photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tell us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tells us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Tells us below or share it with us on facebook!

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Share it with us on Facebook at facebook.com/theroanoker.

photo by iStock/jana rodic

I finally have it! The perfect macaroni and cheese recipe. It’s perfectly cheesy. Perfectly creamy. And, well, perfectly delicious.

Baked, I say, is always the way to go when it comes to mac and cheese (although I’ve tasted some yummy slow cooker versions too). It takes the dish to a whole new level, melting the sharp cheddar evenly throughout the noodles and creating a golden crust of cheesy goodness on top.

My version also features ground mustard, a spice that gives the flavor a warm, tangy boost. Milk and an egg help create a thick and creamy sauce that complements the cheese and just melts in your mouth. Overall, this is my ultimate comfort food. Surprising since I have such a sweet tooth. Those who know me may think it would be gooey brownies or a big bowl of ice cream. But as winter settles in, this macaroni and cheese warms my soul.

Baked Macaroni & Cheese
8 oz. elbow noodles
3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
1 egg
1 cup milk
1½ tsp. ground mustard
1 tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
1 Tbl. hot water
1 Tbl. butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, boil the noodles according to package directions.
• Drain and put in large mixing bowl. Stir in butter, egg and pepper.
• Mix the salt and mustard with the hot water until dissolved. Stir into macaroni. Add two cups of cheese.
• Pour contents into a buttered baking dish. Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese on top. Pour milk over the top. Bake for 45 minutes.

What’s your favorite comfort food? Share it with us on Facebook at facebook.com/theroanoker.

Cindy Shrader: North County Convenience

Cindy Shrader’s Gidget, 13, still loves a walk. (Photo by Brett Winter Lemon)

Cindy Shrader likes history, mountain views and a friendly neighborhood and says she found them all 15 years ago in a North Roanoke County community near Hollins University. Spacious ranch homes on generous lots provide a rural feeling, “but not too rural,” she says.

From her home on Hunters Trail, she enjoys a view of Read Mountain, convenient travel routes to everywhere in the Roanoke Valley and neighbors who like to walk their dogs as much as she likes to give Gidget an outing.

Gidget came to her 13 years ago, first so that she could socialize the pup, found in a Dumpster, and for the League for Animal Protection where she then volunteered. The pup won her heart and stayed.

“I’ve always liked this part of Roanoke County. It has beautiful scenery, little congestion and in a matter of minutes I can get anywhere,” she says.

The ease of travel is important to Shrader, who since retiring two years ago as a sales and marketing officer with BB&T bank, has taken on two part-time jobs and many more activities. She works at Gold’s Gym where she is also a backup instructor for its Silver Sneaker program, and she has a part-time job with Total Peace of Mind, a company that assists with estate settlement.

Shrader works out at Green Ridge Recreation Center, the county’s new facility that opened in 2010 near the Roanoke Regional Airport. She attends Elderscholar Programs at Roanoke College, often driving the scenic Loch Haven Drive, which parallels I-81, to get to Salem.

“But I do use I-81; I am only 10 minutes from it,” she says.

Convenience to recreation, restaurants and even Northside High School are important for her. She dines out at Coach & Four, Lew’s Restaurant, Hollywood’s Restaurant and Bakery on Williamson Road, at Cracker Barrel at Troutville, and at El Rodeo on Plantation Road. Traveling to events at Northside, where her niece is in the band, is easy. Her church, Melrose Baptist Church on Peters Creek Road, is also convenient.

Recycle bins are nearby.

Throw in a bit of history, and Shrader considers her home spot ideal.

“There is so much history here, such as Black Horse Tavern, what’s left of it.” The tavern, built in 1782 on what was the old Carolina Road and now Old Mountain Road, is being restored by private owners.

A Civil War Cemetery is on private property, just off Hunter’s Trail, and before the Bellevue Gardens subdivision was fully developed, a man on a horse who appeared to be looking for someone was spied by residents, Shrader says.

“I guess he got crowded out.”

