All my roads end at the Water

Been hanging out on Rt 64 East and West a lot this summer.  My travels take me from Alleghany County to Middlesex County, from mountain lakes to tidewater creeks. Truly an amazing state. Even while the miles mount on my body and wear out my automobiles, I am not sure if I could chose. The life of "twixt and between".  I realize I must chose sometime, but until that time is made clear, I'll enjoy the views!

 Douthat State Park, Clifton Forge, VA

  Urbanna Creek

Sunny Sunday Morning in Clifton Forge

The pollinators were loving the mimosa this morning. It was a mixed morning for us, as Wils said "so long for the Summer" to his two sisters. He's heading off for a total of 4 weeks of camp (one with the Scouts, another with the Climbers), and they have to head off for work this morning (guarding at Douthat).

Also appearing, the first tomato of Summer and "frog in green bondage"!

Homeplace Graduation Party 2014

It is a wonderful thing to have a "home-place". This is a place that one can go back to after wandering.  A place to return to after trying to find ones' self. A place to catch your breath if needed. A place to kick back. A place where the folks really know who you are because they know where and who you came from. A place where when you look at the pictures on the wall or in a fading photo album the eyes, mouth, hair and even the way a head is tilted whisper back at you: "Hey this is your home place. These are your people. This is a place that will always be."
And this is a place that feels like it has always been there.
One should use the word "always" and its other definitive cousins judiciously and I do not use it lightly.  But "always" fits. I will always have family that loves me. I will always have family that like to throw parties and gatherings and laugh wide open mouth laughs. I will always have family that say: sure we have enough room!
The wonderful thing about this homeplace is it is a feeling. At the moment our family is enjoying great and spacious homes and grounds for cousins to run and jump together, for the dogs to roll in the grass under the trees or on the rugs in the hallway. We have places to stretch out and watch the next new thing on a big screen together.
I also remember gatherings at other "home-places". Surroundings that were not so stretchable and not as many people could get around the table.  The children's table was always a memorable feature of these gatherings. But always the feeling was there: pull up a chair, share this laugh with us, discuss this concern with us.
The feel of a home-place moves. It moves with its people. It moves with that familiar shape of the eyes, that chin or that head of hair. It follows that saying: well you know what my grandma used to say... It follows its people.
We just had the chance to congratulate my middle child on her graduation from high school and her continuing onto college. Invitations were sent. Some could make it, some could not, but all were there. When the newly found album of faded pictures came out, all were remembered. They were there in the pictures of their roots. There were the stock that made the laughs widemouthed, that made the sayings what they are, that made the shoulder dip and hand sit on that hip.  It was a gathering at a "home-place" and I will always have a place at home.

Spring 2014

Looking at the previous post we are many months in arrears! So to sum up:
This spring has been wonderfully busy! We have seen Vaden complete her fist year of college. She is a dance major and creative writing minor at James Madison University.
Stryker-Ann has graduated from Chatham Hall. She has had a wonderful run there and we will miss Chatham Hall. SAM is on her way to University of Richmond in the fall.
Wils has just made his debut in "Dorothy Meets Alice, Wizard of Wonderland"  at the Masonic Amphitheatre stage here in Clifton Forge. 
Paul continues to at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College in their IT department. He is enjoying riding his bike to work and engineering coops and tractor pens for our new chickens.
Madge is busy with her grant writing and development for Jacob's Ladder and is working a bit at the Clifton Forge School of the Arts.
We are attending the Central United Methodist Church in Clifton Forge. it is nice to be in a church community near enough to walk. And they have frequent cover dish lunches! Fellowship and Food!