Mood:
coolNow Playing: Cold Weather & Warm Memories
Topic: Warm Pictures
Whenever it gets cold outside, like it is now, I tend to think about warm things and warm places. Some of these are good food, like Mom's chili, baked macaroni & cheese, and cornmeal mush. My mind is also drawn to warm places I've been. Some of the memories are of WV in summer, and others are vacations I took. I don't mind the winter in moderation, but when its below zero I really don't want to go do anything outside. Cold weather is for polar bears and penguins, not people.
So here are a few warm memories I have. A couple of years ago, I visited Blennerhassett Island, in the middle of the Ohio River near Parkersburg. It's very much worth the trip, if you've never done it. It's also worth a second visit if you have. Blennerhassett Island is named for Harman Blennerhassett and his wife, Margaret, who lived there in the early 1800s. They built a mansion and raised children there, but their lives were destroyed by an unfortunate relationship with Aaron Burr, who financially ruined the family. Today the island still has the mansion, although it is a rebuilt version of the original. Allegedly, the ghost of Margaret still haunts the island, roaming the area around the house and grounds. It is not surprising, however - when she was alive, Margaret wrote many poems about her home there, and called it "Eden". Today you can tour the mansion and grounds, but I suggest spending the day there if you can. It's a big, beautiful island full of history. Below is a picture of me on the tour I took:
Here is another view of the trail on the island:
Further away from home, I've found a little piece of heaven-on-earth. It's called Key West, and is home to the southernmost point in the United States. I've been there twice, and both times I've been amazed at the relaxed atmosphere and fun that abounds on every corner of this tiny island. Below is one of the older homes on the island, built entirely out of cypress, which never needs painting to withstand the tropical air.
Below is a picture of me with SpongeMan, the grandfather, I'm sure, of Spongebob.
There's also a large lighthouse on Key West, which is the highest point on the island at around 80 ft above sea level. I did climb to the top of it, and it was really a great view!
I also went sailing around the island while in Key West. Here is a ship we passed. It looked a lot like the one I was on.
When it gets cold like it is, it is nice to think about the time I spent in Key West, known as the land of the sunset, the Conch Republic, and the southernmost point of the US. I recommend it highly.
Of course, at this point in winter I would be happy to hang out at Decker's Creek here in Morgantown provided it were warm. I've done that a lot in the past:
I can't wait until spring. This cold weather is really miserable. For instance, this photo I took on New Year's Eve at my parent's house in Pendleton County, WV:
For now I'm gonna hunker down, eat some hot cornmeal mush, and think warm thoughts. My mind will take me to a warm place, like this:
This is me on the trip I took to Fairchild Botanical Garden near Homestead, FL. That is one BIG tree. And did you notice that green is my favorite color? Well it is.
