Mad Cold

 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.

Meanwhile, Harpers Ferry National Park is reporting that it's "cold enough to freeze a mouse" at -2 degrees!  Here's their status from earlier:
"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)"

According to the news, 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!)  

As I write this, I've just found out that the Mad Dog (click for former blog post) is on fire.  More later.    

Edited to add these pictures that were posted at Washington Co.Md Fire Calls (Facebook page) 

Deeper Yet

SG and I had a great breakfast this morning at Bright Morning Inn in Davis, WV -- I had the Banana Dream French Toast and SG had toast and sausage; nothing with eggs for her still. We took a short walk around town - no walk around town would take very long anyway. Then, we headed to Canaan Valley proper where we got a Beat the Heat special room at Canaan Valley Resort for $70 or so. The room is not spectacular; as a matter of fact it reeks of old cigarette smoke, but the staff has been apologetic and came to spray something, and I figure I can't really complain too much with such a great price and a last minute grab like that. Of course, SG wanted to swim, so we have spent quite a bit of time at the indoor pool. We tried the outdoor pool but the heater is broken; it was way too cold, especially with only about 80 degree weather. We had lunch at Big John's Family Fixins restaurant (pretty decent) and then headed down south to beautiful Seneca Rocks. My dear four year old was only impressed for a short while; we quickly headed back to the pool. We ate dinner in the resort's Hickory Dining Room, which was a nice buffet - they served wine too. The view from the dining room was spectacular. Now, too early for partying girls like ourselves, we are crashing in front of the tv (which the Inn didn't have for us in our room) watching too many episodes of iCarly. I hear that the deer will walk right up to guests at dusk around here, but I don't think this kid can handle that much drama tonight. We have a long ride back to 'civilization' tomorrow.

Deeper into Appalachia

Today SG and I started on our first adventure alone together; we have landed in Tucker County, WV - more specifically at Bright Morning Inn in Davis. Our ride took us first to Emily's to drop off Sylvie for her first overnight (two!) with Paige. We then headed west on 50 through Hampshire, Grant, Mineral, and then Tucker Counties. We noticed that yard sales are very popular along the route; I'm pretty sure we passed at least fifty of them, but we stopped at none. The GPS took me up over Saddle Mountain (elevation over 2800 feet) instead of down 93, which resulted in an anxious drive up a very long mountain with impressive views. The most jaw-dropping part of our ride was the string of huge windmills across the ridges near here. We were both awed by the size and motion of the strange things. These new forms of energy were contrasted against the two towering stacks of the Mt. Storm power company and the vast swaths of clear-cut mountaintops for mining. Apparently, the lake at Mt. Storm is very warm and many swim and scuba dive in it. We finally popped into little Davis - a tiny hamlet with virtually no trees. Our pretty inn sits right in the middle of town across the street from Hellbender's, a burrito place, and a new yet-to-be-named ice cream shop. Our innkeeper was out getting a burger when we first got here, so we went over to the Blackwater Falls State Park to check it out. We visited the Lodge, which boasts an impressive view of the gorge out front. Then, we took the "gentle trail" for a high overlook of the Falls and realized we had to go to the other side of the gorge for the better view. So, we did and 214 steps later found an up close and beautiful view of the waterfall. We quickly checked out the campground for future reference and then headed back to check in. Later, we drove over the Thomas (only 2 miles away) to get dinner at the Purple Fiddle, a place that I've been wanting to visit for years. It lived up to my expectations - perfect for the hippie traveler in me - and SG liked it too. We didn't stick around for the live music (whom we saw warming up and setting up - the lady, Sue, thought SG was adorable), which they have virtually every night, but we did indulge in a salad, a quesadilla, a local brew (me), and the best mocha ice cream we've ever eaten. I loved the eclectic decor, the outdoor seating, and the fresh healthy menu. It's known for being kid-friendly, and SG indeed fell in love with our server, whom she called Cowgirl - a pasty but pretty dark-haired twenty-something in a long skirt and riding boots; she spoke with a drawl thicker than these parts, and SG LOVED her. Back in our room, I have found the wi-fi to be unbearably unreliable, but the bed is nice, and I kind of like hearing the street noise through the open window. Tomorrow I think we'll stay in Canaan so SG can use the pool. We'll be taking it as it comes . . .

My Baby Turns 4!

Today is Sarah Grace's 4th birthday! I asked her this morning what she wants to be when she grows up. True to form, she shouted, "A rock star!" That's my girl: full of life, always on the move, fun-loving, and absolutely lovable. Her long blond hair, blue-gray eyes, and small stature are deceiving; she's not the meek little princess that she appears to be. She's about as wild and sassy as they come! Sarah Grace came into this world abruptly and sunny-side up, and ever since she has continued those trends. She loves to dance and run and play; she also loves to pick at her sister and has been known to grab a few necks, arms, and lots of skin. She hates to be interrupted and HAS to finish every thought she starts to express. SG is my little fashionista; she insists on choosing her clothes everyday, and it's not unusual to find her in flowered pants, a striped skirt, purple socks, and satin red slip-ons -- all at the same time.
Sarah Grace was born at 1:53 a.m. after the mid-wife was barely able to make it to the hospital. George had played poker that evening down at Kelly Moore's, and I had to call him to come home quickly. We called Dave and Wendy (George's parents) to come stay with Sylvie, and by the time we were in the car, I knew this baby was going to be with us soon. We had called the midwife ahead of time and knew she would be late, but SG was not waiting. This trait would come to be typical of SG -- impatient! Sarah proved to be a difficult baby, yet affectionate; she had colic from day one, which turned out to an allergy to eggs and milk (she's outgrown the latter). She was diagnosed as "failure to thrive" at around 8 months when she essentially stopped growing. After many visits to the pediatric GI, an endoscopy, and many diet changes on both her and my parts, she eventually made her way back to around the third percentile. She is still very small but makes up for it in sheer power and energy. She seems hardly ever to sleep, and after an initial 2 1/2 years of barely speaking a word, she's making up for lost time by never stopping the constant jabbering.
We love our Sarah Grace dearly and look forward to a long lifetime of beautiful surprises and perhaps even a few rock concerts . . . Rock on, SG!!