Wes and Elizabeth Wilmer: Botetourt’s Best of Both Worlds

Wes, Elizabeth and Ashley Wilmer like serenity. (Photo by Brett Winter Lemon)

Wes and Elizabeth Wilmer were living in Roanoke’s Raleigh Court with an infant daughter when Wes was smitten by a photo of a 100-year-old house in Botetourt County.

“We liked where we lived. The city was extremely convenient,”  recalls Wes, an agent with Century 21 – Gold Key Realtors in Roanoke. Elizabeth is dean of the Liberal Arts and Social Studies division at Virginia Western Community College.

They had talked about moving eventually to get more room, but were “just looking” when he found “what our dream house would be.”

“I fell in love with it, too,” Elizabeth says.

The house on Trinity Road near Fincastle is a classic with a wraparound porch and outbuildings that include a large barn, a chicken coop and a garden shed. Wood from the property was used to build the house. On a clear day, the Peaks of Otter can be seen.

Once a much larger property, the bulk of its acreage was sold for part of the Ashley Plantation golf community in the county.

The house was for sale with seven acres, however.

“It was almost a carbon copy of my great-grandparents’ house in Canton, Mississippi,” Elizabeth recalls. She has incorporated many of the furnishings from her great-grandparents’ residence into her home.

Elizabeth was drawn to rural life because of her experiences growing up in Mississippi where her main sport was horseback riding.

“Taking care of a horse taught me life lessons and responsibilities that have served me well, and I wanted Ashley to have those experiences,” Elizabeth says. “She has turned into a little farm girl.”

Wes, more of a city dweller, loves the location, too. He is president of the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club and can hop on his bike for short rides from the road in front of the house, which connects U.S. 220 (Roanoke Road) with U.S. 11 at Troutville.

They purchased the house in the summer of 2007. Two dozen chickens now contribute a dozen eggs a day. A border collie and two cats roam the grounds. The family expects pygmy goats to soon join the family. Elizabeth rides at a stable on Brugh’s Mill Road, five minutes from her house.

“I like the serenity of the country; it has the best of both worlds,” she says. “I also love gardening, and living here is an ideal opportunity to play with that . . . and it’s all play.

Keith & Karena Clinton:  Southeast is “15 Minutes From Everything”

Patrick Clinton likes Southeast’s Jackson Park. (Photo by Barry Brooks)

A plaque hanging in Keith and Karena Clinton’s living room in Southeast Roanoke has the words: “Home is where your story begins” superimposed over “Roanoke.” For these natives of Queens, N.Y., it says everything.

While still dating, they relocated to Roanoke to be near his parents, who had moved to the Moneta area of Smith Mountain Lake. Keith, a professional chef, took a position with a local hotel; Karena worked in banking. They lived in an apartment complex in Southwest Roanoke County while looking for a house and getting married.

Southeast Roanoke city had the most appeal of the areas that best suited their budget, especially after they saw the two-story brick house on Pechin Avenue. On the day they first visited, houses on the street appeared well cared for and the atmosphere was quiet, except when a few dogs bayed at a siren sounding in the distance as an ambulance made its way to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital only a few blocks away.

“Just that little bit of noise was nice,” Karena says.

The view from the front porch shows a mountain in the distance on the left and an in-your-face view of Mill Mountain to the right. The back yard looks into Jackson Park. Elementary and middle schools are within an easy walk, and the Clintons were pleased with the schools’ test scores when they checked them out before buying. A branch library is a short walk.

Their neighborhood is a lot like the blue-collar neighborhood where they used to live, Keith says. Even better, there is just enough noise to satisfy his interest in transportation. Norfolk Southern tracks are just over the hill and one of the flight paths to the Roanoke Regional Airport goes right by Mill Mountain.

Now, just over five years after buying the house with one of the city’s special purchase plans, the family has expanded to include Patrick, 3, and Abigail, 1, and Karena’s mother, Mary Cushion. A Yorkie, a Shih Tzu and a Basset hound complete the picture.

“We’re 15 minutes from everything,” Keith says.

Pechin connects to 9th Street Southeast, which makes it convenient traveling to both of their jobs and to visit family at Smith Mountain Lake.

