tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37488222545626012642024-03-19T08:07:41.980-04:00frog hollow rootsour new appalachiaBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-73335118783634141522014-01-11T15:48:00.003-05:002014-01-11T15:48:46.256-05:00Moving On UpI just bought my own domain name, got a web host (Bluehost), and downloaded Wordpress. Nothing is live yet, but stand by! Exciting things to come!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-89664736129248591352014-01-07T13:42:00.002-05:002014-01-07T14:41:27.296-05:00Mad Cold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLUx3Km1fz38eWDWUw5qJXiJOzXt8YW4F1QED1dKIQ4aSSb9MQzU28HC8j5yonejR5KbQnAH3ghmvPCqR0LrddS35oO1eePhBVhmQSrijCkKJQkCUkSotJqQPzVcih4frf1LI6O2pA1k/s1600/photo.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLUx3Km1fz38eWDWUw5qJXiJOzXt8YW4F1QED1dKIQ4aSSb9MQzU28HC8j5yonejR5KbQnAH3ghmvPCqR0LrddS35oO1eePhBVhmQSrijCkKJQkCUkSotJqQPzVcih4frf1LI6O2pA1k/s1600/photo.PNG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
Here in the Hollow this morning we saw temps at a miserable 1 degree with wind chills far lower. The school system closed schools today, so Little Bird got a day off on her 8th birthday! She got ice cream for breakfast, we baked a cake, and now she and her sister are in the shower getting ready for their spa day mani/pedi session.<br />
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Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/hafe/index.htm" target="_blank">Harpers Ferry National Park</a> is reporting that it's "cold enough to freeze a mouse" at -2 degrees! Here's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/harpersferrynps" target="_blank">their status</a> from earlier:<br />
"<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Historic
reports of bad winters are common in this area. In February 1914,
local Harpers Ferry papers reported a rooster was found frozen. In
1926, the Shenandoah River was reported to be black. The 1926 reporter
was told by residents that the river turns black before a freeze.
(Sources: Farmers Advocate & Virginia Free Press)"</span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/06/us/polar-vortex-explained/" target="_blank">According to the news</a>, this paralyzing chill is due to the Polar Vortex's taking a dip to the South. Well, go back, Vortex - go back! (Rumor has it that she is; Saturday will be a balmy 61!) </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">As I write this, I've just found out that the <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2010/01/mad-dog.html" target="_blank">Mad Dog</a> (click for former blog post) is on fire. More later. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">Edited to add these pictures that were posted at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WashingtonCoMdFireCalls" target="_blank">Washington Co.Md Fire Calls</a> (Facebook page) </span><br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-69006209927014468262014-01-05T14:32:00.000-05:002014-01-05T16:37:39.838-05:00Winter Trees<div class="tab-content active" id="poem-top" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<i>Winter Trees</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="author">by William Carlos Williams</span></i></span><br>
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span class="author">~~ </span></i></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>All the complicated details </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>of the attiring and </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>the disattiring are completed! </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>A liquid moon </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>moves gently among </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>the long branches. </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>Thus having prepared their buds </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>against a sure winter </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<i>the wise trees </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; padding-left: 1em; text-align: center; text-indent: -1em;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>stand sleeping in the cold. </i></div>
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It is just too cold, too wet, and too icy in the Hollow today. G is smoking us out of the house, though, by lighting the wood stove for the first time this season. I'd like to say that the girls and I sitting back, eating chili, and reading poetry, but that would be a flat out lie. They are playing Roblox, turning their noses up at my chili, and asking for ice cream instead. And so it goes. </div>
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-62824155043985644512014-01-04T17:32:00.000-05:002014-01-04T17:32:29.723-05:00Visiting "Our" Tree<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lR0MUmBRHRA/UsCOD1feHzI/AAAAAAAAYJg/xHCbPN07cs8/s1600/late+december+2013+070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lR0MUmBRHRA/UsCOD1feHzI/AAAAAAAAYJg/xHCbPN07cs8/s400/late+december+2013+070.JPG" width="400" /></a>Between Christmas and New Years, we decided to celebrate Little Bird's 8th birthday a little early by heading down to Tyson's Corner for a quick stay in <a href="http://www.hilton.com/search/hi/us/va/mclean/0/00000000000/0/0/0/0/10?WT.srch=1" target="_blank">a hotel with a pool</a>. We got a great price ($89) for a room with the fun of witnessing hundreds of teenage girls swarm at <a href="http://www.magcontour.com/" target="_blank">their first meet-and-greet</a> with <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-id_7qs00g" target="_blank">Youtube icons</a>. Joy. (Actually, it was hilarious to see them scream and run at any supposed sighting.) Before we checked into our room, we spent some time over at the mall at the <a href="http://www.americangirl.com/stores/location_wdc.php" target="_blank">American Girl store</a> so that their dolls could get their hair done and ears pierced ($60 for the whole deal - not terrible, but G couldn't believe it). Then, we headed down to the <a href="http://www.claires.com/" target="_blank">quintessential tweener heaven</a> so that both girls could get their own ears pierced! The youngest went first and didn't flinch; then big sis went and didn't do too badly either. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvzpAfrNnyw/UsCLXQElq0I/AAAAAAAAX9k/UTKfndtBiUo/s1600/late+december+2013+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvzpAfrNnyw/UsCLXQElq0I/AAAAAAAAX9k/UTKfndtBiUo/s640/late+december+2013+006.JPG" width="425" /></a><br />
Since Tyson's Corner is only about 22 minutes from DC and the weather was a lovely 50 degrees (for December), we decided to head downtown to get some grub and see <a href="http://thenationaltree.org/" target="_blank">the National Christmas Tree</a>. <br />
<br />
Although we likely could have found street parking had we looked longer, we decided to park under <a href="http://washington.intercontinental.com/" target="_blank">the famous Willard</a> -- $17 for the first two hours; $21 after that. This may seem exorbitant, but one should expect at least that much in DC - and this was valet! We made our way upstairs to the Willard lobby - wow. They really know how to celebrate the holiday! There was a beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby and decorations galore. G asked why we didn't stay there . . . I asked if he had an additional four hunny for the night . . . He was satisfied with my choice. <br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52oMNBUD2bo/UsCMa-oqkdI/AAAAAAAAYDE/v6_8MvKJlPQ/s1600/late+december+2013+033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-52oMNBUD2bo/UsCMa-oqkdI/AAAAAAAAYDE/v6_8MvKJlPQ/s400/late+december+2013+033.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
