Back to the Lake for Fall Foliage (Oct. 2021)

 We returned to Linda's place in WV knowing we were probably going to be too early for peak viewing of autumn colors, but it was best to go over a long holiday weekend.  It will be so wonderful when George is no longer working and we don't have to take things like that into consideration.

You can also see a brief (3 minutes) video of this trip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaxLKvrGM7Y&t=39s

When we arrived at Linda's we found a beautiful arrangement of fall flowers at her front door.  See photo above.

Here are some sights along the way to her place:

I have no idea why MD wanted us to be on the lookout for this vehicle but good thing I could take this shot because I'd never be able to remember the plate number.  I was surprised at how many maroon Toyotas were on I-70.

This is not something you see in VA or TX.  Crossing the Allegheny Mountains we have many places with very steep inclines that require truck off-ramps in case the break systems overheat.  In all our trips we've never seen a truck have to use one but we've seen evidence that it has happened.

This is a view along I-68 in western MD.  It's also in one of the five counties that have petitioned for permission to leave MD and become a part of WV.  The reason given is "shared values" -- hmm, wonder if that means they like living in poverty, hating anyone not just like themselves, poor roads, poor education, poor health care -- what?

Once again we had to use Waze to get us out of a terrible traffic jam.  When I-68 came to a complete standstill, I turned on Waze and saw there was a five mile jam caused by a multi-car wreck.  We were stopped at an exit and Waze said take it and directed us to get onto MD 40.  We traveled through some lovely rural areas and towns before getting back on I-68 just before getting to WV.

Don't tell George, but when we got off we were behind a Food Lions semi.  When we returned we were behind the same the truck so we didn't save any time.  Guess it just saved us frayed nerves and let us see areas we'd never seen before.  I realize there might be more than one Food Lions truck on I-68 at any one time but I recognized the scuff marks, etc.  It was the same truck.

Some usual and unexpected things greeted us when we arrived:

G.I. Turtle was standing guard at the front door.

Miss Molly Ivins welcomed us back.

The biggest surprise of all was a totally unexpected gift that Linda had propped up so it was the first thing we saw when we entered the living room.  This painting had been hanging over the couch since purchased at a sale by a Baltimore art museum in the 1980's.  She's in the beginning of a downsizing project so she had decided it was one of the first things to go and we had decried its missing on our last visit.  We have always found the cherubs tossing paper airplanes funny and according to Linda each face is a copy from a famous painting - on the left from a Winslow Homer, two in the middle from some Renaissance one, and the third remains a mystery.

Here's a photo of the artist's signature.  Obviously painted in 1985 and it looks to me like "WMartin" but I'm not finding an artist by that name - I've tried various 1st names such as William, Winston, etc.  Any other suggestions?  I would love to find the artist to find out the source of the images and the current value (I'm working on my art inventory).

The painting is now a joyous addition to our living room.

We had hoped to see fall foliage and although a little early, we were not disappointed.  Proof:

On a walk around the lake we saw some new signs:

Here's the bridge in desperate need of repairs.  We're glad Linda lives on the side of the lake that does not require going over it.  Since the HOA owns the bridge I don't think Build Back Better will help.

The new house at the east end of the lake always has lovely landscaping and decorations.  They're definitely ready of Halloween.

Here's another neighbor's home ready for the season:

Thrilled to see a Little Free Library has come to the lake and it appears well-stocked for the season.

Here's a contrast -- on a drive into Morgantown we looped through a small portion of PA and saw this:

On the horizon is the beginning of a large wind farm.  The road below is the entrance to a mountain-top removal operation.  Both in PA but the mine is going for stone, not coal.  Still . . .

Saturday night I had to play with the night function on my phone:

I always hate having to leave especially when nothing but storm clouds greeted us along the way.  We were in and out of rain almost the entire trip.

For previous posts about trips to the lake or meeting up with the college suite mates see the following:

2021 - 9/1 Back to Lake O'Woods

2017 - 7 /8 Lake O'Woods

2015 - 8/31 Road Trip - covers 2 stops.  The lake is the 2nd. 

12/10 - Janet & Linda's Wedding - not at the lake but about the ol' NT gang

2013 - 8/8 NT Reunion - again, the ol' gang with some lovely reminders of Lou.  We miss him every day.

