Saturday, May 29, 2010

And now for something completely different...Breakfast!




SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
There is one thing more exasperating than a wife who can cook and won't, and that's a wife who can't cook and will.  ~Robert Frost


If we're not willing to settle for junk living, we certainly shouldn't settle for junk food.  ~Sally Edwards

We plan, we toil, we suffer - in the hope of what?  A camel-load of idol's eyes?  The title deeds of Radio City?  The empire of Asia?  A trip to the moon?  No, no, no, no.  Simply to wake just in time to smell coffee and bacon and eggs.  ~J.B. Priestly

He who distinguishes the true savor of his food can never be a glutton; he who does not cannot be otherwise.  ~Henry David Thoreau

I will not eat oysters.  I want my food dead - not sick, not wounded - dead.  ~Woody Allen

Kissing don't last; cookery do!  ~George Meredith

Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.  ~Mark Twain

Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward.  ~Terri Guillemets

You can tell how long a couple has been married by whether they are on their first, second or third bottle of Tabasco.  ~Bruce Bye

Food for thought is no substitute for the real thing.  ~Walt Kelly  


On that note git on out here to Blue Ridge Country Virginnie and we will cook you up a hot homecooked breakfast!  The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast, where the second B is important! 

VIRGINIA IS FOR BREAKFAST LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net
Posted by at 8:25 PM 0 COMMENTS

Floyd Country Store Turns 100 in June


HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLOYD COUNTRY STORE!

The Floyd Country Store, one of the major venues of The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail, will celebrate 100 years of toe-tapping music, flat footin' and good old fashion hospitality this June.  This beautiful gem is located just off Virginia's Blue Ridge Parkway.  It's open daily for goodies, snacks, coffee and appareal but Friday nights is when it really gets hopping.  Each week the Floyd Country Store hosts the Friday Night Jamboree.  People from all over the country and the world head to Floyd for some of the most moving and authentic old-time country music found anywhere.  This year is the perfect time to write about the Floyd Country Store and the Crooked Road as a travel destination of distinction.  The National Trust for Historic Preservation would agree as well - as they named The Crooked Road one of the nation's Dozen Destinations of Distinction earlier this year.  Here is the schedule of events of the 10 days of events planned for the Country Store's 100th anniversary celebration.

Floyd Country Store is a very scenic drive from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast out toward Ferrum and on up The Blue Ridge Parkway.
Friday, June 18th: The Store plans on paying tribute to its famous Friday Nite Jamboree by honoring special guests and its favorite regulars.  On this night, the store will open an exhibit of photographs and displays, and present the historical progression of the Jamboree, how it began and where it is now. The store will feature a Crooked Road traveling exhibit that features the history of musical styles of the region.  This exhibit was produced by the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum for the Crooked Road: Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail. Other exhibits related to the Store and general history of Floyd will be on display as well throughout this ten day period in the Country Store’s upstairs community room.

Saturday, June 19th: The Dry Hill Draggers will take the stage for a newer Floyd Country Store tradition. They will perform for an Old-Time country dance starting at 7:30 PM and a dance workshop starting at 6:15 PM. The Dry Hill Draggers of Franklin County started with banjo player Jimmy Boyd and his brother, Billy Boyd in 1981.  Tickets for this Old-Time Country Dance are $8.00 at the door.
Sunday, June 20th: A special Father’s Day Jam honoring all the fathers that attend with a special gift. There will also be an evening of storytelling and music with local performers Tina Liza Jones, Jimmy Costa, and others. This free event will begin at 7:30 PM.
Monday, June 21st: The store will be open, offering centennial sales and products and a free treat for the kids.
Tuesday, June 22nd: Mike Mitchell will perform with some of his students from the Floyd Music School. This is a free performance, beginning at 6:30 PM. There will also be a free, late afternoon music workshop for children of all ages starting at 4:30 PM.
Wednesday, June 23rd: This day will be the store’s history day with special presentations, exhibits, and book signings by various authors. On this day, community members are encouraged to bring their own stories about the store to add to the store’s collection. We will be available on this day to make an audio and/or video recording of each story and storyteller.
Thursday, June 24th: The Floyd Country Store and The Crooked Road will present a one-of-a-kind Crooked Road Jam Session including many popular musicians from the Crooked Road and Floyd area.  The store will be serving food from the “Gazing Along the Crooked Road” cookbook and co-author Libby Bondurant will be here for a book signing.
Friday, June 25th: This special Friday Nite Jamboree will host and honor old friends of the Jamboree, bringing back performers and community members who have been a part of this store’s tradition for a long time.
Saturday, June 26th: Wayne Henderson and Jeff Little will take the stage for a concert event like no other.  Wayne and Jeff are not strangers to the Store.  They played the store back in 2008 to a sold out crowd of over 200 people who were amazed by their toe-tapping, Old-Time country performance. With Wayne's first-rate finger-picking and Jeff's remarkable speed and agility, this guitar and piano duo is sure to amaze their audience once again. Tickets for this event are $12.00.
Sunday, June 27th:  The Old-Time Slow Jam that has been happening at the store for over a year now and has quickly become a community favorite.
Tickets and additional information for these events can be found on the website,www.floydcountrystore.com, by calling the store at 540-745-4563, or by stopping by the store for a visit.
Info from Travels in Virginia Blog and Virginia is for Lovers article here
VIRGINIA IS FOR FLOYD COUNTRY STORE FRIDAY NIGHT JAMBOREE LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net
Posted by at 11:05 AM 0 COMMENTS

