We took another ride along the Rail Trail this afternoon. This time we took the trail north to the Pennsylvania state line.

There are lots of day lilies along the trail.

I don’t know what this is, but it must be from when this was a rail line. (There are a few other pictures of the structure if you click through to Flickr.)

W. Looks to be the same age as the above structure.

There are abandoned power/telephone lines alongside the trail. They’re not visible the entire time, but are visible for long stretches.

Tips of the stacks of the Fort Martin Power Plant.

Your greeting at the PA state line.

Yesterday continued the week’s weather of thunderstorms punctuated by periods of gorgeous sunshine, so we decided just to take our bikes out on the Rail Trail.

We biked from the park in Star City to Hildebrand Lock, stopping off at Mt St Brewing Company for lunch, and at Wamsley Cycles to get our bikes checked over, and to get a kick stand mounted on my bike.

The kick stand seemed a better solution than having Michael hold my bike every time I dismounted to go take a picture.

It was a gorgeous day, and we had a lovely ride.

Although I have three walking sticks, I’m considering getting one that collapses even smaller than the ones I have, that I can strap onto my bike. I wanted to get further off the trail to get a closer look at some of the water runoff areas (water falls when it’s been raining) but don’t trust my ankle enough without a stick.

And I think I just talked myself into it. :)

And if anyone is interested, this is the case I got for carrying my camera while biking. I chose a handlebar case, because it seemed the most protected if I took a spill.

This post is for comments / questions / discussions about books people have read in the Random Summer Reading Program 2013

Want to talk more about a specific book? This is the place to do it.

Today’s word is: espalier

And in case you don’t know the word:

a plant (as a fruit tree) trained to grow flat against a support (as a wall)

My cousin Eric and his family are preparing to leave the country for three years.

We did have a good time, on my last visit with him before they leave.

James does NOT enjoy group pictures.

But he wasn’t All Grumpy All the Time.

Sally will turn two momentarily. And in another blink of an eye she’ll be five.

But, this is not a goodbye, this is a see you later…

You love to read, right? Did you ever do a summer reading program when you were a kid? Did you know you can do one as an adult?!

Here are two summer programs for you to try!

Todd Wheeler’s 7th Annual Virtual Summer Reading Program: June 17 – September 1, 2013 to benefit the The Prison Book Program, up to $100.

Third Annual Hot Chicks and Smart Men Dig Reading Summer Reading Program in Honor of Debby Faught: June 21th – September 3th to benefit the Douglas County Library Foundation, up to $250.00

Should I have a virtual summer reading program? I probably should, but it’s kinda late to start. Hmmm…

OK. I did it.

(kazoos!)

Introducing the Random Summer Reading Program!

I will make a $1 donation for every book read, up to $100. I haven’t decided for certain where I’ll donate at the end of the program, but I’m currently considering The Shack.

No, it’s not a library, but it does promote education and learning, and it’s local. And people I know say many good things about it.

I’ll also have a random prize for the randomly determined winner at the end of the program. Could be anything, really: metal chicken, Amazon gift card, kazoo–the possibilities are endless.

And yes, that site is pretty rough right now, but this was a last minute decision, and really, I’ve got all summer to play around with it.

So, get on out there and read!

Happy 150th Birthday to my favorite state!

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation.

Whereas, by the Act of Congress approved the 31st day of December, last, the State of West Virginia was declared to be one of the United States of America, and was admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original States in all respects whatever, upon the condition that certain changes should be duly made in the proposed Constitution for that State;

And, whereas, proof of a compliance with that condition, as required by the second section of the act aforesaid has been submitted to me;

Now, therefore, be it known that I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby, in pursuance of the act of Congress aforesaid, declare and proclaim that the said act shall take effect and be in force, from and after sixty days from the date hereof.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this twentieth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

The Naming of West Virginia

Other contenders for the state name:
Kanawha
Western Virginia
Allegheny
Augusta

There is within the boundary of the new State a large county of the same name as the one proposed for the State – the county of Kanawha, which has been one of the most prominent points within the boundaries of the new State. In looking over the United States, I believe we can find no instance where any subdivision of a state bears the name of the state itself. I believe – I have referred somewhat to the gazetteers, and from my recollection this is the case. Take it in the State of Ohio. We find no county, no town, no subdivision within that state bearing the name of the state itself.

The WV State Constitution

Constitution of West Virginia.
ARTICLE I.
THE STATE.
1. The State of West Virginia shall be and remain one of the United States of America. The Constitution of the United States, and the laws and treaties made in pursuance thereof, shall be the supreme law of the land.
2. The following counties, formerly parts of the State of Virginia, shall be included in, and form part of, the State of West Virginia, namely: the counties of Hancock, Brooke, Ohio, Marshall, Wetzel, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Taylor, Pleasants, Tyler, Ritchie, Doddridge, Harrison, Wood, Jackson, Wirt, Roane, Calhoun, Gilmer, Barbour, Tucker, Lewis, Braxton, Upshur, Randolph, Mason, Putnam, Kanawha, Clay, Nicholas, Cabell, Wayne, Boone, Logan, Wyoming, Mercer, McDowell, Webster, Pocahontas, Fayette, Raleigh, Greenbrier and Monroe.
…

Five counties, Grant, Mineral, Lincoln, Summers and Mingo, were added later.

