An artist's farewell to Floyd
Local artisan Chris Youngblood knows other Floyd Countians who have moved to Warm Hearth and some who are planning to. But it’s still hard to leave Floyd.
After living in Floyd for 43 years, local musician and artist Chris Youngblood has purchased a home in Warm Hearth Village – a 220-acre nonprofit and comprehensive senior living community – and is making the move to Blacksburg.
A group of about 35 friends hosted a farewell party for her outside at the Buffalo Mountain Brewery earlier this month, where storytelling remembrances and homemade cupcakes were enjoyed.
Youngblood, who grew up in Tacoma Park, Maryland, is a fiber artist, portraitist, dance caller, and a musician who regularly graces the stages of OuterSpace and Open Mics throughout town. Known for her bluesy/jazzy Americana music, she has performed at the Floyd’s Americana Music Festival and founded a Monday night music gathering that was held at her home until attendance, 30-50 people, outgrew her space and the group moved on to other host homes.
Half of her years in Floyd were spent on the road and working as an artisan at Renaissance Faires. She had Renaissance shops in Texas, Wisconsin, and Florida, where she sold her tie dye, painted silk scarves and portraitures.
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Youngblood raised two children, who graduated from Floyd County High School, and raised sheep that she sheared for wool, which she used for spinning, weaving and knitting. She regularly plays Scrabble at the Floyd Country Store with a group of friends, has been a member of the Floyd Figures Art Group, a Plenty! volunteer, and is remembered by some riding her white horse in the Dobbins Farm Road community, where she lived in an octagon house. “It was a great big white horse, the same color as my hair,” Youngblood said.
For the past 12 years Youngblood has lived in town where she has been able to walk from place to place. She recently stopped driving due to her low vision and cites the lack of public transportation as one reason for her move to Warm Hearth Village. Warm Hearth has plenty of activities within the Village and offers some transportation for offsite activities. “There’s a big music group and a choral group,” she said, adding that “the Lifelong Learning Institute has a bunch of classes there, and I’m really looking forward to the indoor pool.”
But the primary change that Youngblood is looking forward to is “not working on houses.”
“I’ll be a renter so won’t be doing maintenance. I’m so relieved,” she said. “I’ve owned four houses in my life. Two I built and two extensively renovated.”
Youngblood was thinking ahead when she got on the Warm Hearth waiting list. It took four years before the home of her dreams became available to her. She knows other Floyd Countians who have moved to Warm Hearth and some who are planning to. But it’s still hard to leave Floyd.
“I love people, and that’s what makes it so hard, leaving all the wonderful people. People are so fascinating. That’s why portraiture is my favorite art form,” Youngblood said, adding that she’s looking forward to meeting new and interesting people at Warm Hearth Village.
Click to enlarge images. Photos by Colleen Redman
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