Thursday, May 27, 2010

It's All Greek To Me!



Greek Yoghurt Fresh Fruit Parfait

That's what's for breakfast today!  That was the starter course today as I shared breakfast with a lovely guest from Mount Airy North Carolina (you may recognize the name from the Andy Griffith show, it is Andy's home town).

She asked me if I had tried this very healthy and delicious all natural Greek Yoghurt.  I had not tried it and to my surprise she bought some last night and gave it to me to sample.  So what better way to sample than to serve it for breakfast?  So this morning, since it was just she and I, I sat down to a wonderful breakfast with our guest!

I am really bad about getting photos of breakfasts, I mean when I cook 'em I serve 'em up hot, there is not time to stop and take photos.  We always serve a ton of fresh fruit (locally grown and hand picked if possible) so today I quickly grabbed my camera before she came down for her cuppa and snapped a few images.

This parfait was layered in the following way:
  • vanilla Greek yoghurt
  • banana slices, blueberries
  • Cascadia brand muesli (no raisins)
  • strawberry fruit at the bottom Greek yoghurt
  • a handful of blueberries
  • a strawberry sliced and placed upright
  • a few full pecans
It was just perfect, not too sweet but with a ton of flavor. (Shhhh, okay so the main course was not quite as healthy but who doesn't love waffles?)

This innkeeper at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is blessed to meet so many wonderful guests.  I say it all the time, you are sick of hearing me say it, but variety is the spice of an innkeeper's life.  We have so many amazing guests, for this we are truly grateful - it really is more than just a business.  We hope we can bless you during your stay with us as well.



VIRGINIA IS FOR FRESH FRUIT PARFAIT LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

Posted by at 11:32 AM 0 COMMENTS

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Academy Awards for Appalachia

Crazy Heart Director Scott Cooper raised in the mountains of Southwest Virginia wrote, produced, and directed the tale of Bad Blake, a washed up country singer whose life is a spiral of bad gigs and booze.

Shot in just 24 days, the film took home two Academy Awards: Best Actor, for Jeff Bridges’ portrayal of Bad Blake; and Best Song for Ryan Bingham’s “The Weary Kind,” the film’s theme song. BRO talked with Cooper just before the Oscars.

