How Can We Make a Difference?

Many people are wondering what we might do to help with the situation that we all find ourselves in right now in this country. How can we make a difference?

Something that Greg and I are trying to do is to support small business all that we can, especially locally since many are struggling right now.

(Food for thought: Why were the big chain stores considered essential, and allowed to open when most of the small businesses were not?)

Small businesses might include restaurants. The following four restaurants are in Abingdon, Virginia:

Greeko's Grill & Cafe, Serves Authentic Greek Food, Inside or Out

Bella's Has Delicious Italian-Style Food

Pal's is a real success story. The first Pal's opened in Kingsport, Tennessee in the 1950's, and now there are 29 Pal's in East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia. Their architecture is unique, and they always have a daily message on their signs. A large American flag flies over each Pal's. One of their menu items is Frenchie fries.

North Carolina is not that far from where we live, so we go there occasionally. This restaurant had just reopened the day we were there. They remodeled while they were shut down.

Besides restaurants, there are other types of small businesses:

This garden shop also has food items for sale. It would be a great place to buy Christmas gifts.

We found a pretty old Victorian-style floor lamp here in Abingdon for a bargain price.

I got three items here in Hansonville, Virginia for only $11.00, totally! Many small businesses operate in this antique mall.

This is one of the three items I bought, and it was handmade!

If it's vitamins and herbs you need, this is the place!

The woman who owns this sewing shop did a nice job making us a couple of valances out of some old fabric that we already had.

Statuary, anyone? Here's a nice piece at "11-W Concrete &Statuary" in Blountville, Tennessee.

Besides shopping at small businesses, we listen to talk radio to find out what's really going on, and then we share our newfound knowledge with others. Another good resource is www.philvalentine.com .

We also work to get rid of ineffective political leaders via recall elections, and we actively work to help the good guys win political office.

Positive Thought: "When it rains, look for rainbows. When it's dark, look for stars."-Author Unknown

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, August 2, 2020, Becky

Hidden Gems, Fancy Gap & Cana, Virginia

Welcome to this blog post, and also...

Greg and I first learned about Fancy Gap when we were at an upholstery shop in Abingdon, Virginia. Greg saw a lion statue they had outside the shop, and we asked where they had gotten it. They told us there was statuary in Fancy Gap and Cana, Virginia.

Greg wanted a lion statue, and we also wanted to see what else they had in these two towns since we are new to the area.

Fancy Gap and Cana are over an hour from where we live, and we decided we'd be there a whole day, and really enjoy our trip.

In Fancy Gap, our first stop was" Mountain Star Gallery" where they have all kinds of beautiful, local handcrafted items.

"Mountain Star Gallery"

Another neat shop is "The Nest & Hive Shoppe."

Gloria Brown is the personable owner of the shop.

 It's beautifully arranged and decorated, and all ready for Valentine's Day!

Also, there are some other neat shops, like Carolyne's that has locally-made, delicious candy, as well as quilts and other items.

Before we went on to Cana, we decided to stop by the highly recommended restaurant, "The Gap Deli" for a quick lunch.

It was great! It was a large salad for me, and a meatloaf sandwich for Greg.

We topped it off with a piece of fantastic hummingbird cake which we shared.

This is the beautiful view of the Southern Appalachian Mountains from our first stop in Cana...

Towe's Country Store...

which has all kinds of wonderful things, like Amish canned goods.

We had one more stop, the main reason for our trip...

 "Poor Boy's Variety" which has all kinds of pretty statuary and other items for the yard,

and the one item that Greg had wanted is now his, a lion, to stand guard at our new house.

Fancy Gap and Cana in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia are two hidden gems that are just waiting for you to discover. Take a chance; try them out. Bet you'll be glad you did!

Happy Valentine's Day!

(At "The Nest & Hive Shoppe")

Positive thought: Always remember: "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle!"

Thanks for visiting! Until Sunday, March 1, 2020, Becky