Virginia is for Lovers
Yes, that is their slogan: Virginia is for Lovers.
After spending a week here, I'd say that I agree. I am a lover of history. I am a lover of this amazing land that we live in, with all of its rich heritage, settlements, peoples, battles, triumphs, stories, and artifacts. I am a lover of seafood, very much in abundance here. I am a lover of the water, whether it's the James River, Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic, or the marshy lowlands - I love them all. And I am a lover of finding every treasure relating to my ancestry here in Virginia.
Let's backtrack to last Sunday, since I published my post a day earlier than usual.
Sunday: I attended church at the Onley Branch out on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. While the building was small and nondescript on the outside, the people were warm and friendly on the inside.
As I parked my car, I noticed the baptismal font out on the back "patio". It looked very similar to a hot tub. :)
During Sunday School, the instructor gave us all a large piece of paper and some crayons along with the instruction to create an "Ensign" representing what we feel the Gospel is or does for God's children. Immediately I had an image come to mind and I began working on my creation.
Here you see the arms of our loving Father in Heaven, encircling all peoples in all lands, to come unto Him and His Son (the Sun in the upper left corner). And the key to all of His children coming to join His flock is in the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. The heart on his chest represents the great love He has for all of us, as literal children of God.
We were asked to share what we drew, one at a time. Since there were only about 15 of us, it didn't take too long. I was impressed by something an older man had drawn, since it was similar to my own thoughts. I asked if I could take a photo of his drawing, to which he agreed. He seemed quite pleased that I took such an interest in his feeble attempts!
His "banner" looked much like a flag, with "stripes" included. On the upper left it says: Fishers of Men, representing Jesus Christ and the desire to bring all unto Him. The stripes represent people of all nations and backgrounds. The bottom two rows represent temples and scriptures as a means to bring all kindreds, tongues and people to Christ. I thought it was very simple, but very beautifully done.
After church, I headed back to the mainland of Virginia and an AirBnb in Carrollton, a quaint and quiet community tucked between the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area and historic Smithfield.
Monday: I spent all day at Colonial Williamsburg. What a treat!
I wish I had one additional day this week so that I could have spent more time here. I loved wandering up and down the streets, choosing which establishments to venture into.
I seem to be rather fascinated with old methods of medicine lately. Perhaps it's because the way the world is headed, but we seem to be embracing more herbal methods of healing, using essential oils for example. It's comforting to know that through all the eons of time, our loving Father in Heaven has given us the knowledge and the tools we need to take care of our bodies. And I find additional comfort in knowing that our ancestors used herbs, oils, tinctures, etc. that were natural and from the earth.
I visited the old church and cemetery, taking note of the oldest headstones and tributes to loved ones from so long ago.
This one was especially moving. It appears that the mother died on Christmas Day while giving birth to her daughter.
I ate lunch at Chowning's Tavern on the main street of Colonial Williamsburg. (The town of Williamsburg surrounds the Colonial section and has a population of about 16,000.)
I chose the pasty's (pronounced pass-tees) with mango chutney. I really enjoyed them! One had a ground beef mixture inside the flaky pie-crust, and the other was filled with diced potatoes and other vegetables. I also ordered a roasted vegetable wrap, but the pasty's were the real star of the show. :)
At the end of the afternoon, after touring the Governor's Palace, old homes, shops and watching a live performance to reenact the life of a slave girl named Aggie, I hustled over to the Magazine just as they were closing. Since I had Scott on the video chat with me, I was able to charm the presenter into staying just a few more minutes to explain the layout to my husband on the other side of the world. He was happy to oblige.
He shared the history of the Magazine with Scott, with all of its many types of weapons, along with an extra story or two. When he finished, he asked if Scott had any questions. He did! He wondered why everything was stored in one place, noting the dangers of such things. The presenter explained how the Governor preferred the convenience of housing all their weaponry in one location (it was actually pretty standard back then), and something having to do with the display making a marked impression on any foreign visitors.
All in all, it was a great day! I learned a LOT as usual. If you want to see the rest of the pictures I took, please click here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5VqE6CZDD7LVaor99
After I was done here, I drove just a few short miles over to the Jamestown/Scotland Ferry. A FREE ferry (paid by the State of Virginia) that connects people from both sides of the James River. It runs 24 hours a day and only takes 10 minutes to get across. Per the suggestion of my AirBnb host, I used it many times as I drove back and forth doing family history and U.S. history.
