good 'ole boys

If you ever venture into Virginia (which I hope you do) and you mosey on down to the city of Staunton (which I hope you do) you have to go down to Marino's on a Tuesday night.

For over 30 years this has been the best place for burgers, beers and bluegrass pickin'!

I have been for the burgers before, but never the bluegrass. This past Tuesday, Andrew and I went with two of our friends, Michael & Kim for....you guessed it....burgers, beers and bluegrass.

It was an amazing night. We don't usually leave the farm for the city at night (like, ever?) but this is one place that Andrew and I felt at home in. Here's some proof:

I must have been so caught up in singin' and smilin' that I had to give a HALLELUJAH!

Here's a little video from the night. Everyone was singin' "Long Black Veil". It makes me happy.

Untitled from Valerie McQueen on Vimeo.

Who's comin' next Tuesday?

city folks

quote from "Rural Virginia"

another favorite page here.

happy hump day.

Woman Cave

image found here


I am going to make Andrew build this for me.

I don't think it looks that hard.

And I need it for secret meetings.

Like this. (although it's not secret & we want you to join)

How perfectly dreamy.

hello old friends

You know how you have that one room that just collects unopened boxes after a move? Oh you know that room. Due to an upcoming event at la casa de trailer, I was forced into going through these boxes that sat in a barn for over 9 months after the move from Richmond.

Talk about piles of just....you know what. When did I acquire all of these nicknacks? It was a beast of a project that took me almost an entire day of watching "Moulin Rouge" over and over to clean the boxes out. (I clean to my favorite movies...it inspires me).

Then I found a box full of old journals. I have lugged around these suckers for years. They are just dripping in college & post college ANGST. Oh, how I wish I could just go back and shake my shoulders and tell myself how it was all going to be O-K.
I couldn't help but get a little sad last night, as I sat reading a journal that I wrote my senior year of college. I was so wrapped up in my own insecurities & how I didn't think I was good enough for this...or why aren't I good enough for that.... I don't know how I ever graduated.

And then it inevitably happens: I read something that I wrote 5 years ago that I am still writing in my journal today. The same negative thoughts or "problems" that I have with myself. Will I look back in ten years and want to shake the shoulders of my 26 year old self? Probably. But what I did learn from reading through my old friends last night was that I want to be kind to myself. Maybe if I am just a little more gentle with my soul then I will grow past these thoughts that have not disappeared from my journal entries.
Or, maybe I need to write a letter to myself like this .

I don't think that I need to make it a habit to read my old journals. I want to keep them for the memories but I also like clean fresh pages that aren't soaping wet in anxiety. I just need to fill those new pages with more compliments and less judgments.

ps. I am jessie spano

what the internet machine will do to your brain when left unattended:

i run for covers.

Is it me or is it incredibly hard for anyone else to get up when the alarm clock goes off on Fall mornings?

Especially when you are the first one who gets out of bed.

Did I mention that I am the first one out of bed? I really don't like the responsibility of it all.

coffee maker
dog taker-outer
cat feeder
official clock watcher

nah. I'm done. I resign, starting today.

our announcement (yesterday)

We set a date!

this seems very official and REAL.

and I'm sooooo excited about the planning! It seems like all of the sudden every single one of my friends have become master wedding planners and have the best ideas and suggestions to help on our DIY wedding. (did I mention it was going to be very DIY? yes, indeed.)

But then you have moments, like last Thursday when I was checking out of my hotel. A girl was at the front desk going over a box full of goody bags with probably her mother and sister/friend. I asked her the obvious question and she replied that she was getting married that weekend. I told her I was just starting to plan for this next year.

Her advice:

"I just can't wait to get this over with."

and she laughed and said, "I'm kidding."