Sister-in-law "Sister" Stephannie Dees

The show has two more performances left, Thursday evening at 7:30 pm, and Sunday afternoon at 2:30 pm. Tickets are $7 ($5 for seniors.) Popcorn, soft drinks, and candy are available in the lobby for only a dollar a piece.

]]> http://www.wythenotes.com/wp/2011/11/14/whatta-lotta-nunsense/feed/ 1 http://www.wythenotes.com/wp/2011/07/04/a-southwest-virginia-fourth/ http://www.wythenotes.com/wp/2011/07/04/a-southwest-virginia-fourth/#comments Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:45:40 +0000 Ron Dees http://www.wythenotes.com/wp/?p=4041 One of the major pluses of having your wedding anniversary on July 1 is that the anniversary celebration effortlessly transitions into the 4th of July holiday. Our anniversary is a re-commitment to family; the 4th is a re-commitment to nation.

Anne and I have celebrated some memorable 4ths. We grooved to the Good Vibrations of the Beach Boys along with 500,000 other folks on the National Mall. We watched fireworks at a party on top of the Interior Department Building. The brilliant bursts of color exploded directly above us, high in the night air. There have been concerts and backyard parties; neighborhood get-togethers and seafood at the beach. Of all the ways and all the places, few have been as much fun and relaxing as this one.

In case you haven’t noticed, there appear to be more tourists in the area this year than in the recent past. Anne and I have been playing tourist in our own backyard. Friday, we drove to Heartwood, the new Appalachian cultural center located off I-81, exit 14 near Abingdon. This is a special place, and I look forward to returning to it again and again. The Grand Opening takes place July 16 – July 23 with different activities and entertainment each day. I’ll have a more in-depth post after the 28th of this month. I’m trailing the chefs in the kitchen that day and may do a little cooking.

After Heartwood, we headed toward Damascus on Rt. 58. Damascus, Virginia, bills itself as Trail Town, USA, and well it should. Seven different trails crisscross this charming little village. We stopped for a nice lunch at the Whistle Pig Cafe. We both had the the chilled gazpacho and the fried green tomato sandwich on wheat roll with fresh sprouts. They were both unique and delicious. We split a slice of excellent key lime cheesecake for dessert. Would that the service was as good as the food.

After lunch, we took a leisurely drive on Rt. 58 toward White Top, paralleling the Virginia Creeper Trail for part of the way. The scenery this time of year is beautiful. The mountain laurel is in full bloom and the rock formations can be breath-taking. A boulder-filled stream rushes beside the road in spots. State signs alert you to the areas that have been stocked with trout. The laughter of families riding the trail on bicycles filtered through the trees at some of the places we stopped. The excited children sound like birds chirping.

With the afternoon starting to draw to a close, we drove over White Top and picked up I-81 in Chillhowie. We made it back to our place in the world in time to have a glass of wine with the neighbors.

Saturday was spent at the Farmers Market and chilling at home. Sunday I did some cooking. Anne had bought some gorgeous organic cauliflower at the Market, and I roasted part of it and did a puree with the rest. Tonight, weather allowing, we’re going to town to dance to the music of the Embers and watch the fireworks.

Happy 4th of July, y’all!

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pureed cauliflower recipe

Wash cauliflower in cold running water and separate into florets. Drop the florets into rapidly boiling, salted water. Cook for seven minutes and drain. Spread the florets out on a baking sheet and dry in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for five minutes. Transfer the florets to a blender and puree with heavy cream, butter, and grated gruyere cheese ( Two parts cream, one part butter, one parted grated cheese melted together in a small sauce pan.) Blend to the consistency of mashed potatoes. Add sea salt and cayenne pepper to taste. May be made ahead of time and reheated in the microwave. Will keep tightly covered in the refrigerator for a week.

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Meet Pseudotriton ruber ruber, the northern red salamander. I found this nifty newt on the mulch pile this morning.

copyright 2011 ron dees all rights reserved

Remember this number: 811.000.00. You’ll be seeing it again soon. There are a few people in this county who will be seeing this number in their sleep.

Anne catching up with our friend Suzanne Capone

Not only were there a dozen or so new vendors, but last year’s vendors are back with more and better products. Check out the gi-normous eggs we got from Matty Holder of Lazy Bee Farm.

