ROLLIN' THUNDER AT THE 5 & DIME

(Have you noticed that I am dropping my “g”s? My hosts don't talk West Virginian. They are from Pennsylvania. I only drop my “g”s and talk with a twang when I am in town. It just sounds better here.)

West Virginia has been having a rash of serious storms. So much so that just under half the state was without power for several days even weeks. Electrical workers and linemen were brought in from other states to work in 100F degree weather getting the poles and wires back up, clearing the fallen tree limbs and pulling the state back together. I understand that they had problems finding places to sleep and to eat (with or without air conditioning) and the churches and private citizens jumped in to help feed and house them. Boy that must have been some serious over time pay but much deserved. Many households are still without power and the storms just keep on coming. Harrisville has been blessed. The storms come over, spit and blow a little and then continue on. There's been very little damage and only a few power outages in comparison to the other parts of the state. This evening I watched another storm roll on in ruffling the tail feathers of our NEW chickens. I got myself inside when the thunder sounded. The lightening was too close for comfort. There have been a few fried cows found on some area ridges.

A little less exciting than big boom-boom storms but still fun was my field trip today to Berdine's. Berdine's is the oldest Five and Dime store in the United States. In fact, it is 104 years old. Walking in was like walking back in time. I thought maybe, just maybe Berdine's would have my Lava soap. Nope but I did buy some hand Boraxo instead. I am going to need it when the auger comes on Saturday and we start digging fence post holes. 

There were so many items from my childhood and from before my childhood at Berdine's. I loved finding the iron graphite magnetic picture making kit just under the hanging rubber chicken key chains, the finger spinning tops, marbles, clickers, letter jumbles and those boxes that you tilt in various angles to get the little steel balls to fall into the little holes. And then there was the BEETLE game (which was also named COOTIE) that we played with just a paper diagram and a die at my friend's wedding in Argentina last February. There's all sorts of fun and useful stuff at Berdine's. I spent at least an hour in there talking to the current owner. I thought how much work it would be to do inventory in a place like that. But I didn't say anything about that to her as she knew exactly where everything was and the stories behind each object. Now that is LOVE for what you DO.

She also directed me to the back  room where she had some antiques because “People like antiques.” I checked it out. It was fun. She also told me where to go around town to find more unusual stuff. I hope to DO more off farm discovering before I leave Harrisville. Passing the Antique Fair had me so intrigued. YA, I have to make my way there soon when I have more time. It is on the DO NEW list. Maybe it will rain Saturday and we won't have to dig holes in the hollow. Nah - we will definitely be digging even in the rain, especially in the rain. The ground is so hard I understand that we have to ATV buckets of water in to soften the dirt when the auger hits hard ground. 100 degrees, hole diggin', I hope I survive. Ain't adventure fun?

The answer is YES!!! I can always say no to whatever I don't want to DO but you know I will at least give it a go especially if it is NEW.

Have an adventurous DO New weekend.