Orchards in Virginia – some history and facts: One of my favorite apples, the Virginia Beauty, the namesake of my song, is one of the many fruits found in orchards throughout Virginia. The original Virginia Beauty apple tree grew before 1820 in what is today Carroll County in southwestern Virginia. …
A song I wrote titled “Ribbon of Stone” from my “A Sense of Place” CD, celebrates the recent 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is a mountain folk song honoring the 469 miles of a region and culture “unlike any other on Earth”. As drivers wind their way…
I enjoy doing library programs. The kids are interested and so full of energy, and there’s always so much going on at Virginia’s libraries. Enjoy this guest post by Laura Bryant below! Virginia’s libraries come in all sizes, places, shapes, and interest…as the slogan says “Virginia is for Lovers”, so…
The Elk Creek Fiddlers Convention, the Leaf & String Festival in Galax, the Wayne Henderson Festival at Grayson Highlands Park, the Old Fiddlers Convention in Galax, the Strawberry Festival in Roanoke, and this is just in far southwest Virginia. The summers in Virginia are filled with festivals, music, and just plain old fun. Try the Traditional 4th of…
Virginia’s Community Colleges System (VCCS) has a 45-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the commonwealth’s economy. There are 23 community colleges in the state and all of these colleges commit to increasing access to affordable education and training so more…
If you’re anything like me, music is a part of your soul. This is one of the reasons I love thee Virginia. You don’t have to look far for a musical event. Every Friday night you can go to the Rex Theater, in Galax for the Blue Ridge Backroads Show to…
Let’s raise our glasses and make a toast to all the vineyards and the hard working people that bring us the wine, so we can get together to celebrate your goodness. The Grayson County Wine & Brew Festival is near and dear to my heart. It is in my own backyard,…
I do love gardening in our rich Virginia soil. This past weekend I canned pints and pints of carrots and beets, all grown in our garden. Although quite a lot of work goes into canning, it’s so rewarding to reap the rewards of the seeds we planted in the spring….
Enjoy this guest blog written by my friend and scholar John A. Duvall RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN VIRGINIA It was once against the law to be a Baptist, or any religion other than Anglican, in Virginia. Virginians were required to worship in Anglican churches. While colonial Anglicans sometimes “tolerated Protestant dissenters,” they…
Virginia Beach: Good for Mind, Body and Spirit Welcome to this lovely travel story by guest writer, Jennifer Scott, who volunteered to tell her story of rediscovering herself as she discovered Virginia Beach. After reading her story please take a tour of Virginia with the Virginia Beauty, A Love Song…