The State Seal

Joseph H. Diss Debar, an artist from Doddridge county, was chosen by the Legislature to prepare drawings for an official seal for the State of West Virginia. He submitted his drawings with an explanation of each detail. From these drawings, the Legislature adopted a seal which remains the Great Seal of the State of West Virginia to this day.

The seal contains the Latin motto Montani Semper Liberi, which means Mountaineers Are Always Free. A large stone in the center of the seal stands for strength. On the stone is the date on which West Virginia was admitted to the Union, June 20th, 1863. The farmer with his axe represents agriculture and the miner with his pick represents industry. In front of the rock are two rifles, crossed and surmounted at the place of contact by the cap of liberty, indicating that freedom and liberty were won and will be maintained by force of arms.

WV Facts

State Capitol: Charleston
State Animal: Black Bear
State Bird: Cardinal
State Fruit: Golden Delicious Apple
State Fish: Brook Trout
State Flower: Rhododendron
State Butterfly: Monarch
State Tree: Sugar Maple
State Insect: Honeybee
State Nickname: “The Mountain State”
State Gem: Lithostrotionella
State Soil: Monongahela Silt Loam
Official Colors: Old Gold and Blue

West Virginia State Flag

Birthday stamp!

WV Tourism
Statewide calendar of events
Lincoln: The Constitution and the Civil War – Erickson Alumni Center at noon

WV Sesquicentennial Page
WV State Parks & Forests – Visit some of our beautiful parks and forests
WV Division of Culture and History

Happy Birthday West Virginia!

Berkley Springs (11/5/2011)

Blackwater Falls (7/14/2012)

New River Gorge (10/13/2012)

New River Gorge – Bridge Day (10/20/2012)

Babcock State Park (10/20/2012)

Seneca Rocks (5/26/2013)

Coopers Rock (7/5/2010)

I just want to note that all of these places are free to visit.

Some pictures from some of our travels around the state.

Blennerhassett Island State Park (7/10/2010)

Dent’s Run Covered Bridge (9/11/2011)

Iron Bridge Over Cheat Lake (10/23/2011)

Prickett Fort Cemetery (10/30/2011)

Shepherdstown (4/6/2013)

Harpers Ferry (11/17/2012)

Morgantown was never proposed to be the state capital. It’s not one of the oldest areas of the state.

But it’s home, and I love it.

Central Elementary (1/29/2012)

Second Ward Annex (2/18/2012)

Main Campus (4/1/2012)

Stewart Hall (9/26/2010)

Stewart Hall (4/1/2012)

Sunnyside (3/23/2012)

Suncrest (12/15/2010)

Rail Trail (4/24/2009)

Suncrest

South Park (2/18/2012)

Arboretum (11/18/2012)

On Thursday, June 20th, West Virginia turns 150 years old.

As someone who grew up here, I tend to be (extremely) defensive about the state.

Here are some of the reasons why: these are things I regularly saw when growing up.

I know, you don’t get it. Let’s try a couple close-ups.

I grew up knowing that the people who made kids’ maps couldn’t be bothered to accurately represent my state.

“Panhandles? No one’ll notice if they’re missing! Just make it a weird shaped blob and stick it in there. It’s not like anyone’ll care!”

Why was this so maddening? Because we also grew up with this:

Go to about 9 minutes if you want to see what I’m talking about, though of course, the Pride of West Virginia is always worth watching.

And if you’re wondering why the stands are empty on the east side of the stadium, it’s because this was for the high school Band Spectacular, not a game.

And just for the hell of it, here’s a video of the band from 1978.

This week has been filled with anxiety.

Not anxiety over something interesting.

Not anxiety for something at work.

Just anxiety because my brain hates me.

Yesterday I spent the evening on curled up on the sofa with blankets over my head (but just my head, because it’s warm and humid here in Mo-town).

Today, I feel like crap.

My brain is in a fog and I’m filled with self-loathing, but I’m going to work, because staying home in bed feels like giving up, giving in.

So, this is really just a note to tell you all I’m here and alive and I’m taking it one day at a time.

Actually have pictures scanning a couple weeks here.

May 27th

Sunnyside

Looking South West

Looking West

May 30th

Sunnyside

Looking South

Looking North

June 8th

Sunnyside

Looking South West

Downtown

Willey Street & North High

I forgot to post these pictures of the AMAZING parking job we saw by the Farmers’ Market yesterday.

Poor parking meter.