I got there just in time for a beautiful sunset taking shape. Unfortunately, my parking spot on the ferry was on the wrong side for taking a picture, and I didn't know until later that I could have gotten out of my car and walked around the deck. Instead, I took what pictures I could from my car.
Side Note: EVERY SINGLE NIGHT there was an absolutely stunning sunset in Virginia. I always seemed to be driving at the time, though, so I wasn't able to capture a good photo.
Tuesday: Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown. Yes, there's a difference. Jamestown Settlement is a re-creation of what life would have been like back in 1607. Historic Jamestown is the actual site of the landing, with erected buildings and homes, including some of the original foundations. There are archaeological discoveries on display, as well as several active dig sites that you can wander past and watch the action.
Jamestown Settlement: (aerial view)
A re-creation of the ship Susan Constant that brought 144 men and boys from England to the shores of Virginia.
Powhatan was the Indian Chief in charge of the area when the settlers arrived. His famous daughter was Pocahontas. We toured some of the ingeniously built huts that they used back then. Even though it was stormy outside, we were very comfortable inside. The tour guide explained that they have had downed trees at the Settlement, but the huts have withstood all the major storms and hurricanes every single time. Amazing.
The winds, clouds, and sprinkling began to increase by the time I went over to nearby Historic Jamestown. I was one of only a handful of people brave enough to venture outside, but I didn't care. I would have done it in a typhoon.
Historic Jamestown:
Leading out to the waters of the James River is a HUGE monument dedicated to the settlers having arrived over 400 years ago. By 1619, they had a government organized and a written charter in place. Because Jamestown is the first PERMANENT settlement on American soil, and because they organized the first government in 1619, there was a special celebration last year to mark the 400th anniversary. President Trump was even in attendance at Historic Jamestown, taking part in the noteworthy event.
The old church and cemetery onsite. Many old graves have been noted underground, using sonar.
Inside the rebuilt church, they discovered parts of the original foundation. The ORIGINAL FOUNDATION. From 1607!! Amazing.
I stood on hallowed ground.
In many places you will see ongoing dig sites. It just happened to be ridiculously stormy, so everything was covered up and abandoned on the day I showed up.
A tribute to John Smith, leader of the group that arrived in 1607. And just so we're clear, Pocahontas did not marry John Smith as it is portrayed in the Disney movie. She married John Rolfe. They told us at Jamestown that John Smith was more like a father to her than anything else.
The site of the Jamestown Landing, with the James River behind me.
Some of the MANY items they have dug up throughout the settlement.
For more photos of the day at Jamestown, click here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/96SEES1cYZo9oPwX6
Wednesday: I stayed in bed for half the day because I was exhausted. Fancy that. But I felt better by the afternoon and decided to go out and gather some family history. I drove over to Surry, VA - about 40 minutes away from Carrollton. I met some lovely ladies at the Surry County Virginia Historical Society, who were extremely eager to help me find my ancestors in the modest collection they had. After a good 2 hours of making copies (taking photos) from all the books they kept finding for me, I felt like I had a really good idea of where my people lived.
Watch for the name Roger Delke.
In some additional references I found the Delk family out on Hog Island, which is where Lawnes Creek is located.
In the map below you will see Jamestown across the James River and NW of Hog Island (in Surry County).
Now I was ready to take a drive out there and see it all for myself.
What this historical marker failed to mention is that when the settlers had given up at Jamestown for lack of food and an abundance of sickness, they set sail in 1610 with the intent to head back to England. They stopped for the night at Hog Island, even though there were no hogs left to be had. The next morning, they met up with a ship from England that was full of supplies! THAT is why they were able to return to Jamestown. And THAT is why Jamestown is called the first PERMANENT settlement in America. It was a miracle that things happened the way they did.
Some of the scenes out on Hog Island. It's not that big. So if Roger Delke owned 1000 acres at one point, he pretty much owned the entire island. Or close to it.
The road ends with a dock at the James River. Jamestown would be upriver to the left and around the bend. It felt really peaceful and joyful to find this place and to connect to my Delk ancestors. (on my mother's paternal line)
The final noteworthy thing of the day was yet another beautiful sunset as I found a place to eat supper. I chose a place called Captain Chuck-a-Muck's, right on the harbor in Rescue, VA. I was on the video chat with Scott when I pulled up, so I was able to show him the sunset and share a beautiful moment with him.