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Scott Cooper (left) directed Jeff Bridges to an Academy Award-winning performance in Crazy Heart. Click image for larger view
Why did Thomas Cobb’s book inspire you to make it into a film?
I’ve long wanted to tell Merle Haggard’s life story. When I turned to this unknown book, I discovered this amalgam of characters—Waylon, Haggard, Kristofferson, Billy Joe Shaver, Townes Van Zandt. I felt I could take pieces of those five lives and use them in conjunction with what Cobb laid out in his gloriously rich novel to create a character that was personal to me and interesting to viewers. His book was rich in source material and it was clear that he understood this world completely. He found the soul of who Bad Blake was and I was able to use that to tell the story of my radio heroes.
The book is experiencing a rebirth, too.Because of the movie, it’s back in print and people are turning to it. I don’t think he sold many copies, as it is a pretty obscure novel, but it’s a beautiful book. Cobb understood what it took to be a real singer-songwriter, that you had to live these experiences in order to write poetically.
First day, first shoot—what’s going through your head as you call for action?Next to getting married and having my two girls, it was probably the most important moment in my life. Surprisingly, I wasn’t nervous, as I was overly prepared for the first day of shooting, but any time you call “Action!” and Jeff Bridges or Robert Duvall is in front of the camera, nerves creep in. But I was confident I could tell this story. I grew up in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, so I understood these people and this world. And once I saw Jeff, my nerves went away, because there was Bad Blake.
Was there a moment during the shoot when you realized you were on to something special?Immediately. I knew as an actor, watching what Jeff was doing, that it was revelatory. It was some of the best work I have ever seen from an actor.
Could any other actor have become Bad Blake like Jeff did?He was the guy, the perfect confluence of an actor and a role. That happens every so often—Duvall in The Apostle, Robert De Niro in Raging Bull, Marlon Brando in The Godfather, and Jeff in this film.
Jeff Bridges has been acting for over 30 years. What would it mean to you if the role of Bad Blake won him his first Academy Award?It could be the most gratifying thing I ever do, given that he’s an actor that has done over sixty films and should have won four or five Oscars by now. To see an actor of his caliber married to a role that I wrote, directed, and produced, that could very well be the pinnacle of any director’s career, and especially mine, being a first-timer.
Does T-Bone Burnett have a supernatural sense about making soundtracks?He’s a musicologist. He knows a lot about jazz, classical, blues, bluegrass, and country music. I knew very much what I wanted, but T-Bone pushed us in different directions, making us stretch. He’s a conjurer, always pulling great talent from a lot of people. And T-Bone is a musical genius. He understands music in a way few people I have met understand music.
“The Weary Kind,” the theme song by Ryan Bingham, is amazingly important to the film.It’s a gorgeous song and the narrative of the film. It’s about a man who’s gone through the experiences Bad Blake has and is about his rebirth. The themes of loss, regret, hope, and redemption—all of which course through the movie—course through the song. T-Bone and Ryan were able to create a cinematic masterpiece.
Your roots are in the Appalachian Mountains, the cradle of the music in Crazy Heart. What did you listen to growing up?My father took me to bluegrass festivals and I cut my teeth listening to Ralph Stanley, Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, and The Seldom Scene. Then I dug into my dad’s LP collection and heard Townes, Shaver, Haggard, and Cash. I’m still listening to those guys, but I also love jazz and bands like Radiohead, Wilco, and Ron Sexsmith, a great Canadian songwriter.
What’s next?I find myself in a position I have never found myself—entertaining a dizzying number of offers. I am looking strongly at material and a core group of actors I want to work with, but I haven’t zeroed in on anything yet.
The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast is at the start of the Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail here in Rocky Mount VA. The first roadside kiosk is one block behind us at The Depot where we have live bluegrass every second and fourth Friday of the month.  Franklin County features more weekly jams than any other spot on this music trail!  Tap yer toes in Blue Ridge Country!
VIRGINIA IS FOR APPALACHIAN SINGER AND SONGWRITER LOVERS
Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net
Posted by at 1:32 PM 0 COMMENTS

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Sweet Cherries - Pick 'em May 26th at Levering Orchard!

EXTRA EXTRA! CHERRY PICKIN' JUST ANNOUNCED - MAY 26th!  and...Cherry Orchard Theatre at Levering Orchard near Fancy Gap 
There is a very special place as you head down the Blue Ridge Parkway toward the NC line from The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast - called Levering Orchard. Your innkeeper is in no way saying this is near The Claiborne House, but those traversing "America's Favorite Road" The BRP will enjoy a stop there to pick some fruit and watch some amazing live theater in a breathtaking setting. 

From August through September, The Cherry Orchard Theatre celebrates its eleventh season with productions most every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for every possible taste! On occasion this year we'll be serving food available for purchase. Or, bring whatever you like to eat and drink, along with your family and friends, and enjoy live theatre in an enchanting outdoor setting. (Rainy nights we perform at the packhouse—the SHOW MUST GO ON!) Most shows are in the evening at 7 p.m. Reservations are recommended BUT NOT REQUIRED. Pay in advance or when you come. Tickets (with rare exceptions) are $10. For information and reservations, call (276) 755-4837, (336) 786-4316, or (during business hours) (276) 755.3593. CALLING AHEAD IS ADVISED!

After the Red House burned in 1996 - the house of Ralph and Clara Levering, built in 1908 -- this was a haunted space, begging for a Phoenix that would rise from the ashes.  Then, in 1999, we did a play about the people who lived in that house - and the Phoenix rose, unexpected and heaven-sent.  Over the past eleven years, scores of productions, story-telling sessions and concerts have been performed in this unique outdoor performance space, everything from Anton Chekhov's classic "The Cherry Orchard," regarded as one of the greatest plays in world theatre, to a brilliant, five minute one-act play penned by an Elkin artist.  If you've missed out in previous summers, or if you'd like to renew your ties to COT, please see Frank or Terri to get your name down on our mailing and e-mail address list.  We're excited that you're here!  We know it's a winding road to get here - but hope the rewards make the journey worthwhile.  Thank you - thank you! - for your support for "something a little different."