Keith works in the meat and seafood department at Fresh Market at Towers Shopping Center, easily reached via (Riverland Road) through the Mill Mountain and South Roanoke communities. Visiting Keith’s parents in Moneta means hopping on Virginia 116 in the opposite direction, toward Mount Pleasant. Karena often commutes to her job with Woodforest National Bank at Wal-Mart on U.S. 220 via the Fishburn Parkway and Blue Ridge Parkway. They can walk to downtown Roanoke, and also have quick access to shops and markets in Vinton in Roanoke County.

And, always they can see the Mill Mountain star; “That star is magic,” says Keith.

“I like the open environment,” says Karena, who has planted grapevines and joins Keith in growing a garden each year.

Chad and Shelley Braby: Grandin Village is Raleigh Court’s Anchor

The Braby Bunch loves their “real neighborhood” where Chad heads the Raleigh Court Civic League. (Photo by Brett Winter Lemon)

Isabel and Eliza Braby, ages 6 and 4, often ride their bikes on the sidewalk in front of their southwest Roanoke City home as the parents watch from the porch. “The kids can ride four or five houses down,” says Chad. “We also walk in the neighborhood a lot.”

On a recent Friday night, Chad and his oldest daughter walked to a football game at nearby Patrick Henry High School. The neighborhood has a great sense of family, Chad says.

He and Shelley had their own places on Woods and Walnut avenues in Old Southwest in 1997 and 1998, and then moved as a couple to Greensboro, N.C. When they returned in 2004, they had ideas about what they expected in a neighborhood.

“We knew we wanted a real neighborhood feel with sidewalks and where neighbors all get together. We wanted a front porch where we could see people walking by,” says Shelley. They looked in the Wasena and Old Southwest neighborhoods in the city, both of which appealed to them, before settling on a 90-year-old traditional foursquare house on Laburnum.

The foursquare is typical of houses in this part of the city.

“One nice thing about the neighborhood is that Grandin Village acts as an anchor,” Chad says. They walk to the community market in summer and year round to the Grandin Theatre.  Pops Ice Cream and Soda Bar in the village is a favorite family stop.

Grandin Village has boomed with restaurants in recent years and is home to the valley’s only food co-op, the Roanoke Natural Foods Co-op. It boasts a used bookstore and an upscale furniture store and is centrally located for access to other city neighborhoods.

Chad and Shelley like biking, too, and are frequent users of the city’s greenways. Chad taught Isabel to ride in Smith Park along the Roanoke River.

A civil engineer, Chad is regional manager for a general contractor and also serves as president of the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League.

Living where they do is a trade-off, Chad says. They could probably have a larger yard in southwest Roanoke County, for example.

Both Chad and Shelley are keen on environmental concerns and are active in the Cool Cities Coalition where Chad is a member of the board of directors.

Bo & Libby Blankenship: Sports in Southwest Roanoke County

The Blankenships (Tyler, Bo,Libby, Lucas) are all near work and school. (Barry Brooks)

Family involvement, sports and the outdoors are important to the family of Bo and Libby Blankenship, and they found that their Southwest Roanoke County home delivers it all.

“We feel like we could not have chosen a better place,” says Bo of their Wexford subdivision, one of several new communities developed in the county in the past decade. The area, just off U.S. 221, has good views and is within five minutes of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Bo, managing director of Greystone Financial Group, grew up in southeast Roanoke where his mother still lives. He went to city schools, making a name for himself in football at Patrick Henry High School and winning a football scholarship to Virginia Tech. He met Libby, who is from New Jersey, at Tech. After their marriage, they settled in Raleigh Court in southwest Roanoke city.

Raleigh Court was a good location, they say. Libby and the children enjoyed going to the Food Court in the downtown Market Building. “Lucas [now 14] loved trains, and we would watch them from the Hotel Roanoke walkway and go to the Transportation Museum,” she says.

They still go downtown for dinner and to events in Elmwood Park, but they were attracted to southwest County partly because of the enthusiasm of the parents who support school events and the sports opportunities for their sons. Tyler, 17, is a junior at Hidden Valley High School where Lucas is a freshman.

They also wanted to be near where both of them worked. Libby has been a part-time instructor at the Roanoke Athletic Club since 1989. They relocated when their oldest son was in kindergarten.