Don had to cut the lid from the carton. It's just resting on top.

One of the most exciting things for me personally was the new products offered by a couple of the new vendors. Maybe ramps and broccoli rabe don’t blow your hair back, but this ol’ chef came home and did his happy dance.

Crystal Gillan of Mule Hell Trading Co. who offers wild foods (ramps) and handmade olive oil soaps among other things

Sara Fennell, the mother of our arugula, operates Groundswell Farm and is also the broccoli rabe source.

I have a lot more pictures and more to write about, but I’m out of time today. I’ll post more this week. Let me close this out with a picture of hands down, the Market’s most satisfied customer that day.

My friend George Krause is both a postmodernist and possibly a world class artist.

a really crappy picture of George Krause

If you ask George about himself, both those descriptions are unlikely to be part of the conversation. George will tell you that he was trained as a carpenter who became a union electrician in Ohio and who once owned a certified organic farm. He and his educator-wife, Marcie, and their daughter, Maria, moved here not quite a decade ago to be closer to Marcie’s mother. Locals might remember the bookstore and coffee shop they operated out of their home on Main Street. The store was ahead of its time. (Having lived in Wythe County for four years myself, I sometimes wonder how things like electricity and the internal combustion engine ever caught on, but that’s a whole ‘nother story.)

Today, George still does electrical and carpentry work and maintains an urban organic garden. He also makes “awww…you know…stuff for the garden.”

Bottle Tree by George Krause

I first encountered George in May at the opening of this year’s Wytheville Farmer’s Market where he sells his remarkable produce. Shortly afterward, I called George largely because our mutual friend Liza Field thought we would hit it off. That was an understatement if there ever was one. It was more like kismet. I’m proud to now be included as one of George’s friends.

a slightly less crappy picture of George

So why do I consider George to be an artist when he doesn’t think of himself that way? Maybe I should give you my bona fides before I explain.

For the last 10 years that Anne and I lived in Fairfax County, we were heavily involved in the DC and NYC contemporary art community. At one point, I was a docent (a trained volunteer) at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, eventually serving as the assistant to the Curator of Contemporary Art. For a decade, I lived and breathed two things: food and art. I have viewed thousands of pieces of contemporary art across North America and Europe. Museum curators, gallery owners, collectors, and artists tell me I have a “good eye.” Trust me when I say I know good art. George Krause makes good art. As Pop Art master Robert Rauschenberg once stated, “It’s art if I say it’s art.”

George’s lyrical sculptures fall into the “found object” category typified by Rauschenberg, Louise Bourgeois, and friend and art star Dan Steinhilber. Click on the links and look at some of the work of these artists. Then look again at the work of George Krause. I’d really be interested in what you think, so leave a comment.

Window House by George Krause

By the way, George, who tends to be very self-deprecating, didn’t know I was planning to write this. But as he is fond of saying, “I’d rather ask forgiveness than permission.”

One of the best free shows east of the Mississippi opened this morning in Hillsville. The 43rd annual Labor Day Gun Show and Flea Market is off to one of its best starts in years. Over 500,000 visitors are expected to flood the tiny town in Carroll County over the next four days. Several thousand vendors located in five main venues have brought everything from treasures to trash for sale. If you can’t find it in Hillsville this weekend, you can probably get along without it.

The overwhelming themes though are guns and food. Both are in plentiful supply. The smell of fried onions and roasting meats permeate the air, and the sight of guns is everywhere.

The number of mannequins around is kind of creepy. This year also features a few side show animals to boot.

The best thing though is the people watching. It doesn’t get any better than here.

The following information and links are what I’ve managed to gather so far. If I come up with any more, I will add them to this post, so you may wish to check back as we get closer to Labor Day.

Dates and Times: Friday, September 3, 2010, thru Monday, September 6, 8:00am – 6:00PM

The main sponsor of the festival is VFW Post 115 (276-728-2911.) Their Flea Market manager is Bill Davis (276-728-5237.) The Gun Show Manager is Melvin Webb (276-728-9810.) Online reservations may be made at cridge1942@comcast.net

Food vendors should contact the Carroll County Health Department (276-728-2166.)

Hundley Flea Market, located directly across the street from the VFW, can be reached by calling 800-672-8093.

