Crazy Faces (In The Hole)

Mid-week greetings everyone from the very damp NC Foothills.  My oh my have we had the rain!  I thought our five days of rain at my recent Blue Ridge Rally were nerve-wracking, but this past week takes the cake.

I've got a fun Story for you today to help take away the rainy-day-blues.  It's all about faces in the hole.  Blue Ridge Peeps, Dave and Sheila, love to stick their faces through wooden boards with circles cut out for their heads.  When they travel, they actually locate these and have a photograph taken.  So when Momma Sharon started planning for our BRR, she had a brilliant idea.  She asked crafty and talented Sheila if she would create a Blue Ridge version with a peeps theme!

When Miss Sheila said that would be fun, Mom sent her this photo and said, "Have at it!"

Using a big piece of chalkboard, Miss Sheila began her work.  She shared a couple of photos along the way  . . .  Mom and I knew it was going to be spectacular.

Very secretively, Mr. Dave drove his car up to the Picnic Shelter and they put the finished creation in the Game Room, turned towards the wall so no one would see it before Wednesday night.  After a bit of discussion it was decided it would hang from the beam on the back side of the shelter, at the perfect height for faces to pop in and out.

It doesn't take much to entertain Blue Ridgers and here's some of the proof at Wednesday night's Peep Show Meet & Greet . . . 

Miss Diane & Momma Sharon 

Crazy Peeps . . . Diane & Mary

Dave & Sheila were responsible for this madness!

Maryland Peepsters . . . Bill & Elaine

Kaia & Lilou joining in the fun

Aunt Becky & My Camper Mom acting silly

VA is for lovers . . . Liz & Geo are our favorites

Beth & Pete couldn't resist the fun

Bob with his Whisper Creek bottle & Susan
posed for photos

Vermonters Ellalou & Patty even came back one
night with headlamps on to stick their faces in a 2nd time

Sandy & Kevin are always up for fun at the Blue Ridge

Peepster best buds Miss Katie & Miss Fran

Two Girl Campers of America . . . Crystal & Mary

Thanks Mr. Dave!  Thanks Mrs. Sheila for adding a whole 'nuther level of crazy fun to the 2018 Blue Ridge Rally!!  And thanks to all of you who stopped by for a silly Story today.  Until I write another one, always remember . . .

"Peace, Love, & Crazy Faces"

Remembering Randy

Back in mid-April, the Blue Ridge Family lost a special, special member . . . Randy Hudson.  Mr. Randy loved the BRR and was the life of the party.  He always created a unique drink for happy hour and an equally unique dessert to take to Wednesday night's Meet 'n Greet.  His T@B, and later his Sonic S.O.B. (what he called "some other trailer") attracted folks like moths to a flame.  He loved nothing more than folks dropping by to sit and visit.

Momma Sharon has been taking snapshots of Randy camping with us since way back at the 3rd Blue Ridge at Mountain Stream in 2010.  The very first one she ever took of him was a breakfast on Saturday morning at Carson's Chapel.

If you wanted to know all about the latest techie gadgets, music systems, and light shows, all you had to do was ask Randy.  He put on a light and sound show at the 2013 Blue Ridge at Raccoon Holler!

Fox will tell you that her favorite wine tasting buddy was Randy.  Here they are at Thistle Meadow near Laurel Springs at the 5th annual BRR.

Randy loved camping at Big Meadow Family Campground in Townsend, TN.  When he traded his T@B for a Sonic S.O.B., he scored his own secret site #000 in 2015 and again in 2017 for the 10th anniversary.

At this year's Blue Ridge, Randy would have been in the center of action in site #5.  When Momma Sharon checked in on Saturday at Fort Chiswell, she told Jeff, the owner, about Randy's passing and that our Peeps would like to pay for site #5 and keep it open for campfires, corn hole, and gathering all week long.  To our delight, Jeff agreed and told us that he would take $100 for the whole week.  Blue Ridgers immediately chipped in and the site was paid for within 24 hours!

On Wednesday evening at the Peep Show Meet & Greet, Bob and Dave poured everyone a little cup of Randy's favorite beverage, Whisper Creek Tennessee Sipping Whisky and all the Peeps toasted him.

Friday morning we had a surprise visitor.  Diane drove up from Atlanta to spend the day with us.  She and Randy had cooked up this plan and she was going to crash on his couch for the night.  Diane put out some candles and photos to honor Randy and other campers we lost in 2017-2018.  During Mom's Saturday evening game in the picnic shelter, they witnessed a beautiful rainbow and knew immediately that Randy had been with us all week.

Randy Hudson, Blue Ridger and friend, 

you are loved and missed!!