“The homes here were beautiful with space between them. It was not far from schools, and we already knew some neighbors,” says Libby. “It was just right. We had privacy in a cozy neighborhood with cul-de-sacs; it was safe for kids to go from one house to another.”

Their two-story home with a walk-out basement offers a great view to downtown.

“I like how much parents are involved in the area,” says Bo, who coached both of his sons in basketball, soccer and baseball in Little League.

Both boys play soccer with the Valley AFC Express travel program. Tyler also plays tuba in the school’s marching band, and Lucas is trying out for junior varsity basketball. Bo is an avid golfer and all of the family enjoys hiking.

Libby owns Xterra Fit, which does group outdoor training for women. Her group exercises outside three days a week all year long, using local parks and mountain trails. “We mix up locations,” she says. “There are lots of trails with the mountains. Mount Chestnut and Sugarloaf Mountain, both nearby, are ‘great hills.’

Sarah & Arthur Grubb: Salem Keeps Calling

Arthur and Sarah Grubb love Salem’s Karen Hills. (Photo by Brett Winter Lemon)

Sarah Grubb just cannot stay out of Salem.

“It’s where all of my memories are,” she says. “I am a born and bred Salemite. Daddy built our home in Salem in 1948.” Sarah’s mother’s side of the family, the Mowles family, has its name on the city’s Mowles Spring Park.

Sarah and her husband Arthur had their first apartment and their first house in Salem.

They then moved to southwest Roanoke County’s Cave Spring area. Arthur is from the county, and they liked their time there too, Sarah says. Within five years, however, the family, then including two sons, was back in Salem so the oldest son could begin school in the system his mother grew up in.

Years later, as empty nesters, Sarah and Arthur returned to Roanoke County where they bought a patio home in the Garst Mill Park area. They also loved that location. Sarah’s commute to Virginia Western Community College where she is an administrative assistant was only 10 minutes. Arthur works for the Virginia Lottery.

But Salem kept calling, especially when the couple decided they had been premature to leave their home city and a traditional neighborhood.

Two years ago, Sarah and Arthur decided to return to Salem. They wanted a medium-priced home with a yard sufficient for Arthur to do landscaping. They ended up in Karen Hills, an established community developed in the 1970s, and only two blocks from where they used to live.

Their oldest son and his family, including a granddaughter, also now live in Salem.

The Roanoke Valley’s always been a little bigger than its size when it comes to shopping – something about having been, for so many decades, the sort of “fort at the edge of the woods” for this part of the state. Per-household retail sales still rank in the top quarter of all 400 North American metro areas, not least because of our bounty of fine local shops.

Chrissy McConnaughy

Chrissy McConnaughy feels that one of the best parts of shopping at locally owned stores is “feeling like they care about getting your business.” (Photo by David Hungate.)

Chrissy McConnaughy has always been a shopper. “Awful, awful hobby,” she says.

When McConnaughy moved to Roanoke from Alabama about three years ago, it didn’t take her long to hunt down cool boutiques.

“I’m not really sure how I found my shopping groove here in Roanoke,” McConnaughy says. “I tend to go to places people have recommended or find new places by driving by and just being curious about what they have. Usually if I find something or feel comfortable browsing, I go back.”

Feeling welcomed is one reason McConnaughy often chooses to hit the boutiques downtown, rather than driving to Valley View Mall.

“One of the biggest advantages of shopping at locally owned stores is feeling like they care about getting your business,” she says. “It’s a much more enjoyable shopping experience.”

Urban Gypsy; 1320 Grandin Road; 400-8552; urban-gypsy.org, and La De Da; 102 Church Avenue Southeast; 345-6131; ladeda.net.

“They both have similar styles – kind of shabby chic and earthy,” McConnaughy explains. “They usually have pretty comfortable clothes that look presentable for going out just about anywhere.”

Another thing McConnaughy likes about these stores: After buying a new outfit, she’s less likely to run into another woman wearing the exact same threads since the stores only carry a few pieces of each style. “I love shopping at Target and other places too, but you’re almost guaranteed to see someone wearing the same item as you.”