Back to Lake O'Woods and a Trip Back in Time

 

Our first trip since the beginning of the Pandemic in 2020 was to see our dear friend, and closest thing to a sister I have, Dr. Linda Gantt (nothing like the Dr. Linda character in “Lucifer”, the TV show).  We headed out on Thursday, August 26th.  This Dr. Linda is a leading expert on treating trauma patients.  See :  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nw-OlzPgQo

I always look forward to our visits because of the quiet solitude and peacefulness of the lake.  I’m sad to say that on Saturday morning this soothing atmosphere was LOUDLY interrupted by many, many ATV’s roaring down the road that runs near the house.  There were too many to count but all riders were in camouflage.  I suspect a group of “patriots” heading to a training camp since deer season had not started yet. The worst part was they all came back at 2 am Sunday morning.  They had to have woken everyone at the lake, no matter which side you were on, we just happened to be unfortunate enough to be on the side closest to them.  

There were other challenges during the weekend  —  not being able to drink the water or flush the toilets.  She was having filter problems with the well and septic tank issues.  It was also very hot and humid and she doesn’t have AC.  

I reminded myself that I’m the first generation in my family to have indoor plumbing and electricity, thanks to FDR, Rural Electrification, and the New Deal.  I figured I would survive a few inconveniences and thought about how my parents had survived similar circumstances.  We survived and throughly enjoyed the visit.

Here’s a photo essay of our trip.To get to Lake O’Woods you exit I-68 at the Bruceton Mills exit.  This is a photo of downtown.  It’s not even big enough to have a stop light.  It does have a bank, a couple of eating places (tavern and pizza place), and a bar.  For a time it was also a hot spot for drugs during WV’s terrible over dose crisis.

The bank next to a home.

We’re still “downtown” but homes have barns and grain storage tanks.

This is on the edge of town.

 For over 40 years we’ve been coming to the lake and this little church is the landmark we use to know when to turn — there are no road signs providing road names.  Glad the Methodists and Baptists still meet in “Union Church”.  If they ever tear down the church there’s a good chance we’ll never find the lake.

This is the 2nd landmark we look for only because it reminds us of Linda’s husband and his unique sense of humor.  He named this Titty Hill.  Doubt if the owners know this little fact. 

Between the church and the lake are 6 miles of country road.  Forty years ago it wasn’t paved.  Now it is BUT floods this spring washed away big chunks of pavement.  The state is responsible for this road and they did try to fill in all the rough spots and potholes with gravel but subsequent rain has washed most of the gravel away.  It’s hard to tell in this photo but it was like riding on a washboard.  George called it Oil Pan Alley after we passed some auto parts along the side of the road.

What a relief to get to Lake O'Woods.

 With a little (very little) help from Miss Molly Ivins, I made the bed George and I would be using AND we were the first to get to use it.  For the first time after all these years, we were not going to be sleeping on a feather mattress.  For those of you who have never slept on a feather mattress, I don’t recommend it.  The new mattress had been delivered the morning of our arrival and we were most grateful.

The sign over the bed

Next it was time for me to prepare dinner — steamed crab cakes and corn-on-the-cob.   The crab cakes and accompanying sauce came from the Springfield Butcher — the best in northern VA.  The corn, after steaming, was seasoned with olive oil, Mexican creama, and ancho chili powder.  A little frozen yogurt and berries for dessert cooled off the taste buds.

We always work out our menus for the visit in advance and I do most of the cooking (although in my case, I just steam everything) and George does the cleaning.  Time to give Linda a break.

While waiting for dinner to cook, I strolled the grounds and took some photos.  This house was the first one Lou and Linda lived in when they moved to the lake in 1979.  It looks totally different now.  When they were in it there was no second story room or front porch.  The driveway is still a challenge — very steep and curves at the top.  

There is art everywhere.

We had a couple of visitors before dinner.

This trip there were no sightings of black bears.  Once Miss Molly was napping on her kitty condo in the sunroom but woke to find a fully grown black bear looking at her through the window.  She put up such a fuss the bear ran away.  She's also a mouse killing machine.  Do not mess with Miss Molly!

After dinner we showed Linda how to play Backgammon, our go-to COVID game.  It keeps us occupied.

As usual I was the first one up Friday morning, so I went out to take some photos.  I love how the lake is different through out the day.

 The house from the lake side, showing the main entrance which takes you into the sun room.  Next the small window is the kitchen and the bay window is the dinning room.

This is the garden on the other end of the house that you can access through the lovely wrought iron gates or the office.

This is the back of the garage.  Upstairs is an artist studio with a full loom.  Someday she hopes to have an apartment with a bath and kitchen there.  Might have to move the loom.

Downstairs is a pottery studio with a wheel and kiln.

 The very noisy gaggle of geese, also known as the kaffeeklatsch, arrived right on time.

Weather didn’t look promising, so time for some interior shots.

The view from the sunroom.

There used to be a sign hanging outside showing the name of the place -- "Pair-O-Docs".  Still needs repairing.

Meet Fred, an African oryx.  He first resided in Lou’s office while he was head of psychiatry at a hospital in Maryland.  From time to time Fred would disappear only to return on some holiday or major event in full costume, some very risqué.  

