(Outdoor) Concert

Well, it was supposed to be. On Saturday, Cissi and I had great plans to go to Claytor Lake (partly to test out my new water-proof camera) and then to a concert in the back garden on one of her friends house. However the weather had other plans and it rained so much I had a lake in my parking lot. Why travel when you can just step outside?

We ended up going to a wine tasting at the Vintage Cellar where I got a very nice Albarino from the distributor. I know I have more than enough wine but they only made 500 cases of this bottle so I wouldn't be able to get it again.

Then we headed to the concert. Due to the rain, it was moved to the church basement. The music was not exactly to my taste, a little too religious for me, but I have a great time playing with my camera. Cissi showed me some of the setting I didn't even realize it had before despite having it for years now - I am taking a photography course soon!  And there were some beautiful faces and gorgeous kids.

As you can see, I love the sepia setting!
There were 3 different "groups", a duo, a sole male and a younger boy, who I liked the best. He voice was a base and very cool. (Plus he sang the only 2 songs I knew in the evening!)
It was a potluck dinner, with everyone bring a dish. Cissi and I were probably the least creative, grabbing a couple of bags of Doritos from Kroger before we went. But as thankfully everyone else was more creative, the food was amazing. And as most of the group were Chinese (from the Church and Bible groups), it was definitely the best Chinese food I have ever had.

Food queue.

Loaded plate

And yes, the thing on top of the beans is a chicken's foot. I had to try it! I am not sure I would have it again in a hurry. The flavor was fine - it was soaked and cooked in some spices - but the texture was odd and it's very fiddly with little meat. But I had to try it.
It was a fun afternoon. Though as I was leaving someone tried to talk to me about cosmology, starting the conversation with "the problem I have with atheists is..." Not the best start but hey, I was in their church! 

Wine party

Last Friday night I had a party at mine for some of the people I have meet here. The main reason, other than it's fin is I have way too much wine. I am part of a wine club here and get a case of 12 bottles every 3 months, and my latest case got delivered recently. I had also brought a few groupon vouchers for money off wine ages ago when I first got here which were due to run out. So I ordered the wine. No point is wasting it.
When it all arrived I decided to have a party, and save my liver and kidneys. I supplied the wine and other people brought the food. Some of my friends were only too happy to help me make a dent in my collection. :-)
The ones who showed up were from the regular wine tasting I go to every few weeks.

Ready. I think

Chatting

"Have a pepper"

We ended up with loads of food (as some didn't show up and I had made some food for them). So I have had plenty of food for the week!

Part of the table

We didn't drink all these bottles!  Or eat all the salad.

Cissi's artistic veggie master piece.

My famous Malteaser cake (which disappeared quickly)

 It was a great night, sitting around chatting and drinking wine. We got through 3 bottles of red and about 1 and half white. So I still have quite a few bottles left. Maybe I should have another party....

Mill mountain zoo and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Saturday Brian and I went to the Mill mountain zoo in Roanoke. He had never been, despite living here for the past 9 yrs and it was on my list of places to see. I have heard mixed reviews on it but we enjoyed it. It's not very large but worth a few hours.

Snow leopard

Our favorite - red panda.

Monkey

Red wolf

Gate-creshing duck

Scarlet Ibis

Billy goat

Pot belly pig

Though I loved the snow leopards (they were beautiful and really hot in this weather), we both decided the red panda was the cutest. He had such a sweet little face and just kept running around. (Brian now wants one as a pet. Me too!)
We had a look at eating there but the food was not exactly appealing. So we got a bag of kettle corn (popcorn cooked in a large metal drum) and watching the leopards and red panda (who we think was eyeing out kettle corn).
The only real disappointment was the wolverine, who was hiding, despite the fact we went back to his enclosure 3-4 times.

Then we headed over the Star. It's a large metal star (largest in the world) set up on the mountain and it's lit at night, which I am looking forward to seeing. However even unlit, the view of Roanoke from there is pretty nice.

Roanoke star 

View over Roanoke from under the star

After this we headed up to the Blue ridge Parkway for a drive. It is beautiful there and I am looking forward to going back and seeing more.

Blue ridge Parkway

View from Iron Mine hollow, elevation = 2372m 

It was a lovely drive and there were lots of bikes (I was really jealous as it would be amazing to drive along there on a bike). And some cyclists, including a woman who had so many sandal bags, she seemed to be moved everything she owned.

After a lovely drive, we headed back to Roanoke for dinner (Brian cooked fish - it was really good). Then sat with a few bottles of wine and watched movies, though we talked over all of them. :-)

Monkey Concert House

Tonight I went to the Monkey concert house to listen to 3 Penny Acre. This is the second time I have been there. The first time was in April when I got my own round of applause.  I wanted to go but didn't know anyone else to would so I got a couple of buses and walked the rest of the way. I have found if you want to impress Americans, say you have walked! :-) Someone told the band and they gave me a shout out and round of applause for the effort in getting there. That was a first, and it was worth the walk.

The concert is held by a lovely couple, Robin and Jim, in their house. The first concert I went to was held in their conservatory and this one, thanks for the great weather, was out on the deck. It was amazing. I got a lift this time, organized by Jim, from a lovely couple and in general the people are,well, lovely. (I can't think of another word for it - they are sweet and generous and friendly and made me feel at home and relaxed after a nasty week.)

People arrived around 7-ish and everyone brings a dish and something to drink. Then it's a free-for-all.

outside on the deck

3 Penny Acre.

Beatrice,  the bass player

The music was great. And I got told, by the guy sitting next to me, he had a crush on me. Which is great for the ego. He is a really sweet guy who had ben at the red wine and was not looking forward to going into hospital on Monday for a replacement knee. He was happy at having a night off not thinking about it. And I was happy to chat to him.

So I spent the night listening to great live music, drinking wine, and watching fire flies flit in the darkness (I have no idea if they really were fire flies and I don't care - I am going to believe they were). Pretty good way to end a week.

Blacksburg Summer Solstice Festival

This weekend Blacksburg held its summer Solstice festival, taking over a section of downtown. A friend dropped his car off at mine and we got the bus down to near the festival, walking the rest of the way. As I was leaving the house, the weather was a little overcast, so I forgot sun screen and my hat. That was a mistake. I was so hot later.
The road had been blocked off and there were lots of craft stalls to wonder around.

For the girls.

Tempted by these wine bottle wind chimes. 

art from glass bowls.

They also had a petting zoo. I was expecting much (Blacksburg is tiny but kicks the butt out of the Preston festivals so far). (I forgot to take a photo of the goats but they look terrified. I was very tempted to try to free them.)

Chameleon 

Very proud Iguana 

A huge Tortoise!

After that we headed over to the flea circus. We were both so excited.

The Alberti Flea Circus

brave fleas.

little cannon for a flea daredevil act.

Flea Circus owner

The guy was really funny and we had a great time laughing and cheering on the fleas! Though I was slightly glad when it was over as we were sitting in the sun and although it was 5.30pm, it was still really hot. So we went down to the food area and went to a wine tasting for Beliveau Estates winery (which is close by) and I had a glass of white wine (called Destiny) while Brian enjoyed the Soul Singer red. We wondered around and tried to have a look at the wing eating contest but it was very popular and we couldn't see much. So we decided to sit down and listen to the music and share a bottle of the soul singer red (which was nice but but the best I have ever had) and listen to the live music. It was a great way to spend the afternoon.
We then went and had dinner at Bordeaux, my favorite restaurant in Blacksburg, which serves cajun food. After a lovely meal and a bottle of Malbec, we walked back to mine and spend a few more hours chilling and talking. So overall a really nice day. (And I have a nice tanning going now!)