McConnaughy appreciates that Urban Gypsy carries jewelry and accessories made by local artists. She’s bought a few rings, some earrings and scarves there. McConnaughy is also a big fan of the shop’s dresses and skirts. She particularly likes that Urban Gypsy carries Synergy, a line that combines environmental sustainability with modern design.

One of McConnaughy’s favorite purchases from La De Da is a lantern made out of Danish Spam containers. McConnaughy and her fiancé Ben Jones hang it ouside their Raleigh Court home in the summer for parties. “It sounds pretty weird,” McConnaughy says, “But I’ve gotten quite a few compliments on it.”

Present Thyme; Towers Shopping Center: 1016 23rd Street; 342-9706; presenthyme.com.

McConnaughy appreciates the shop’s unique home décor which she describes as “shabby chic with a little elegance.” McConnaughy also likes the personal services she receives there. Recently, McConnaughy called Present Thyme on a Sunday to see if they were open and owner Liz Barudin answered.

“Liz told me to come on up even though she was technically closed,” McConnaughy says. “That would never happen at a commercial home decor store.”

Olde Salem Mercantile; 1864 Apperson Dr. Salem; 389-2008; oldesalemonline.com.

McConnaughy loves this store, which is made up of about 50 small shops offering new, handmade and gently used pieces. McConnaughy’s favorite finds: end tables, handsewn decorative pillows, a distinctive, antique-looking bathroom trashcan and a beloved light blue office desk. All of these, McConnaughy says, were purchased for between $5 and $45. “You can catch some really good finds for not much money at all,” she says.

Black Dog Salvage and Memorial Bridge Marketplace; 902 13th St. SW; 343-6200; blackdogsalvage.com.

McConnaughy loves to visit this warehouse filled with architectural antiques and commercial salvage, along with the Marketplace, which offers another 14,000 square feet of home and garden goods from other small shops. “It’s just worth an afternoon of browsing around to see all of the salvaged items,” McConnaughy says. “If I was ever going to build a church, I’d know where to start.”

Twist and Turns; 4822-L Valley View Blvd.; 345-0884; twist-n-turn.net.

McConnaughy has purchased several gifts and home décor items here, but she has yet to spring for a piece of the distinctive handmade metal furniture. Maybe one day.

“Ben really wants this unusual metal lamp inspired by tree branches for his birthday,” she says. “We’ll see if he gets it.”

Chrissy McConnaughy is a board certified behavior analyst for Roanoke County Schools. She lives in Raleigh Court with her fiancé Ben Jones, two dogs and a cat.

Josh England

Josh England: He has high praise for Starlight Bicycles’ friendly vibe and customer service. (Photo by David Hungate.)

Ladles and Linens Kitchen Shoppe; Downtown Roanoke: 305 Market Street; 769-8181; ladlesandlinens.com.

Josh England had visited this store to buy a soda-making machine on the very day we asked him to name his favorite Roanoke shopping haunts. “I love that place,” England says of Ladles and Linens. “There are so many cute little things you don’t see anywhere else.”

Starlight Bicycles; Downtown Roanoke: 310 2nd St. SW; 400-6684; starlightbikes.com.

England and his partner Gerry Hubert most recently bought a couple of helmets here. They both praise Starlight’s friendly vibe. The shop workers, England says, encouraged him to try lots of helmets before settling on a purchase, and when he needed to return one later to get another size, “they let me do it, no questions asked.”

Milan Tobacconists; Downtown Roanoke: 309 S. Jefferson St.; 344-5191; milantobacco.com.

England and Hubert appreciate the way the knowledgeable staff provides cigar recommendations, “We never know what we’re smoking or buying, but we get it anyway,” England says.

Another bonus for England: the shop’s amazing smell.

Shades of Color; Downtown Roanoke: 210 Market St.; 344-1732.

England goes here for accessories: scarves, sunglasses, and gloves. He likes the reasonable prices and the fact that the products “feel like they’re homemade.” And again, England appreciates the store’s customer service.

“The lady who runs it is really sweet,” England says. “I go in just to see her.”

The Binaba Shop; Downtown Roanoke: 120 E. Campbell Ave.; 345-7064; kimoyo.org.

