloucester for all that.

Still, if anyone feels like opening up a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant, there is at least one commercial building in Bohannon that appears to be available.  It might be a fixer upper, but it'd sure be one of a kind.

I hope your weekend is one of a kind. 

Sign

These were taken at Aaron's Beach on Sunday, prior to my departure for The Work Trip. The day was a Goldilocks ideal of not too hot and not too cold.

Just right.

I returned from the big city last night. The trip was for a two-day training class that should have been one day, but whatever. The consultants conducting the course no doubt convinced someone that stretching it out to two days would be better for them since they would earn twice as much.

My spare time was spent ambling around the grocery stores.

(Most tourists might visit the local museums or other landmarks. No, I drive around looking for the nearest supermarket, where I can easily waste spend an hour or more just looking.)

Although we have two great grocery stores here in Mathews, sometimes I miss the days of being greeted at the door by the smell of something other than fried chicken. Don't get me wrong, I love fried chicken so much I could eat it every single day. But the smells that greet you in a northern Virginia store are heady and exotic. A food fanatic's dream come true.

(On the other hand, an entire aisle dedicated to organic dog food may be excessive. But it's certainly different.)

On one of my exploratory adventures, I stumbled upon a shopping center overflowing with food options. There were at least three Indian restaurants, several Thai, one Salvadorean and one that claimed to be gourmet Russian.

In spite of all this food obsession focus on different foods, not even the lure of readily available, great food could ever entice me to leave Mathews permanently. Temporarily maybe, but not permanently.

No, I am perfectly content with the selections here. I will gladly stop to savor the aroma of fried chicken and will consider it a gentle reminder of how grateful I am to live in such a beautiful, unique place.

Back Home

After a fun filled weekend that took Son, Daughter and me to downtown Washington, D.C., Monday was a very welcome lazy day thanks to the federal holiday.

The trip to DC is worthy of a blog post itself, however I didn't take my camera on any of our outings so there are no pictures to share, only memories of fabulous restaurants within walking distance of our hotel and shopping malls the size of Canada.

(Tyson's Corner has really expanded since I lived up there thirteen years ago. Also, they waited for me to move back to Mathews before incorporating a restaurant that pushes sushi out into the dining area on a conveyor belt.  Endless amounts of sushi. I didn't have any this time, but instead ate at a place where the first thing the hostess asked after we were seated was, "Do you want to switch out your napkin from white to black?"  When I politely inquired as to why I would want to do that, since I'd never been asked before, she explained that it's a personal preference. Some people ask for black linen to avoid white lint on their clothes.  I told her my white napkin was just fine and thanked her for her concern. I then wondered why they don't just do away with white napkins and only use black, but I was too engrossed in the mouth watering menu to worry about it any longer.)

Anyway.

We had a great time and having Monday off allowed us time to transition back into the Mathews way of life, which does not include sushi, Vietnamese restaurants, complimentary Amaretto at the end of a very fine Italian meal, and Trader Joes within walking distance.

It was a rough transition but one we made nevertheless.

Monday afternoon I took Daughter to her first soccer practice. She's trying out for the high school team. I  brought my camera thinking I'd go for a run and snap some photos after dropping her off.

I achieved the photo snapping but failed miserably at the running attempt.  It was just too darn cold.

These are from Williams Wharf.

I don't ordinarily let the cold stop me from running, because after the first mile I'm sweating no matter what.  But I just didn't have it in me and once I started taking these the motivation to do anything other than drive home and curl up in front of the Cooking Channel quickly subsided.

Before I go off on yet another tangent and tell you about my new favorite cooking show (My Grandmother's Ravioli), I'll end this by saying we had a fantastic get away and enjoyed having an extra day to recover and transition back to our reality.

I hope your weekend was great.

Old II

Continuing with yesterday's theme of old people structures, here are some I visited yesterday on my way home from Gloucester.  Most of these were taken from Chapel Neck Road at North.

The door is wide open, just beckoning.

This looks like a miniature Tastee Freeze.  Seriously.
There is a sliding window to exchange money/food and a
fluorescent light overhead.

Not all is old and falling down around these parts.
There are plenty of estates along the river.

These last two are of a cute little house just off Route 14 on the road leading into the Court House (Church Street).  I've shown pictures of this one before, but I felt the urge to take a few more shots because recently someone has cleared all the brush away.  As usual I am worried someone will tear it down.  So, here are a few more shots of the tiny little house.

Warning:  Taking photos while driving will
produce imperfect, lopsided results.

After work today I have to do a wee bit of traveling for work, so there likely won't be another blog post for a few days.

(Please keep your applause down to a dull roar.  Thank you.)

If you're really bored,  click here for a post  that dates back to the very first month this blog was created, March 2008. I was asked to share six unimportant things, habits or quirks.

I focused on six general things about my life, some of which are actually important  (like the snippets about my great-grandfather and my mother) as opposed to the habits or quirks, which would take fourteen days to compile.  Only #s 4 and 6 are what I would deem unimportant.  I don't follow directions well. Also, it's up for debate whether being related to Wayne Newton is important, unimportant, or a quirk. You can decide.

 If you would like to play the game, feel free to leave a comment describing six unimportant/important things, habits or quirks about yourself.  I will thoroughly enjoy reading them from the comfort of my hotel room in The Big City, assuming I can figure out how to hook up the internet and assuming I've not exploded from overindulging in Thai and/or Vietnamese food.

In any case, have a great rest of the week.

-cbw

Mathews

" 'Nobody goes through Mathews to get anywhere" is a common saying.  It refers, of course, to the unique geography.  With few exceptions, roads that start in or enter this peninsular county end at the water.

Over the years, the distinction of Mathews as the 'end of the line' has added to its singular quality. Because it is not along the beaten path, people have sought the county out for its special charms.  Mathews has become a haven for retirees, looking for a slower pace in a quiet waterfront setting.

Mathews is a land rich in history that predates the formation of the county in 1791.  In 1776Lord Dunmore, the last royal governor of Virginia, put out to sea after losing the Battle of Gwynns Island. The rivers and inlets of Mathews County served as a base for the Confederate Coast Guard during the Civil War.

But what attracts most people to Mathews--those who move in and the natives who stay--are its picturesque waterways in a hometown atmosphere and its friendly residents.  Some things still haven't changed after 200 years." - From the April 25, 1991, Bicentennial Collector's Edition of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette Journal.

"Indeed some things haven't changed much after 200 years, and that's a very good thing.  But if there's any way we can get a good Thai or Vietnamese restaurant in town, that would be one change I'd ardently support. Thank you." - CBW