I ordered the Crab Soup and Tiki Shrimp. It was delicious! I was full to the brim by the time I rolled on out of here.
A sign at the restaurant, while waiting to use the ladies room:
Thursday: I went to the Revolutionary War Museum at Yorktown. I learned a TON of things about the period leading up to the Revolution, as well as during and after. I attended a presentation given by a scholar where he did a power-point and told us things that aren't in the history books taught in school. It was fast-paced, well presented, and refreshing!
In the interest of time tonight, I will include a link to the photos I took in the Museum. I really enjoyed the day there! There were several interactive exhibits for kids of all ages, too. My favorite was this war game on a large touch screen:
It was a little stressful because I didn't have Scott there with me to strategize properly! I didn't win my battle, but I learned some useful things in the process!
Click here for all the photos of the day:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xHkhemKaKDnXH8oN6
I drove on to the Richmond area after the museum, and stayed in Glen Allen, on the north side of greater Richmond. For dinner that night, I chose nearby Tazza Kitchen in Short Pump, based on the suggestion of my AirBnb host. I had the most amazing brussels sprouts I've ever had in my entire life, as well as a spaghetti squash main dish. Delicious!
Friday: I had a relaxing massage in the morning - much needed with all the hours of driving and running to and fro lately. My forearms were very angry at me for being behind the wheel so much. After that 60 minute gift to myself, I drove into the heart of Richmond to visit the Library of Virginia.
I spent the next FOUR hours doing family history. The first hour I researched within the online catalog no less than 32 surnames from my family tree that lived in Virginia.
The second hour I worked through half the stack of books that I requested, taking hundreds of photos of pertinent information. The third hour I spent in the special collections area, taking photos out of old manuscripts and other loose papers. Then the fourth hour I went through the rest of the books in my stack, taking pictures the entire time.
For every item I needed out of special collections, I had to fill out one of these forms. IN PENCIL. I could not combine 2 items onto one form. Trust me, I tried.
In total, I estimate I took about 450-500 photos of information. This should keep me busy for a while.
Saturday: I headed off in search of family. Living family this time - in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. On my way, I stopped to tour Monticello, the former home and plantation that belonged to Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and our former U.S. President.
I took the half-mile trail through the woods on the grounds in search of the Jefferson Cemetery.
Thomas Jefferson, along with several close family members and even friends, are all buried here.
He designed his own headstone and chose what should be engraved on it before he died.
Monticello is up on a little mountain above Charlottesville, VA. He used to play here and hike here as a boy. Later in life, he learned that Monticello meant "little mountain", and that's how his estate got its name.
I went inside, not really knowing what I would find. Turns out the lunch buffet was outstanding! Since it was 2:00 in the afternoon and I was pretty hungry, I coughed up the $18 because I felt it was for a good purpose. I chose a piece of fried chicken, some pulled pork, cornbread, garlicky mashed potatoes, green beans, beets, and a new favorite for me: stewed tomatoes. (It tasted like a creamy and chunky tomato soup with a dash of sugar)
With happy tummy, I set out to drive the last 2 1/2 hours through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley on up to Harpers Ferry. I didn't even stop once. I just wanted to get there.
My sister-in-law Pam Harmon was there to welcome me, along with two of her children, Chandler and Jessie. And today, Sunday, we had a lovely family dinner together.
Left to right: Gordon Harmon (Scott's older brother), Jessie Harmon, Me, Ken Vian, Bev Harmon Vian (Scott's older sister), and Pam Harmon.
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to be with family. After an entire month of traveling solo and living among strangers, family is the ultimate destination. I am so grateful to be here for a while.
News of Scott: He is bored. He has a routine, but it hasn't been very fulfilling lately. He is doing his best to stay cheerful and to keep his mind occupied. I think he would rather wrap things up and be done though.
If you should feel so inclined, please send him an email or send him a text. Keep in mind that he is 9 hours ahead of Idaho. He works from late afternoon until around 1:00 a.m. So if you don't hear from him right away, he might be at work or asleep.
harmkenn@gmail.com
208-403-2397
After spending a week here, I'd say that I agree. I am a lover of history. I am a lover of this amazing land that we live in, with all of its rich heritage, settlements, peoples, battles, triumphs, stories, and artifacts. I am a lover of seafood, very much in abundance here. I am a lover of the water, whether it's the James River, Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic, or the marshy lowlands - I love them all. And I am a lover of finding every treasure relating to my ancestry here in Virginia.
