Fairweather Mexican Fiesta

           In the Shenandoah Valley, we all gather together and celebrate our accomplishments, our family, and our love.  Family is the bond that connects us all, and as we've exponentially grown in the past year, with little ones being passed from arms to arms, and finally get a chance to have good food and good fun together.  This year we had a Mexican themed Fairweather Fiesta!  Spending the weekend with my family, the people where I belong, is always such amazing soul food!

 

 

 

 

The Great Grandchildren

The Grandchildren and (their spouses-below)

The Brothers and Sisters (and spouses-above)

          Our walks to the briar patch, trying to name the native plants, and helping the little ones build fairy houses, lets up take in the fresh mountain air and just be in the moment together.

Virginia Frost

         The morning hours has always been a special time for me.  A time of beautiful colors, of sparkling dew drops, and of quiet moments.   Its my time to reflect and prepare for the day.  Especially in the country, the morning is so pristine, and fresh, when a day's work is just beginning there is a serenity to be appreciated.  On my last day in Virginia, I spent 30 mins just embracing the crisp atmosphere and good company.   

Each morning is the earth 

giving us a new chance, 

to start over, to begin again.  

The sun washes and burns away

 the dust of yesterday,

 every morning, for us to see.

Preservation

           After the Caverns, we stopped by a few of the other exhibits that were available.  The Luray Valley Museum was small but I thought it was really interesting.  So many museums have replicas to add to their exhibits, but the really fascinating things are the actual items.  While this museum was small, all of their items were actually from the 1800s,  that were found around the local area.  They had found a trunk with clothes and belonging that are all now on display for the public to enjoy.  Seeing personal belongings is like seeing a bit of someone's soul.  These were the things they choose, the things they touched, and the things they cherished.  

          Looking at this box through the glass, I felt a strange connection to it.  Like this little girl and I would have been the best of friends if I lived in the 1800s.  When I was in elementary school I had a shoebox decorated in the same fashion that I only kept my special things in.  I took hours to decorate things, only putting my favorite pictures and patterns on them.  These things became an expression of me, just as art always has.  Looking through the glass I was seeing a reflection of myself in another time.

          I never knew that birth certificates were so decorated in the 1800s.  They had a whole display case of birth certificates that were highly decorative.  I wasn't expecting something that is now so plain and official, to once be so beautiful.