Nurturing the Right Side of My Brain

In my quest to to nurture the right side of my brain with creativity, I took a trip to an art center.  The Workhouse Art Center used to be a reformatory or correctional facility.  Knowing this, I figured I would bring my camera along.  I'm glad I did.  

The Workhouse Art Center

There are several buildings on this campus.  Each building connected to a long corridor like this one:

All the bricks seen in the photos were produced by the prisoners who resided here.  They built their own prison buildings.  

Small gallery:  bricks on the left side of the wall painted white

Many different artists' studios can be found here.  From mixed media to fiber arts to beading and jewelry making.  I enjoyed hanging out in the studios.  I'm getting ideas for my future studio.

Many of the studios looked down right comfy:

The oil paintings here look so realistic...like photos.  

Walking across the lawn

Inside one of the buildings with long hallway galleries and studios

Inside the ceramics building:  several potter's wheels

Here is one of three guard towers that are still standing:  

Guard tower

This is a very unique art center.  I feel like I could spend hours here observing and learning.  I'm looking forward to coming back during a work day to see all the artists in action.

A Visit to a Local Camera Shop

Earlier this year, I was devastated to learn that my local camera shop, Penn Camera, had closed half of their stores including the one within driving distance of my home.  Local to me is within 10 miles.  They were a true camera shop where they provided all types of services:  camera & lens rental, photo processing, and classes.  Besides cameras they sold a limited supply of bags, refurbished and used cameras/lenses, offered an array of studio products, and some unique photography accessories.  I enjoyed spending time at their shop.  Their sales personnel were very knowledgeable and often spent time answering my questions.  I purchased my DSLRs from them.  

Recently, I had the chance to visit another camera shop, Ace Photo.  I had read their ads and visited their website a few times.  I thought this shop would be similar to Penn.  Was I wrong!  As I walked inside this shop, I was immediately drawn into the nostalgia feeling.  The shop had a "mom and pop" feeling.  Nothing fancy, except they had a lot to offer for a photographer.  They carried the latest camera models as well as used/refurbished and vintage cameras.  

I spent quite a bit of time at this shop.  I met a very knowledgeable sales person who answered all my questions.  Ace Photo is now my favorite camera shop.  Their inventory is probably the best I've seen for a brick and mortar store.  Their selection is better than B&H Photo Video in NYC.  

One area of the shop that really intrigued me was their camera bags.  They carried a big selection of Tamrac, Lowepro, Think Tank, Kata, Domke, JillE, Tenba, Crumpler, Canon, Nikon, Bower, Vanguard, Clikelite, etc.  I'm sure there were a few others I might have missed.  

Camera bags galore!  (Picture by Ace Photo)

Yes, I did spend some wonderful time here.  Time well spent.  

Vint Hill Craft Winery - Vint Hill, VA

A fellow knitter had posted on Facebook about a winery she had visited a few weeks ago.  Today I ventured out to Vint Hill Craft Winery.  I had heard about this cool winery where they let you be a winemaker:  select the grapes from Washington, California, and Virginia, help crush, ferment, rack, bottle, and label your own wine.  How cool is that?!  You can also create a custom label for your own bottles.

Isn't this cool?  I found this in the ladies' room

Production machine

This machine puts the cork in the bottles

Unfortunately, these are empty

Bordeaux grapes fermenting and waiting for another press

Vint Hill pictures in the tasting room

The tasting room in the background.  The floor has been removed and you can see the production area below

A beautiful and relaxing wine tasting lounge

Part of the production area

Great signage...tells it all

More pictures of the history of Vint Hill

Another set of pictures on the history of Vint Hill

The final products waiting for wine tasting

Sampling some wines

I had a wonderful time here.  If you get a chance to visit, stop in and say hello to Martha.

Martha:  thank you for the tour of the winery (the history of the barn and the tour of the production area).

Website:  Vint Hill Craft Winery

La Grange Winery in Haymarket

Late this afternoon, my hubby and I headed out to La Grange Winery in Haymarket, VA.  This was his first time visiting a local winery in VA.  Years ago, we had the opportunity to visit Napa and a few wineries including Kendall Jackson.

I really enjoy taking pictures here.  We arrived late and I missed the late afternoon sun, but I still took advantage of any available light.

On the lawn at La Grange

Checking out the vineyards

Scary balloons to keep out intruders

Grapes still on the vines

Barrels of wine stored in this small warehouse

Several barrels sounded like they were percolating.  I'm going to Google this device to see what it's used for

The main house at La Grange

The warehouse...it's a pretty place

Here's two pictures taken earlier this year using my D5000:

The award winning wines (D5000)

My brother and I took part in the red wine tasting...it was fabulous!  A bottle of Meritage came home with me (D5000)

Website: 
La Grange Winery

Local Farm Market

A quick post for today about a local farmer's market that hubby and I went to visit last week.  Buckland Farm Market.  We bought some peaches, sweet corn on the cob, watermelon, and sweet cantaloupes.  

Naturally, I have a sweet tooth and hung around the sugar aisle:

Look at all the beautiful colors!

Inside their bake shop

There's an onsite bakery.  More baked goods on display

Refreshment area.  Notice the metal wash tub...

...where these little baby chicks were keeping warm

They carried several different brands of honey, jams, jellies, salsas, sauces, snacks, and candies local to the area as well as produce from the local farmers.