A trip back in time...

This weekend, my mother and I ventured out to Historic Rugby for their Ghostly Gathering, which included a chili supper, storytelling by the delightful Marcia Donovan, and a lantern-lit tour of the village. We stayed at Percy Cottage, which is a replica of the original built in the 1970s. The two-bedroom, fully furnished cottage featured a kitchen with stove, microwave, fridge, and all of the necessities of home. We enjoyed a delicious lunch on our way home at the Harrow Road Café: for me, shepherd's pie; for mom, fish and chips. Of course, we ordered English dishes to complement the British-themed weekend.

Time stands still at Rugby, Tennessee - the restored Victorian village founded in 1880 by British author and social reformer, Thomas Hughes. It was to be a cooperative, class-free, agricultural community for younger sons of English gentry and others wishing to start life anew in America. At its peak, some 350 people lived in the colony. More than 70 buildings of Victorian design graced the townscape on East Tennessee's beautiful Cumberland Plateau. This would-be Utopia survives today as both a living community and a fascinating public historic site, unspoiled by modern development. Twenty original buildings still stand at the southern edge of the Big South Fork National Park, surrounded by rugged river gorges. Four are shown daily on tour.
(Information from www.historicrugby.org.)

Enjoy this brief video vignette of the weekend in Rugby.

A Walk On the Tusculum Trail...

I walk this trail several times a week. I thought I'd take a moment and share some of the beauty that I find along the way each time.

Sorry Phoebe...

Mystery cat rebels...looks a lot like my Phoebe!

(All photos are by the author of this post.)

#1 Paris, France

Paris, France. There are no words to describe how much I love Paris. Most of you know that I majored in French, and have lived in Paris twice while studying that beautiful language. Paris is a part of me now, and I will love it forever.
I love the little cafés like this one in Montmartre. Montmartre is actually my favorite part of Paris, with its artists and Bohemian vibe. I've spent entire days there before, mesmerized.
The métro is the most amazing form of travel. Step on at one stop, step off at another and you're exactly where you need to be. I miss that system.
No matter how many times I visit the Eiffel Tower, I never grow weary of it. The sheer size of it shocks me every time, and I always get a bit teary-eyed when I see it because it lets me know that I really am there. I'm in Paris.

(All photos in this post are by the author. They are from December 2007)

#2 Outer Banks, North Carolina

The Outer Banks offers a peaceful, serene escape from the everyday rush. Relax in a comfortable chair on the deck of your home-away-from home and listen to the crash of the ocean waves.

Drive out and visit one of the lighthouses: Cape Hatteras, Bodie Island, Currituck Beach, Cape Lookout, and Ocracoke.

My favorites are Bodie Island, for its quiet mystery…

And Currituck Beach for its country charm.

The Outer Banks is filled with tranquility, quaint one-of-a-kind restaurants and shops, and a silent beauty. Try it once, and you’ll return…I’m sure of it. (The Outer Banks isn’t dominated by chain hotels and tacky souvenir shops. There are mostly beach houses for rent and full-of-character local establishments. If you’re looking for a more “touristy” place with rollercoasters and neon signs, look elsewhere!)

Outer Banks bumper stickers are quite popular. You see them all over the place. I have one slightly different than this one on my car. I also have a tag frame with OBX on it.

#3 Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Blowing Rock, North Carolina is a quaint village nestled in the mountains, just off the Blue Ridge Parkway. With little treasures tucked into every corner, you're sure to find something that you fancy in this tiny town. Shops, cafés, and more await you in Blowing Rock.

My favorite shop is Follow Your Dream. It features candles, gifts, and home accessories. The shop beckons you in with sweet fragrances, and is beautiful outside and inside.

Here are some other views of this special place, that I frequent when on one of my "yellow brick road trips." Why don't you join me some time? (There is a shop in Blowing Rock called "Oz," which features unique Ozian gifts, as well as many plush animals and television show themed decor.)

#4 Short Pump, Virginia

Oh yes, my friends. Short Pump, Virginia makes the list. Why? I'm glad you asked. I lived just outside Short Pump for a few months, and I basked in its wonders. The Short Pump Mall is one of the most amazing places I have ever shopped. It contains H&M, which I absolutely adore, among many other posh shops. I live 5 hours from two H&M stores. This frustrates me verily. I usually just wait until I am in Paris, and I shop at that one.




There are also fun restaurants in Short Pump that I do not get to experience here. Chipotle has the most delicious burritos known to the human race. Chipotle's cilantro is so fresh, and they use only organic and free range products, which you know that I love. Oh, how I miss thee, Chipotle.




Red Robin is the other restaurant that I particularly love. I usually order the burger with the fried egg on top. Before you give me a disapproving look, try it for yourself, and remember, that I rarely eat such indulgences. Judge not...


So, there you have it. Short Pump holds many really hilarious memories for me. I also have wonderful memories of times with good friends. The only complaint I have about Short Pump is the fact that it's very intense driving with much tail-gating, road rage, and general nuisances comme-ça. However, I did not have to drive when I was there, because my car was in Tennessee. So I will end this by saying that Short Pump is one of my favorite places, when I'm being chauffeured around like a VIP. ;)

My Top 5: Savannah, Georgia

I have decided to highlight my top 5 places, since no road trip is on the calendar for the next week or so. However, keep watching for upcoming stories on the Tipton-Haynes Historical Site's Stories from the Pumpkin Patch on October 18th, and Historic Rugby's Ghostly Gathering on the 24th.

However, I will launch my top 5 series with a visit to Savannah, GA. Savannah is one of the most beautiful places that I have been. It is literally like stepping back into the Old South with the preserved architecture, Spanish moss, and Southern hospitality and charm. Here are some highlights of the beautiful city.

Forsyth Park

*The Davenport House

The Inn at Forsyth Park

*The Davenport House has a story to go alongside it. Once, when my mother and I were touring the Davenport House, I dropped my ticket. When I reached down to pick it up, I cracked my head on an oak desk. Hard. It literally echoed throughout the house. About twenty people were waiting on the tour to start, and at least two of them said "Oh!" in reaction to the loud thud. I was so embarrassed that I ran out of the house into the garden, and my mom had to fetch me. Yes, I was over twenty. I just felt the need to share that story. It has amused many people.

Tune in next time for my #4 destination.