History Lessons

Pleasant weekend trip to visit family in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and West Virginia, stopping in Harpers Ferry where history comes alive among the quaint buildings climbing up the hillside above the river. This small town witnessed the first successful American railroad, John Brown's attack on slavery, and the largest surrender of federal troops during the Civil War.

The heat was intense - the local population disrobed and headed for the Shenandoah River where they cooled their heels kayaking and tubing....................such sensible country folk. Appomattox Court House, Virginia - 1865 Civil War surrender site of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The village, originally called Clover Hill, was a settlement of small houses around the Tavern which was the stopping off point on the main Richmond-Lynchburg Stage Road.

The Plunkett-Meeks Store

The Woodson Law OfficeThe original Clover Hill Tavern
Beautiful Virginia countryside.

Inspiration Friday ~~~~~~~ Going Green

My harvest from the garden last evening...........the tomatoes are really coming in fast and furious now; the European cucumbers (two kinds - Holland and Pepinex) are fabulous; stringless, tender haricots verts still hanging in there and giving us so many wonderful meals - a little Italian parsley just snipped too. What more could one want for a fresh, garden grown, just picked, green supper.

Leaving early this morning for a weekend road trip to Virginia and W. Virginia ~ taking Jasmin along for a history lesson ~ Charlottesville, Monticello, Harper's Ferry, and will visit family in Grottoes, VA in the Shenandoah Valley. Hoping to find some cottagey shops along the way, perhaps pick up something quaint or interesting.....................far too long since I've had time to go treasure hunting.

Wonderful weekend to each of you - hope to catch up with everyone next week!

I've been tagged......

I've been tagged by Sue at Vintage to Victorian in Somerset, England (another beautiful Southwest county adjacent to my county of Devon) who has invited me to share eight random things you don't know about me. This is quite thought provoking - I think I'll make this one mainly about my younger years!

• I survived a bombing! Born at the end of WWII, as an infant I lived in my Grandmother's third floor flat. Being on the English Channel and close to Plymouth, an important naval shipyard, our town also was bombed on a few occasions. When the air raid siren sounded, Mum would carry me down to huddle under the stairs until the "all clear" sounded. There was a direct hit on our nearby church one Sunday - many children attending a class were killed - I was fortunate to be too young to attend Sunday School and remained safe that terrible day.
  
  
• Growing up in post war Britain in the 40's was tough, housing shortages, low wages, no luxuries for the average family...........but when I look back I had a wonderful simple childhood and I wouldn't change it at all. My family never had a car, we rode double decker buses everywhere. My town, a seaside resort known as "Queen of the English Riviera" had beautiful beaches and my home was a short walk from the countryside. In Summer I would get up before dawn and head to the fields with my Mum to pick wild mushrooms. I still love, love, love mushrooms. I think about those misty mornings every time I cook them.........walking up the lane, basket in one hand, Mum's hand in the other.
  
  
• I was a Maypole dancer - not to be confused with a pole dancer!! This was an English Spring/Summer activity at my school where we rehearsed using the tall May pole erected in the center of the playground. We were really good dancing those intricate circles to traditional English country music, winding and weaving the colorful ribbons around the pole - then reversing to unwind. Guess one doesn't get dizzy as a child - can't imagine what twirling in hundreds of circles would do to me now! We performed at local garden fetes and country fairs and it was great fun.
  
• I went to an all girls Grammar School (that's equivalent to High School in the US) and had to wear typical English uniforms. This was not a private school! Winter was a navy blue gym slip similar to a pinafore dress here, navy blue knickers (no such things as panties then!) white blouse, navy/maroon striped school tie, wool blazer sporting the school crest on the pocket, and navy velour brimmed hat or a wool beret..........and of course the often required classic navy English gabardine raincoat, or mac (mackintosh) as we called it. Only black or brown shoes were allowed with white ankle socks until the 4th year when stockings were permitted. In Summer we changed to green and white striped dresses with a natural straw boater hat - anyone caught without the hat got a detention. On warm Spring and Summer days I would always try to grab a desk by the open French doors of the classroom, roll my socks down and stick my legs out to get a tan without a sock line around my ankles.
  


• Every Summer, during the school hols., I would ride the bus along the coast to stay with my cousin in Teignmouth, Devon for two weeks. Her house looked out over the seafront and beach. As young teens we would pretend to be French - dressing in the latest styles which included, at that time, black leather ballet shoes and a colorful cotton kerchief tied around our necks! We'd then hang out on the pier and when holidaymakers, usually from Northern England, asked us for directions or local information, we'd speak French or broken English to confuse them. WE thought we were so cool!!


• I never traveled to continental Europe until I had lived in the US several years - even though I lived on the very edge of the English Channel and France was almost visible on a clear day! Growing up I was told, "you live in the most beautiful place imaginable so why go anywhere else". Of course this was always followed by "we can't afford a trip abroad" which was true. My first view of Paris was when we left our little kids at Grandma's house in England and DH took me across the Channel for my first memorable weekend in the beautiful "City of Light".
  


• I climbed aboard my very first plane one week before my 19th B'day to come to work in Washington, D.C. for just one year. Here it is almost 45 years later and I'm still in the USA. My Mum always said she would never have let me go if she thought I'd never return to live in England!
  