We walked north to see if we could get a table at <a href="http://www.ebbitt.com/" target="_blank">the Old Ebbitt Grill</a>, but even at 3:30 on a Saturday, there was an hour wait. Another time. The place was packed and the Nutcrackers outside were getting their fair share of photo ops. The girls were too grumpy to stand still long enough for me to get their pic, so we headed even farther north and found <a href="http://woodwardtable.com/" target="_blank">Woodward Table</a> on the corner of H and 15th. Since we were there between lunch and dinner, we had to settle for the bar menu, but they had a great kids' menu, nonetheless, and G and I really enjoyed our meals of a huge burger and crab/artichoke pizza. (SG had a huge kid's steak/fries and Sylv had yummy cheese pizza.) The price was a bit on the high side - again, expected, but we really enjoyed our streetside seats and the beautiful decor. <br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JidasXbsA2c/UsCMF80OBOI/AAAAAAAAYBA/r6-XfRzrMKs/s1600/late+december+2013+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JidasXbsA2c/UsCMF80OBOI/AAAAAAAAYBA/r6-XfRzrMKs/s320/late+december+2013+027.JPG" width="212" /></a>After linner, we headed southeast to <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/" target="_blank">the White House</a>. The crowds on the street were incredible! So many out to enjoy the weather, I suppose. We walked up to find our "first" protest - Iraqi-Americans protesting Maliki for a recent bombing/civilian slaughter. <br />
<br />
The girls were captivated with the chanting, signs, and flags. It was very moving. We got some pix right in front of the place (G commented on how he couldn't believe how close we were allowed to be), then we headed west and south again to make our way to the tree. The crowds increased as we made our way down to a surprisingly small evergreen surrounded by gates and train sets. <br />
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We walked up to the innermost gate at about 4:50 p.m. and the lights came on just a few minutes later. It was kind of magical to be right there at that moment, and the crowd ooh'ed and ah'ed right on cue. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7CyhnK_-aw/UsCOmzIBXMI/AAAAAAAAYLY/pxrsYEY0NX4/s1600/late+december+2013+054-TWINKLE.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7CyhnK_-aw/UsCOmzIBXMI/AAAAAAAAYLY/pxrsYEY0NX4/s400/late+december+2013+054-TWINKLE.gif" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVT9uZ1ZDlk/UsCMwHxgbgI/AAAAAAAAYEU/A_TaLM3cS7U/s1600/late+december+2013+039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sVT9uZ1ZDlk/UsCMwHxgbgI/AAAAAAAAYEU/A_TaLM3cS7U/s400/late+december+2013+039.JPG" width="266" /></a>The girls tried to throw pennies into the circling trains, and we found our Maryland tree on the outskirts. The quarter-scaffolded <a href="http://www.nps.gov/wamo/index.htm" target="_blank">Washington Monument</a> stood stoically to the south against the mellow sunset sky. We headed back to our parking garage before it got too dark. We awed at how the Willard's outside decorations were almost as beautiful as inside. <br />
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Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-50221401266535290832014-01-03T17:01:00.000-05:002014-01-03T17:01:37.384-05:00Five Generations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-Fd1_5rbghLAU9FmlZ13ts8WR0bpYdjdQE20ErnPww2xV-41otvCe4sC8Ylc3toTKekX4q731zHKVDtSz6Ue_fN-Hi3YDkl49I4FYX4NykfIyAPg9csWhGl5Vz9y0M6FiW2XazVU66Q/s1600/Scan4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-Fd1_5rbghLAU9FmlZ13ts8WR0bpYdjdQE20ErnPww2xV-41otvCe4sC8Ylc3toTKekX4q731zHKVDtSz6Ue_fN-Hi3YDkl49I4FYX4NykfIyAPg9csWhGl5Vz9y0M6FiW2XazVU66Q/s320/Scan4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
While home on Winter Break, I had the chance to scan a few of Grandma's pictures. These two were especially fun to view. This first one is of me at about seven months (guessing) and my great-great grandmother - <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Pearl Selena Astlin Beall (around age 86 - died the following year). </span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"> </span></span><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[0].[0]"> This
is what was written about her in Grandma's binder: "She was a good
person, easy-going, a hard worker, very compassionate, and she treated
everyone well. She was tall and thin, with black hair and blue eyes. She
raised her family in the lock house</span></span><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[0]">
at Lock 25, where there was no electric or running water. The house
consisted of a kitchen and living room on the first floor and two
bedrooms on the second. There was a cookstove in the kitchen and a
woodstove in the living room. She washed the family's clothes in a big
tub with scrub board and ironed them with a flat iron, which was warmed
on the wood stove, that she used to cook the meals. There was no
refrigerator but there was an ice box. The water was fetched in a bucket
from the well across the road. Meals that could be stretched to feed
nine people were served -- fish, potatoes, beans, biscuits, and
cornbread. In the winter, there was always a pot of soup on the
cookstove. Life was not easy for the ladies of her time. None of the
children were born in a hospital -- they were delivered at home by Aunt
Polly (the black mid-wife that lived up the road) and the local doctor."</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCOWLR1FlsOC3Ia7CiE0HH-PFNNY4QGVIPSOfUT-P3_qXM5BKAzxoTIWv8hMunj4WX4YYzS3Eu3KuvUlK0gL0EY0gwk-9djTa5Y84oVKYZTyIfK19PlxXMHqa9XdUQ6rsinljRWfUlsU/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCOWLR1FlsOC3Ia7CiE0HH-PFNNY4QGVIPSOfUT-P3_qXM5BKAzxoTIWv8hMunj4WX4YYzS3Eu3KuvUlK0gL0EY0gwk-9djTa5Y84oVKYZTyIfK19PlxXMHqa9XdUQ6rsinljRWfUlsU/s320/Scan.jpg" width="320" /></a><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3]"><span class="UFICommentBody" data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0]"><span data-reactid=".r[37q61].[1][3][1]{comment10152076416681998_12019554}.[0].{right}.[0].{left}.[0].[0].[0][3].[0].[3].[0].[0]"></span></span></span></span></span><br />
This next picture is of five generations of Beall-Poole-Null women. <span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45,"tn":"*G"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">That's
me around 9 months old on Pearl's lap again -- Her
daughter, my great-grandmother Edna Mildred Beall (she's around age 67 here) - Her daughter, my grandmother
Helen Elizabeth Poole (around age 45 here), and my mother Judy
Louise (around age 19 here).</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-1256786818310062562013-09-07T21:34:00.001-04:002013-09-07T21:36:20.622-04:00New Year<span style="font-family: inherit;">My Jewish ancestors had it right; <b><i>this</i></b> is the newest time of year -- "<i>Shanah Tovah</i>":</span><br />
<br />
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
<h1 class="TITLE">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The New Year</span></h1>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>
by <a href="http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/706">Emma Lazarus</a>
</b></span>
<br />
<pre><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Rosh-Hashanah, 5643</i>
Not while the snow-shroud round dead earth is rolled,
And naked branches point to frozen skies.—
When orchards burn their lamps of fiery gold,
The grape glows like a jewel, and the corn
A sea of beauty and abundance lies,
Then the new year is born.