About Levering Orchard:
On the southeastern slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains came the reply. There, the soil is fertile and deep and the sunlight abundant. There the so-called "thermal belt" along the side of the mountain offers protection from freezes which often kill fruit in its embryonic stages at lower and higher elevations. In 1907, Ralph Levering took two legs of a famous walk. He walked all the way from from Asheville, N.C., to Roanoke, Va. and both times stopped at this particular piece of land in Carroll County, Va., that would eventually become Levering Orchard. One stipulation made by his wife, Clara Osborne Levering, was that the place have beautiful view. And a beautiful view it has. The other stipulation was that it be near a Quaker community, and that was answered too with the Quaker meeting in nearby Mount Airy, NC, just 12 miles to the south.  

Picking Cherries:
Listed below are the dates we anticipate as "start dates" for picking and selling our different fruits. With the exception of May 26, these are ESTIMATED start dates -- it's very hard to be sure a long ways ahead of time, because of weather and other factors. Sometimes we have to begin a little sooner than we estimated, at other times, a little later, to let the fruit ripen. Mother Nature can be fickle. So phoning or e-mailing ahead before you come is STRONGLY ADVISED!

Estimated Updated Schedule:




Sweet Cherry Picking - May 26, 2010
Tart (Sour) Cherries - June 12, 2010
Lodi Cooking Apples - June 26, 2010
Yellow Freestone Peaches - July 30, 2010
White Freestone Peaches - July 30, 2010
Summer Apples - July 30, 2010
Gala Apples - August 14, 2010
Fall Apples - September 4, 2010



Levering Orchard • 163 Levering Lane • Ararat, VA 24053 •  Email Address: info@leveringorchard.com



Phones: Packhouse Office: 276.755.3593 • Cherry Hotline: 276.755.4837 • Alternate Hotline: 336.786.4316


Directions:
From Blue Ridge Parkway, between mileposts 193 & 194 at Orchard Gap (east of Fancy Gap, west of Meadows of Dan), go south on Orchard Gap Road (VA 691), down mountain 2 miles.  (Remember the MP Exit to take for Roanoke/Rocky Mount to get on Hwy 220 is MP 121 or continue another 29 miles to take Five Mile Mountain Road near MP 150 down toward Rocky Mount and continue on Route 640) .  Mabry Mill is MP 179 near Meadows of Dan.  
So Levering Orchard is about 43 miles down the BRP - Speed limit is maximum 45mph, so that should help estimate the drive time.  The Blue Ridge Parkway is all about the drive - "More than a Road"  this road itself IS THE DESTINATION. Take it easy, sit back and enjoy the scenery.

Click here for a BRP Map from NPR.  Click here for the NPR BRP website.

VIRGINIA IS FOR CHERRY PICKIN' LOVERS

Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net

Posted by at 9:53 AM 0 COMMENTS

Monday, May 24, 2010

Just what the Dr ordered Tim Erikson the Folk Practitioner

I have a difficult time writing this blog today after meeting Tim Erikson last night at Kirk Avenue Music Hall and hearing something I have never before heard, the Sacred Harp.  After  purchasing a CD and listening to this amazing vocalist I wanted to share a bit about Tim and the Sacred Harp.

Tim was happy to give his permission for our guests at The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast to listen to his heart wrenching, no that's not the word...um, awe-inspiring, not that, hm, this is very difficult for me to describe, moving, let's just say moving lyrics and song.  May I start by asking, do you know what Shape Note Singing is? Have you heard of this A-Capella form of worship in Southern Appalachia?  If you go into a Primitive Baptist church in these Blue Ridge Mountains from Virginia to the Kentucky side you might hear Sacred Harp four part harmony, which is a form of Shape Note Singing.

I guess I should just post a video and let it be more self-explanatory, although even after watching the video you will not understand the depth of this music.

Tim served as consultant for the Sacred Harp portion of the film, and provided the singing voice for the character Stobrod. He also got to bring a bunch of his friends along to sing at the Academy Awards.  You can listen below or click here for more songs  http://www.timeriksenmusic.com/coldmountain/



Biography





Tim Eriksen is "widely regarded as the best ballad singer of his generation" (BBC Radio). He combines hair-raising vocals with savvy arrangements for fiddle, banjo, guitar and bajo sexto, transforming American tradition with a "northern roots" sound that embraces old New England murder ballads, “shape-note” gospel and haunted originals alongside Southern Appalachian and Irish songs. Tim's new Appleseed CD "Soul of the January Hills," featuring fourteen songs for solo unaccompanied voice, is hardcore Americana at its most essential.
Traditional music is huge in this part of the country - we are at the start of The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail.  These mountains were the melting pot of many nations from the Scotch-Irish with their fiddles (and whiskey) to the African slaves with their snare drums on a stick (aka a Banjo).

VIRGINIA IS FOR SACRED HARP LOVERS


Life is too short for bad coffee... Shellie @ The Claiborne House Bed and Breakfast in Rocky Mount Virginia http://www.claibornehouse.net
Posted by at 3:28 PM 0 COMMENTS
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