The Rest of our Weekend

 First, a bit of business. Blogger was at it again, as I didn't see any new posts in my notifications for 4 days. I poked around a bit, but I'm sure I missed some of your blogs. It looks like maybe notifications are working again, so I should be visiting more regularly. I hope there are no more problems for a while. But Blogger is free, and sometimes you get what you pay for. Now on with the post.

Last weekend, we went to West Virginia for a family reunion. Here are a few of the highlights.

When I was growing up, we gathered at my grandparents' farm every summer to celebrate my grandmother's birthday. There were 23 of us cousins, and we had a great time running around the hills, but mostly playing in the creek and catching crawdads. Everyone would bring food, and we would usually make ice cream. I had so much fun. After my grandparents both died, we discontinued the gatherings for a few years. But the farm was still in the family, so we started them again. 

A young Theo playing in the creek at my grandparents' farm.

It was very special to me that I could take my kids to play in the creek and experience the big gatherings just like I did. We have continued the reunions over the years, but the crowd has gotten smaller and smaller. However, I'm still very happy to connect with any of my cousins who can make it, and this year was no exception. 

Although not the primary focus of the picture, you can see two things we have at our gathering every year. One is the crock with flowers that has the family name on it (blotted out), and the other is the tablecloth where attendees sign their names and dates.

Next to my family farm is a big farm where my father and his brothers all worked. I had heard for years that a Revolutionary War soldier was buried there. This year, I finally visited and found the markers of Bailey Rice and his wife, both born in the mid-1700s. 

Bailey survived the war and lived to be almost 100 years old. Almost triple the life expectancy at that time.

The other event we hoped to see last weekend was the Sternwheel Festival in Marietta, Ohio. Marietta, Ohio is directly across the Ohio River from Williamstown, WV, where we stayed. The first night we sat on the WV side and listened to the music and watched the barges and boats on the river. Saturday night was a big night of fireworks to celebrate the 50th year of the festival. After trying several places, we returned to my cousins' because of the crowds. And that worked out great. We sat on their porch out of the rain and saw a great show in the sky. We used a live stream for the lower-down displays.  So we didn't actually make it to the festival, but we got to participate in a way, away from the crowds. Just the way I like to do things.

There was a large stage at the waterfront with live music all day.

Sternwheelers lined the banks. There was a race Sunday afternoon that we didn't stay for.

We left Sunday morning planning to get home by 4 o'clock, in time to pick up our entries at the local fair. We entered them Thursday night before we left, and they had to be picked up 4-6 pm on Sunday. Luckily, we made it in time.

Along the way, we stopped at Cooper's Rock State Forest in WV. Fog obscured the otherwise scenic views.

 

Ward got Grand Champion with his Roycroft table.

And I got a blue ribbon for my embroidery sampler.

After the fair, we could finally go home. We were hot and tired, but happy with our weekend of visiting.

Until next time...

On the Road Again

 

Ward and I went back to West Virginia this past weekend for a family reunion. We have made this trip across the mountains many times to visit my parents and other relatives. For most of those trips, the destination was more important than the journey, so we made few, if any, stops other than gas and bathrooms. 

Now that we have more flexibility in our schedule, we try to fit in at least one activity along the way. Last time, it was a visit to the river trail in Morgantown, WV. This time, our stop was in Mt. Davis, PA, the highest point in Pennsylvania at 3213'.  Blog friend Kris recently visited there on her vacation, and when I found out it was only about 30 minutes off our route, I thought it would make a good stop since it was around the halfway point. 

We left at around 8 am, with a planned arrival at around 5 pm. After a stop at the Sidling Hill Welcome Center, we made it to Mt. Davis by mid-morning. During the first couple of hours of the trip, we drove in and out of rain, but the rain miraculously cleared by the time we reached the park. Here are a few pictures from our stop.

As we drove into PA, we soon discovered we were in Amish country.