Let's backtrack to last Sunday, since I published my post a day earlier than usual.
Sunday: I attended church at the Onley Branch out on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. While the building was small and nondescript on the outside, the people were warm and friendly on the inside.
As I parked my car, I noticed the baptismal font out on the back "patio". It looked very similar to a hot tub. :)
I snuck a tiny little picture of the inside, too, well before the meeting began.
What I thought was SO CUTE (but I didn't get a photo of it) was how the Branch President's office was also the nursery room - full of toys! (off to the left of this photo) There were a handful of small children playing to their heart's content in the nursery while they waited for Sacrament Meeting to begin. The mothers did a great job of having their children clean up and close the door when it was time.
We were asked to share what we drew, one at a time. Since there were only about 15 of us, it didn't take too long. I was impressed by something an older man had drawn, since it was similar to my own thoughts. I asked if I could take a photo of his drawing, to which he agreed. He seemed quite pleased that I took such an interest in his feeble attempts!
His "banner" looked much like a flag, with "stripes" included. On the upper left it says: Fishers of Men, representing Jesus Christ and the desire to bring all unto Him. The stripes represent people of all nations and backgrounds. The bottom two rows represent temples and scriptures as a means to bring all kindreds, tongues and people to Christ. I thought it was very simple, but very beautifully done.
After church, I headed back to the mainland of Virginia and an AirBnb in Carrollton, a quaint and quiet community tucked between the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area and historic Smithfield.
Monday: I spent all day at Colonial Williamsburg. What a treat!
I wish I had one additional day this week so that I could have spent more time here. I loved wandering up and down the streets, choosing which establishments to venture into.
I seem to be rather fascinated with old methods of medicine lately. Perhaps it's because the way the world is headed, but we seem to be embracing more herbal methods of healing, using essential oils for example. It's comforting to know that through all the eons of time, our loving Father in Heaven has given us the knowledge and the tools we need to take care of our bodies. And I find additional comfort in knowing that our ancestors used herbs, oils, tinctures, etc. that were natural and from the earth.
I visited the old church and cemetery, taking note of the oldest headstones and tributes to loved ones from so long ago.
This one was especially moving. It appears that the mother died on Christmas Day while giving birth to her daughter.
I ate lunch at Chowning's Tavern on the main street of Colonial Williamsburg. (The town of Williamsburg surrounds the Colonial section and has a population of about 16,000.)
I chose the pasty's (pronounced pass-tees) with mango chutney. I really enjoyed them! One had a ground beef mixture inside the flaky pie-crust, and the other was filled with diced potatoes and other vegetables. I also ordered a roasted vegetable wrap, but the pasty's were the real star of the show. :)
At the end of the afternoon, after touring the Governor's Palace, old homes, shops and watching a live performance to reenact the life of a slave girl named Aggie, I hustled over to the Magazine just as they were closing. Since I had Scott on the video chat with me, I was able to charm the presenter into staying just a few more minutes to explain the layout to my husband on the other side of the world. He was happy to oblige.
He shared the history of the Magazine with Scott, with all of its many types of weapons, along with an extra story or two. When he finished, he asked if Scott had any questions. He did! He wondered why everything was stored in one place, noting the dangers of such things. The presenter explained how the Governor preferred the convenience of housing all their weaponry in one location (it was actually pretty standard back then), and something having to do with the display making a marked impression on any foreign visitors.
All in all, it was a great day! I learned a LOT as usual. If you want to see the rest of the pictures I took, please click here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/5VqE6CZDD7LVaor99
After I was done here, I drove just a few short miles over to the Jamestown/Scotland Ferry. A FREE ferry (paid by the State of Virginia) that connects people from both sides of the James River. It runs 24 hours a day and only takes 10 minutes to get across. Per the suggestion of my AirBnb host, I used it many times as I drove back and forth doing family history and U.S. history.
I got there just in time for a beautiful sunset taking shape. Unfortunately, my parking spot on the ferry was on the wrong side for taking a picture, and I didn't know until later that I could have gotten out of my car and walked around the deck. Instead, I took what pictures I could from my car.
Side Note: EVERY SINGLE NIGHT there was an absolutely stunning sunset in Virginia. I always seemed to be driving at the time, though, so I wasn't able to capture a good photo.
