Git on My Camel Named Clyde, and Ride . . .

His name was Ty, not Clyde. But when I saw him standing in the lot with two other camels and a sign saying "Camel Rides," I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity. Hubby Ron looked at me like I'd lost my mind. So did Ron's two brothers and their wives.

Will I be sorry if I don't? I asked myself. I mean, how often will I have the opportunity to ride a CAMEL? It's not like when I was a child waiting in line with the other neighborhood kids to ride Mr. Pony Man's pony, get my picture taken, beg my mom to fork over a few dollars. This was a real, honest-to-goodness, live CAMEL!

Ron and me riding Ty

Five minutes later I mounted Ty and sat in front of his one hump. Hubby climbed on behind the hump. Before we started, I "talked" to Ty. His ears perked up. He turned his head around to get a better look at me. I remembered what my animal communicator friend Karen Wrigley wrote about a wise camel she once met. (Karen's book, Beyond Woofs and Whinnies, will be published and available for purchase in two or three months. I read the first proof book. It's really good. Be sure to get a copy.)

Of course, we weren't allowed to ride unassisted, even though I never doubted that Ty would behave himself. Chris, one of the attendants, led Ty around a ring for a ride no longer than the ones Mr. Pony Man used to give. And I loved it! It wasn't exactly comfortable, but if we'd had time I'd have gone around again. And then I'd have traded places with Ron and gone around a third time!

Chris leading Ty

After dismounting, I stroked Ty's neck and the thick hair on top of his head. I got the impression he enjoyed it, liked having a customer tell him how special he was, liked that a tourist cared about him. And I did care about him. I still do.

Ron dismounting. You can't see me; I'm talking to Ty.

So are you wondering where I was when I met Ty? My husband, his brothers and sisters-in-law and I were vacationing in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, for a week. We'd heard about the musical performance "The Miracle," which depicts Christ's life, crucifixion and resurrection. Live camels and a donkey were part of this incredible performance. My favorite camel was, of course, Ty.

Moneta/SML Community Market

The first time I ate lamb was after my husband and I were engaged. I joined his parents, his two brothers and their dates, for a Christmas dinner. My future mother-in-law served lamb. I had no clue that the mint jelly was intended to eat with the lamb. I put it on my home-made crescent roll.

I know better now. And tomorrow morning I'll head over to the Moneta/SML Community Market to buy fresh lamb. Willie Morris of Springwood Farm will be there with lamb for us to sample and buy. I can hardly wait. I'll also stop by the Wright Brothers beef booth.

If you've never been to the Moneta/SML Community Market located on Rt. 122 next to Resurrection Catholic Church, you should come. Besides beef and lamb, vendors will be selling fresh produce and different kinds of crafts. Hope to see you there.

Klunk

Klunk. I cringed when I heard the sound. I pushed myself away from my computer and walked outside to check. Sure enough, a bird had hit my office window. This time the victim was a male hummingbird. I frowned, walked closer. His tail feathers quivered slightly.

Maybe there's a chance, I thought, remembering that my usual rescue attempt hadn't worked for a pileated woodpecker two months ago. I fetched a basket from the screen porch, took it outside and covered the hummer. I left the basket there for an hour, then lifted it.

I heard the whir of hummer's wings in the basket, and a moment later he flew out and straight up to a tree branch. I smiled, watched hummer fly to the feeder, then I came inside the house.

A female hummer at my bird feeder last month.

I don't know why putting a basket or cardboard box over downed birds usually works, but it does. Wish it had worked for the pileated woodpecker. I looked up pileated woodpeckers in one of my bird books and learned that they usually mate for life. That makes his death even sadder. I hope his wife found another mate.

White After Labor Day?

Funny how things happen. Fellow Lake Writer Becky Mushko met Lynn Dudley, president of the Piedmont Writers Group, while they waited in line at a funeral! Lynn asked Becky to speak to her writers group--Becky did--and Becky mentioned my name to Lynn. Then Lynn saw me on Hal Hubener's "Cover to Cover" TV show, e-mailed me and asked if I would speak at her writers group. I agreed. I'm so glad I did.

