I wish I could say I strolled Main Street today, but I started out in the car and walked as much as I could amidst the thawing snow and ice. Or as Rob might say, I "hoofed" it. I can just hear him now. Anyway, in my new position with Advance Abingdon, my goal is to visit as many merchants as possible, introduce myself, find out the whats, whys and whos. My first stop was Greer Jewelers (253 West Main). Oh, I already know Susie and Carson, so this wasn't an introduction. I had some business do with Carson and he was hard at work as you can see. I've been drooling over a pair of diamond and tanzanite earrings in one of their cases. I have a very nice photo that I'd planned to post here, but I am afraid someone else will like them as well as I do. You know, someone who can show them the money a little quicker than I can.
My next stop was Magnolia located at 792 Baugh Lane. For those of you who know what this means, it's not in the Main Street footprint. I'm trying to include any "town" business in the scope of my work, so I ventured out of downtown a little. I really wish Magnolia was downtown where they could get walk-in traffic. This is a beautiful store with upscale contemporary furnishings, accessories and gifts. They have a focus on lighting as you can see in this photo of a driftwood chandelier which just caught my eye.
Now this would not work in my house, but there are lots of homes where it would really shine. Oh, I made a pun!
Magnolia carries Hobo wallets and handbags, candles, books, lamps, sofas and chairs, and so much more as the above image shows. As neat as the place is, so it is with the proprietor, Lori Noonkester.
Here she is with Cynthia Yontz of inourneighborhood.com. You need to check out that website. Anyway, Lori and her daughter, Jessica, have a wonderful thing going in the young Magnolia. By the way, they are having a sale.
I headed back into town where I had a brief chat with Anna at The Male Ego (500 East Main).
I'm afraid I did not get inside photos. Anna is as pleasant as can be with an enviable short hairdo. Would you have thought that their busiest time of year would be around the holidays? For some reason, I would not have guessed that.
I stopped in the Chamber office and interrupted Suzanne and Neta's lunch. We had a lovely, educational visit. These two ladies know what's going on. And this is a popular place to hang out. There were several other visitors and we had the chance to talk about my new home, the Fields Penn House. That place is really a jewel with such a nice story, all true! Have you ever seen Estelle Penn's name scratched in the window? Turns out Ms. Penn was a teacher and she never married. I talked with one of her student's at the Chamber office. Come to think of it, that's a fact I might need to double check. Maybe there was a mother who was the student. Hmm. Didn't take photos of Neta and Suzanne, but bet I could have if I'd asked. Did a brief intro at Camella's Remember When tea shop, but they were busy with customers, so I did not get a shot there either. Will work that in another time.
Stopped in The Gallery at Barr Photographics (152 East Main) for a visit with Dean. His current show is his own work of photography which I found quite impressive. He helped me take this photo since my skills are somewhat limted and my photo looked like it was taken by a vertically challenged person!
Was able to take in the Yogi bear movie with some friends tonight at Abingdon Cinemall. I grew up with Yogi Bear! It was a cute movie! You know, when I first moved to Abingdon, we did not have a movie theater. I'm thankful I don't have to leave town to see one! If you run into me soon and you hear "Hey hey, Boo Boo," just remember where I've been.