Early Early Blue Ridge Birds

Howdy folks!  I was thinking about my Story for this evening and thought I would just tell you about the Saturday that the Early Early Birds rolled in.  Each year, it seems like more and more Blue Ridgers are coming in early on Sunday before our official kick-off on Wednesday.  This year we were totally surprised to find out that eight trailers were rolling in on Saturday!!

Splish, me, My Camper Mom, & Aunt Becky arrive at Fort Chiswell

Momma Sharon parked me in the shade and went straight to the office to get us checked in with Jeff.  He has been really easy for us to work with these last 10 months.  Not only did he let us keep Randy's site #5 open all week, but he bought us two fire pits to use and an unlimited supply of firewood!

Mom got me parked in site #10 and she and Aunt Becky got me turned sideways, situated, and decorated in no time flat.

The chicks & camping flag were out early

The Blue Ridge banner means one thing . . . it's rally time!

Aunt Becky's famous Gravel Pound Cakes are safe & sound

Home sweet home in site #10 for the week

One by one our Blue Ridge friends rolled in.  Mom and her Peeps could hardly contain their excitement.  Geo and Liz, Bob and Susan arrived, keeping their perfect streak of coming to every single BRR alive.  Miss Katie arrived with a huge bag of Peeps for us to share with everyone. Before we knew it, you could hear that familiar sound of Blue Ridge laughter and happiness!

Mr. Geo sitting in the shade at my house

They might look serious, but Bec, Bob, & Susan were really excited

Bec gave Liz & Geo flowers in a purple coffee cup (Liz's favorite color)

Miss Katie delivered Peeps all the way from PA

Dozens & dozens & dozens of boxes of Peeps

Our good buddy, Miss Sue, dropped by for a visit

Blue Ridgers rarely cook on a Travel Day, so the whole gang loaded up and drove less than a mile to Happy Cinco de Mayo Restaurant for supper.  The food was plentiful, the prices low, and Mom and her buddies ended up going there three times!

Ole . . . it's time for supper

Miss Ellen lives full time in her T@B & is on the go all the time

Look at the size of that supper!  Can you say "leftovers for days"!

Back in the campground, Mom delivered Miss Katie's awnings for her new Blue Bird.  The rest of our evening was spent adding decorating touches, getting caught up with friends, chatting in the middle of the road (the folks are famous for that), and looking forward to a couple dozen more Peeps rolling in on Sunday.

Liz's site sign holder is a roasting pan!

Mom made awnings for Miss Katie's new T@B & they look swell

Saturday with the Early Early Birds was a fine day indeed and a glimpse into fun in the week ahead.  That's it for Storytime tonight.  If you drop by tomorrow, I'll have another one to tell you.  Until then, always remember . . . 

"Peace, Love, & Early Early Birds"

Royal Peeps

Back at the 4th Blue Ridge Rally in 2012, we celebrated the Royal Wedding of William & Kate during Saturday afternoon cocktails. When Momma Sharon realized that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would be exchanging vows on Saturday of this year's rally, she sprung into action.  A Royal Wedding Brunch invitation went out to all Blue Ridge Peeps.

Momma Sharon and Aunt Becky started out the day by watching the wedding ceremony while still in bed!  Sue, from next door, even came over to watch it with us.

Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Duchesses, Princes and Princesses from across the land gathered at 10:30 for the Royal Wedding Brunch.  In their finest attire, they sipped tea from china cups, posed for portraits, employed their royal waves, and gathered for a wedding party portrait.

Queen Rebekah of Carolina & Queen Sharon of
Newton were in attendance

Queen Sharon enjoying a Key Lime Wafer

Queen Rebekah waving to the crowd

Lord Rich & Lady Suzanne of Pittsboro

Royal Wedding Tea was served

The Duke & Duchess of Massachusetts

Princess Crystal & Princess Lois

The wedding party dined on finger sandwiches, fresh fruit, & bacon

Prince Kevin & Princess Sandy of T@B

The Queen of Fierce & King William

Lady Kathryn & Lady Nancy 

"Keep calm & celebrate the Royal Wedding with Lady Sheila
& Lord David

Coronation Chicken finger sandwiches

The Duke & Duchess of Chapel Hill

Only the finest china was found at brunch

Royalty and Commoners shared the morning meal

The Union Jack waved in the breeze as guests arrived

Prince Paul & Princess Laura were in attendance

The official portrait of the Royal Wedding Party

Pip pip and cheerio.  What fun we had at the brunch!  Until I have another Story to tell, party on Royal Peeps, party on!

"Peace, Love, & Royal Peeps"