On August 25th, my husband and I drove to the Piedmont Art Museum in Martinsville, Virginia, to speak to the Piedmont Writers Group. I like talking to book lovers and fellow writers. And I love to sell books. But I reallly enjoy meeting the people who come to the talks and signings. And the ladies I talked with that evening were a lot of fun. A couple write poetry, some write mysteries, others essays and short stories, and one is writing a cookbook. Margaret Adkins had published Echoes, a book about her life. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Piedmont Writers Group

We talked about cramming bodies in porta-potties, keeping time lines straight, and the need to tie up all loose threads at the end of a book. We discussed other stuff, too, such as writing conferences and workshops, finding agents and publishers, the pros and cons of self-publishing, and the need for writers to join good writers groups.

In front of Macon Bookshop in Lynchburg

On Sunday, August 30th, I traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, where I signed books from 1:00-3:00 at Macon Bookshop, which is a block away from Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon Woman's College). Students from the college poured into the book store to purchase text books. Most spent upwards of $200.00 each and didn't have any money left to buy my books. But I did sell a few, and bought what looks like a great book on bookkeeping. My husband, our two sons and their families stopped by. Son Ronny bought an interesting-looking book about the canals on the James River. He promised to let me read it.

Four of my grandchildren with me at Macon Bookshop

Perhaps you noticed in the pictures that I was wearing the same outfit at both events. Perhaps you are asking why. The reason is because every Southern gal just knows that you don't wear white pants or white linen jackets after Labor Day! Don't ask me why, you just don't! And I really like my white linen jacket and want to wear it every chance I get before Labor Day. I bet I could wear it to bed and my husband wouldn't tell anybody. Hmmm. That's an idea.

White After Labor Day?

Funny how things happen. Fellow Lake Writer Becky Mushko met Lynn Dudley, president of the Piedmont Writers Group, while they waited in line at a wake! Lynn asked Becky to speak to her writers group. Becky did, and mentioned my name to Lynn. Then Lynn saw me on Hal Hubener's "Cover to Cover" TV show, e-mailed me and asked if I would speak at her writers group. I agreed. I'm so glad I did.

On August 25^th, my husband and I drove to the Piedmont Art Museum in Martinsville, Virginia, to speak to the Piedmont Writers Group. I like talking to book lovers and fellow writers. And I love to sell books. But I really enjoy meeting the people who come to the talks and signings. And the ladies I talked with that evening were a lot of fun. A couple wrote poetry, some mysteries, some essays, some short stories, and one is writing a cookbook. Margaret Adkins had published Echoes, a book about her life. I’m looking forward to reading it.

Piedmont Writers Group

We talked about cramming bodies in porta-potties, keeping time lines straight, and the need to tie up all loose threads at the end of a book. We discussed other stuff, too, such as writing conferences and workshops, finding agents and publishers, the pros and cons of self-publishing, and the need for writers to join a writers group.

Outside Macon Bookshop in Lynchburg

On Sunday, August 30^th, I traveled to Lynchburg, Virginia, where I signed books from 1:00-3:00 at Macon Bookshop, which is a block away from Randolph College (formerly Randolph-Macon College). Students from the college poured into the book store to purchase text books. Most spent upwards of $200.00 each on texts and didn’t have any money left to buy my books. But I did sell a few, and bought what looks like a great book on bookkeeping. My husband, our two sons and their families stopped by. Son Ronny bought an interesting-looking book about the canals on the James River.

Four of my 12 grandchildren and me at Macon Bookshop

Perhaps you noticed in the pictures that I was wearing the same outfit at both events. Perhaps you are asking why. The reason is because every Southern gal just knows that you don't wear white pants or white linen jackets after Labor Day! Don't ask me why, you just don't! And I really like my white linen jacket and want to wear it every chance I get before Labor Day. I bet I could wear it to bed and my husband wouldn't tell anybody. Hmmm. That's an idea.