Look where the mother of the months uplifts
In the green clearness of the unsunned West,
Her ivory horn of plenty, dropping gifts,
Cool, harvest-feeding dews, fine-winnowed light;
Tired labor with fruition, joy and rest
Profusely to requite.</b></span></pre>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22840#sthash.vsPnEqpE.dpu</b><b>The New Year</b></span></div>
<a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22840" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>The New Year</b></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22840" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> by Emma Lazarus</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Rosh-Hashanah, 5643</span><br />
<br />
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Not while the snow-shroud round dead
earth is rolled, </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And naked branches point to frozen skies.— </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When orchards burn
their lamps of fiery gold, </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Then the new year is born. </span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Look where the mother of
the months uplifts </span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Cool, harvest-feeding dews, fine-winnowed light; </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tired labor with fruition, joy and rest </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Profusely to requite. </span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH5RvvaJYml5I-Sbi2NQtFIBf5slULQrllocSDr4DyjM913FgHxJi7cvkZa0qJ83D_fs-dn4NDs8399FcAfEsjkNV7XBXVkxb4mPrrL0kIAnBww_zPR_ou8dWrScchYKz2xO-e_nOrLs/s1600/IMG_4307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzH5RvvaJYml5I-Sbi2NQtFIBf5slULQrllocSDr4DyjM913FgHxJi7cvkZa0qJ83D_fs-dn4NDs8399FcAfEsjkNV7XBXVkxb4mPrrL0kIAnBww_zPR_ou8dWrScchYKz2xO-e_nOrLs/s640/IMG_4307.JPG" width="640" /></a></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></b><br />
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
Not while the snow-shroud round dead earth is rolled,
And naked branches point to frozen skies.—
When orchards burn their lamps of fiery gold,
The grape glows like a jewel, and the corn
A sea of beauty and abundance lies,
Then the new year is born.
Look where the mother of the months uplifts
In the green clearness of the unsunned West,
Her ivory horn of plenty, dropping gifts,
Cool, harvest-feeding dews, fine-winnowed light;
Tired labor with fruition, joy and rest
Profusely to requite. - See more at: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/22840#sthash.vsPnEqpE.dpuf</div>
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<b><br /></b>
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<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
Rosh-Hashanah, 5643</div>
<div id="stcpDiv" style="left: -1988px; position: absolute; top: -1999px;">
Rosh-Hashanah, 5643</div>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-62906907366227177882013-02-24T10:09:00.002-05:002013-02-24T10:14:30.673-05:00February Sky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSlGU9lx5vJQbdPlBYDF05wrY8_-Rzl09oi-t0qk74tywdkF4Lo2Co-AqMOXeyd2cFXVfZWQr0sO4i3B3Yg7fFQ7PexgTzmZW32HUmm9ORFI8M7Z8WVwEJoebkQ4eybBAdycEMWMLpa8/s1600/winter+2013+051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSlGU9lx5vJQbdPlBYDF05wrY8_-Rzl09oi-t0qk74tywdkF4Lo2Co-AqMOXeyd2cFXVfZWQr0sO4i3B3Yg7fFQ7PexgTzmZW32HUmm9ORFI8M7Z8WVwEJoebkQ4eybBAdycEMWMLpa8/s640/winter+2013+051.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taken February 1, 2013, along Harpers Ferry Road near Woodlawn Farm shortly after sunrise</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com04250 Harpers Ferry Road, Sharpsburg, MD 21782, USA39.4287471 -77.744154139.4286991 -77.7442331 39.4287951 -77.7440751tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-84377883783718271052013-01-20T12:12:00.000-05:002013-01-20T16:41:40.376-05:00To Begin AgainI know that one might call this blog 'personal' - it's about my life, my family, my interests, my ideas - but I typically do not write about deeply personal subjects here. I have tried to keep it light and even fun. But today I feel the need to go public with something that I have kept close to my heart - I guess it is the writer, the artist in me. I have this need to express in a way that might form a connection with others. Somehow that might make it settle down a bit and have purpose. I haven't written here in nine months; I'm not sure why, but I think it's because I wasn't ready yet.<br />
Now, I'm ready to move on from where I've been for over a year. They say you shouldn't take your work home with you, but I'm in a profession that is completely and fully people-oriented; everything I do is for the service of other human beings. As a result, there are very few moments when I'm not dealing with the stickiness of human emotion. This has been one of those years where I've really questioned my choice to work in education over a hands-on, product-oriented trade (the visual arts). I don't need to list the details here, but suffice it to say that I've taken on an immensely different job from what I've done before. And then, in mid-June, my direct supervisor (and, more importantly, my friend) took his life.<br />
What I need to express and accept is that I've been grieving. I've been confused and angry. And I've often been terribly sad. I've wanted answers that apparently don't exist. I've wanted closure, and all I've heard is silence. I've thought it all shouldn't affect me too deeply, and yet I knew all along that I had been cut.<br />
I want to write and create again. I want to search again for answers that I might find. I want to love what I'm doing, and, most importantly, I want to show my daughters how to find strength in adversity. I know I can do all these things - that's the point, for me, in writing them down here. I don't have any eloquent epiphanies to offer about death or grief. I'm committing to move on and make purpose.<br />
<br />
<pre>"This is your hand, these are my hands, this is the world,
which is round but not flat and has more colors
than we can see.