Binaba sells African handcrafted items and puts all proceeds toward medical care and microfinance programs for women in the Upper East Region of Ghana. England likes that his shopping dollars are destined to do good, as well as the fact that the shop is a proponent of fair trade. A favorite purchase was a Djembe drum.

“I felt like it was really authentic,” he says.

Josh England lives in Old Southwest with partner Gerry Hubert. Together they own POParazzi, an art gallery at 36 Kirk Ave. in Downtown Roanoke.

Ruth Ellen Kuhnel

Ruth Ellen Kuhnel says the scarves, boots and vests at La De Da give her wardrobe “a pop.” (Photo by David Hungate.)

Urban Gypsy; 1320 Grandin Rd.; 400-8552; urban-gypsy.org.

Urban Gypsy is a new find for Ruth Ellen Kuhnel. She likes to pop in for affordable and environmentally friendly accent pieces before hitting the Grandin Theatre.

Millie & Co.; 109 E. Main Street, Salem; 389-1595.

Kuhnel has been shopping at Millie & Co. for ages. She says it’s the place to go to find a fun top to pair with jeans for the weekend.

Talbots; 4702 Starkey Road; 776-3044; talbots.com.

Kuhnel says female lawyers shouldn’t feel confined to wearing predictable, dark pant suits in the courtroom. It’s not at all unusual to see Kuhnel wearing shiny red pumps or a bright yellow top at work. Still, every fashionista needs some basic office wear like a pencil-cut skirt or a crisp white Oxford and Kuhnel says Talbots always delivers on those items.

La De Da: 102 Church Ave., SE; 345-6131; ladeda.net.

No trip downtown for Thelma’s Chicken and Waffles is complete without a peek inside La De Da. The shop sells Free People, a Bohemian brand Kuhnel loves. She goes here for pieces like scarves, boots, and vests – distinctive items that give her wardrobe “a pop.”

Kuhnel is an assistant attorney in Roanoke County. She lives in South Roanoke with her son, husband and a menagerie of pets.

Amanda Cockrell

Amanda Cockrell: Her keen eye for home decor takes her again and again to Black Dog Salvage. (Photo by Diane Porter Goff.)

Black Dog Salvage; 902 13th St. SW; 343-6200; blackdogsalvage.com.

Amanda Cockrell has a one-of-a-kind eye for home décor. Two mannequins dressed in their black-tie best greet guests in her foyer. In one room, you might spot a painting of a vampire bride. Out back, you can admire her blue bottle tree. So it’s no wonder really, that Cockrell puts Black Dog Salvage at the top of her list.

“I should not be allowed in here with my checkbook,” she says. “Gargoyles, old columns, curlicued iron fencing…”

Seeds of Light; Downtown Roanoke: 112 Market St.; 342-8037; seedsoflight.com.

This Roanoke shop moved down the street from its former home in the Market Building, but it still sells incense, beaded jewelry and broomstick skirts. “For the inner hippie in us all,” Cockrell says.

La De Da; Downtown Roanoke: 102 Church Avenue Southeast; 345-6131; ladeda.net.

Cockrell defines the La De Da style as “gorgeous bohemian chic.” She has also found the shop’s clothes to be well-made. “Everything I have ever bought from them is still in great shape,” she says.

Walter’s Greenhouse; 1356 Coopers Cove Road, Hardy; 427-3578; waltersgreenhouse.com.

Shoppers can find a wide variety of annuals, perennials and plenty of gardening advice at this family-owned business.

“They have a stand on the City Market,” says Cockrell. “But the real paradise is their nursery in Hardy.”

2nd Helpings Shop; 1502 Williamson Rd.; 2ndhelpings.org.

All proceeds from this upscale consignment store go to fund the Rescue Mission’s work with the homeless. Cockrell lists her favorite shop finds as: “a brown wicker armchair that just needed a nice spray can of sage green paint and a terracotta Day of the Dead mask.”

Amanda Cockrell, a writer who directs the children’s literature program at Hollins University, lives in Old Southwest. Her most recent book is the young adult novel “What We Keep Is Not Always What Will Stay.”