Aww!  She's using the blue and white bamboo dish rages I knitted for Christmas.

 Note all the lamps.  They’re not just for decoration.  Power outages are common and they are needed.

African goddess and sometimes hat rack between the kitchen and living/dining room.

I think of her  as my happy Buddha.

 

Collage/oil painting by my first husband, Morris Dale James.

The living room and dinning room are one big space.  This is in the dinning room area.

Stairs lead to a loft guest bedroom.  

The stairs to the bed rooms and finally proof that even I added to the extensive art collection.  The photo is Lou windsurfing across the lake taken in the 1980’s.  He was in a tux, smoking a cigar and drinking red wine.  He wanted me to take the photo to give posters to all the grandkids.  He really was a fun guy and is missed daily by all who had the privilege to know him.

Also, the photo is the only one that earned me a blue ribbon.  I was still living in Austin and there was a city-wide art contest among all the law firms.  I was still shooting film — hadn’t even moved to slides yet.  One of my associates won for best oil painting for his amazing portrait of a lion’s head.

Lou and Linda commissioned Morris Dale to do a panel of nudes.  These are in the master bedroom.

The basement is mainly the laundry room with a sitting area for the TV, that is seldom used except for Sunday nights when Linda watches PBS.  Throughout the house she often has NPR playing in the background  but not this trip.  She let us enjoy the total silence when possible.  Living alone she likes having NPR as her companion.  Did I mention she seldom locks her doors and her handyman, Dean, comes and goes as he pleases — always on his schedule.  If he says he’s coming to fix something on Tuesday, better ask which week, or maybe even month or year.  Many years ago I discovered his habit of coming and going when I was house sitting by myself and I found him in the living room.  Scared the bejesus out of me.  On the other hand he’s been a good friend and he and his wife have kept a close eye on Linda ever since Lou died.

To get to the office you go through the basement.

The office — I could live in this room. I'm showing only 1 section for books.  There are 3 others of equal size.

I did spend the better part of Saturday here while participating in a Zoom committee meeting with the American Ethical Union.  Wifi was strong the entire time.  Almost makes me believe in miracles.  The double doors lead out to the garden shown in previous photos.

There is a fire place in the office and on the mantel is  a watercolor of the first home and a collection of fish caught by the grandchildren at the lake.  The mounted fish are a tradition started by Lou and treasured by the kids. Lou even took my son, Brian, fishing when we visited.  

Every summer Lou and Linda would go to the lake region of northern Maine to go fly fishing.  It was one of his many passions.

Looking through the double doors in the office, you can see signs of wind damage done by the summer storms.  Here’s a couple of several sculptures that have been blown over.  Dean will get them reinstalled eventually,  probably after he repairs the sign mentioned above -- it's only been 7 years since it was broken.

Friday night dinner was steamed chicken breasts seasoned with Penzeys spice blend.  I did turn on the oven to bake sweet potatoes that were topped off with chipotle chilis in andobe sauce, guacamole, and Mexican creama.

While waiting on dinner to be ready I took another walk around the property.  I’m always enthralled with how the lake can be so different from one moment to the next.

Dinner in the gazebo.

After dinner we played killer backgammon.  Friday night we taught Linda the basics.  Saturday night she was whipping up on both of us.  I love being around really smart people and I'm comfortable knowing they are smarter than me -- helps me stay in a state of awe.

  

Saturday night we played one of her favorite games -- Origins.  Again she easily won.  Sample questions -- do you know the origins of the phrase drag queen (hint  -- it goes back to the 16th Century) or the word nightmare (hint -- it goes back even further).

Early Saturday photos.

Moon still in the sky.

After my long committee meeting, it was time to stretch out and do some reading.  I’m almost done with The Quiet Americans by Scott Anderson, a history of the CIA.

Linda always has projects going.  She took a bronze sculpting class at the Touchstone Center for Crafts — think camp for adults wanting to take classes in various crafts (https://www.touchstonecrafts.org).  You can become a blacksmith, take weaving or watercolor painting, and in my case, I, along with Michal Bagley, took our first photography class there. It inspired us to take a couple of additional photo class vacations. Linda has served on the Board of Directors of the Center.

Here’s the result of her most recent efforts.  If you scroll back up to the photo of the view from the sunroom you can see this cluster of figures on the table.  

We ended the weekend on Sunday with a nice long Zoom chat with my son and daughter-in-law.  Anita and Linda met when George’s parents were buried at Arlington National Cemetery, so it was a lovely time to catch up.  Then back on the bumpy road and home with promises to return soon.

To read other posts about visits to Lake O'Woods see July 8, 2017, and  August 13, 2015 (lake text follows a stop at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort).