Pirates!

I'm including this first picture to save you the trouble of leaving angry comments. Ever since the post about the Firemen's Parade, this blog has deteriorated into nothing more than a forum for eye candy! You people are shameless.

You're welcome.

You've seen my posts about the Urbanna Oyster Festival, but what you don't know is that I had an opportunity to further my education in between parades and bivalve consumption. Yes, I attended Pirate School. Well, I was actually too old to attend, but I watched the children participate, and I was captivated. Oh, to be seven again!

The fine folks from Blackbeard's Crew held Pirate Classes in the Children's Activity Tent. I was there to see the following classes being taught: "Talk Like a Pirate", "Fight Like a Pirate" and "Sing Like a Pirate"!!!! Argghhhhh!

These folks are dedicated to historical accuracy, and laughter! I, um, I mean, the kids hung on every word.

Although they are based in Hampton, VA, they travel far and wide to plunder and pillage! Scalawag School makes learning FUN!

The Drivelswiggers, Picaroons and Powder Monkeys were gracious enough to pose for a quick photo - even after a long day of singing, rope tying and sabre-wielding. I think they were ready to head back to the ship to drink some bumboo. They earned it!!

I leave you with...

The Pirate Song

To the mast nail our flag it is dark as the grave,

Or the death which it bears while it sweeps o'er the wave;

Let our deck clear for action, our guns be prepared;

Be the boarding-axe sharpened, the scimetar bared:

Set the canisters ready, and then bring to me,

For the last of my duties, the powder-room key.
It shall never be lowered, the black flag we bear;

If the sea be denied us, we sweep through the air.

Unshared have we left our last victory's prey;

It is mine to divide it, and yours to obey:

There are shawls that might suit a sultana's white neck,

And pearls that are fair as the arms they will deck.

There are flasks which, unseal them, the air will disclose

Diametta's fair summers, the home of the rose.

I claim not a portion: I ask but as mine

'Tis to drink to our victory - one cup of red wine.

Some fight, 'tis for riches - some fight, 'tis for fame:

The first I despise, and the last is a name.

I fight, 'tis for vengeance! I love to see flow,

At the stroke of my sabre, the life of my foe.

I strike for the memory of long-vanished years;

I only shed blood where another shed tears,

I come, as the lightning comes red from above,

O'er the race that I loathe, to the battle I love.


Have a great weekend!

Little Miss Spat, And Such

I hope you are not tiring of the Oyster Fest posts. It was such a fun weekend, and I wanted to show you a little more of what it had to offer. The following information was provided courtesy of the official Urbanna Oyster Festival website.

Welcome to the 51st Anniversary of the Urbanna Oyster Festival!
We are pleased and proud to carry on this wonderful tradition begun by a dozen or so local merchants and "town fathers" in 1957. Originally called "Urbanna Days," the festival was established to promote the town and it's economy. In those first years the event was a relatively small gathering of local folks highlighted by a parade comprised primarily of antique cars.
In 1961 the name was officially changed to the "Urbanna Oyster Festival" in recognition and honor of the succulent bivalve that was such an important part of the local economy. The crowning of a Queen and "Little Miss Spat" (a "spat" is a baby oyster) along with the selection of a grand marshal to honor local or state individuals held in high esteem became an important part of the tradition.

In 1986 the prestigious Friday night Fireman's Parade began a truly exhilarating experience. In 1988, the General Assembly of Virginia designated the festival as the official Oyster Festival of the Commonwealth. In 1991, the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation was established to produce and manage the annual festival.


The festival has grown and so have the crowds. Crowds for the two-day event now number nearly 75,000. Food and craft booths number over 125 and the Fireman's Parade features over 80 engines of every size and description. The Oyster Festival Parade on Saturday features over 80 units including numerous marching bands, antique cars, locally produced floats and the renowned Khedive Temple Shrine Club of Norfolk.




Things began to spring to life early Saturday morning. Spirits didn't seem to be dampened by the cloudy skies and light drizzle that blanketed this little water town.

People lined up early to get their pickles. It was encouraging to know that the people running the Pickle Palace were advocates of cleanliness! I'm sorry. I just thought this was hysterical!!!


Some highlights from the parade included:

The Queen and Little Miss Spat contestants........if you do not know what a 'spat' is, you didn't read the intro. from their website:)

The parade mascot........for those of you looking at the sign behind the oyster jeep, the full word is "Middlesex". It's the county in which this event is held. Get your mind out of the gutter!




One delighted little boy........his family stood next to me, and I missed half of the parade because I was so busy watching him laugh and wave!

Hillbillies........bet ya didn't see THAT one coming!

I have one more post saved up from this great event. I'll give you a hint - "SHIVER ME TIMBERS!" There will be pictures.

Firemen's Parade

This photo was NOT part of my original post this morning. It has been added because of all the peer pressure, um, because I'm a blogger and I like to give my people what they want. Today, they want EYE CANDY. Enjoy!

This post is dedicated to my friend (Sometimes!) Serendipitous Girl. She's currently shopping for a cute fireman to call her own!

Although the Urbanna Oyster Festival has been around for 51 years, the Firemen's Parade was not organized until 1987. Fire and rescue units from all over Virginia participate in this exciting event. Crowds of people gather to cheer as the trucks flash their lights and blow their horns! The din is deafening. The lights, blinding.

Smokey is always there to remind us that we can help prevent forest fires.


The men in blue make an appearance as well. Their lights are a beautiful contrast in the sea of red.


Pictures just don't do it justice. Next year, I am going to have to video tape the parade so you can "feel" it.

Raise your hand if you've ever been to Frog Level. When you come to visit, I'll take you there. It's not too far from home!

This truck had some sort of whirligig thing on the front. I couldn't stop looking at it. Of course, everything looked like this to me after staring directly into bright lights for an hour!!!

It's always sad when the parade comes to an end.

Of course, when the parade ends, everyone heads over to the Firehouse to listen to the band. They don't stay sad for long:)

Yesterday we celebrated our Veterans. I hope you all took time to thank a vet.

Take a moment sometime to thank your local fire and rescue personnel. They remain our unsung heroes.

Baby Addison

I'd like for each of you to take a moment today to pray for a very special family. This young couple attends our church, and they have been through quite an ordeal.

Their newborn daughter has been diagnosed with VATER Syndrome. They are hours away from their family and friends, and are basically watching their daughter fight for her life.

This beautiful angel is a true fighter! She has been through multiple surgeries, and still has a long way to go. She defied the odds, and was able to breathe on her own over the weekend. They are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Speech Pathologist who will begin working with Addison on eating from a bottle. That will take her one step closer to being able to go home.

The MOST wonderful news update was that her parents were able to hold her for the first time on Saturday! Can you imagine NOT being able to hold your baby in your arms for the first three weeks of her life?

Addison is still not out of the woods, but she is making tremendous strides. When she IS able to come home, she will be surrounded by an amazing extended family. Not to mention the BEST mom and dad a girl could ask for:)

Thanks for keeping her in your thoughts and prayers. Things are always better when we stick together!

Fun With Mollusks

I'm leaving work at lunchtime today to go to the amazing Urbanna Oyster Festival! I'll spend the next day and a half eating seafood, listening to bands, watching parades and catching up with family and friends. I'm confident that I will return home tomorrow night with a monumental amount of blog fodder:) The camera battery is FULLY charged!!!

May your weekend be FULL of pleasant surprises!!

Take The Long Way Home

There's no place like home!! How true. After a 30 minute commute in the evening, I can't wait to turn off of the hard surface road and slowly meander my way to the house. My blood pressure plummets, and I feel myself begin to relax.

I snapped these photos one day last week when it was cold and rainy. The image quality is poor, but you get the idea!



This is one of the spots where deer hang out. They were smart enough to make themselves scarce on a day like this!



I could see a place where turkeys had been scratching in the leaves looking for a bite to eat.

The sun struggled to make an appearance.

Deer can often be found in this spot as well. I usually just see their tails, as they leave the edge of the field and run into the woods.

One more turn...

Oh, look at that!

My beautiful oak trees! I'm finally home.

Would you like to stop by for a visit???

Zzzzzzz

Is anyone else EXHAUSTED? The time change, and the election hoopla, have sapped every single ounce of energy I have. Groggy and lethargic? That's me!! Top that off with a fifth of insomnia, and you have my new recipe for a "Sleepy Girl" cocktail.

First thing this morning, just as I was beginning to muster enough strength to function at work, I saw this http://holidays.bfn.org/xmas/countdown.html. Wait. WHAT? Christmas? How is that possible? I haven't even started shopping. Can't we just get through Thanksgiving first?

And then there's the whole exercise thing. I want to exercise, but I have to actually SHOW UP at the gym for that to happen. I'm in total denial about how tight my clothes are fitting these days. I'm craving carbs on these cold, dark nights. Yes, I need to put exercise back at the top of my "To Do" list. It may be the ONE thing that will morph me out of my current physical state - which closely resembles a slug!

Are you still reading? If so, tell me what YOU do to combat fatigue.