It begins, it has an end,
this is what you will
come back to, this is your hand."</pre>
<pre> from <a href="http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/16789" target="_blank">You Begin</a> by Margaret Atwood</pre>
<pre></pre>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmyYVK7mzk0/UPwigv68_8I/AAAAAAAAICo/R1mnnmCt82s/s1600/autumn+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OmyYVK7mzk0/UPwigv68_8I/AAAAAAAAICo/R1mnnmCt82s/s640/autumn+2012+008.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<pre></pre>
<pre> </pre>
Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-82041761494638450902012-04-01T16:05:00.000-04:002012-04-01T16:26:33.798-04:00Idiotic April<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top" width="80%"><span class="TITLE">Spring</span>
</td>
<td align="right" colspan="2" nowrap="nowrap" valign="top">
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="3">by Edna St. Vincent Millay </td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="3"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><pre>To what purpose, April, do you return again?
Beauty is not enough.
You can no longer quiet me with the redness
Of little leaves opening stickily.
I know what I know.
The sun is hot on my neck as I observe
The spikes of crocus.
The smell of the earth is good.
It is apparent that there is no death.
But what does that signify?
Not only under ground are the brains of men
Eaten by maggots.
Life in itself
Is nothing,
An empty cup, a flight of uncarpeted stairs.
It is not enough that yearly, down this hill,
April
Comes like an idiot, babbling and strewing flowers.</pre>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrTo4DMGaDD88Ox6OyfAgbEOwSucOV07rRmYlZX9hD4j5IiQJb9qS6555UzLdlruYzvjGhdrVat_DfEe-t3o9PLDpgcntV0VhuZ_9bcbb-eJpHLhIhDQMJARi1N1TRyn1FZm08K_7Ys/s1600/spring+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWfrTo4DMGaDD88Ox6OyfAgbEOwSucOV07rRmYlZX9hD4j5IiQJb9qS6555UzLdlruYzvjGhdrVat_DfEe-t3o9PLDpgcntV0VhuZ_9bcbb-eJpHLhIhDQMJARi1N1TRyn1FZm08K_7Ys/s640/spring+2012+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
We are way past the spikes of crocus season, Ms. St. Vincent Millay, and deep into the pinks and yellows. I didn't remember this poem being such a downer, but it surely is fitting for this opening day of April, of <a href="http://www.poets.org/" target="_blank">Poetry Month</a>, of yet another day of burning sinuses . . . <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhxpZ95MvhIOGPjq5rg6ANuOM3INTCIUpGoAKrBpWqplG6_cWfvw5Vln2RO4eM8yQTkMpgPXDqYkuWl6gWKxPcpKRUwHdvALYqA6uwHADkUydVUamq06pb-tGtevsSQqglMykG0NA94I/s1600/spring+2012+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJhxpZ95MvhIOGPjq5rg6ANuOM3INTCIUpGoAKrBpWqplG6_cWfvw5Vln2RO4eM8yQTkMpgPXDqYkuWl6gWKxPcpKRUwHdvALYqA6uwHADkUydVUamq06pb-tGtevsSQqglMykG0NA94I/s640/spring+2012+008.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our friends the Marlins' farm at Antietam from Canal Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<pre> </pre>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-67794843194213337282012-03-31T08:44:00.000-04:002012-03-31T08:45:23.725-04:00Who Defended the Bridge?The other evening our neighborhood friend who owns the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AntietamIronworksInn" target="_blank">Antietam Ironworks Inn</a> asked me to use my fine Googling skills to find out which general defended the Antietam Ironworks bridge during the battle. (He wasn't sure that in fact someone did, but he was under the impression that someone had.)<br />
Unfortunately, I did not come up with a name or even that the bridge played any role in the battle except that Rebel troops crossed it in their journey to support Lee at Sharpsburg. However, my short search did find that companies from the 13th Massachusetts camped here for a bit in 1861 (a year before the battle). The letters at <a href="http://www.13thmass.org/1861/sharpsburg.html" target="_blank">this site</a> are very interesting glimpses into the soldiers' lives. I especially enjoyed a letter from James B. Noyes; apparently, the most memorable part of being in Antietam Village was the vicious attack of fleas!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UTwP_noLmReLqX66tTCL7goOFog3qvIB9_YIlWE3gDu-AwlroByBdwnar5ZiIwMNyB1RLylZSKXMKCzmzjI0-aIAC6AbgG6cP442TrKcp_lpyuZ-yViSFwizOBSua3DHcSFxoCxAwQo/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UTwP_noLmReLqX66tTCL7goOFog3qvIB9_YIlWE3gDu-AwlroByBdwnar5ZiIwMNyB1RLylZSKXMKCzmzjI0-aIAC6AbgG6cP442TrKcp_lpyuZ-yViSFwizOBSua3DHcSFxoCxAwQo/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Modern day defenders watching over the bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-65987431864581372452012-03-25T17:55:00.001-04:002012-03-25T17:56:55.391-04:00Early Morels<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroWUCuBs6ZynhLsFeAuxpxhj2HPHzTJC4xZAao3oOk2LsRE9CfWrl47XJXxc2cal2z0Q4QaPZveaTUTY3jufVJli-gA4gUW5gpW919Rj3W23nPaGtTO5VD-8AQa2cnHBnG0rjemhOUR4/s1600/morels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroWUCuBs6ZynhLsFeAuxpxhj2HPHzTJC4xZAao3oOk2LsRE9CfWrl47XJXxc2cal2z0Q4QaPZveaTUTY3jufVJli-gA4gUW5gpW919Rj3W23nPaGtTO5VD-8AQa2cnHBnG0rjemhOUR4/s640/morels.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
It's an extra early season for mountain morel mushrooms, but they are, in fact, here and as delicious as usual! Due to the extraordinarily warm end of winter and early spring, the daffodils, forsythia, redbud, dogwood, and morel are <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2012/03/spring-in-hollow.html" target="_blank">all popping</a>, and we aren't complaining one bit! Usually these guys don't make their appearance until around the second week in April; be sure to check out <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2011/04/fun-with-fungi.html" target="_blank">these two</a> <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2010/04/back-home.html" target="_blank">other posts</a> for proof.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-11137916953108479802012-03-25T16:04:00.000-04:002012-03-25T17:14:24.335-04:00Spring in the Hollow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45w85qLmLo0xK32Tput7nMFl4znODK1mUNw0-hlHc8MQaxc2sFsZ3UoKWh7UHqxMAKVCJsJJXLnPZmMUn9i184LdvLk02TqK0voVnkswiBeWAOFy6Xq7aKl-Yd5KJ9R3BSj5IQtLhekk/s1600/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45w85qLmLo0xK32Tput7nMFl4znODK1mUNw0-hlHc8MQaxc2sFsZ3UoKWh7UHqxMAKVCJsJJXLnPZmMUn9i184LdvLk02TqK0voVnkswiBeWAOFy6Xq7aKl-Yd5KJ9R3BSj5IQtLhekk/s640/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was taken last week; the daffodils are quickly wilting away now. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<pre>"For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."</pre>
