I want to be a professional Rosarian.

I love roses.  Like, more than Coca-Cola, more than Parks & Rec, more than getting film developed and not having to forego meals for a week because it was so expensive - I LOVE ROSES.

Chris and I often go to the Old City Cemetery - a historic cemetery in Lynchburg, VA full of beautiful century-or-more-old headstones, antique roses to make you swoon, and birds upon birds upon birds for the avian enthusiast in both of us - to take a peaceful walk and just relax.  In all the years I've been going, I've about died of jealousy over their collection of (quite old) antique roses, but I never knew until last Sunday that they actually sell rooted cuttings of their roses!  I, my friends, am the proud new mother of a Mademoiselle Franziska Krüger - my first antique rose.

Yesterday I just sat on my porch staring at her and gently stroking her leaves.  I'm telling you, I'm nuts about roses.  And I want to be a professional Rosarian.  Now I'm wondering where I can take cuttings of roses here and there for rooting without getting run off...

roadtrip: north carolina, pt. un

For the last few days, the mister and I have been doing a little exploring on two wheels. Loaded with only the items that could fit in a backpack, we headed out (rather, sped like we were running from the cops) on our sport bike with our destination being Chapel Hill, NC, Greensboro, NC and all points in between. First stop, breakfast. I'm a light morning eater, but since it's the man's favorite meal, we went home cookin'. I had a bit of self control, but the same cannot be said for him. -P.S. If you're ever passing through South Boston, Virginia and looking for the best bacon on the planet, look for CJ's Country Kitchen. Good. Cheap.