Tobacco Country

Last Virginia Hughes home

While in DC we had begun to hear a slight squealing sound in the serpentine belt area of our engine. It didn't seem to be getting any worse so we purchased a new belt along the way in anticipation of replacing it and, after a little research, also decided to repack the bearing for good measure. Heading south, we first stopped at the home Thayer's parents owned in Virginia before they moved to Washington. The current owners, who bought it from Thayer Sr. and Betty, graciously gave us a tour and proudly displayed the many updates and improvements they have made to make the house even more lovely. Then, after our brief visit, we continued on towards the Brook's Family Farm, near the tiny town of Dundas, VA., skillfully timing our arrival for the day before Thanksgiving. What perfect planning!

We had thought to spend the holiday and an additional day or so before continuing down the road, but when Thayer checked out the noise and the engine belt he discovered that the tension bearing  was completely gone, shredded beyond repair. He couldn't figure out how the belt had continued turning without the bearing, and we were VERY thankful that the engine hadn't died on us on the drive down as the weather had been horrendous and the traffic even worse. Are we just lucky or what?!! Needless to say we had to order the part, which did not arrive until the following Wednesday evening. Be wary when they promise expedited shipping over a weekend. We ordered the part Fri. morning and they didn't begin processing the order until Monday. Don't even get Thayer started on that debacle.

Weather Channel

Brooks Farm

Fortunately, thankfully, luckily we were in a great place to hang out for a week. Many years ago the Brooks' provided Thayer with a welcome haven during a trying teenage year, after his family moved here from Alaska. He can't recall his time in Virginia without mentioning his time with the Brooks. Even milking cows, picking and processing tobacco, and driving a tractor sound fun when he reminisces. Alison and Lenora were so tickled to see him, it had been 25 years at least. Their 4 children all managed to come by for a visit while we were here, two of them driving 5-6 hours to see Thayer. We ate about 5 Thanksgiving dinners, 4 pies, 2 cakes, mounds of sweet potatoes, home canned snaps and baked apples. It was non-stop eating for the first 3 days, then I think we were all worn out and toned it down a bit. We were able to help move chairs and tables around for Lenora's church group luncheon and other little projects. Lenora was pleasantly surprised and pleased that I knew how to do dishes.

Tobacco drying barn

Squirt and Bea(st)

Alison is as quiet as Lenora is chatty, and Lenora just loves to tell stories! After hearing the escapades of every family member, friend and neighbor from the last 77 years (and some of the stories several times) I felt the need to get outside and explore. With no internet and a very warm house, I looked forward to my daily walks outside. Surrounded by acres and acres of farm and forestland, I walked 4-6 miles a day. Bea, their big brown lab, and Squirt, the little spotted beagle and I rambled around each field, checking out the sheds and drying barns that we kept finding. We sat and watched the bright red cardinals flitting through the bushes and tried to sneak up on a beaver in one of the ponds.

Though the Brooks don't actively run their farm anymore, the fellow who does grows a little tobacco, soybeans and winter wheat. The wheat is already 3 inches tall. They own about 280 acres and live in the house they built 55 years ago. I learned about tobacco farming, from planting and harvesting to processing and marketing. As with our farming friends in North Dakota, we heard about the good years and the bad years, weather, crops, prices, machinery, and lack of good help. We learned about growing up poor in southern Virginia.

Alison and Lenora Brooks

Lenora's family farmed and also ran a sawmill many years ago. As a young girl she plowed fields behind the family mule, slept in a windowless upstairs attic, and has been on the back end of large equipment since an early age. It certainly wasn't an easy life! But now she and Alison have a happy, cheerful relationship and have been a hard working team for 57 years. Its very sweet the way they look at each other with such a sparkle in their eyes. They are proud, determined and opinionated folks. I feel very fortunate to have met them.

With an arctic storm looming on the horizon, we said our goodbyes and trundled down the road (without a squeaking engine) toward Historic Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg and Yorktown.