<pre>~Wordsworth </pre>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5LTTVNKPpf8-xUFB8J6hXB7oBtGyhjzvWv8e_Qpw_MN8qmKdD_paRKrCBeryGjenQkiGwQ6A7OTZM-4tr4KiZfbpCYs7okarm7Y4je8cn9UQVEyo7xNTm4aDWT7hnazCH_R6AH_xtLc/s1600/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy5LTTVNKPpf8-xUFB8J6hXB7oBtGyhjzvWv8e_Qpw_MN8qmKdD_paRKrCBeryGjenQkiGwQ6A7OTZM-4tr4KiZfbpCYs7okarm7Y4je8cn9UQVEyo7xNTm4aDWT7hnazCH_R6AH_xtLc/s640/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+008.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The forsythia are quickly turning from brilliant yellow to lime green.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The forsythia sings against a chorus</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of green, yet the hue of winter looms."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ <i>Rosemary Royston</i></div>
<i> </i> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTe3r-IFSQZIHauvJ1lLSQf6CncjpKsBL1eCEJRFhmh4fAGmPLfrj3anL4L5H-VVdnO3zPXLfHWtN5sw68AF93bfNXXgRGuo-Gc56z6XOphu89mzBtXE2Lr2k8Xx-1xfjaDL2emHxPNY/s1600/spring+2012+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTe3r-IFSQZIHauvJ1lLSQf6CncjpKsBL1eCEJRFhmh4fAGmPLfrj3anL4L5H-VVdnO3zPXLfHWtN5sw68AF93bfNXXgRGuo-Gc56z6XOphu89mzBtXE2Lr2k8Xx-1xfjaDL2emHxPNY/s640/spring+2012+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Bradford Pear, right? This tree is along our northside fence row.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<pre>"no flower ever opened
so staunch a white leaf,
no flower ever parted silver
from such rare silver"</pre>
<pre>~ Hilda Doolittle</pre>
</div>
<pre> </pre>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dLHmhku6Tg92ehcRlnHwOsp7wqljIdioAw8vD8XBp08EwZKnneO1EoBUKEvVWjhe-_JxIcFKg8juz-DFvpbRVtFAkHAijLgwScSFo6lpnF4oDOIFsbUBHtG1nCMbG4bw9fMxH3Om2Is/s1600/spring+2012+004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6dLHmhku6Tg92ehcRlnHwOsp7wqljIdioAw8vD8XBp08EwZKnneO1EoBUKEvVWjhe-_JxIcFKg8juz-DFvpbRVtFAkHAijLgwScSFo6lpnF4oDOIFsbUBHtG1nCMbG4bw9fMxH3Om2Is/s640/spring+2012+004.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The redbud are beautiful right now.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>"I will go, I said, to the country</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>When the red-bud blooms in the spring</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>And then, as of old, for sheer rapture</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>My heart will sing."</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>~ </i>May Frink Converse<i> </i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganPBEUlkg-wCPSeW341ce4e6EMHup4HF1EuRhQfaCTQ54sltanBXbEJ7_9sDmDnaqLdJq-LQ9e9hHJHR7DHAxqCXy3_6ZPLrbeGlvkn1wS-9ouXXgE6uPEwCsWzyfR-cqdQt14ycZ7gE/s1600/spring+2012+007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEganPBEUlkg-wCPSeW341ce4e6EMHup4HF1EuRhQfaCTQ54sltanBXbEJ7_9sDmDnaqLdJq-LQ9e9hHJHR7DHAxqCXy3_6ZPLrbeGlvkn1wS-9ouXXgE6uPEwCsWzyfR-cqdQt14ycZ7gE/s640/spring+2012+007.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dogwood are my favorite.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"But high o'er all the early floral train,<br />
Where softness all the arching sky resumes,<br />
The dogwood dancing to the winds' refrain,<br />
In stainless glory spreads its snowy blooms." </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ <b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;">George Marion McClellan</span></i></b></div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></i></b> <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-84768350417946420672012-03-25T09:11:00.001-04:002012-03-25T09:12:04.429-04:00Antietam Sunrise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeAhBOt2ibZqzuWsAkZdZbJZCKDMfCrV-D78jeX3qftBq6zJk-mNOYWXKGxKboKfW4KxXojUFMj2viayutqjoZ4vojfHybsWsdh0ojvqECmFsab-bbE0qi4sugg96ucC0sl0gvs5_LVA/s1600/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeAhBOt2ibZqzuWsAkZdZbJZCKDMfCrV-D78jeX3qftBq6zJk-mNOYWXKGxKboKfW4KxXojUFMj2viayutqjoZ4vojfHybsWsdh0ojvqECmFsab-bbE0qi4sugg96ucC0sl0gvs5_LVA/s640/spring+2012,+ella+birthday+017.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Life has proven extraordinarily busy lately, but when a sunrise like this presents itself, I'd be a fool not to slow down for a moment to take a shot. I took this on our way to Hagerstown one morning last week during our usual hectic routine. This is looking east (obviously) off Rt. 65 just north of the <a href="http://www.battleviewmarket.com/" target="_blank">Battleview Market</a>.Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-68898230945763284202012-03-16T22:53:00.001-04:002012-03-16T22:54:14.029-04:00Anymore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes I hear something, see something, feel something,</div>
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and wonder why I'm not part of that - </div>
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not doing that - </div>
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not that</div>
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anymore.</div>
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<br /></div>Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-17053661220774729352012-02-04T14:30:00.000-05:002012-02-04T14:30:21.102-05:00It's a Girl Scout ThingWe have recently learned more about a Girl Scout tradition called SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallit Affectionately Pinned Somewhere). They are simply little somethings, often symbolic of an event, with a small identifying tag that Girl Scouts swap with each other and pin on a hat, t-shirt, rope, etc. <br />
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Coming up in February is a special Girl Scout holiday called World Thinking Day. It's a day when scouts and guides around the world get together to learn and think more about their sister scouts in different countries. Our county's service unit is having a special day where each troop picks a country to represent. Our troop chose China/Hong Kong! We are responsible for making a display, 150 SWAPS, and a snack. Our SWAPS are a combination of little pictures (dragons, Wall of China, etc.) and fortune cookies that we've made. Here are some pictures of how to make the fortune cookie SWAPS (I think they're adorable!).