Loose Leaf Notes

– The following first appeared in the November 10, 2016 issue of The Floyd Press.

Some remember Liz Stucki as the co-owner of Mama Lizardos, a popular restaurant that was once located in downtown Floyd.  Others remember her as the woman who hosted an open house Thanksgiving dinner at the VFW for years, or the trailblazing artist who has illustrated books, made clocks, ceramic totems, wrote poems and baked gourmet cookies for the Floyd Center for the Arts (Jax) fundraisers.

On a recent Sunday Liz celebrated her 80th birthday with family and friends. The longtime Floyd resident now divides her time between a family homestead in Sugar Grove Valley, Christiansburg, in a house that her son Dave Brown built for her, and Titusville, Florida. She also has a cottage in the town of Floyd on her daughter Lin Willow’s property. She is mother to many, and has three children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Liz, who is originally from Neilsville, Wisconsin, greeted friends with hugs. She talked about first coming to Floyd in the early ‘80s and life in sunny Florida, where she’ll be heading on Tuesday.  Brown and his partner Winter Hart organized the party, which included a potluck feast and a bonfire along the creek.

Instead of receiving birthday gifts, Liz offered some of her belongings in yard sale fashion to others, as part of her lifestyle of downsizing and living simply.  The longtime vegan, along with Hart, baked and presented an array of cakes, some of which were gluten free and vegan.

Winter Hart (in white) addressed a circle of friends.  Also pictured are Stan Davis and Becky Franham of Eats Natural Foods, Jayn Avery and Liz’s son Dave.

More hugs.

Birthday attendees enjoyed a late afternoon potluck along the creek in Sugar Grove Valley.

Cakes made by Liz and Heather.

The entrance way to Liz’s tiny house.