Mt. Davis has a 50-foot observation tower built in 1931. Ward climbed to the top, but I did not follow him because I have a healthy fear of heights. The sky was clearing, and he said the views were good.

Just behind the tower is the marker for the highest point. It is on the leaning rock on the right side of the picture.

Just down the road was an overlook that you didn't have to climb to see. I always take note of Eagle Scout projects because Wally and Theo each did one.

The trees were cleared in front of the viewing platform so you could actually see out over them. A nice touch that you rarely find.

After our lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and apples, we were on our way again. The park didn't have bathroom facilities, so we made another stop when we were back in Maryland at Grantsville. Here we discovered we were in Bigfoot Country.

Not only was there a Bigfoot statue outside, inside the store there was a 6' Chewbacca statue.

Back on the road, we made it another hour or so before we decided to take another detour. Ward had never driven around the town of Clarksburg, so we went exploring. But soon we were settled in for the last 1 1/2 hours of our trip. 

But wait, we stopped again when we needed to find a bathroom. (You know, sometimes it's hard to coordinate these bathroom stops. 😉) We exited where we thought there might be a Subway, but as happens in rural areas, the attractions are far from the exit. In fact, we never found any public bathrooms. However, we did find part of the North Bend Rail Trail to stretch our legs on. 

I was fascinated by the mass of red bugs we saw on the rail trail. I knew I had seen them before, but couldn't remember what they were. A little Googling told me that they were box elder nymphs.

We made one last stop in Parkersburg before we continued to our final destination of Williamstown, about 20 minutes away. We were checking on some work that was being done on my grandmother's headstone. And guess what, we arrived at my cousin's house precisely at 5 pm, just like we planned.

Ward and I occasionally talk about driving across the country, but I told him it would take us a year at the rate we go. But you know what, it's nice to be at the stage of our life when we have time to meander if that's what we're in the mood for.

More about other days on our little excursion next time.

Until next time...

Out and About

 We've been out and about for the last several days. Let's see if I can remember where we were.

It started Saturday afternoon, when we went to an art show that an acquaintance of mine was having. She is quite the accomplished artist, but I had never seen any of her work. Unfortunately, she is losing her sight and cannot see well enough to paint anymore, but she is making collages, which we saw. They were colorful abstracts, and I liked her balance of colors and textures. Unfortunately, we couldn't take pictures. And unfortunately, her works were out of our price range.

The venue for the show was an interesting place and new to us. The complex had a history of over 200 years and was a cloistered monastery and later a school for many years. Eventually, Marriott took it over and transformed it into a luxury hotel. 

What used to be the front of the church is now a bar for the hotel.
I'm not sure how I feel about that.

That evening, went to a local line dance event. It was outside and a lot of fun. This venue is one of my favorites. It doesn't hurt that it is fairly close to our house. I was too busy having fun to take any pictures. 

The next day, Wally called and asked if we wanted to visit Monocacy Battlefield with him. The Battle of Monocacy was an important engagement during the Civil War. The Confederates won, but the Union soldiers were able to stop the Confederate advance toward the nation's capital in Washington, D.C. Besides the history here, there are several nice trails. We went on a new one for us, the Junction Trail to the Best Farm Trail.

 There were various cannons scattered throughout. I wonder if the cannonballs we have in the basement came out of a cannon like this?

The trail followed along fields of hay and corn.

The Best Farm still had some of the original structures standing, like this stone barn.

Then on Monday, we went to my FIL's house for a cookout. We took hamburgers and chicken to grill, corn on the cob, Greek baked beans, Waldorf salad, and brownies. We were joined by some others in Ward's family and got to meet the new baby. It was fun watching the 2-month-old baby meet her 93-year-old great-grandfather. 

Wally and Theo with their grandfather.

This week has been back to the normal out and about. We've had a couple of appointments and went to line dancing and yoga classes. In addition, we've been getting our fair entries ready for tomorrow evening's entry time. Then on Friday, we're going to WV for the weekend for my family reunion. 

