Weston Plantation

 

Like music?  Like being outdoors?  Like free things?  Well then....The Historic Hopewell Foundation has put together just the right thing for you.  For the next three Sunday afternoons you can visit Weston Manor, in Hopewell, and listen to music from local groups....all for free...while sitting outside.  There have already been three this summer and we were able to make it out to two of them.  We brought our own lawn chairs and spent a couple hours relaxing by the Appomattox River.  

 

 

 

 

We came out to this same concert series last year for one of the concerts and enjoyed it so I was looking out for it again this year.  The outdoor concerts are from 4-6 Sunday afternoons.  If you visit the Historic Hopewell Foundations link above you can find out what group/band will be playing each week.  You can take a cooler or picnic but if you choose not too they also have food and drinks for sale there on site.   

New Discoveries Part II

So last week I told you about a "new to me" park I discovered locally in Colonial Heights.  And I mentioned that Roslyn Park is part of a larger concept...that concept is one that The FOLAR are slowly but surely putting in place.  I accidentally stumbled across the website for the group and discovered I have an entire trail system right in my back yard to explore.  Literally, as soon as I had a free hour to myself I went off to check things out.

In Dinwiddie

Appomattox Riverside Park in Dinwiddie County

Appomattox Riverside Park

In Petersburg



Between Campbell's Bridge in Petersburg and Appomattox Riverside Park in Dinwiddie

Between Campbell's Bridge in Petersburg and Appomattox Park in Dinwiddie

In Hopewell/Prince George



Appomattox River Regional Park in Prince George



Appomattox River Regional Park in Prince George County

City Park Location in Hopewell

The individual parks are all along the Lower Appomattox River and cover ground from Dinwiddie County to Hopewell City.  The FOLAR website indicated the that it would eventually be a 22.8 mile long trail.  That made me one very happy girl!!!!  With what is already in place the Busy Bryant's have logged some serious hiking/site seeing time already. Can't wait to discover more.

Pinterest Inspired

I was perusing around Pinterest a few weeks back, looking at food ideas, when I came across a list of 21 Modern Mysteries You Won't Be Able To Put Down.  The list caught my eye only because a few books I've already read are on the list.  And the list was indeed right.  I couldn't put down those few that I had read.  I figured maybe I should give the other books a try.  My only problem lately is that I struggle with the hard copy versus the digital copy lately.  Weird right?  Don't judge.  Anyway..........I like the hard copy so much better (no recharging and no battery dying right in the middle of an exciting chapter) BUT the digital means that when I'm done with the book I don't have another book sitting around collecting dust (I don't re-read books....EVER).  So what am I supposed to do?!?!?!  And then it hit me....Public library! I have no clue why I hadn't thought about it sooner.  One Monday afternoon I walked in to my local branch, got myself a library card and hello new book that I can return when I'm done....and it's FREE!!!!!  No issues with a battery, no issues with too many books sitting around and no issue spending a dime on a book every couple weeks.  Win-Win.  So far I've read three books now and on number four...Emma even got in on the action with a couple books too :-) 

   

I think I'm pretty lucky that my local branch is pretty awesome....I mean there is a ship inside it!  This last week I spied some books on Virginia travel.  I have a feeling I better leave those things alone...the wheels on the car may never stop if I find more places to explore. 

Right now I'm reading The Expats by Chris Pavone....so far so good. 

Next week we are on vacation.  I have a book already checked out to take with me.  Finally....something off Pinterest I DID...ha!  What is everyone else reading this summer?  Anything I HAVE to try? 

Busy Busy Bryants



What's been blooming at HQ



Since my last post we have visited 2 Virginia State Parks, 2 wineries, and 1 botanical garden.  We have put together one giant shed, celebrated Mother's Day, and visited Norfolk for a concert.  We have been trying to live up to the name Busy Bryants.  The weird thing is from day to day I feel like we are moving pretty slow...it's not until I look back at the calendar do I realize we sometimes burn our candle at both ends. 

Happy to say IT'S DONE!

Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens



Jazz Music at Weston Manor in Hopewell Virginia


I'll post more on the parks and the wineries this week and next.  And that shed....well now that it is done it leaves room for another project to take place...I have this mad crazy idea on how to create a perfect little hide away in the yard!  You know Mark is a saint for putting up with my crazy plans :-) 

If you live in or around the Tri-Cities area of Virginia you still have a couple weeks to enjoy a free concert put on by the Historic Hopewell Foundation.  The concerts are held at Weston Plantation in Hopewell.  You can find more info here. 

And that little trip to Norfolk....got us home about 1 am....and we had to both get up for work the next morning!  We really had a great time at the concert but I hope we don't ever have to come to work again on just a few hours sleep. 


Fitz and the Tantrums!


So how about you?  What kind of fun things are you getting into for the summer?  Maybe you'll give me an idea for our next adventure. 

  

Monday....opps....Tuesday Love

I'm hoping everyone had a fabulous Easter and great weekend.  Our family celebrated with food, family, the traditional Easter Egg hunt and the not so traditional egg hunt.  We also found time to visit a couple local place that I've wanted to go visit for some time now.  I even managed to slip in some time to finish up some yard projects I've been meaning to get done.





A planter from a yard sale find




Glowing eggs for the non traditional hunt





The James River in Hopewell Virginia




The Confederate Memorial at
Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond





Emmapoo wanting to know "are we there yet"