Our trip back to West Virginia was amazing. I stepped out of the airport in Charleston and breathed in the air. There is something about summer West Virginia air that is smells different than anywhere else. It is fresh and humid and perfect. I never really appreciated it while living there probably because I didn't really know anything different but it is a smell that calms me immediately. Or does the calm come from surviving another cross country trip with the littles by myself?
The kids and I spent a lot of quality time with my parents. Q and F worked in the garden with my dad picking beans, corn, tomatoes, cabbage, pumpkins and much more. They also climbed apple trees and picked apples. We always did these things when I was small but now it seems special. I always dreaded working in the garden when I was little. It was always so hot and it seemed like I always got in trouble in the garden. That sounds funny, but it is true. Either I didn't lay the rows out straight or I stepped on the beans while pulling weeds or found a clump of dirt that I couldn't resist throwing at my brother, Seth.
When I was younger I assumed that everyone canned their own fruits and vegetables. Nope. I was wrong. Most people don't know how to do this. Most people don't realize the flavor they are missing out on by buying their canned fruits and vegetables from the store. Unfortunately, I do realize this. I buy canned vegetables and miss the true flavor that was sealed in the jars that were canned in mom's kitchen. I also realized this when my sister rolled in to visit while we were there with a checked bag that my brother sent for her to fill up with fresh vegetables and canned goods to take back to him. I was reminded of this because while we were home my parents were canning beans, apple pie filling, kraut and tomatoes.
One day I hope to live a more sustainable lifestyle. I would love to retire to a place where we "live off of the land". When I tell Joe this he laughs. He says we would die if we had to be self sufficient.
The littles and I had a great time getting spoiled by Grammie and Poppy and visiting with all of our West Virginia family and friends.
I will give more updates on our trip in upcoming posts!