We have done the important preparation for the trip by getting our traditional travel snacks of cheese crackers and M&Ms. I guess we'll get everything else ready tomorrow. 😊 

The time has gotten away from me. It's bedtime, so I'll leave it here.

Until next time...

This and That

 AKA Speed Blogging or Stream of Consciousness 

When I last visited with you, I shared that we were "babysitting" monarch butterfly chrysalises for friends while they were out of town. We watched a total of 7 emerge over the week, and it never got old. As time went on, I learned to "read" the chrysalises and know when a hatching was imminent. When that happened, I checked on them every few minutes. I was a bit obsessed. 😊

We released each on flowers, so they would have ready nectar if they wanted it. They all had their own way with interacting with the world for the first time. Some flew into the sky immediately, and others hung around on the plant for several minutes before they went exploring. 

We have a fair number of swallowtail and skipper butterflies in the yard, but no monarchs. So when I saw a monarch fly by in the yard yesterday, I thought it was one of the babies. So exciting. I've had a smile practically all week watching these velvet-winged beauties.

I'm not sure what else has been going on except that the weather went back into the 90s this week with "feels like" temperatures in the 100s. I am so happy that we have AC. But the humidity is not a friend to my hair. Can you say Brillo pad? That's what my frizz reminds me of. But that's a small price to pay for being outside. Even in the heat, I like to spend a little time out there. But once again, I will say that I am happy to have AC to retreat to.

Not a monarch, but a hummingbird moth.

We've been working on plans for the next few months, including a couple of local trips. I'm a planner and always feel better when I have a plan. The next question is whether we're going to take a trip to celebrate our wedding anniversary at the end of November. 

Now that we're retired, we have more flexibility in our schedule to do these things. My older friends strongly advise me to travel now while we still have reasonable health. However, I've never been a big traveler for various reasons, so it often takes me out of my comfort zone. But that's good for me. 

There goes my timer, so that's it for now.

Until next time...

Butterflies

This caterpillar will become a monarch butterfly.

 This week, I had an unusual request from my friend, Annie. She asked if I could watch some monarch chrysalises while they were out of town for a few days. I said sure, but I would need instructions. Annie has milkweed and active monarch butterfly activity in her yard. She harvested several of the many chrysalises to ensure some of them reached adulthood. She gave us three containers with a total of 7 chrysalises. 

My kids watched butterflies emerge in first grade as part of a science project, but I have never seen more than pictures of the process. So you can only imagine how excited I was when I saw, not one, but three butterflies emerge yesterday. I took pictures, but they were not always easy to get from outside their container. Anyway, below are pictures of this miraculous event we observed yesterday.

The chrysalises start out green.

The casing turns clear before hatching and appears black because of the black on the butterfly's wings and body. The gold band near the top is for oxygen exchange.

The wings are very small when the butterfly first appears.

They spend several hours drying off, and the wings gradually expand.

They eventually start slowly flapping them. That means they are about ready to meet the world.

We released them near flowers, so nectar would be easy to find. BTW, this one is a male monarch as evidenced by the two black dots near the bottom of the inner wings.

And as a tribute to Dolly, here is her song, "Love is Like a Butterfly."

Until next time...

Book Reviews

 Here are a few things I've been reading recently.

All My Secrets by Lynn Austin, Adult Historical Christian Fiction, 2024

What it's about: In 1898, A. J Stanhope dies suddenly and leaves his mother, wife, and daughter at a crossroads for what is next in their lives. Because of stipulations in a will, none of the women can inherit the Stanhope's family fortune. The daughter, Addy, feels an obligation to marry rich so they can save their mansion and lifestyle. Her grandmother and mother gradually reveal their younger days and the mistakes they made, which explains why Addy's mother wants her to marry for money, and her grandmother wants her to marry for love. Eventually, each of the women finds a positive path forward.