• My very first trip back to England was to visit my family for Christmas in 1964. I sailed on the original Cunard Queen Mary which is now a floating resort in Long Beach, California, returning on the then brand new Holland America Line "Statendam". As much as I loved those transatlantic crossings I have never been on an ocean going liner since...............guess it's time to think about a cruise to somewhere, any suggestions?
  
  Well I guess that gives you a little insight into my early life. Have to admit being tagged does afford one the luxury of reminiscing. Having good memories, especially of one's childhood, is important, and these special times should always be written somewhere to share with future generations of one's family. My blog has become an important part of recording my history. I thank all of you for helping to make it so worthwhile by reading my posts and adding your great comments. You are all very special and have become part of my circle of friends - you too will be part of my history.
  
  

So, I now tag the following blog friends......................we know quite a lot of interesting things about your "now" so hopefully you will give us a little insight into your early days wherever they were - eight random things about your childhood or teens would be fun to hear about.............so wow us when you have time!

Peggy at Hidden Haven Homestead, Pat at Back Porch Musings, Linda at Frenchless in France, Marilyn at Ivy and Lace Cottage ...................and anyone else who would like to join the group!

Pleasures of Beach Living

If you really want to get away from it all, Bald Head Island, North Carolina is a great place to go. There are numerous places to rent from refurbished small historic cottages, once the homes of the lighthouse keepers and their families, to huge multimillion dollar houses perched at the edge of the dunes and beach, perfect for watching pelicans dive for their dinner.

Along the salt marsh are condominiums with spectacular sunrise views. So many interesting birds including Painted Buntings who come to feeders along with Cardinals and Cowbirds, and swooping quietly and gracefully across the core grass, white Ibis and Egrets, as well as Herons and gulls of all kinds.Below, the lighthouse keepers cottages complete with porch rockers - bring your chilled beverage of choice, watch the sun go down, then head quietly for the beach to watch the Loggerhead turtles hatch and make their way to the sea.

Stately homes of huge proportions right on the beach.


Theodosia's B&B, below, is situated on the marina. A ghost story is part of this establishment's charm. Theodosia Alston, wife of the Governor of South Carolina, on her way to visit her father in New York, disappeared from the ship The Patriot in 1813 after it was attacked by pirates. She is said to be often seen in a long flowing dress wandering the island.

At the end of a perfect Summer's day ~ supper on the beach................ .......................waiting for that spectacular sunset.

No man is an island...........no woman either

Bald Head Island is the southernmost North Carolina barrier island and classified as tropical. These palm trees and the torrid heat of the day reinforced this, however it wasn't humid and no hurricanes caused us to evacuate the island.................it was in fact a perfect week with just a shower our first evening.

Beginning of another day - sunrise over the salt marsh from the screened porch.

The marina with the ferry arriving taken from our golf cart - no cars permitted on the island.

Old Baldy - that landmark lighthouse again.Well wouldn't you know it - my favorite spot was right in this little sand chair plonked in the Atlantic Ocean early in the day before the heat became too hot! We walked and swam at 9 a.m. - but not too avoid the crowds, there never were any. 5.8 square miles, 180 permanent residents, a couple of thousand visitors, plenty of room for all on those 14 miles of beautiful sand beaches.The exquisite island chapel in the Maritime Forest - a popular spot for island weddings.
The island library - leave a book, take a book - the cutest place for discovering Summer reading.
Traditional Pawley's Island hammock - whelk shells - pedicure showing the ravages of the Atlantic water and sand - and a fascinating book set in England which gets inside the mind of an mentally ill woman, from her disturbing childhood to old age as a homeless person ~ a real page turner.

One of my deck visitors - green and gorgeous. Cooling off time in the condo - started an island journal and made a few cards to mail to friends.


The condominiums where we stayed - looking out over the wonderful salt marsh and creek - marina in the distance - just 5 mins. in the golf cart.

The huge white heron visited each day at low tide and waited patiently in the same spot for his meal. The marina - playground of the rich and perhaps famous.
White ibis silhouetted along the creek.
A spot to relax overlooking the Cape Fear River on the western side of the island.The evening passenger ferry leaving for the mainland - a 20 minute trip.Sunset - the perfect ending to a perfect day.More tomorrow....................some island cottages.

More Memories - South of France 2006

Just back from the coast and will soon have pics to show of that peaceful, beautiful island. Meanwhile, have been thinking about France again after chatting with my family there - here are a few more pics from last year's visit with Granddaughter Jasmin.

Beautiful fields of sunflowers, faces always pointing toward the sun, stretching for miles across the Summer countryside of Provence.

Family gathering on the Canal du Midi on a perfect June day - granddaughter, niece, sister-in-law, DH and moi - brother taking the picture! Daytrippers and canal boat vacationers enjoy a cool breeze, stopping to pick up fresh provisions and local wines along the waterway.

Visiting the stunning ancient hilltop "village perche" Les Baux de Provence.

Decisions, decisions, what shall I buy for my "souvenir de Provence"

Later, passing through the small villages it was obviously a brilliant day for drying - let's wash "les jeans".

The national music fair of France - Fete de la Musique held in every village, town and city throughout France on June 17 - so much fun. We listened to cabaret style singing here in Bize in the afternoon - more singing and African drumming by the light of a huge bonfire late into the night in Peyriac.
A tiny bakery just beyond the walls of the old city of Carcassonne -the best "straight out of the oven" baguettes for lunch.

Then a quick stop at the olive mill where the choice was amazing!
Wonderful memories of a beautiful place................must return soon.