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Y5_EB6jYJzdMW5w_qabkD2wJ_-HEN_3KIzL03_Qap2kcL4OKT4NaoLxjN8quIgzpI2pG2hRCrKf9U092XA_5yHAs8eaSFwAhMDPVOL442VQyxfRjX_W7RJhpjyCeh21m86O84gniW8/s1600/girl+scouts,+swaps+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Y5_EB6jYJzdMW5w_qabkD2wJ_-HEN_3KIzL03_Qap2kcL4OKT4NaoLxjN8quIgzpI2pG2hRCrKf9U092XA_5yHAs8eaSFwAhMDPVOL442VQyxfRjX_W7RJhpjyCeh21m86O84gniW8/s640/girl+scouts,+swaps+021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut out a circle of paper (I used a scrapbooking circle punch tool). Pinch it in half (colored side out) - do not crease the fold. I had to use my other hand to take the photo, but usually my other hand is holding that left side closed while my right hand is pushing in middle and pulling the ends down and together. I used little glue dots (Zots) to put in the crease to keep the fold together permanently. You could use regular glue, but you have to hold it closed for a bit. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cIlisryMlLaLfovnVJDSD9gv6hi1AsimBlcdmQbLiZ_MEd2McdWtD2BU3GJ-HQbTw8Kgvsybm25w2EcIilg6VCf8q6D_iaBWTmu54t6X39OG6rYd8S88VEH8lqea8KAS7GdX3xJulns/s1600/girl+scouts,+swaps+027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cIlisryMlLaLfovnVJDSD9gv6hi1AsimBlcdmQbLiZ_MEd2McdWtD2BU3GJ-HQbTw8Kgvsybm25w2EcIilg6VCf8q6D_iaBWTmu54t6X39OG6rYd8S88VEH8lqea8KAS7GdX3xJulns/s640/girl+scouts,+swaps+027.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We printed out tags for the "fortune," which we glued into the cookie.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRRdsns1QaYD-3wOyoh4sdURQDyZ4J6X7nBvTa54IAwUBiTs7WrRR7Y9vWgf6iXQkf_DJU9Cquyoy5WQqjF1Li6-r6mJ0d989zqp58dx1bamdIGaOz6xTB5yZbwbgb0G8WLPsvUvrtGo/s1600/girl+scouts,+swaps+028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRRdsns1QaYD-3wOyoh4sdURQDyZ4J6X7nBvTa54IAwUBiTs7WrRR7Y9vWgf6iXQkf_DJU9Cquyoy5WQqjF1Li6-r6mJ0d989zqp58dx1bamdIGaOz6xTB5yZbwbgb0G8WLPsvUvrtGo/s640/girl+scouts,+swaps+028.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After adding the ubiquitous safety pin, we'll display our SWAPS in Chinese take-out containers (bought at Walmart in the party supplies section) on our table for the other Girl Scout troops to visit and swap. </td></tr>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-63912437010099268222012-01-29T08:23:00.000-05:002012-01-29T08:25:42.250-05:00I Got Born There, Mama<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gXo1EXHN5LKwls7DKPcoaanZzFX0O82ZOhkX43Bllafrpzyij4gJ2wOl09Da-VVsRj7PzqweL_mMuDzp-7krElEbUIVqOh9a2Dgb3A81ki02EulGSRWz1kaaKkDG8Mgn1dbzM8fTPUU/s1600/winter+2011+010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3gXo1EXHN5LKwls7DKPcoaanZzFX0O82ZOhkX43Bllafrpzyij4gJ2wOl09Da-VVsRj7PzqweL_mMuDzp-7krElEbUIVqOh9a2Dgb3A81ki02EulGSRWz1kaaKkDG8Mgn1dbzM8fTPUU/s640/winter+2011+010.JPG" width="426" /></a>After the construction and grand opening of <a href="http://www.meritushealth.com/" target="_blank">Meritus Medical Center</a> off Robinwood, <a href="http://www.therecordherald.com/features/x435681059/Whats-going-on-here-Washington-County-Hospital-being-demolished" target="_blank">the demolition of the old Washington County Hospital</a> has picked up speed and <a href="http://your4state.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=231732" target="_blank">a few complaints</a>. <br />
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Both of our girls were born at the old hospital. It has been bittersweet to drive past recently and see the utter destruction of twisting metal, dust, and busted block. SG said it best: "I'm kind of sad about that. I got born there, Mama." <br />
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George can attest to the fact that the basement cafe used to make great BLT's and chocolate milkshakes. That's all he ate when we stayed there.<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-36408774585114775702012-01-21T10:08:00.000-05:002012-01-21T10:09:09.269-05:00Frog Hollow Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We finally have the first measurable snow on the ground since Halloween. Now, the sky is spitting icy rain, and the lane looks treacherous. The girls have birthday parties this afternoon, and we're hoping we can make them.<br />
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At least we have had some beautiful sunrises lately. The two pictures below (in no way edited!) were taken about two weeks ago from our deck. You can't beat this view! <br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-27071395748357849142012-01-19T19:38:00.001-05:002012-01-19T19:42:58.027-05:00Post-Christmas/Post-StrepI had every intention of posting each day of Christmas, but got hung up around Day 10. You may have thought it was a result of our going back to school and work, and certainly that fact played a part. But mainly my attention suddenly got diverted to the toilet - yes, the toilet - on the eve of our return to reality. If you get grossed out easily, stop reading. No, I'm not talking poop here. Just blood. The youngest one, just a few days from her sixth birthday, called me to the bathroom that night because her "pee look[ed] all brown." Completely freaked out, I googled and realized I should call her doc immediately, which I did, and they wanted to see her pronto. We high-tailed it to Frederick for a late Monday evening appointment; urine analysis, once-over, no other symptoms, no weird kid injuries, nothing in the urine but blood and protein (no infection obvious) -- so, "come back in two days to see what the lab says." We go back; labs say nothing - another, more comprehensive once-over - "go to Robinwood now - get an ultrasound of her kidneys and bladder and get a blood sample. STAT." Done. Wait. Wait. Wait.<br />
Finally, Thursday afternoon I got the call that the only thing they could find was that such-and-such levels indicated that she "recently" (within a couple of months) had strep. ("Do you remember her having strep?" "No. Bad stomach-bug before Thanksgiving? But no strep - throat or skin - that we can remember. Wait a minute - she did have a little fever one day. She did have itchy hands one afternoon. Does that count??")<br />
So, they think she had/has something called post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (GN) - "a disorder of the kidneys that occurs after infection with certain strains of <i>Streptococcus</i> bacteria" - according to<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000503.htm" target="_blank"> this website</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.thepedcenter.com/providers/ViewDoctor.aspx?id=7" target="_blank">Dr. Crowder</a>, one of the very talented doctors at <a href="http://www.thepedcenter.com/Index.aspx" target="_blank">The Pediatric Center in Frederick</a> and surrounding areas, told me that they see about ONE of these cases a YEAR! How crazy is that?! That MY kid would be so unique . . . Another doctor who worked with us, <a href="http://www.thepedcenter.com/providers/ViewDoctor.aspx?id=5" target="_blank">Dr. Chaitovitz</a>, explained to me in terms that even I could understand how this little disorder works: kid gets strep somehow (usually the skin-brand), strep goes untreated, strep hangs out in the body for a while, strep finally finds kidneys and "attacks," kidneys create an antibody to defend the kidneys, the antibody makes the kidneys "leak" blood and protein (therefore, the cola-colored urine). They treated her with an antibiotic to be certain that the strep is gone, but they are continuing to keep a close eye on her blood pressure and weight to be sure she's not going into kidney failure, which can and does happen with some of these affected kids.<br />
