The East Run Valley Gathering .. July 24th, 2011

This is the third year for the annual Village of East Run gathering.

 Everybody was there...  and we had pot luck dinner, a fire for roasting marsh mellows, and plenty of stories about the "olden days"....
 One of the most talked about items was the lack of rain in the past three weeks and the heat wave.  Uncle Bob was saying he doesn't think there will be a second cutting on his hay fields.  There was even a discussion about the beavers that are building dams along the stream through the valley.  Apparently, Great Grand Dad used to say if the beavers are building dams up stream,  we will be getting a wet fall, and if they build their dam down stream, they know we are in for a dry fall.  The logic was lost on me, but I have noticed the beavers have stopped building dams along our part of the stream.  So, I'm going to watch the weather this fall... if the beaver are correct, it is going to be a dry fall.  I'll keep you posted about this.

 There was music played in the traditional way...  anyone with a "gift" and an instrument was invited to join in. Even Morgan, and her harmonica got in on the show.

We went out for a "hay ride" behind a vintage Farmall tractor.  The ride went down through the valley and past some of the other farms in the area.  Every one's houses and yards always look neat as a pin and well kept.

The food and tables were set up in Joe and Kathy's new barn... The barn is very new, it still doesn't have the sides put up yet.
 But that didn't matter because the real reason for being there was to have everyone together for a true community spirited gathering.

 When anyone asks how my summer is going, I always say "Everything and everyone in our little slice of paradise" is going along just fine...
 When the folks of East Run gather on a hot summer Sunday in July, you can be sure everything is right with the world.  From our vantage point, there is a calm and good feeling in the air, and if Darla (our valley comedian) gets her way,  the "rain dance" she was leading us with, from her favorite lawn chair will bring that second cutting of hay uncle Bob wants to put up for the winter to feed his cows.

 Until the next time......keep an eye out for some thunder showers!  Have your umbrella turned upside down...
 
 

Home from vacation...

WOW !!!!   The stories I have to share about our vacation are many and fun !!!
 We spent a week on Cape Cod.  Enjoying museums, restaurants, history, and parties.
 JP and I ventured up to Cape Cod to see our friends Matt and Cass from Washington DC get married...  They have been planning the wedding for some time, and had everything in place for a fun time for all !

Even though it rained, and the garden ceremony was moved inside... the event was PERFECT !
 The food, wine, vows, tributes from family and friends, and the setting all combined to make a magical time for our Dear Matt & Cass.

 JP and I found our way to Sandwich Ma. and to my family homestead.  It is now open as a museum, with the distinction of being the oldest home in The United States still owned by the original family descendants who built it.  It is the "Wing Fort House" in Sandwich Mass. Built in 1641. 

 When JP and I pulled up out front, it didn't look like anyone was around the place. So we got out of the car and started looking around the grounds.  Then I noticed the lock on the door was "opened", and I tried the door.  When it opened for me, I started to head into the house. JP got excited about my assumption that I could just walk right into a museum house like that...
 JP; "WHAT are you doing !?!?!?"
 Billy; "Going in."
 JP; "You can't just walk in like that !!!!"
Billy; " Sure I can...  It's my family home after !!!  Isn't it ??? "
 JP; " I can't believe you do things like this...."
 Billy; (looking back over my shoulder) "Come on, follow me..."
When I got inside, I got the feeling someone else was in there, and a creek on the floorboards from upstairs confirmed... JP and I were NOT alone in the house.
 I looked up the stairs and gave out a loud "Hellooooooo"  To which the response was "WHOs THERE !?!"
 I responded with "I'm William Woodcock, a descendant of Stephen Wing !!!!"
 The voice from above came back with " Oh,  Come on up !!! A pleasure to meet you ! I'm Dave Wheelock, the curator of this house for the Wing Family.
 Dave showed us around the house and told us stories about the home and history of the settlement. 
 I'll have to fill you in on my "Cousin Cora"... the last Wing to live in the house as a regular occupant....
 She lived there with her "Girlfriend" as I found out, and they were a couple of real live wires.  As the saying goes... " the leaf doesn't fall far from the tree"...  

 JP and also did something we never thought would happen to us.... We got married !!!
 YEAH... we tied the knot in Barnstable, Mass, and the Yarmouth Town Hall, on June 8th.
 We didn't tell anyone about it, because we didn't want to upstage any of the wedding excitement already in place for Matt and Cass....  So we secretly "ELOPED" and sent out cards to tell family and friends back home in "The Valley" what we did.

It was a delightful experience for us... and everyone was helpful and supportive with directions and paperwork.
 Even Judge Riley at the Barnstable Probate Court stopped a court proceding late in the day to sign paperwork for us, and was delighted to have us there "all the way from Pennsylvania" to be married on Cape Cod !
 The day couldn't have gone better for us...  The sun was out, everyone was friendly and fun, and the ceremony was delightful in every way.  It was relaxed and pleasant, intimate and meaningful.
 Even though JP and I have known each other for 24 years, and have been living together for 18 years... this was an event we found thrilling on every level. It even made us giggle like school kids every time we looked at each other and realized we ARE married in 5 states, and recognized in two others....
 Wholly Cats... this means we are on our Honeymoon !!!!
 We dropped cards in the mail to everyone we felt should know what we had done... and went about Cape Cod with a renewed enthusiasm for our vacation.
 One of our stops was to have lunch at the Daniel Webster in Sandwich Mass....  it is a very old inn that serves up a great lunch, and has been a regular stop for JP and I every time we are on Cape Cod.

Then over to the Heritage museum to see the cars and the gardens.

When we arrived in Province Town, our first stop after settling in at the Bayberry guest house was to have lunch at the Lobster Pot !!! 
 We met friends who were there from Manhattan for Matt & Cass' wedding, and caught up on all the latest over a bloody mary and lobster bisque.

Well,  I have always intended on keeping these entries short and easy to read through... but we packed so much into our time away... I have to take up just a little more of your time with one last story about our trip....
 This is to tell you about what we found when we got home to "The Valley"....

When we pulled into the driveway... I noticed balloons on the front step, and then white bows on the doors.
JP and I thought it was delightful that our "Valley Family" remembered us with a "Welcome home surprise"...
BUT.... the real surprise was about to reveal itself to us when we opened the front door....

 Our home had been invaded by well wishers who strung rainbow ribbons and streamers all over the place, and cards and signs of Congratulations, and flowers !!!   There was a wedding cake from Aunt Peggy....!!!!! 
 It was all overwhelming and fun...  So we called up everyone and had people over for cocktails and celebrations....
 Our "Valley Family" is truly wonderful !!!!   Our return home couldn't have been any better !!!
 Just when I thought  we were arriving home with no fanfare, and feeling a little "blue" that we got hitched, and there was hardly any celebratory excitement... The friends we love so dearly at home in "The Valley" came through for us !!!
 There isn't any other place I'd rather be.....

 Until the next time....  Stay tuned in.