Well I must first say thanks to all who kept us in your thoughts and prayers for safe travel to and from the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. We felt at times we were on hallow ground as my ancestors lived there and worked the land as well as the many losses of life that occurred during the Civil War battles fought there as well as lots of battles during our revolt with England. There are many tombstones of the soldiers who died in those battles in the cemetery at St. John's Church we attend on our yearly visit. We even got to see the plain stones that mark the graves of my ancestors on the old Bucher Farm near Mountain Falls, Va. We have a list of the names of those interned there, some as far back as the late 1700's. We found the remains of the two stone chimneys of the old house as well on our nearly mile hike back into the forest which has reclaimed the land near the stream of water called Furnace Run. Talk about your feelings when your standing on hallowed ground in the middle of a forest. That was one of the most solumn moments of the trip.
We stayed in the beautiful small city of Woodstock which is nestled between the mountains. This valley is such as it was once known as the "breadbasket of the south" during the Civil War. Farming is still a major enterprise in the region with a huge dairy farm adjacent to sister Dee's and Mike's beautiful home. We awaken each morning to the lineup of Holsteins heading to the milking barn and then again later in the evening as they are milked twice a day. I did the same thing on our small farm when I was but a lad; twice a day, 7 days a week and the milk was the best ever with cream coming to the top of the crock as it cooled. I was so ready to leave the farm as a teenager but now long for those days that taught me so much.
We chilled the first night there as they(Dee and Mike) had taken Paw Paw to a Nationals ball game near Washington, D.C. The Nats lost to the Rockies team which was part of the conversation the next day as Paw Paw is big fan, oh well!!! On Saturday the festivities began with us heading to the circuit church at Gravel Springs in a community called Star Tannery. (Yes, there was a tannery there at one time.) In olden days a circuit preacher would preach at St.John's, St. James and a couple other churches in the area on different Sunday's and it was that way when I was growing up as well an attending St.John's. This is a big occasion for the church as it raises money for the up keep of the cemetery. They prepare a huge meal of fried chicken and country ham with all of the home grown vegetables and lots of desserts as well as cakes to be auctioned off later during the day. They have a very good 5 piece Blue Grass Band and an outdoor dance floor of which I helped to polish at times with sister Josie. There is just something about that kind of music that I lose control of my joints and have to move to the rhythm. We decided since many of our family already attend the picnic to make it a gathering for a Triplett family reunion. Well it was a success with all but the Jones's side(aunt Elsie) of the family attending.
The Bucher's are a direct link to us as well and a couple of their descendants attended as well. Brian and I grew up together along with his brother Pud and his younger brother Denny who was but 5 when I left home. The three of us paled around for several years back on the farm at the old home place and attended school together. I hadn't seen either of the three boys since I left home in '64 after graduating. It was good to reconnect with them in person and now we have Facebook. Pud the middle brother was unable to attend because of health issues but I spoke with him on the phone for quite a spell. We were missing the aunts Nancy, Elsie and my birth mother Georgeanna as they had all passed on but their brothers our uncles were all there; Billy(paw paw who raised me as one of his own) is the oldest then Junior and Frankie being the youngest. Most of their kids where there with many of their kids and grand kids. It was wonderful to have so many together once again and hopefully we can do this every year. There is no burden on anyone making all the food as we just purchase it at the picnic and no organizing as well. Just show up and eat, socialize and even dance a little and then leave. No mess, no fuss and no cleanup plus we get to help with contributing to the upkeep of the cemetery where many of our relatives and friends are buried.
Well we attended St.John's on Sunday morning and once again got and gave plenty of handshakes and hugs and made to feel special and welcomed. The old building is well maintained and we noticed lots of young children in attendance which will hopefully become a part of their heritage as it has become mine. We wondered through the cemetery and noticed some new headstones from much younger folks than we and realized that all of this will come to an end someday as indicated by the markers; however with Jesus we are promised to be reunited on the other side if we are Believers which gives all of us some hope that death isn't totally final. We spent the afternoon taking Paw Paw out to lunch at his favorite restaurant then back to his home in Winchester where he grows some beautiful tomatoes. He loaded us up with a sack full to bring back to the cabin with us and then we headed back to his friends place near Star Tannery for a visit.
We got back to Dee and Mike's and chilled the rest of the evening and then dined on some fresh corn on the cob, delicious mac and cheese, sliced garden 'maters and cucumbers, Yeow was that ever some good eatin'. We got into a couple games of Euchre and the gals let us boys win big at 10-1 and 10-2. They were so generous this time. We had a fun evening and then we left on Monday morning as both of them are still working. We will see them again in about 3 weeks as their oldest daughter, Halley Jo is getting married in Harrisonburg, Va. on September the 4th. That will give us another couple days to celebrate with family this year and to see their 2 new grand children whom we've never met yet, as they live in New Mexico.
Well on the way back to the cabin we took a couple new side roads and then shopped in Galax before returning home. We were coming in our gravel road and I noticed what at first I thought was a stick in the road and low and behold it turned out to be a rattle snake. The first one I've ever seen one up here since we bought in 1992. Well needless to say I terminated it with the tires of the truck and we counted 8 rattlers despite it only being maybe 24 inches or so in length. I heard tell the snakes are out especially since it's so dry and this one was heading towards the small creek near the road, oh well!!!
I checked the gardens and the deer seemed to have stayed away and then I drug out the hose to water despite it being somewhat cloudy at times. It's been this way for weeks with no measurable rainfall and wouldn't you know it after dark it really came down. We really needed this rain and what a blessing, LATER Pics are to follow!! I almost forgot to mention the stop at Due South a great eatery in Christiansburg, Va. for really good barbeque on the way up the valley on Friday.