What did I think? I almost quit early on in the book. The story was thin and didn't hold my interest. But I stuck with it and gradually became interested in the characters, and I found the historical settings and descriptions interesting. Even so, the story is predictable, and the characters are one-dimensional. The good guys are always good, and the bad guys are always bad. But it has a feel-good tone, much like a Hallmark movie. You know what is going to happen, but it can be enjoyable watching it anyway. There's even a first kiss at the end like a Hallmark movie.  

It is Christian fiction, so there are Bible verses quoted and prayer mentioned often. There are also a fair number of times when the book mentions that Jesus died on the cross for our sins and the forgiveness of God. I didn't find these things too distracting, but if you aren't a Christian, they may be too much for you. 

What did others think? Lynn Austin is a very popular, best-selling author in Christian literature. Goodreads and Amazon readers give this book an A-.

Tree. Table. Book. by Lois Lowry, Children's fiction (elementary, middle school), 2024

What it's about: Two best friends named Sophie. One is 11 years old, and one is 88 years old. Sophie the Elder is developing dementia, and her son is coming to have her tested to decide what's next for his mother. Sophie the Younger can't bear the thought of her best friend moving, so she tries to help her friend by coaching her for the tests. One of the tests is to recall three words mentioned earlier in the conversation. Sophie the Elder is having a hard time with it, so Sophie the Younger has her tell stories about the three words she wants her to remember: tree, table, book. Sophie the Elder tells her three stories about her childhood in Poland during World War II that she's never told anyone before. 

What did I think? I loved this book. Dementia is a hard subject, and I think it is dealt with well here at an age-appropriate level. It is a rich book that also touches on the atrocities of WW II, as well as autism and different kinds of friendships. Even with all of these serious issues, I would call the book more touching than depressing to read.

What did others think? The book has starred reviews, and Amazon and Goodreads give it an A- and B+.

All That Chandi Knows by Khushboo Patel, Children's fiction (upper elementary, middle grades), 2026.

What it's about: The book, written in verse, is set in India in 1999. Chandi is a 12-year-old girl who appears to have it all: a well-to-do family, good grades, and good friends. However, a family secret torments her. 

What did I think? Many children's books are written in verse these days, so I wanted to try one. I found this one beautifully written, and I think since there are fewer words than a typical prose book, the words were chosen more carefully and had more impact. 

The setting was in India with many references to things I wasn't familiar with, but the theme of what Chandi was experiencing as a tween was universal. With all of that being said, I felt the novel was thin on plot.

What did others think? The book has many positive reviews, and Amazon and Goodreads give it an A and a B.

Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks, Adult historical fiction, 2001

What it's about: Year of Wonders visits the plague outbreak in England in 1666. A small village is introduced to the plague from a piece of cloth from London, and the village is persuaded by their minister to isolate itself from the outside world until the plague is over. They are told that sparing others is the Godly thing to do. The story follows Anna, a house servant for the year, as she helps the villagers during this horrible time. By the end, 2/3 of the people have died, and the dire circumstances bring out the best and worst in the people. We see how the year of tragedies made Anna a stronger person. It is based on a true story.

What did I think? Immediately, I recognized that Geraldine Brooks' writing is a step above most others, and it is evident that she has done extensive research for the book. The setting and the religious beliefs at the time (or lack thereof) and the poor understanding of diseases in the 1600s are important parts of the story. In addition, the characters were complex and interesting.

Part of Brooks' writing style is to be very graphic with the details of the story. It was a difficult time, and maybe all of the vivid details are needed to tell it properly. However, I started skimming the troublesome scenes because they were too much for me. But even with the disturbing events, I thought it was a good book.

What did others think? Year of Wonders was an international bestseller and has numerous accolades, including a New York Times and Washington Post Notable Book. 

This and That Pictures

Here's a random group of pictures that don't tell any kind of story except maybe what I find interesting. Not all are great pictures, but they remind me of things I've seen. My father-in-law once said he didn't care much about a picture's quality if it was good enough to remind him of something, and I think that applies here. 

