Spencer, West Virginia-the old south........

I love the way my husband got this picture of the Confederate flag unfurling--his pics used to be pretty bad--but I guess hanging around me so long-he's finally taking notice of how to take better pics!!  Or my lectures....umm........

 

Atop the hillside of Spencer, W.Virginia is a small park dedicated to the men and women who bravely fought for their beliefs-whether you are Union or Confederate I feel you need to respect and honor these men and women-who fought, struggled, and many died for their convictions-both Blue and Grey.

You gotta love their determination--the large Confederate flag......with a tiny United States flag beside it..still waves today!

While I was attending the most fabulous Chickens In the Road Retreat a few miles down the road--my husband found this little adventure....he's a Civil War buff!   And the Civil War was in more places then I ever would have believed....but he is finding them all !

I'm sorry to anyone who might take offense--but this story is fabulous!!  I would have liked to have met this Nancy Hart-what a woman!

So what do you notice about this pic of the cannon--aimed down at the Yanks.........I'm a damn Yankee thru and thru....but I did enjoy this story!

I love this story....well the part about flying the flag over the privy wasn't very nice of those boys....but it was war..........

We lost a dear friend yesterday........our neighbor of 30 yrs.........

this magazine cover shows Earl at 85-one of the three times in the past 4 years he raced his kayak around Manhattan Island-New York City.  He was the dearest-kindest,  joyful man-with a story or two for every occasion.  He built kayaks for many years and they have been shipped all over the country.  He became ill 5 mos ago and told us he was ready to go to be with the Lord.

He laughed at me and shook his head when I explained this was the type of water I liked to kayak!!  Not him-white water all the way!!

  Because he was so healthy and in incredible shape it took him longer-he was getting impatient towards the end.  I tried to share my Tylenol with him a couple yrs ago after he and I went kayaking in Florida and he looked at me appalled- "I haven't taken a pill since they gave me an aspirin in World War II and it nearly killed me"!   And so he never did take a pill or visit a Dr.     My children grew up knowing "Mr. Baldwin" as the wonderful neighbor who could out kayak race their much younger dad-was a scary monster at Halloween, always was at church, out picked everyone at strawberry picking till last summer, always had cheerios in his pocket for their dog, and always had a story to tell about something interesting.

  He will be greatly missed by the local community and the kayaking world throughout New England and the eastern seaboard.  God Bless and Peace be with you Earl as you join your dear wife Barbara................we miss you so already.....

Celebrate us ALL.................honor us all....

God Bless us every one!!

Harpers Ferry.......history made interesting...

 Hey I was the one who insisted we climb 3000 steps to see Jackson's Rock!!  Wait for me!!

Can never pass ironwork like this without taking pic and wishing I had some!

Maintenance man was happy-ready to leave after going to the spot where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers and West Virginia-Maryland and Virginia all meet!!  History!!

The Shenandoah River goes rushing by..........................

Guy fascinated by the rifles.........

Looking towards  tunnel in Maryland where the train comes out-going over the river to West Virginia!

I did make in to the top--and that was no small feat-for me anyway!!!

The firehouse where John Brown and his 21 men battled their last stand.....he's generally believed to be the leading reason for the beginning of the Civil War-his protest and stand made slavery come to the forefront...........

Of course you know-the man-had to climb higher then me.....geeze..........

 

Can you believe all these steps were carved right out of the rocks-many many years ago........

Got this little cross stitch sampler in the bookstore

The deer were everywhere in W.Virginia!  We were walking on the stairs to Jackson's Rock and these 2 didn't even mind-never stopped grazing-just occassionally looked up to keep one eye on us.........

 Love the village of Harpers Ferry!

Home again-home again.............and tomorrow will no post-out of respect and honor to 9-11 heros....

We made this beautiful salad for lunch at the Chickens in the Road retreat.......mmmmm....was as good as it looks!

We learned a lot about dehydrating from Kelly B..........have already ordered my dehydrater!

You would not even believe how fresh these things smelled-they had all been done over a year ago and smelled fresher then when fresh!!

I'll be honoring-no blog post tomorrow-9-11-2011--out of respect and honor of those heroes lost on-but remembered -on 9-11-2001

Celebrate our Flag today!!!!!!!!

 

Traveling through Vermont--I love this barn with flag painted on it!!

 

 Veteran standing in front of American Legion hall after parade in Bucksport, Maine

At camp on Toddy Pond-my neice Coco putting up the flag on the float last 4th of July!!

A cross stitch sampler made by Jennifer over at Feathers in the Nest--check it out!!  She's offering this free sampler direction for those interested!

 The Freeport Flag Ladies greeting troops at the airport!

New dads coming through our airport get a teddy bear for their new babies they haven't met yet!!

 A group of American everyday citizens greet 95% of all soldiers going over and returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and other posts of danger overseas.  We are veterans-working moms-dads-retired folks-children-who believe that day or night there will be someone there at the airport in Bangor,Maine to shake their hands-give a welcome hug-free cell phone to call home-a snack or someone to talk to or listen--whether its day or middle of the night.  We don't know them-will never see them again-but we do know the importance of someone being there for them and their families-we take as many photos as possible also and put on our website for their families.     http://ourstopinmaine.smugmug.com

and of course..........................sporting his very patriotic doo-rag!!!!.................