Tuesday: Jamestown Settlement and Historic Jamestown. Yes, there's a difference. Jamestown Settlement is a re-creation of what life would have been like back in 1607. Historic Jamestown is the actual site of the landing, with erected buildings and homes, including some of the original foundations. There are archaeological discoveries on display, as well as several active dig sites that you can wander past and watch the action.
Jamestown Settlement: (aerial view)
A re-creation of the ship Susan Constant that brought 144 men and boys from England to the shores of Virginia.
Powhatan was the Indian Chief in charge of the area when the settlers arrived. His famous daughter was Pocahontas. We toured some of the ingeniously built huts that they used back then. Even though it was stormy outside, we were very comfortable inside. The tour guide explained that they have had downed trees at the Settlement, but the huts have withstood all the major storms and hurricanes every single time. Amazing.
The winds, clouds, and sprinkling began to increase by the time I went over to nearby Historic Jamestown. I was one of only a handful of people brave enough to venture outside, but I didn't care. I would have done it in a typhoon.
Historic Jamestown:
Leading out to the waters of the James River is a HUGE monument dedicated to the settlers having arrived over 400 years ago. By 1619, they had a government organized and a written charter in place. Because Jamestown is the first PERMANENT settlement on American soil, and because they organized the first government in 1619, there was a special celebration last year to mark the 400th anniversary. President Trump was even in attendance at Historic Jamestown, taking part in the noteworthy event.
The old church and cemetery onsite. Many old graves have been noted underground, using sonar.
Inside the rebuilt church, they discovered parts of the original foundation. The ORIGINAL FOUNDATION. From 1607!! Amazing.
I stood on hallowed ground.
In many places you will see ongoing dig sites. It just happened to be ridiculously stormy, so everything was covered up and abandoned on the day I showed up.
A tribute to John Smith, leader of the group that arrived in 1607. And just so we're clear, Pocahontas did not marry John Smith as it is portrayed in the Disney movie. She married John Rolfe. They told us at Jamestown that John Smith was more like a father to her than anything else.
The site of the Jamestown Landing, with the James River behind me.
Some of the MANY items they have dug up throughout the settlement.
For more photos of the day at Jamestown, click here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/96SEES1cYZo9oPwX6
Wednesday: I stayed in bed for half the day because I was exhausted. Fancy that. But I felt better by the afternoon and decided to go out and gather some family history. I drove over to Surry, VA - about 40 minutes away from Carrollton. I met some lovely ladies at the Surry County Virginia Historical Society, who were extremely eager to help me find my ancestors in the modest collection they had. After a good 2 hours of making copies (taking photos) from all the books they kept finding for me, I felt like I had a really good idea of where my people lived.
Watch for the name Roger Delke.
In some additional references I found the Delk family out on Hog Island, which is where Lawnes Creek is located.
In the map below you will see Jamestown across the James River and NW of Hog Island (in Surry County).
Now I was ready to take a drive out there and see it all for myself.
What this historical marker failed to mention is that when the settlers had given up at Jamestown for lack of food and an abundance of sickness, they set sail in 1610 with the intent to head back to England. They stopped for the night at Hog Island, even though there were no hogs left to be had. The next morning, they met up with a ship from England that was full of supplies! THAT is why they were able to return to Jamestown. And THAT is why Jamestown is called the first PERMANENT settlement in America. It was a miracle that things happened the way they did.
Some of the scenes out on Hog Island. It's not that big. So if Roger Delke owned 1000 acres at one point, he pretty much owned the entire island. Or close to it.
The road ends with a dock at the James River. Jamestown would be upriver to the left and around the bend. It felt really peaceful and joyful to find this place and to connect to my Delk ancestors. (on my mother's paternal line)
The final noteworthy thing of the day was yet another beautiful sunset as I found a place to eat supper. I chose a place called Captain Chuck-a-Muck's, right on the harbor in Rescue, VA. I was on the video chat with Scott when I pulled up, so I was able to show him the sunset and share a beautiful moment with him.
I ordered the Crab Soup and Tiki Shrimp. It was delicious! I was full to the brim by the time I rolled on out of here.
A sign at the restaurant, while waiting to use the ladies room:
Thursday: I went to the Revolutionary War Museum at Yorktown. I learned a TON of things about the period leading up to the Revolution, as well as during and after. I attended a presentation given by a scholar where he did a power-point and told us things that aren't in the history books taught in school. It was fast-paced, well presented, and refreshing!
