Giving Back - making the communities we live in, better - a few hours at a time

As I drove down Clarkes Gap Road (Rt. 662) today, I heard the satisfying *pop* of a black walnut under my tires. It is October now and the leaves have started to fall. My trip through Waterford, VA down the road to where I live in Paeonian Springs is a pretty short jaunt. The first time I ever saw Waterford was when I traveled there from WVU with my graduate school adviser, Emory Kemp, in 1987. He is an eminent Civil Engineer and Historian of Technology. 
I was working under him with the goal of getting a Master's in History/Historic Preservation. At the time, Emory was a consultant working with specialty contractor Rod Dias to restore the Hague Huff House that lies to the north of Bond Street (see top/center of map below) and I got to come along for the ride! 

History Map of Waterford Virginia

Map home

This is a map drawn by Eugene Scheel, a Waterford historian and mapmaker.

Map Copyright © Eugene Scheel

*Map taken from www.waterfordvillage.org*

  For me - there is nothing like the thrill of seeing a house restoration in the works. To see the organic growth of an old house with it's rooms cobbled together, the studs and lath under the plaster,  to read the history of a room in the shape of a stove that was painted around - it is all a puzzle to me just waiting to be solved. 
Yes I did get that degree - thanks to Emory and the Public History Department at WVU. I had an almost custom made graduate program to follow during my years there.

And as fate would have it - a few years later my first husband and I purchased a sweet 1909 house just down the road from Waterford in the little Victorian village of Paeonian Springs. 
The grass outside was 6 feet tall, the house had 2, 15 amp fuses, and 'supposed' cold water to the kitchen sink. There was no source of heat, however it boasted a two seater outhouse. My friend Gary Geiselman said that if I restored it, the place would look like a doll house - and in fact, it does! 

Years passed, I started Bittersweet Design Studio as an all encompassing umbrella to my Interior Design work, Historic Preservation consultation, hand made goods and vintage wares. I applied to and was juried in to the venerable Waterford Fair for 5 years in the mid 1990s. 
Now, as life seems to do, it has come back around and I will be at Waterford again. This time as volunteer docent for the James Moore Steer house - now know as Old Acre. This house is on tour this Friday October 4th. You can read more about it below.  Proceeds from the fair, benefit various preservation programs throughout the town of Waterford.
"Old Acre

James Moore, Jr., probably constructed this house between 1815 and 1838, when he sold it to his nephew James Moore Steer (1810-1874). Steer and his brother-in-law Reuben Schooley operated a series of agricultural manufacturing shops behind the house along Factory Street, giving that street its name. Exterior brickwork indicates that the northern block of Old Acre was built before the southern end, originally a single story."

*Info taken from the website www.waterfordfoundation.org*

I am currently scheduled to be in the kitchen at Old Acre. Come and see me if you get a chance.

Where do you volunteer? Do you have a favorite cause? Tell me about it in the comment section below! Regards, Liz

Ladies Board Rummage Sale Friday Sales

This little fellow was one of my finds at the Rummage Sale.  I just had to start with him because he is so darn CUTE!!!

The most delicious lunch in Loudoun county is served in this little building on the Morven Park property. 

These are just some of the women who do this for over 500 volunteers every day for almost a week.  We gave them a huge round of applause today during lunch.

Our one year old, deaf kitten Inkblot (aka Inky) is checking out his new crate.  Another great find at the Rummage Sale!  We had a larger one in our kitchen but it really had to go - it just took up too much room.  Inky was use to being tucked into the crate every night to go to bed.  After we took the crate down, he was inconsolable.  He cried every night.  Luckily I found this nice small one (I did have a small budget as well).  Now he feels nice and secure at night - no more crying.

This was the beginning crowd - the Early Birds at 7:25 am.  The 'doors' didn't open until 8:00 am.  Before the doors opened at 8:00 am, the crowd had completely filled the open space you see here in the photo.  There were also two other entrances where they could come in!


Sorry - the dryer just dinged!  New or not - anything I bring in the house immediately goes into the washer and dryer.  I had to go fold my brand new mattress pad ($4.00), and three brand new fitted sheets ($1.00).  We found one groovy vintage flat sheet that Ginna may use as a curtain in her dorm room next year :)

 I had to take some pictures of some hard core, but very happy shoppers.  This lady had an amazing armload of clothes - but remained smiling!

