Just before setting out to Ashland Thursday, I didn’t know where I’d be laying my head by day’s end. Once the word got out though, and kind friends and neighbors began extending great offers. I ended up being invited to breakfast and meeting the local government at Friday morning’s Town Hall, and ….
Warmly invited in, I spent Friday and Monday at Town Hall, using their web access to catch up and to plan the remaining miles between here and D.C.
…
Shortly after arriving to downtown Ashland, Jenny Schöntag first found me a safe place to drop my cartload of stuff, and then helped me arrange hosting for the weekend. Jenny & her husband, Sammy Giacco, had something cool to invite me to every day I spent here in Ashland. They even played the support driver role as I walked to Hanover yesterday!
Shown here, Jenny, Sammy & Jenny’s Mother hosted me to a most DELICIOUS vegetarian “meatloaf” dinner last night– first time I’d ever had vegetarian meatloaf– and certainly not the last.
Thanks for all your warm hospitality, Jenny & Sammy!!!
Visiting the wonderful-vibe home that Jenny Schontag had built– where she now lives with husband Sammy Giacco!
Though I still have yet to learn her last name, within only five minutes of meeting her and answering her questions at the end of last week, Ingrid invited me to spend my nights in Ashland in the extra bedroom of her cozy, antique apartment. What’s more to love about this story is that upon extending the invitation to me, Ingrid was on her way out of town for the weekend, opening her home and her kitchen to me upon saying adios.
Ingrid returned last night–and I finally had the chance to get to know her. Her story inspires me: she took a serious pay cut to become Town Engineer for Ashland. However, compared with the commercial work she was previously a part of, she now feels enriched by doing her part to serve the people of the Town of Ashland. (Go, Girl!!!)
Casa De Ingrid, Ashland, VA
Inside Ingrid’s in Ashland
Inside Ingrid’s in Ashland
Seeing the last song of the Taters at Ashland Coffee & Tea. Jenny Schontag, hostess extraordinaire of Ashland, began her singing performances with The Taters!
Downtown Ashland, “The Center of the Universe!”
Ashland, Virginia: “The Center of the Universe!”
Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, Virginia
Ashland, VA
Thank You: Jenny Schontag, Sammy Giacco, Ingrid Stenbjorn, Lee Wilkinson Warren, Sylvia Bradshaw, Patty Kruszewski, David Hindman, Paul Turk, Alexis Thompson, and many others who swarmed in to offer me sweet assistance on my way into Ashland!!