In the interest of time tonight, I will include a link to the photos I took in the Museum. I really enjoyed the day there! There were several interactive exhibits for kids of all ages, too. My favorite was this war game on a large touch screen:
It was a little stressful because I didn't have Scott there with me to strategize properly! I didn't win my battle, but I learned some useful things in the process!
Click here for all the photos of the day:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/xHkhemKaKDnXH8oN6
I drove on to the Richmond area after the museum, and stayed in Glen Allen, on the north side of greater Richmond. For dinner that night, I chose nearby Tazza Kitchen in Short Pump, based on the suggestion of my AirBnb host. I had the most amazing brussels sprouts I've ever had in my entire life, as well as a spaghetti squash main dish. Delicious!
Friday: I had a relaxing massage in the morning - much needed with all the hours of driving and running to and fro lately. My forearms were very angry at me for being behind the wheel so much. After that 60 minute gift to myself, I drove into the heart of Richmond to visit the Library of Virginia.
I spent the next FOUR hours doing family history. The first hour I researched within the online catalog no less than 32 surnames from my family tree that lived in Virginia.
The second hour I worked through half the stack of books that I requested, taking hundreds of photos of pertinent information. The third hour I spent in the special collections area, taking photos out of old manuscripts and other loose papers. Then the fourth hour I went through the rest of the books in my stack, taking pictures the entire time.
For every item I needed out of special collections, I had to fill out one of these forms. IN PENCIL. I could not combine 2 items onto one form. Trust me, I tried.
In total, I estimate I took about 450-500 photos of information. This should keep me busy for a while.
Saturday: I headed off in search of family. Living family this time - in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. On my way, I stopped to tour Monticello, the former home and plantation that belonged to Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and our former U.S. President.
I took the half-mile trail through the woods on the grounds in search of the Jefferson Cemetery.
Thomas Jefferson, along with several close family members and even friends, are all buried here.
He designed his own headstone and chose what should be engraved on it before he died.
Monticello is up on a little mountain above Charlottesville, VA. He used to play here and hike here as a boy. Later in life, he learned that Monticello meant "little mountain", and that's how his estate got its name.
The coolest things I learned about Thomas Jefferson were these:
- He was an inventor.
- He loved gadgets and gizmos, building many of them himself.
- Some of the things he designed and built were: dumbwaiters, pocket doors, an amazing clock in the entry hall that worked from a series of cannon balls on a rope with gears, revolving doors with shelves for sending food or dishes around to the dining room, and back.
- He had close to 10,000 books and loved ensuring that everyone was educated.
- When the Library of Congress lost all of its books in a fire (War of 1812?), he ended up selling his collection to them to replace the burned books. Partly because of his love of books and understanding the importance of having current information available to the leaders of our nation to make good decisions. And partly because he was in quite a bit of debt and needed the money.
I went inside, not really knowing what I would find. Turns out the lunch buffet was outstanding! Since it was 2:00 in the afternoon and I was pretty hungry, I coughed up the $18 because I felt it was for a good purpose. I chose a piece of fried chicken, some pulled pork, cornbread, garlicky mashed potatoes, green beans, beets, and a new favorite for me: stewed tomatoes. (It tasted like a creamy and chunky tomato soup with a dash of sugar)
With happy tummy, I set out to drive the last 2 1/2 hours through the beautiful Shenandoah Valley on up to Harpers Ferry. I didn't even stop once. I just wanted to get there.
My sister-in-law Pam Harmon was there to welcome me, along with two of her children, Chandler and Jessie. And today, Sunday, we had a lovely family dinner together.
Left to right: Gordon Harmon (Scott's older brother), Jessie Harmon, Me, Ken Vian, Bev Harmon Vian (Scott's older sister), and Pam Harmon.
I can't even begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to be with family. After an entire month of traveling solo and living among strangers, family is the ultimate destination. I am so grateful to be here for a while.
News of Scott: He is bored. He has a routine, but it hasn't been very fulfilling lately. He is doing his best to stay cheerful and to keep his mind occupied. I think he would rather wrap things up and be done though.
If you should feel so inclined, please send him an email or send him a text. Keep in mind that he is 9 hours ahead of Idaho. He works from late afternoon until around 1:00 a.m. So if you don't hear from him right away, he might be at work or asleep.
harmkenn@gmail.com
208-403-2397
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