This woman had a great idea - load all your clothes in the wagon.  I think this might get a little unwieldy in some of our departments.
Enough pictures!  I had to get to work.  Socks .25 cents per pair, robes $3.00, new bras $2.00, new pantyhose $1.00, and so on.  We were adding numbers in our brains, making change, and bagging lingerie as fast as we could.  All of our customers were very patient, and we appreciated every dollar that came in.  I can't wait to hear what the sale brings in this year.  
We worked all morning long and then went off to an early (and delicious) lunch.  Ginna couldn't get over the three bean salad that one of the volunteers made.  It had water chestnuts and dill in it and was fabulous.  Afterwards we took some time to ourselves and went to The French Room.  This is where the designer and select clothes, shoes and purses are sold.  Ginna found a pair of loden green dressy cargo pants ($12.00), I found an acid lime short swing jacket ($20.00) -Jennifer Huffman seal of approval, and an adorable 1960s, groovy, long floral skirt (to be sold on Etsy).  
Then off to the Christmas barn - Jennifer says we are going to do 'flocking' - alrighty then!  Ginna is working on her next art project for Art 4.  It is a large 'A' from a commercial sign that she intends to fill with objects that begin with the letter 'A'.  Here we found 'apples', and an 'angel'.
Next stop, the Toy barn.  Here she found two 'arachnids', and two 'alligators', one 'army' man, and 5 Barbies. Wait - Barbies begin with a 'B'. - Sorry - already dismembered - 'arms' and 'asses' :0  !
I always know I am in trouble in the Book barn.  We did get CDs for $1.00 each - not bad, and she bought some classic paperbacks.  I tried to keep my book urge in check.
In the Sports barn I found a pair of men's ice skates, and  a ladies bowling ball (gray and pink!).  Don't even ask...
This is all for tonight.  6 am and my yard sale tomorrow will come awfully quick.  I leave you with my failed attempt at being "Pretty Dress Police" for Ginna - as you can see - I was absent on the job! ($6.00)

Ladies Board Rummage Sale

Tractor Trailers being off loaded at Sorting Area #1

 Come with me on the adventure that is the 73rd Annual Ladies Board Rummage Sale.Go ahead, climb on board this is an amazing ride!   This sale is to benefit Inova Loudoun Hospital.  It all starts with people donating a few things to TWICE IS NICE the hospital thrift store...and grows from there!

Tractor Trailers being off loaded at Sorting area #2

I have attended the Rummage Sale since 1989.  At that time it was held at the 4H Fairgrounds just off of Dry Mill Road.  The different departments were all set up in the various animal buildings.  I don't remember what year they moved to Morven Park, but it was because a small tornado came through and destroyed some of the animal barns at the fairgrounds. Need I say they have grown to fill this new space and more!


Years ago - when I was donating items for my neighbors (I had the truck), I took all of my items to the Nichol's barn over in Purcellville.  Then they started having tractor trailers available in the back lot at the hospital - and you would make an appointment to off load your donations into one of the trailers.  

Sorting Area #1

I think volunteering is an important thing to do while we are on this earth.  When my daughter was in Elementary School I helped there in various capacities.  Then came a time when I was so busy with Bittersweet Design Studio that I didn't have much time to give.  I did manage to design a garden and get that established over at St. Francis De Sales Church in Purcellville,  but that was really it for a few years.  Then my friend Lesli asked if I would like to help at the Rummage Sale.  We try and take time to go thrifting together, although we haven't had a chance in some time.  Lesli was going to be working in the LINGERIE Department and they needed people there to help sort and hang everything.  OK - so this might sound a lot more glamorous than it really is.  But that's ok!  It needs to be done - and we do it!  
Lingerie is probably one of the smaller departments - and we have 12 boxes of categorized socks, 8 boxes of sized bras, 6 boxes of girdles, panties, briefs, and specialty items.  Then hanging racks 8 feet long each filled with robes, gowns, pj sets, tops only, bottoms only, swimsuits, cover ups, slips, camisoles, and scrubs.
With all of this - you can imagine if we are one of the smaller departments - what the other departments must be like!  Let's take a look:

Men's wear

Women's Sportswear

Women's Dresses, Suits and Coats

Children's Department

Jewelry
This was just the clothing area - and I didn't even show you Handbags and Scarves!

Crafts 

                                                         Gifts and Accessories Department

Housewares

There are over 500 volunteers that spend 6 days organizing all of this and of course this doesn't include the countless hours spent gathering stuff throughout the year!  And the amazing thing here is that I have yet to include the remaining departments - Furniture; Frames, Pictures an Lamps; Electronics; Shoes; Antiques; Christmas; Toys; or the French Room!  MORE NEXT POST!