Recently, I took a few days off of work and Mom and I went on a road trip a few hours south. We've never done a mother-daughter trip before, but just wanted a leisurely vacation without too much driving and plenty of time to sleep in. We packed most of our food— a great way to save time as well as money especially if you're visiting an area with as many state parks as West Virginia. Monticello Neither of us had ever visited Thomas Jefferson's historical home in Virginia before. We … [Read more...] about Road Trip to Virginia and West Virginia
Nature
A Visit to Coal Country
Now I get the song Sixteen Tons. Last Christmas, instead of socks, I decided to give Dad the present of a day trip. I found a coal mine tour that seemed perfect, although it wouldn't open until spring. Last Thursday, we had off work for Ascension Day, and so Dad, Mom, and I drove seventy miles north to No. 9 Coal Mine in Lansford, Pennsylvania. This mine operated from 1855 to 1972 , the world's longest continuously operated deep anthracite coal mine. Anthracite coal is hard, shiny … [Read more...] about A Visit to Coal Country
February Fairy Gardens
Need a winter project while you're hunkered down, waiting for spring? Fairy gardens have been popular for years, and I always thought they look adorable. I had several vacation days to burn this month, so last week I invited my two sisters and their children to come and make potted fairy gardens together. During the summer, Brenda and Joanne both have beautiful flowerbeds and thriving vegetable gardens, and they keep houseplants year round. So I knew they would enjoy this. We started … [Read more...] about February Fairy Gardens
Visiting Styer’s Peony Farm In Chadds Ford
Peonies, with their extravagant blooms, are in their prime right now. Today, my friend Melissa and I, along with my niece Hannah, and her friend Kendra visited Styer's Peonies in Chadds Ford— twenty-five acres of the queenly flowers. Styer's calls the event "Festival of the Peony" but really it's just an opportune time to visit. The only festivities not happening on the stems are in a small tent with flowers and gifts for sale. But we had come for peonies, not merch and music. The peony … [Read more...] about Visiting Styer’s Peony Farm In Chadds Ford
Totality at Lake Ozonia
My road to the Great American Eclipse began in Atlanta in 2023, when I met a salesman from American Paper Optics at a trade show. He gave me a stack of free eclipse glasses. "There's a big eclipse coming in 2024," he explained. "You should order eclipse glasses now." I ordered 2,000 pairs. About six months later, I ordered again... and again. Late last week we finally sold out. The final count: 19,000 pairs sold between all four stores. Knowing how much to order had been threading the … [Read more...] about Totality at Lake Ozonia