Aug. 17, 2008 - click click click......there's no place like home...there's no place like home....
AAAh! We are home! It is so wonderful to return again after our busy trip up to Virginia and Maryland! We had a good trip for the most part, but there truly is no place like home.
First stop. Harrisonburg, Va. to visit my step-mom and my dad. They bought a house on 15 acres about 4 years ago and it is always fun to see what new project they've got going around the house. It is a nice modest home that has the most stunning views! Caroline's favorite part about staying there is sleeping in the basement. She says because it is so dark (there are no windows down there), she sleeps like a rock! Speaking of rocks, there is a rock garden in the back yard that has a running fountain/pond! There is always at least one exciting nature find on our visits....this time we saw four little bluebird eggs in the bluebird house. Lots of open space for puppies and kiddos to roam, explore and run wild.
Nearby Dayton, Va. has a heavy population of Mennonite folks, so it's always fun to check out the Farmer's Markets. Quilts, jams, pies and furniture oh my! We did not see any horse drawn buggies this time, but sometimes we do. I thought that was an Amish thing, but some of the Mennonites have them too!
Next stop. Frederick Maryland. My brother lives in Frederick now. It's about an hour North of where I used to live. Like many places, it used to be "the countryside" and now has become a booming suburb. We immediately called around checking Crab prices...WOW! Sticker shock! But, I could not go to Maryland and not eat Blue Crabs. That would be crazy, so we bit the bullet and dropped $89.00 for a half-bushel of crabs. Half a bushel is about 3 and a half dozen crabs if you were wondering. Yeah, pricey.
We spent time driving around visiting family and some dear friends. (I do not miss the traffic or the commute time around there!) My youngest brother ,who is now an Mongomery County police officer, came over to see us, played tennis with my kids....... and let them hold his gun! Exciting stuff!
Next stop. Harper's Ferry, W.Va. Okay homeschool mommies...listen up! If you are studying the Civil war you MUST head up to Harper's Ferry! Google it. The pictues online are not good at all, but there is plenty of historical information to be found. It is truly one of my favorite places on earth. Here's a list of the things I Iove about Harper's Ferry:
1. I love that the town is built vertically and it is basically a hilltop city, with a lower town and an upper town! Lots of nooks and crannies and even underground stores! Very cool!
2. I love the shops and the frozen custard!
3. I love all the tiny museums dotted throughout the town...very interesting history!
4. I love the train track high above that you can stand under as the train roars on above you! ( my nephew, who is 4, is a train nut, so this was VERY exciting foe him!)
5. I love wading in the shallow waters of the Shanandoah and the Potomac watching my kids throw rocks and try to catch tiny fish!
6. I love standing at the spot where you are in Maryland, Virginia and West Virgina at the same time!
7. I love navigating (very carefull!) the steep, hand-carved stone stairs that weave through this crazy little town!
We had a good trip and it *is* fun to see loved ones...but, "OH Auntie Em, there is NO PLACE LIKE HOME!"
Comments
Aug. 22, 2008 - Untitled Comment
Posted by smallworld.blogspot.com
Thanks for the tip on Harper's Ferry. I'd like to do all the VA civil war stops sometime! Harrisonburg VA was our almost home. Dr. H was offered a job at James Madison University one day and at UT the next! We would have taken the one at JMU gladly, but UTK was our dream place!! God really blessed us.