So far, SG has had impeccable blood pressure and she's not taking on any "water weight," so they are convinced that her kidneys are working fine. But just to be sure, we get to go back often to see our nurse and pee in a cup! She's not had ANY pain or discomfort and her urine is looking normal (although the doc says there are still blood and protein there - we just can't see it. It'll be like that for up to a year!).<br />
So, if your kids are feeling "streppy," go and get that culture and make them take their Amoxicillin! Brown pee is SCARYYYYYYYY! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1O7fYxYEGfddKgud2Ar8cNOnNiFbeId7z7nUWzx4fw03pAdR5-dMAxwdsIPzovv6fTDkxIHHZj_fRWUtSzrjxFvn4iZDFaF3LakIrQ2I3KQY5cd_wUK6Fu5069kILKWPft0qmXQRdvo/s1600/winter+2012%252C+girl+scouts%252C+swap%252C+sg+6th+birthday+party+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1O7fYxYEGfddKgud2Ar8cNOnNiFbeId7z7nUWzx4fw03pAdR5-dMAxwdsIPzovv6fTDkxIHHZj_fRWUtSzrjxFvn4iZDFaF3LakIrQ2I3KQY5cd_wUK6Fu5069kILKWPft0qmXQRdvo/s640/winter+2012%252C+girl+scouts%252C+swap%252C+sg+6th+birthday+party+082.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the birthday girl at her party ~ the guests had no idea about her wee issue . . . </td></tr>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-13365064398479024212012-01-02T10:18:00.001-05:002012-01-02T10:27:30.434-05:009th Day of ChristmasOn the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me -- a morning to myself! He and the kids are off to my sister's house, and I'm here alone left to be sure that we are ready to face the world again tomorrow. Yes, Winter Break officially ends today. So, on this day of cleaning, organizing, preparing, and planning, I will reflect a bit on how I can aspire to what are called the nine "Fruits of the Holy Spirit," from Paul's letter to the Galatians: <i> But the fruit of the Spirit is<b> love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control</b>. Against such things
there is no law.</i> ~ 5:22-23<br />
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I could certainly use a lot more of each of these, especially as I face 2012. Couldn't we all?<br />
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Here's the view off our deck this morning ~ beauty in a twisted, tangled mess of Mother Nature ~<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-49451575875364362462012-01-01T17:55:00.001-05:002012-01-01T17:59:19.116-05:008th Day of Christmas A.K.A. New Year's Day 2012Here's your heart attack! Tonight we ate our good luck pork in the form of barbeque ribs. We had green beans (green to bring money!) and garlic parmesan mashed potatoes (I don't know what they symbolize). <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my oven-roasted ribs ~ they melt in your mouth!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sylv's on your fourth rib! She's decided that, in fact, Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce is better than the Almighty A1. </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Everybody seems to have their New Year's Day traditions, and my German family always always always had pork and sauerkraut, usually slowed cooked in the Crock Pot all day and eaten at the Taneytown Activities Building to celebrate<a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2010/01/hubert-gladys.html" target="_blank"> my great-grandparents' anniversary</a>. George and the girls hate the smell of kraut, so I don't even bother with that anymore although I used to. My stepdad is Pennsylvanian Dutch, and his mom always made <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2010/01/hog-maw.html" target="_blank">a hog maw</a> for the occasion. As a kid I couldn't stomach the stuff (yeah, pig's internals stuffed with potatoes, pork, etc.), but now that our friends <a href="http://froghollowroots.blogspot.com/2010/01/hog-maw.html" target="_blank">the Mullers have us down for their wonderful version</a>, I hate to miss it! Next week we hope to get our hog on again!Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-82788167304723539312011-12-31T08:36:00.004-05:002011-12-31T08:36:52.626-05:007th Day of Christmas - A.K.A. New Year's EveHave a beautiful New Year's Eve ~ Be safe and happy!<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-14406227875084327362011-12-31T08:26:00.000-05:002011-12-31T08:28:30.416-05:006th Day of ChristmasOn the sixth day of Christmas, Mama gave to us . . . a trip to Hanover, PA! We met up with my dad and headed north to the hometown of our favorite <a href="http://www.utzsnacks.com/" target="_blank">Utz Potato Chips</a>. We ate a nice lunch at <a href="http://dutchcountryrestaurantpa.com/" target="_blank">Dutch Country Restaurant</a>, shopped a bit at Big Lots, and then headed a tad south of town for a quick visit to the <a href="http://www.hanoverpa.com/" target="_blank">Hanover Shoe Farms</a>. Anyone can visit the barns as they are open to the public during all daylight hours. One of the handlers told us to come back in two weeks when the mamas we saw would start having their foals. Since they have over three hundred mares, they start early!<br />
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On the way home, we were treated to some beautiful skies ~<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glowing Harpers Ferry</td></tr>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-49797824019380857542011-12-29T13:12:00.002-05:002011-12-29T13:13:07.988-05:004th & 5th Days of ChristmasOn the fourth day of Christmas, poor SG got a trip to the dentist. Apparently, the kid is "high risk" due to her infant issues with GERD. According to Dr. Newman, the acid caused deep grooves in her molars, which are now filling very easily with little cavities. So, yesterday she got another filling. In any case, we highly recommend <a href="http://drspearlmanandseidman.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Newman's practice in the North End of Hagerstown</a> for all your pediatric dentistry needs.<br />
