The Wharf at Dusk

The Pullman Restaurant on the Wharf...interesting name for an area with an Amtrak ticket station and former depot. But there is a former mill just a block away, so maybe there used to be a canal or creek here.


Looking down from the overhead bridge at the tracks behind the restaurant.

Why?

As I sauntered around town near dusk last weekend, I saw this chimney seemingly sticking up out of nowhere. So I decided to take a look....and ended up with more questions. Why would there be a barbecue with a stone chimney on a property in the middle of town alongside a driveway?

Another dress nears completion...

Maggie's dress just needs facings tacked, the lacing in the back and a hem. I ended up doing quite a bit of the tiny upper sleeve work by hand (the trim part marks the bottom of the upper sleeve; the hanger is too large to let the sleeve hang as it will when the dress is worn). Though four years old now, Magdalena Hope, her parents say, only weighs about 30 pounds; she's tiny like her mom was (and is!). The sleeves were too small to fit over the free arm of the machine. And when I tried sewing from the inside of the sleeve, the space was just too small to handle. I spent two evenings doing a job that ended up taking only an hour or so by hand.
Eliza, who is 50 pounds and almost six, will have a slightly larger sleeve; we'll see if I can do it on the machine or if I'll also do it by hand. After the experience I had with Maggie's, I won't try too hard to do Eliza's on the machine. If I can't do it fairly easily by machine, I'll just do it by hand as well. My hand sewing seems to be as strong and secure as the machine work (and before sewing machines were invented, all sewing was done by hand and held; so why shouldn't mine?)

The Wharf at Night

Played a bit tonight with the night setting on my camera. This photo was taken from the wooden walkway above the train tracks at The Wharf. The tour guide, a few weeks back, didn't know how this section of town got its name. But Amtrak picks up waiting travelers seated on benches beneath the pavilion parallel to the tracks; the small building with the green gabel is the Amtrak ticket station. The large brown building behind it is The Mill Street Grill, where diners can find some great ribs on the first floor (hidden behind the ticket station).

Coming Out Party...

Geoffrey, Michael Geoffrey and Stephanie Glass


Michael Geoffrey Glass came out from his hiding place in the womb. His mom said he was born "at 1:46 am on July 5th. He weighs 6 lbs 5 oz and was 19 inches long. He was exactly 3 weeks early. Everyone is doing fine. Active labor lasted 5 hours. Not too bad for a first child."


Interestingly enough I felt a strong urge to pray for Stephanie and Michael on the Fourth of July. (Stephanie and my oldest daughter were best friends in junior high and have remained close since; see earlier post in June archives, "Baby Shower in Charlottesville" 1 June 2007). I didn't know why I felt the need to pray, as I was pretty sure that little Michael's arrival wasn't due for a few more weeks, but I prayed anyway and then, the next day, saw on my e-mail that little Michael had come. Another reminder to pray for folks whenever they come to mind...many times we don't learn why we prayed, but every now and then, God lets us know and, in so doing, reminds us that we are partnering with God when we pray. What a privilege!

A Very Unpatriotic Fourth

I overslept and missed this morning's 5K at 7:30 and 10 a.m. parade at Gypsy Park. But I did spend the afternoon on a planned activity -- preparing for Labor Day weekend and Sam's wedding. AM's dress is finished except to sew on the trim, and hemming and finishing the back, all of which needs to wait until AM tries the dress on again. I'm feeling a lot less pressure now this one is done. Sam's wedding dress, the same pattern as this one, should go a lot easier.
I DO plan to see the fireworks in the park tonight, so hopefully I won't miss ALL of the traditional Fourth of July activities.

New Living room

Because the realtor is showing the building in which I live tomorrow, I put away the sewing project and de-cluttered the living room. Above: the new-to-me gate leg table unloaded and open. Below: re-arranged and tidied living room.