Recognition for our History Teacher

Congratulations to our field trip leader on being selected a Faculty of the Year at Northern Virginia Community College. Charles P. Poland, Jr. was presented with a certificate and engraved Jefferson Cup at a ceremony last month.

Dr. Poland teaches history at the Annandale  Campus and through the Extended Learning Institute. 

A number of his students (past and present) nominated him for the award. I was one of those who submitted a nomination form, having been informed of the award competition by another history student who has attended the field trips for many years.

Dr. Poland and his wife Betty put an incredible amount of effort into planning and leading the Civil War tours.

Iris at Monocacy

I took these pictures today at the New Jersey Monument at Monacacy Battlefield near Frederick, MD. This location is near the river and the parking lot is reached by what Prof. Poland called a "sneaky turn" - a sharp turn onto a small road that's easy to miss.

Tailgate party?

The picnic benches at Gordonsville were damp from last night's heavy rain, so some of my classmates ate standing up. I was one of the few who found a dry spot on the bench.

They were also saving time, since we spent more time touring the Exchange Hotel Museum than we intended.

Pam, John, Lynn, and Arch

These folks are all veterans of Dr. Poland's field trips. John and Arch have actually been taking the class much longer than I have, and this is my 19th year.

It's Raining...

Right now, it's pouring outside. We've had frequent rains lately so the weather service has issued flood warnings for our part of Virginia.

I hope the rain lets up before morning. I'm planning be in Gordonsville at 9 AM for a Civil War Field Trip. Saturday is another trip (Leesburg, Monocacy, Kernstown), followed by another one on Sunday (Harpers Ferry-Winchester). We are covering battles of 1864 affecting the Shenandoah Valley.

Cattle Call

One of the great things about living in the foothills of Great North Mountain is that every time you drive out to go shopping, you have a chance to see beautiful scenery and interesting things. We like seeing farm animals, especially the young ones.

Here are some cattle as seen near Dayton, Stephenson's Depot, and New Market.

How I got an Appalachian Dulcimer

We went to the Flea Market next to the Shenandoah County Landfill on Friday to look for a coat rack. At one booth I spied three handmade dulcimers hanging on the wall. "Oh, that's what you can get me for Mother's Day!" I told my husband. He didn't hear me so I showed them to him and repeated myself.

We asked the lady at the counter if the dulcimer prices were negotiable. She said the man who made them was here and she would get him. We talked to him (Ted Ferrell) and yes, he could give us a 10% discount. He said they were made of local woods.

The one Frank bought me is made of oak and sassafras with a walnut tailpiece. I don't remember how to play one if I ever did -- it's been 25 years since I tried. I've ordered a
book with a CD (Mel Bay First Lessons Dulcimer) to make it easier for me to tune it.

Link: Shenandoah Shopping

Everyone's sleepin' but the dog...

Allison spent the day with us Thursday and part of Friday. She needed a break from her busy job at a college. Looks like she adopted Frank's favorite method of taking a break.

Squirrel Sketch

Nancy Meyer is teaching drawing classes at the Old Pro Shop. For practice after the first class, I sketched a squirrel figurine.

It's Mothers Day

I've published several photos of my mother in the past. Here's a photo from a family gathering about five years ago.

Left to Right:
Seated: My mom's sister, Mom, my brother
Standing: My Sister and Me

My Father's Family of Origin

Here's an old photo of my father's sister and his parents. I never knew his father (he died in 1937) but his sister and mother were kind people.

Clarice, Charles and Leora Suiter