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On the fifth day of Christmas, we spent over an hour with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Elenco-SC-750-Snap-Circuits-Extreme/dp/B0002AHQWS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325182121&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Grandma's gift to Sylvie making snap circuits</a>! Fun! <br />
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It's hard to see, but the fifth day of Christmas brought us some snow flurries, too! I think this is first snow we've seen since the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/31/snow-storm-2011-power-outages-_n_1067025.html" target="_blank">freak Halloween storm</a>. </div>
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-19302142679577544812011-12-27T21:37:00.001-05:002011-12-28T09:21:04.031-05:00Innies and OutiesSince it's the end of the year, I'm seeing these annual In and Out lists. I hardly get any of the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/features/2011/year-in-review/the-list.html" target="_blank">WashPo's</a>, so I thought I'd make my own -- ha!<br />
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<i><u><b>Out</b></u><b> </b><u><b>In</b></u></i><br />
<a href="http://store.scholastic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchEndecaCmd?Ne=686&storeId=10052&categoryName=Books&jspStoreDir=SSOStore&catalogId=10051&N=7+692&Ns=Start_Date%7C1&categoryId=10501&psch=SSO%2Fps%2F20100101%2Fgoogle%2Fpd%2Ftxtl%2FBooks%2F%2Fnone&creative=8570812359" target="_blank">Junie B. Jones</a> or <a href="http://www.pilkey.com/bookview.php?id=3" target="_blank">Captain Underpants</a> books <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/poisonapple/" target="_blank">Poison Apple</a> books or <a href="http://www.bopandtigerbeat.com/" target="_blank">Teen Bop</a> mags<br />
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Soccer Guitar and Violin lessons<br />
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Complaining about Stink Bugs Killing Stink Bugs<br />
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Basketball shorts Jeans<br />
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Brushing teeth Complaining about brushing teeth<br />
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Silly Bandz Homemade braided/macrame bracelets <br />
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Shoes Boots<br />
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Spongebob, iCarly <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/sorandom/" target="_blank">So Random</a>, <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/antfarm/" target="_blank">ANT Farm</a>, <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/jessie/" target="_blank">Jessie</a><br />
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Vacation plans Pool plans<br />
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Chicken nuggets Steamed Mussels/Clams <br />
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Being a housewife Being an engineer<br />
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Drawing pictures Keeping a diary<br />
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Wanting an iPad Loving a Xoom<br />
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Blackberries Any other smart phone<br />
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Job stability New superintendents<br />
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Kidz Bop Taylor Swift, Adele<br />
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Cartoons Latch hook<br />
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Nursery Rhyme pictures Posters of Justin Bieber<br />
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School lunch Packing<br />
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Voddy SoCo<br />
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Driving to work Riding the Canal to workBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3748822254562601264.post-52842331648836903982011-12-27T18:24:00.002-05:002011-12-27T18:25:57.674-05:003rd Day of ChristmasOn the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me . . . a trip to West Virginia . . .<br />
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Yah, this is where blogging seems a bit, well, boring. Not for me - I love to write about whatever - but for you, poor reader. Alas, all we really did today was go out as a family (for once), eat, do an errand, and then grocery shop at Walmart, of all godforsaken places. And then we came home, put away the groceries, made drinks (because we're on vacation - duh!), made dinner, and attempted to entertain our kids without too much effort on our parts . . .<br />
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So, the eating part -- we ate at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g59292-d1199381-Reviews-La_Trattoria-Martinsburg_West_Virginia.html" target="_blank">Martinsburg's La Trattoria - the highest rated restaurant for that fair city on Tripadvisor</a>. Our young waiter Sebastian was a gracious gentleman, who catered to our every need -- want a meatball instead of meat sauce? Sure, kid - not a problem. Want french fries instead of salad or the yummy house Italian Marriage Soup? Sure, sir - I'd be happy to. Want me to heat up half that cake to make your girls happy while you get your cold cake and eat it, too? No problem. Seriously, the best little before-dinner rolls EVER. We threw down two baskets-full before our steak-n-cheese paninis and spaghettis came. The decor was - um, very peachy and Kelly green - but its location (on Rt. 9 just off Rt. 81 around the corner from <a href="http://www.gscnc.org/Martinsburg_Shop.html" target="_blank">the Girl Scout shop</a>) and easy parking made up for that. I think we'll do that joint again.<br />
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And the shopping part -- I thought G had made a wrong turn toward Hagerstown's Walmart instead of Martinsburg's, but, no, he was headed to Spring Mills. I know - Walmart-talk on a blog. Geez. But seriously, of all Walmarts, this one is worth the chatter. It's very new and very convenient and I always forget about it. Apparently, so do a lot of people because it's never busy. Love it.<br />
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And, finally, the child entertainment part:<br />
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They are making their "goal posters" -- SG hopes to sell at least 175 boxes and Sylvie hopes to sell 250 boxes . . . eeek! Want to help?? Just let me know - Go, Girl Scout Cookies! :) (Latch hook work can be seen in the background . . . no, we haven't finished yet!)<br />
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<br />Bethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06145465895965508848noreply@blogger.com0