Bowman’s Festival Market is located 4 blocks from the VFW site. They may be reached at the following numbers: (276-728-2340), (276-728-4340), or (276-728-2339.)

Click here for info on the The Riley Horne Lot.

The official website for the town, which includes a number of useful links, is www.townofhillsville.com

This information is provided by the Hillsville Chamber of Commerce:
Rules & Regulations:

All vendors are required to have a vendor’s license. The license can be purchased from the person you rent your space from or from the Town of Hillsville office. The cost is based on the size of your space.
Food vendor must register with the Carroll County Health Department. (276-730-3180). Food licenses will be issued upon the completion of their inspection and if they are food certified. All food license must pay an extra $10 on their vendor’s license.
All vendors are responsible for the collection of the Virginia Sales Tax (5%). Forms will be provided by the Town of Hillsville to vendors for this purpose.
All food vendors must collect the local meal tax and pay to the Town of Hillsville by the end of the first month after the event.
Vendor licenses allows them to sell from 7 a.m. Friday to 6 p.m on Monday. Anyone selling before 7 a.m. on Friday are subject to a fine. All merchandise must be keep covered until 7 a.m. on Friday.

I may be assisting one of the food vendors at the Hundley Market, so I hope to see you there.

The Chautauqua Festival, a week long celebration of life in the Blue Ridge, is underway in Wytheville. Sponsored by the Wythe Arts Council, the main festival is taking place in Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park off 4th Street in downtown Wytheville. Chock full of fun, food, and entertainment for the whole family, the festival began June 16 and runs thru this Saturday, June 26.

Each day’s events vary. So far there has been a chili cookoff, a flower show, booths for gardeners, classes for both adults and kids, and, one I found particularly useful, an outreach health program for military veterans.

Much of the daytime program Tuesday was devoted to activities for and by the Mt. Rogers Community Services Board, our local mental health and rehabilitation facility. The band “Common Ground” led the festivities which also included a crafts table featuring work by community members.

Some of the activities for the kids have been particularly fun and will continue throughout the week. When you go, look for Brenda Boone, the clown princess. Her motto: Humor, Don’t Leave Home Without It. Today’s activities include a magic show and storytelling.

Compared to most festivals I’ve been to, the food here is surprisingly good. Many of the vendors are local, and some of our local restaurants are participating. Look for Rose Gonzalez and her Tex-Mex booth. At 3 for $5, her tacos are the best value there.

Rose Gonzalez, the Taco Queen

Night time entertainment so far has included nationally known country rockers, “The Kentucky Headhunters,” and Michael Angelo Batio, one of the 100 best metal guitarists of all time. Tonight (Wed.), the musical program begins at 5:30pm and features 4 bluegrass bands. Hope to see you there!

If it’s Memorial Day, then it’s flea market time in Hillsville. Twice each year, Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, the entire town of Hillsville turns into a huge flea market. Upwards of 500,000 people are expected for this year’s unofficial kick-off to summer.

Vendors from the professional circuit, collectors, and local crafters join together for four days to offer fun, food, and bargains galore. Despite predictions of huge crowds, on Saturday there seemed to be almost as many vendors as there were patrons.

There were Brahma bull rides and blooming onions.

There were kids and ladies in hats. And ladies with guns.

It’s a carnival, it’s a sideshow, it’s a bit of Americana. If you hurry, you still have time to make one of the best free shows around.

Woodcarver Tom Brannock

Some of Tom's carvings including the "whimadilly"

Troubador John Allen from Mt. Holly, NC

Note: If you arrived on this page looking for information on the Labor Day flea market, go to my post dated 8/26/2010. That post contains most of the phone numbers and information vendors will need for future markets.

Forgive me for the picture. Part of the wreath was in shadow, and part of it was in sun. However, my lousy picture should not take away from Anne’s excellent wreath. She collected the cones from this tree in the front yard, (said tree soon to be swathed in red chili pepper lights)

attached them to some grapevines twisted into a circle, and tied the ribbon in a nice bow. The first decoration of the Christmas season is up. Since I plan to prune the pinetrees this week, I predict a house full of pine boughs soon. We’re thinking of getting a balled tree this year to be planted after the holidays.

We had a great time Thanksgiving, though the Little Prince and Heir Apparent decided he didn’t want his picture taken, so every time the camera was pointed at him, he did this:

No, seriously……everytime.