This 'n that around the Valley....Hot and dry in the Valley: The grass is brown as we continue through the dry spell of summer. Even last Thursday's drizzly day did not help ... the garden is parched and window boxes and container flowers needs daily watering (sometimes twice a day). Leaves on the bass, Aussie, and river birch trees in the back yard are falling as if it's autumn ... leaves clutter the ground. Hit-and-miss thunderstorms have been the story all summer....
Thunderstorms later today may bring some relief. With high temps in the upper 80s, thunderstorms that may last into the night are expected with the accompanying rain which, obviously, we could use. It is already cloudy outside. Cooler temps are expected to move in Thursday through the weekend with the high around 80 degrees and lower humidity. That will be nice....
The Augusta County Fair starts today and runs through Saturday night. Exhibits are being delivered this morning by young and old alike and, in years past, I would have been transporting my two kids to the fair with their entries. Over the years they won many blue ribbons for everything from model cars to carwash kits to baked goods. SWAC Daughter finally aged out of the youth category two years ago so that annual tradition is over. The local home school students are always well represented at the fair.
Republicans will be represented at fair booth # 56. Watch for the Valley Family Forum booth at # 65, right across the aisle from the Republicans. SWAC-GOPers will be out volunteering.
Tourists visiting: We live in an area that is popular with travelers -- historic downtown Staunton, Skyline Drive, Blue Ridge Mountains -- many out-of-state license plates are seen as folks try to determine where they are going. Patience ... they are not as familiar with this area as we are....
Political season is heating up with candidate signs showing up around the Valley. Most people will not be paying much attention until after Labor Day....
Bob Goodlatte at SWAC-GOP Breakfast: I'm looking forward to the kick-off of campaign season with Saturday's SWAC-GOP Breakfast at Rowe's Restaurant in Staunton. Congressman Bob Goodlatte will be our guest speaker in this townhall chat, and Del. Ben Cline will be joining us as well. We are only three weeks away from the Republican National Convention and the traditional Labor Day election season kick-off....
What is it about politics? Political junkies get high on this stuff ... crunching numbers, reading polls, pulling up old voting lists ... getting candidate signs out, working fairs, parades, and headquarters, talking with the public ... there is something exhilerating about being a part of it. Yes, it gets nasty; yes, it gets tiring. But, as one campaign staffer said to me yesterday, you know going in you won't WIN all of them ... but if you don't try, you will LOSE all of them. The young campaign workers are fun to be around, to talk politics, to offer advice when they ask, to see the youth and the future of the Republican Party in that generation. Even today they are busy putting out signs and getting ready with the fair. My hat's off to them....
Happy birthday to my mom in Chesterfield....
Happy birthday to my friend Kurt Michael who turns 45 today.
Thanks to Jason Bibeau at the Augusta Water Cooler blog for his kind words.
Thanks to Dave Mastio and Blog Net News/Virginia for the BNN weekly ranking, the BNN 12-week average ranking, and for the BNN conservative ranking. I am humbled.
Blog Net News has been adding all kinds of new tools for use by bloggers. With a presence in all 50 states, they offer a shortcut to checking out fellow bloggers throughout the nation and a way to keep an eye on what makes news in other states.
Thanks to Kilo for the beautiful photos of flowers and butterflies.
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