This was the first time I had seen a little free art gallery.

A mural advertising Sykesville Days.

We're harvesting a few pears these days. It's always a race against the critters and rot.

A new fence around a church we saw on our outing the other day. A bird has made quick work on one of the posts.

A restored steam engine tractor in Parkersburg, WV. Of course, Ward was very interested in figuring out how it worked.

The town where my father was born and the cemetery where we found the graves of my great-grandparents and great-uncles. My sister supplied some interesting stories about them. It is true that there have been moonshiners in WV. :)

These giant metal roosters seem to be a trend in the Parkersburg area.

When we visit somewhere, we usually collect magnets as our souvenirs. Thanks to Hannah at Squishy Tulips for the idea of displaying them. (Frames from a thrift store.)

This is a weevil that we found attached to the end of a roll of toilet paper. Somehow, we didn't get a picture for scale, but the actual insect was quite small, about 1/4" long. I took it outside, and it eventually disappeared. I can tell you I look more closely at the toilet paper before I use it now. :)

This is another of those things that's hard to discern in the picture. The trunk of this tree was little more than bark, yet it supported growth on top of it. 

That's 10 things, so I guess that's a good time to wind up today's gallery. 

Until next time...

Thankful Sunday

 I am thankful for gardening advice.

Cucumber trellis in Uncle Billy's garden

This summer, Ward built a deer and rabbit fence around our garden area, and it has helped. It has also expanded the area available for plantings. Now I have to design how to best use the additional space. I want to do some raised beds to take me into the future, when the back and knee issues will be hindering. These will not be easy to move once in place, so I need a plan. It's a big project that seems overwhelming. 

I asked Uncle Billy to walk around his garden to look at spacing and get his advice on various plants since he has been doing this for a long time. Of course, there is a lot of information available online, but it's not the same as seeing and hearing things in person. 

So, as I make my garden plans, I am thankful to Uncle Billy for sharing his wisdom with me.

Go Fever

 Do you ever have that restless feeling when you don't want to stay at home with the routine things that need to be done? Do you feel like you need a change of pace, even if it is just for a short while? That's what I call Go Fever. And I had a case of that this morning. I told Ward what I was feeling, and he was game for an outing. We decided to check out a cave that we had recently heard about that was only 40 minutes away. We headed for Camel's Den Cave in Patapsco Valley State Park. 

Patapsco Valley State Park is a large park running 32 miles along the Patapsco River. The cave was a short walk from the Daniels parking area.

The trail started next to the Patapsco River (looks like a small pond here).

The trails were generally sandy and surrounded by Japanese stilt grass.

Japanese stiltgrass was introduced to this country over 100 years ago in some packaging material. It has become invasive since then.

We had to cross two streams on the way to the cave. Luckily, neither of us fell on the slippery rocks.

Camel's Den Cave. It is a tectonic cave, meaning it was formed by tectonic forces, unlike most caves, which are formed by the dissolution of rock (such as limestone). It was small by most cave standards, only going about 20' back from the entrance.

On the way back to the car, we saw a great blue heron.

Ward wanted to see the Daniels Dam, just down the road. The dam was built originally in 1833 and was used to power mills in the area. 

The mills have long since closed, and the dam is no longer needed. The Dept. of Natural Resources has just begun a study on removing the dam to improve fish passage. Three other dams upstream have already been removed.* 

The town of Daniels was a company town for a cotton mill. The mill was active from the 1830s to the 1960s. Hurricane Agnes in 1972 wiped out the town, and this church on the hill above the dam was the only surviving structure.

We hiked to the top of the hill to get a better look at the church. 

There was a nice view from the top. 

We made it back to the car just as it started to rain. We were stuck in road construction traffic on the way home, but it was all good because I had packed snacks. All in all, it was an excellent cure for my Go Fever.

Until next time...

* The DNR sign put an apostrophe in the Daniels name, but that's incorrect.