The Honey Hole

Ever since we moved to NC I suffer from spring allergies.  I read somewhere that if you took a spoonful of local honey twice a day it would act just like allergy shots.  The farmers market doesn't start for another month and the grocery stores don't carry local honey.

Imagine my surprise when I found out there is a new store downtown, called The Honey Hole, that is dedicated to all things honey.  There are candles, beauty products, teas and food made from honey.  There are all sorts of contraptions for honey bee farming and they even sell real honey bees.

I was perusing the honey selection when the store owner asked what town I lived in.  When I said Jefferson,  he suggested I purchase a jar made in Fleetwood as it would be best for my allergies.  I looked at him in surprise and said "I am not the only one with allergies?"  and he laughed and said, "No".  I hadn't told him what I wanted the honey for, it must have been my dripping nose and red eyes that gave me away.

Don't fret if you do not live nearby, you can order items at www.the-honey-hole.com.  

Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival

On the last weekend in March the Mt. Rogers Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad sponsor The Whitetop Mountain Maple Festival in Whitetop Virginia.  I talked hubby into going. After a quick check of the weather, it was supposed to storm all day, he said he would miss golf and accompany me.

We set off around 9:30 AM to partly cloudy skies and mapquest directions in hand.  I have a very hard time reading directions as roads in Western NC seem to stop in one part of town and pick up in another without any rhyme or reason.  40 minutes of windy roads and we hit the Virginia line. I noticed there was no longer any barrier between the road and the side of the mountain.  We followed the Helton Creek until we came to an old school where the festival was being held.

Plates of pancakes, sausage and applesauce were being sold in the cafeteria for $6.00.  The line snaked down the hallway and was moving very slowly.  Crafts and doo-dads were being sold in each classroom.

There was an author selling his books on local history.

I loved these tutu's.

Lots of goodies for kids.

Toys

Handcrafted wooden heads

and items for the home.

The hallways were crowed with happy folks moving from room to room and the pancake line never got any shorter.  The wet and slippery floors made walking an adventure.  We never did figure out why the hallways were wet the whole time we were there (it wasn't raining yet) and figured someone must have spilt a lot of maple syrup.

We were looking forward to the Bucket and Tubing tour (no, not down the creek) but the threat of bad weather was putting them on hold and it was too early for the musical entertainment.  Hubby bought a few jugs of maple syrup and we called it a day.

Pot of Gold

All afternoon it had looked like rain.  When we sat down for our dinner of corned beef, cabbage and potatoes it finally started.  Our son looked out the back window and announced there was a rainbow.  I jumped up and grabbed the camera.  Sure enough there was a huge rainbow in the valley behind our house.  You could even see the end of it.

I stepped out into the rain to snap a photo and saw that it was a double rainbow!

If you look closely you can see the leprechaun's pot of gold in the cow pasture.