Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion - June 19-21, 2015

Another Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion has come and gone. 

 

This one was a bit different for me as it was held in my home state of Virginia which meant that my driving time to attend was greatly reduced from the usual day of driving Interstates to only just over an hour on  beautiful mountain roads.  It was the same in that the comradery of the attendees was tremendous as always.  Loyal Friends of Gladys Taber just have the best time when they gather.

 

Lynchburg was the venue for this 2015 Reunion.  Gladys had lived in Virginia for about 10 years when her husband served as Chair of the Music Department of the Randolph-Macon Women’s College, now named Randolph College since recently transitioning to a coed institution.

 

2015 Friends of Gladys Taber Reunion attendees in front of Gladys and Frank's home in Lynchburg, VA

back side of Taber home

As a group, we shared good food, good conversation and several organized presentations/tours in Lynchburg. 

 

Two other Friends, Janet and Penny, and I took off on our own during some down time to return to the Taber home and to Randolph College for more photos and spontaneous adventure.  We were thrilled when our outing developed into a private tour of the Music Hall on campus. It was Saturday and summer break, so we had the place to ourselves.  We quietly, and not so quietly, roamed the hallways and rooms envisioning the time back when Gladys and Frank were a part of this college scene in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s.  This side expedition was definitely the ‘icing on the cake’ of this year’s reunion.

 

 

 



possibly the entrance to Frank Taber's office in Presser Hall

Presser Hall - Home of the Music Department

After the formal event, I had invited all attendees to come out to my farm for a barbeque of our farm-raised meats (beef, lamb and pork) with fixings which included three menu items from Taber’s own cookbooks (Rancho Baked Beans, Col. Murray Edwards’ Vichyssoise and Lemon Bisque - yummy) and to experience my small part of the Shenandoah Valley.  A good number of Friends accepted my invitation.  My husband Glenn was the tour guide as he offered mule rides (not the four-hooved variety, but the four-tire variety) around our farm.  Although I did not partake, I am sure Glenn spoke to our farm management practices which he is very passionate…mob-grazing and rotational grazing. 

 

 

getting ready to leave for a 'mule' tour of the farm

 

I certainly hope our visitors had as good a time on the farm as I had in sharing it with them.

 

I offer my sincere thanks to the two wonderful members who organized this 2015 Reunion (it takes a lot of time and heart) and to those who attended and contributed to a wonderful weekend.

 

Yes, another Gladys Taber Reunion has come and gone, but the memories will last forever!

 

 

NOTE:  If you are interested in joining the Friends of Gladys Taber, please go to www.friendsofgladystaber.org for the specifics.  New friends are always welcomed!