Michelle Lassley

Michelle Lassley: She’s fond of Vivendi’s trendy American lines as well as the Brazilian clothing. (Photo by David Hungate.)

Vivendi; West Village Shopping Center: 3555 Electric Road #C; 772-4308; vivendiboutique.com.

Lassley adores the trendy American lines as well as the Brazilian clothing and jewelry at this upscale shop. She praises store owner Virginia Wiegand for having a keen eye for fashion. Lassley also likes that the shop’s price points are reasonable. Since Vivendi stocks only a few of each clothing pieces, Lassley also feels it’s less likely she’ll bump into someone wearing her outfit.

La De Da; 102 Church Ave.,SE; 345-6131; ladeda.net.

Here’s yet another fan of Bohemian chic. Lassley, who designs her own jewelry, appreciates the beaded necklaces and bracelets here, as well as the crocheted scarves and wraps.

310 Rosemont; Downtown: 312 Market St.; 345-5326.

This shop, one of the most upscale in Roanoke, stocks designer pieces for men and women. Lassley likes to go here for tops, particularly pieces by Michael Kors. “It’s the one place where you can get it locally without having to go online,” Lassley says.

Millie & Co.; 109 E. Main St., Salem; 389-1595.

Lassley goes here for fun tops as well as gift items. Most recently, she bought a mesh cuff bracelet, which looked like it was made from a window screen.

One Step Above Boutique; 208 E. Main St. Salem; 387-3054.

Lassley goes here for backpacks and knock-off purses. “For when you don’t want to pay $300 on a Coach bag,”

Michelle Lassley is a Roanoke County jewelry designer.

More Great Stores

The discerning shoppers presenting their favorites in these pages cannot come close to covering the full waterfront of fine venues in the Roanoke Valley. Here’s a list of additional great stores and shops, many of which are also supporters of this publication:

For The Home

Grand Home Furnishings. The venerable home store has 17 locations in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. 540-776-7000; grandhomefurnishings.com.

Halifax Fine Furnishings. Offers fine furniture and oriental rugs from its store on Brambleton Ave. in Roanoke County. 540-774-3060; halifaxfinefurnishings.com.

Reid’s Fine Furnishings. With a recently expanded presence in the Grandin Village, Reid’s features upper-end brands of furniture and accessories. 540-342-1844; reidsfine.com.

The French Thistle, at 2914 Williamson Rd., features furniture as well as fabrics, upholstery, pillows and more. 540-563-0979; frenchthistle.com.

For Her

Because Girls Will Be Girls and Pampered & Polished Salon are the Salem stop for boutique clothing and full-service spa, at 15 East Main St. 540-387-1801; becausegirlswillbegirls.com.

Bride’s House & Formals is a one-stop shop not just for weddings, but the prom, homecoming or any occasion that calls for looking your very best. 5325 Peters Creek Rd. 540-366-8360; brideshouse.com.

F. Geoffrey Ltd., in Roanoke’s Grandin Village, has 80 years experience with diamonds and fine jewelry. 540-345-8881; fgeoffreyltd.com.

Good Looks/Bliss offers fine jewelry, a spa and clothing at one location: 4235 Electric Rd. 540-774-7478; goodlooksroanoke.com.

Jewell’s Fine Jewelry at 3741 Franklin Road, offers fine jewelry and a personal touch. 540-345-3564; jewellsfinejewelry.com.

Patina, at its new Keagy Village location at 5028 Keagy Road, is a one-stop shop for bridal, prom, special occasion and pageant events. 540-776-1636; patinaformals.com.

The Cobbler’s Wife features fine shoes for women as well as children from 5207 Bernard Drive in Roanoke County. 540-400-6589; cobblerswife.com.

Miscellany

Mr. Bill’s Wine Cellar at 2825 B Brambleton Avenue has brought new life to Roanoke’s wine appreciation. 540-400-7771. mrbillswinecellar.com.

Toad’ly Kids is a children’s boutique carrying clothing, accessories and gifts for premies to pre-teen at 4710 Starkey Rd. 540-774-7282. facebook.com/pages/Toadly-Kids/106204382750882