Pasture Talk

NEW RIVER VALLEY M A G A Z I N E

P. O. Box 11816 Blacksburg, VA 24062 o: 540-961-2015 nrvmagazine@msn.com www.nrvmagazine.com

PUBLISHER Country Media, Inc. Phillip Vaught MANAGING EDITOR Joanne Anderson ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Sabrina Sexton ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Kim Walsh AA friend of mine told me recently about having a blowout on the highway in a new car. No one was hurt, thankfully, and I casually asked how new, thinking that perhaps the tires had not been scuffed sufficiently.

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER It was brand new, which may have Dennis Shelor been a contributing factor. She was not familiar with tire scuffing and WRITERS perhaps there are others unaware, so Joanne Anderson Karl Kazaks Krisha Chachra Emily Alberts here’s the lowdown. Car tires have a lubricant coating to prevent them from sticking to the molds after curing. Residue on brand new tires can Jennifer Cooper be slippery, not providing the best Becky Hepler traction. Additionally, the layers of Nancy Moseley rubber, fabric and steel need to Kameron Bryant begin compressing and working well together. The general rule of thumb PHOTOGRAPHERS Kristie Lea Photography Kevin Riley for any car is easy driving the first 500 miles on new tires with gentle accelerating, braking and cornering. And, avoid scuffing the tires with a

Always and Forever Photography rotary sander as competitive NASCAR Tom Wallace racing teams might do. It invalidates

Billy Bowling Photography your warranty and is unnecessary for

Nathan Cooke Photography normal drivers. Warmer temperatures help break in tires faster than cold, and new motorcycle tires need the © 2020 Country Media, Inc. same easy treatment, at least for the Country Media, Inc. will not knowingly publish any advertisement that is illegal or misleading to its readers. Neither the advertiser first 100 miles. nor Country Media, Inc. will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints, or typographical errors. The publisher assumes no financial liability for copy omissions by Country Media, Inc. other If you or someone you know loves the beach, tropical settings, than the cost of the space occupied by the error. Corrections or cancellations to be made by an advertiser shall be received no Jimmy Buffett music, surf, sand and later than 5 p.m. the 20th of each publishing month. No claim shall be allowed for errors not affecting the value of the advertisement. Paid advertising does not represent an endorsement by this publisalt air, check out www.FinsLife.com – coming soon! Look for Fins Life cation. Content cannot be reproduced without written consent from Country Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Real Estate advertised in Magazine on Facebook. Here you’ll this publication is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act of 1968. find our new venture into publishing on the national stage, print and digital versions of Fins Life Magazine. Think of it as a gift for yourself and Christmas present for everyone else you know who craves beach life, even if from afar, like SW Virginia or Vermont or Idaho.. No advertising. 64 pages of brilliant content, recipes, parrothead and pirate profiles, boating adventures and stunning beach photography. Not on newsstands. Subscription only. That’s the sales pitch. It is predicted to be a smashing success! Food Lion is our largest distribution outlet, and you can find New River Valley Magazine in print at Electrical Supply, Blacksburg Feed and Seed, Inn at Virginia Tech (inside first of double doors in the front) and Blacksburg True Value Hardware Store, Macado's and many places. And, always, online at nrvmagazine. com. Thanks for finding it, reading it, enjoying it. Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all the people in the New River Valley and beyond. Remember our advertisers. Shop small. Buy local. Please. It is not a mantra, but a genuine way of life to revitalize and protect the economic health and well-being of our communities. Joanne Anderson ManagingEditor jmawriter@aol.com

Small Business at Christmas Time

The staff at Al’s on First broke away from its food side, prepping, cooking, serving, clearing, to embrace its decorative side right after Thanksgiving last year. “We made little groups of staff members who could decorate trees however they wanted to with what we had on hand,” states general manager AmandaFerguson,whobroughtinseveral trees from her collection. “The trees were numbered, and we asked customers to vote on their favorites.” They all look beautiful in the photographs, so it could

Text by Joanne M. Anderson Photos by Tom Wallace

have been a major tie. Ferguson and the whole team put on their thinking caps when receiving this marching order from the boss and owner, Al Shelor: “I’d like an ice skating rink outside. Figure it out.” Typically, a crafted skating rink has a mirror surface with people in skates on it. That somehow didn’t seem too practical, so the idea evolved into a pond, and tulle was the perfect winter pond surface. Tulle is a fine mesh, somewhat stiff fabric made with natural and synthetic fibers. It’s very popular for young ballerina tutus and wedding veils. Tulle is named for Tulle, France, where it was first manufactured and may have rocketed to popularity when it was designed into Queen Victoria’s wedding gown in 1840. At Al’s on First, it created an attractive winter pond replete with a wood raft for a few large birds. More Christmas trees, a standing reindeer, charming wood wagon with its own tree and large, wrapped gifts and a couple big hanging stars add to the outdoor holiday atmosphere. And it

appears that holiday statements are simply not complete these days without the ubiquitous red pick-up truck. In addition to all the trees inside, an assortment of Christmas garland, ribbons, lights, wrapped packages and a stand-up bear enhanced the festive aura. The restaurant has been open for five years, with Ferguson managing it for four years. The interior exudes a lodge quality and feel that blends rustic country with southern charm and delivers a menu which rivals big city fare. The decorations may not be as extravagant this year, but they intend to decorate. “We are operating with only half

“We again plan to offer holiday drinks and special seasonal craft beers. In place of the grand holiday buffet, everything will be ordered from the menu so people do not have to leave their tables.”

the staff and reduced capacity [under the coronavirus rules], so we don’t have as many people to contribute to the work it takes,” Ferguson states. “We again plan to offer holiday drinks and special seasonal craft beers. In place of the grand holiday buffet, everything will be ordered from the menu so people do not have to leave their tables.” For a fun, little excursion supporting small business, head down to Al’s on First for pan-seared scallops, cedar plank salmon, bleu cheese crusted filet mignon, or comfort food stand-bys like homestyle chicken and dumplings or chicken pot pie inside a flaky crust. French onion soup and lobster bisque are always on the menu, along with Al’s signature sandwiches. Sunday brunch features a pumpkin walnut waffle, smoked turkey, open faced pot roast and other delicious entrees. While you’re at it, maybe spend the night close to home at Jackson Park Inn. You don’t have to walk outside from the restaurant to the front desk where Wendy Akers is the hotel manager. Buy a gift certificate and do all you can to help this and other small businesses which have been required to reduce their revenue stream through no fault of their own. Oh, and don’t forget to smell the roses, or this time of year, admire the holiday decorations.

You can’t fix a tooth with a lug wrench.

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