Harper's Ferry, West Virginia

Can I just tell you I enjoy taking day trips off to some quaint little town and examining the jewels that makes that town shine. So, to my surprise when I received the Southern Living magazine October issue I was flipping thru and I come across an article about Harper's Ferry, W. Virginia.

When I was in high school we lived in Maryland and my parents would go on day trips and Harper's Ferry was one of the places they enjoyed visiting. Now that I am older, day tripping has become a passion of mine. There is just something about getting out with family. I look forward to the connection that happens with my husband and children. Anyway, I was so excited so I tore out the article saving it in hopes of visiting soon. And wouldn't you know it, weeks later we had a inicident that happened over Homecoming and well let's just say we needed to get out of this one horse town, at least for the day. So we traveled up the Northern Virginia back roads making our way West Virginia. We were traveling along these small back roads and came to an intersection and we made a left and next thing we knew we were in West Virgnia and we were driving along the river and it is breath taking. Pictures do not give it justice. And of course it is Fall so you can only imagine just how beautiful it is. If you have never been, it is a must see. So we park our car and take the shuttle bus into town. There is a small fee but worth it. We walked and walked and walked. We stopped by the fudge shoppe and let's just say I now know why she is featured. My oldest son bought the peanut butter fudge. Wow!

While there you can walk across the bride and hike up the mountain to see this view. Well, we ran out of time. Okay, it was the end of the day and we were tired! Let's just tell the truth!

If you ever get a chance to go out there. Enjoy!  I would love to take a trip in the Spring.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Love these kids!!!

Backyard Bliss

I was just about to go start on some sewing when I had to let the cat out the backdoor (for the umpteen time today). Anyway, when I really looked Isaw just how pretty the backyard had become this Fall. When Chip and I were designing our house we live in now our boys were five and four years old at the time. (Our daughter didn't arrive until a few months before we moved in.) We were so busy at the time of construction and we kept telling the boys this will all pass as soon as we moved in. Boy were we naive. They are now 14 and 13 and I still feel like we are moving in high gear. Anyway, we moved in and the backyard was nothing but ugly Virginia pines that were beaten with an ugly stick, repeatedly. If you look really close to the left side of the first pic below you will see the ugly Virginia pines still in our neighbors yard. And well, with small exception of a few hardwoods, I mean a few and one dogwood I felt blessed. Well, we wanted a backyard that our kids could play in. So, we hired a man to cut them down, smooth out the yard and dig out right behind the deck to make two levels. The builder when they landscaped the yard left it so as soon as you stepped off the steps of the deck you walked on an angle. FUN! By the time our landscaper had finished his part, our backyard looked like a war zone. Our neighbors kept asking each other, "What are they doing?" I just kept saying I promise when we are done you will like it. We fenced it in with a six foot wooden privacy fence and began our work.

 

 

Where our landscaper cut out for two levels we built a retaining wall. We had never done this before but I knew if a professional could do it , we could do it. I don't know if you remember back in early years of 2000 when a heat wave and then drought hit on the East Coast. Well, that was the day we started. 95 degrees and higher. What were we thinking? Yes, that was the day my husband picked to start our project. Well, he shoveled the area to lay the stone block and we went to work laying sand and laying stones one after another all summer long in the heat. The ninety five and higher heat. We spent more time on laying down a stone block and removing it to level out the sand underneath than I care to even talk about. We fussed, we fought, let me just tell you we knew if we made it thru that we knew we could do anything. Well, it paid off. After much planting and sowing of grass seed. This is our backyard now.

My husband says he built this wall twice. You may also notice we started something. Both of our neighbors on each side of us cleared their backyards of ugly Virginia pines. The other funny thing about this retaining wall. When we finished the wall we didn't have steps until the following year and we didn't have an idea of what we were going to use for them. We just happened to be out and about one Saturday and dropped by a nursery and they had these steps, a perfect match. Oh, back to what started this blog. The pics below.

 

 

And you know what we found out when we finally finished the backyard and it was ready for the kids to play in. They don't like to play outside. Isn't that a fine howdy do?

Oh well, my husband and I enjoy it. Even if it is us just sitting on the deck looking out at what Elohim enabled us to do.

The Essence of Friendship

~Great Advice on Friendship from Aish.com Rabbi Kalman Packouz~

"A businessman in ancient times from the Land of Israel who was accused of being a spy. After being condemned to death, the man requests 30 days to return home to put his affairs in order and to say good-bye to his family. The judge laughs at the ridiculous request; the man responds that he has a friend who will stay in jail in his place until he comes back -- and if he doesn't come back, his friend will die in his place.

This the judge had to see. So, they send for the friend. Sure enough, he agrees to stand bond in place of his friend all the way up to the noose.

