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9:45 pm
August 16, 2008
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Birdi
Big Chicken
| | Western Maine | |
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| posts 60 |
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…mine would have to be RAMPS!!! yum! But… I returned to the mountains in Tucker County last month for the first time in 13 years….OH MY GOODNESS! As I came across the first view of the mountains it absolutely took my breath away. I had actually forgotten how beautiful it was although, here in Maine I have compared all mountains to those. And said “you don't have mountains”. I was very humbled at the site. I guess I took it all for granted when I lived there for so many years…but I took lots of pictures this time so that I will always remember.
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7:55 am
August 17, 2008
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WV_Hills
Big Chicken
| | Calhoun County, WV | |
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| posts 109 |
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My favorite memories are of spending summers on my great-grandmother's farm in Jackson County. The first trip I remember I was six. I almost got to milk a cow (until she pointed out that I would do fine, but the cow might kick me…) and I had my first experience with water that came from a well on the back porch, hauled up in a bucket, washing up at a washstand on the porch, and skies so dark at night that you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I was born in Southern California (to parents from WV who moved there in the early 50's) and in So Cal you can't go far enough away from the city to escape the lights and actually see the stars, or the darkness.
I've longed to move to WV since I was a kid. Two years ago I made another trip to WV looking for property. I flew into Raleigh on my way to Charleston, WV. When we took off, heading toward WV, I could tell when we began to fly over the state. It was so green there wasn't a place you could touch that wasn't a mountain covered with trees. I started to cry — I realized I'd never seen WV from the air (we always drove when we came to visit.) It was just so beautiful. I only hoped that the other people on the little plane thought I was going home for a funeral. There wasn't any other way I could explain why I was sobbing, or that the emotion wasn't sadness, but profound joy.
I moved to my seven acre farm in Calhoun County in January. (I know, it's a crazy time of year to drive cross-country in a 26' truck, towing a van.) Finally I'm home.
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8:27 am
August 17, 2008
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Jayne
Big Chicken
| | Western Gate of the Sunshine State | |
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| posts 322 |
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My favorite WV memory happened a few years ago. We had not been in touch with my mother's side of the family (the WV side) much. My mom had died a few years ago, and she was raised by aunts and uncles since both her parents died before she became a teenager.
Right before she died she was researching family history and got in contact with a cousin in Wheeling where she was born. They corresponded quite a bit before my mom died. I took up that correspondence after her death. Okay, cutting to the chase….
I found out they held a yearly family reunion in Wheeling, and I was determined to go. This was the summer of 2002. I got in touch with my only 1st cousin on my mom's side. She had also grown up in Wheeling, but had since moved to NC. We agreed to meet in Wheeling and go to this family reunion. Keep in mind I had only met this cousin once before, the summer before this reunion. I'm in my 40's, she's in her 60's.
Off I go to Wheeling to meet the cousins. What a time! We stayed in a little mom & pop motel that was just the coziest place I'd ever stayed. We had the reunion at my cousin's house up near Oglebay park. My 1st cousin, Carole, showed me around Wheeling and Wheeling Island, where our mothers lived as small children. I had addresses of all the houses, schools and churches they attended and we visited them all. I even found a Wheeling milk bottle for my collection. It's stained and yucky looking, but it's from Wheeling!
At the reunion I met all the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th sting cousins. It was the best time and I'd felt like I'd come home. I knew where I came from, where I got my nose, my hair, and even my figure! I met my twin, even tho she is 30+ years older than me, I know what I will look like when I get old. I was in awe and never wanted to leave.
West Virginia is an awesome place, it is heaven.
:J
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1:07 pm
August 25, 2008
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shirley
Banty
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WV_Hills said:
My favorite memories are of spending summers on my great-grandmother's farm in Jackson County. The first trip I remember I was six. I almost got to milk a cow (until she pointed out that I would do fine, but the cow might kick me…) and I had my first experience with water that came from a well on the back porch, hauled up in a bucket, washing up at a washstand on the porch, and skies so dark at night that you literally couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I was born in Southern California (to parents from WV who moved there in the early 50's) and in So Cal you can't go far enough away from the city to escape the lights and actually see the stars, or the darkness.
I've longed to move to WV since I was a kid. Two years ago I made another trip to WV looking for property. I flew into Raleigh on my way to Charleston, WV. When we took off, heading toward WV, I could tell when we began to fly over the state. It was so green there wasn't a place you could touch that wasn't a mountain covered with trees. I started to cry — I realized I'd never seen WV from the air (we always drove when we came to visit.) It was just so beautiful. I only hoped that the other people on the little plane thought I was going home for a funeral. There wasn't any other way I could explain why I was sobbing, or that the emotion wasn't sadness, but profound joy.
I moved to my seven acre farm in Calhoun County in January. (I know, it's a crazy time of year to drive cross-country in a 26' truck, towing a van.) Finally I'm home.
I totally understand.I lived in Florida for 3 years and came home on a Greyhound bus.There was a girl on the bus who had never seen mountains and when she saw the Majesy that is West Virginia, she was awestruck.I could only swallow the lump in my throat and say”yes, this is my home”
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8:31 am
August 29, 2008
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kris
Hatchling
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I can relate to Jayne so much! I had never been to West Virginia, but my dad was born there and we have many relatives there (Fairmont). My dad taught me how to make pepperoni rolls (we call them pepperoni buns) when I was about 9 years old and I still make them for my family for a quick meal.
I took a trip to Fairmont a couple years ago and talked to people who knew my relatives way back when. Oh, and there's an accent. It's not quite southern, it's unique. These people I was talking to sounded just like my great-grandmother (who died in the 70's). It was an awesome experience.
I looked up addresses and neighborhoods and took lots of photos. There is a contentment there that so much of the world has lost. And the people are so friendly!!
Kris
http://www.sccworlds.com
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7:24 pm
September 13, 2008
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claycath
Banty
| | Virginia Beach, VA | |
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| posts 5 |
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Hi Yall. I'm new to the forums although I'm a long time reader of Suzanne's. I was born & raised by the ocean but my mom's family was from WV. I spent many summers up there & Christmas's too.
One of my favorite memories was when my grandfather made me a playhouse. We called it the dollhouse although it was really made for little people. I had my own little shrub enclosed yard with a swing set, a mail box (which every day my grandparents would leave mail in), a front porch, & flower boxes on the window. The house was adorable! It had shutters, a cute flowered wallpaper and sheer curtains. My grandmother made me a little vanity table with a mirror and stool and put creams and lotions on it so I could play with my own makeup. I had a little kitchen center with a stove, sink, fridge, etc. I also had a rocking chair, a little doll cradle and small chest of drawers. I can't quite remember what the floor was but I think it was tile with an area rug.
I absolutely loved playing in that house and had many wonderful memories there.
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6:22 pm
September 30, 2008
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Belladonna
Big Chicken
| | Bossier City, Louisiana | |
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| posts 514 |
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My father's brother lives somewhere in West Virginia..I have got to find out where…
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