Traveling West Virginia - Covered Bridges

Along a country road

There are only 17 covered bridges left in West Virginia. You can go here and click on their names on the side of the page and see pictures of all 17 of them.

We are lucky, we have two in Jackson County. I have seen the one located at Cedar Lakes a gazillion times. Yesterday we took a trip to see this one out past Sandyville. I had never been to it before. It is easy to get to. Stay on Rt. 21 going out of Ripley. Go past Gilmore Elementary School just a little ways and you are there. Watch for a sign that says Sarvis Fork Road and turn down it. Go a little ways down that road and you can step back in time for a little while.

I am from days gone by

come through me and
step back in time

Why were they covered?
A romantic place to 'steal' a kiss. . .
A place of shelter for people and animals. . .
No, it was simply to protect the bridge from the elements of the weather.

Why were most painted red?
It made the bridge appear more like a barn
to skittish horses and cattle when crossing over the flowing water.

It is sad that so few of these are left.

Before you turn off at Sarvis Fork Road there is a Mail Pouch Tobacco barn on the left of Rt. 21 that is in need of repair.


We missed the turn off and I am glad we did. On down the road where we turned around is another Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn, and it is so pretty. . . I had to take a picture of it, too.



Hope you enjoyed Traveling West Virginia and coming with me back in time.

Are there any covered bridges in the county or state where you live?

Strange Mushrooms!

I walk just about every evening with my neighbor, her dog named Tillie, and one or two of my sons. Last night we saw these mushrooms in our neighbor's yard. I thought they were the neatest things, so my son got his camera and took pictures.

they look a little like golf balls on tees

This evening on our walk, they looked like this. . .

wow! they look like three flying saucers, all in a row!


Here's one, all by itself

they are larger than they appear in these pictures

Have you seen mushrooms like this before? Do you know what they are called?

They have me wondering. . . what will they look like tomorrow.

Butterflies and the Hummingbird Moth

My husband and I were down at the garden trying to pick squash, tie up tomatoes and snip out dead berry vines, but we kept getting distracted. . .

. . . by butterflies! They are so pretty and delicate. I love watching them fly from one flower to another. If you love butterflies, you should plant a butterfly bush in your yard. The blooms of a butterfly bush smell heavenly, no wonder the butterflies are attracted to them. We have a bunch of butterfly bushes and they are being visited this summer by lots and lots of butterflies.

they also like these tiger lilies

But, what is this? It certainly is not a butterfly! How about a Hummingbird Moth. That's what I call him. Isn't he just the neatest little critter?

When in flight, his wings go so fast, you can't see them!

His wings are clear!

Have you seen one of these on your flowers this summer?

Neat Gadget!

My son, Andrew, got me this neat juice extractor for Christmas. I thought maybe it would be complicated and all, but it is the easiest thing to use.



I picked some berries.


We put the extractor together. Bottom is filled with water, middle section collects juice and top section has holes like a strainer and is where you put your fruit.


You turn on the heat to get the water boiling. There is an opening in the middle section where the steam rises. The juice comes out of the berries and falls into the middle section. When it reaches an inch or so up, it comes out of the tube.


There is an instruction sheet with a time table as to how long you steam your fruit. We did it for longer than it said. Just make sure the water doesn't all evaporate from the bottom container.
It makes more juice than the old fashioned way. It is so easy, too, no more cooking and straining through a cheesecloth.


I didn't make jelly with it, though I had more than enough juice to do it. I just poured it into a container and added sugar.


You can use it with vegetables and herbs, too. It would be great for when you make grape jelly, but for some reason our grapes are not producing hardly any grapes this year. It would be great for making tomato juice, too, or even apple juice.

On another note. . .

I haven't been on the computer much lately. I've been suffering with tendinitis in my upper right arm and shoulder. I let it go toooo far before going to the doctor. I couldn't move my upper arm more than an inch or two away from my body and I couldn't sleep at night, because it was so painful. I think I got it from pulling weeds almost all day a couple of weeks ago. The computer aggravates it, so I've been trying to stay away from it as much as possible.

Anyway I did finally go to the doctor. So glad I did! In addition to pain pills, muscle relaxers and pills for inflammation, he is also treating me with what he calls a hammer. It's a little complicated to explain, but it does look a little like the end of a sledge hammer and he puts it along your shoulder and upper arm. It vibrates up and down on you and when it hits the affected area, boy do you know it. But,let me tell you, he's made a believer out of me. I am almost back to normal. One more visit this week with the hammer should do it. He said it also works for carpel tunnel syndrome.

Hope everyone's having a nice summer and don't work too hard!

Happy 4th of July

I would like to wish you happy 4th of July on the 3rd.

Here in Ripley, we are celebrating today.

I got up early, dug our first red potatoes from our garden and made potato salad to go with our hot dogs and hamburgers.

Went to Ripley to watch the parade. Kind of a family ritual, I guess. The entire town and more visits Ripley on the 4th of July.

Happy 4th from me. . .


my husband, Charley. . .


our mayor. . .


our congresswoman. . .


Ronald McDonald. . .


and, I don't know who these guys are, but they look like they are enjoying themselves.


and we have to fly the colors of WVU. . .



Happy 4th...and God Bless the USA!