The businessman returns home, puts his affairs in order, says good-bye to his family and returns with plenty of time to spare. Unfortunately, there is a storm at sea and he is delayed. He arrives shortly before the time he is to be executed. He runs to the town square where his friend is already at the gallows; he screams, "No, it is I who is to be executed!" And his friend yells back, "No, you're too late!" They create such a commotion and confusion that the king calls for them to be brought before him.

Each presents his case and then they begin to argue with each other about who is to be executed. Finally, the king stops them and says, "I will pardon you both on one condition -- that you make me a third friend!"

What is the essence of friendship? Loyalty. A true friend is always there for you. The Hebrew word for friend is "chaver" -- from the word "chibbur" which means attached, joined. A true friend is someone whose love is unconditional, who will be there for you always. The very foundation of friendship is loyalty.

A true friend does not condone wrong behavior and immoral choices. However, he is there to support, to reprove, to help his friend get his life back on track. He cares enough about you to tell you when you are wrong, but he does it with love and in a way that you can hear. A true friend will help you grow as a human being and to reach your goals.

One would not choose a surgeon just because he seems to be a nice guy. Choosing a friend is serious business; friends influence your life -- and come with responsibilities! Know what traits you want in a friend before seeking friendship. Be careful of committing to a friendship haphazardly. Make sure you choose the right friends!

How does one make a true friend? First, be careful who you choose to be your friend. If friendship implies commitment and loyalty, you should select your friends carefully. A friend can help you elevate yourself in life or he can bring you down. Know the character and history of someone before making him a friend.

Ethics of the Fathers gives the following advice: "K'nei l'cha chaver" which translates as "Buy for yourself a friend." Obviously, one cannot buy friendship -- although I did have a college roommate who always told me "Friends stay friends longer when they give gifts" (problem was, he always wanted to be on the receiving end...).

However, friendship does take investment. The best vitamin for acquiring a friend is B1. If one wants a person to be his friend, then he has to give the commitment and loyalty in order to get it in return. (It is much like marriage.) One must watch out for his friend's best interest and to be there for him. By the way, if you want to see who loves you and is concerned about you -- look at who cares about your children. If your friend cares about your children, he really cares about you!

THE A-Z of FRIENDSHIP A Friend....
Accepts you as you are     Believes in you     Calls you just to say "HI"     Doesn't give up on you     Envisions the whole of you     Forgives your mistakes     Gives unconditionally     Helps you     Invites you over     Just "be" with you     Keeps you close at heart     Loves you for who you are     Makes a difference in your life     Never judges	Offers support Picks you up Quiets your fears Raises your spirits Says nice things about you Tells you the truth when you need to hear it Understands you Values you Walks beside you X-plains things you don't understand Yells when you won't listen, and Zaps you back to reality         Shalom!!!

Sandy Storm

Well,  we are hoping the power doesn't go out.  We are not in her path but we are getting rain and some wind.  All three of my children got out of school.  Unfortunately, my oldest got called into work. He works at a grocery store.   He is the only one, I understand, who does the carts right.  I am concerned he will be the only one pulling in carts in this rain and cold.  I pray he has a good attitude though.  Well, I better head upstairs and start on some brisket, carrot, celery soup.  It is getting chilly around here. 

Shalom!!!

 

 

Update~    We didn't lose power.  Thank you Abba!!!  Charlie did end up pulling in carts and everytime some cashier would complain Ms. Allison would point to Charlie and say "he's out in a hurricane pulling in carts and freezing cold, stop complaining."  LOL!  He did have a good attitude about it.  Funny thing Charlie noticed that Ms. Allison seemed upset everytime he would pass by the customer service desk.  So, he eventually stopped by and asked why.  Her answer, "we are open so people can come get necessities and people are buying junk food."  She finally saw one woman buy some toilet paper and she stopped and thanked the lady.  Too funny!

 

 

Six Steps to Letting Go of Anger

A great article.  The Jews have this great wisdom and understanding that just amazes me.  On step 2 where you allow yourself to grieve she says "The Jewish laws of mourning are a wise system of graduated grief. In those first stages, the mourner doesn't respond to greetings and he remains at home. It's simply too early to offer comfort when the wound is so fresh."  The jews have this custom that when someone passes away that for seven days no words of comfort are said.  Remember when Job lost all and his friends sat with him for seven days.  It gives time to reflect and absorb and place this hurt where it needs to be.  I love reading articles from Aish.com.  Enjoy and let go of the anger and find Peace!

 by Ali Begoun

http://www.aish.com/sp/pg/Six-Steps-to-Letting-Go-of-Anger.html

Shalom!!!