WV State of Mind
Uncover West Virginia's best-kept secrets
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12/26/11Season's Greetings from WV LIVINGHappy Holidays! One of my most vivid Christmas memories dates back to 1976 or 1977—the year of the BIG snow. If you lived in West Virginia at that time, you know what I’m talking about. In my child’s mind, there was at least 15 feet of snow. The mountains were blanketed, the roads were impassable, cars were just mini hills of snow, and the trees sparkled. And school was canceled for weeks. Because no one was out, there was a peaceful quietness that hung in the crisp air. It was magical. I find myself longing for that peaceful quietness…the magic of Christmas. Time to reflect. Time to be grateful. Time to see the world through the eyes of a child. So, dear friends, my wish for you this holiday season is that you may experience magical moments of... Posted at 08:30 AM Comments: 1 |
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12/19/11Special Holiday Traditions Across the StateDoes your family have special holiday traditions? This year, my family added a few that will most certainly become annual favorites. I’d love to hear what your favorite holiday traditions are, so please share them with me! Dinner at Adaland Mansion Adaland Mansion, a historic home outside of Philippi in Barbour County, is a special place for my family. My husband’s maternal great-grandparents worked at Adaland and were the first couple to be married there. During December, Adaland is festively decorated top to bottom with trees in every room, and they offer a special holiday dinner and teas. If you’ve never visited, please make plans—it is lovely. My family will be making a standing reservation every December. Polar... Posted at 08:30 AM Comments: 1 |
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12/14/11My Most Unique ExperienceAs I travel the state, I’m blessed to have many unique experiences. I've participated in a tasting event at The Greenbrier for Jerry West’s new restaurant, Prime 44, before it opened. I've judged the Miss West Virginia pageant and the Road Kill Cook-off. I've interviewed John Hendricks, founder of Discovery Channel, and I've ridden Green Zebras through Snowshoe Mountain. I’ve crashed weddings, and I’ve crashed funerals. (I’m not terribly proud about that one—it was an accident, I swear!) But recently, something so unusual happened to me that I just have to share it. I met Ripley Mayor Carolyn Rader. Now to be honest, meeting the esteemed mayor is an event in itself. She’s a wonderfully energetic champion of her... Posted at 11:24 AM Comments: 5 |
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11/18/11A Call for Community: Richwood, WVWhat makes a town special? Is it a charming main street? Dazzling shops? Cutting edge restaurants? What gives a town its soul? In the same vein, what makes a business special? Is it charming office space? Dazzling logos? Cutting edge products? What gives a business its soul? It’s the people. This past week, I was reminded of this on two fronts. WV LIVING was invited to address the community of Richwood, a small mill town in south central West Virginia that may be best known for the Feast of the Ramson, the state’s longest running ramp festival; the Scenic Mountain Triathlon; or as the home of the Cherry River Navy. I was looking forward to going. But due to some challenges that small business owners often face—namely not having enough of me to go... Posted at 08:10 AM Comments |
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11/07/11A Few of My Favorite ThingsI love to surround myself with stories. I am a writer, after all. But my husband and I recently had some friends over to our house, and as we were showing them around, I caught myself telling them the history and story about each antique, decorative item, or whimsical treasure. And that got me thinking: Aren’t we all collectors of stories? Don’t we surround ourselves with things that we love—items that make us happy and illustrate who we are? Here are a few of my favorite things. This Korean flower lamp made from paper makes me smile every time I turn it on. It reminds me of when my husband and 10-year-old daughter texted me from the streets of Seoul with pictures of lamps, asking if I might like one as a souvenir. I love the color red—and my... Posted at 08:49 AM Comments |
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10/25/11A Place Worth a Pretty PennyThis past weekend, I packed my camera and hit the road. My destination was Hillsboro—a tiny town in Pocahontas County that Pearl S. Buck put on the map by having the great fortune of being born there. It is also the place where Dr. Patch Adams (yes, the man made famous by Robin Williams' portrayal in the movie Patch Adams) is building the Gesundheit! Institute. But I was heading to this town of 240 people for one reason only—to eat. I had heard that an awesome restaurant in Hillsboro, called The Pretty Penny, owned by Blair Campbell, was bringing in droves of people. For two years, I’ve promised myself that the next time I was in Hillsboro, I’d have to check it out. But, like many of West Virginia’s special treasures, it is off the beaten... Posted at 12:56 PM Comments: 1 |
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10/17/11Top 10 Books That Changed My LifeI was recently reading the book section of Oprah’s magazine and it got me thinking. What are the top 10 books that have changed my life? I thought I’d better ponder this, just in case Oprah comes calling! Storming Heaven by Denise Giardina A book set in the coal fields of West Virginia by West Virginian author Denise Giardina. I read it as a high school student before being chosen to attend a writing workshop for high schoolers taught by Giardina. It was the first time I felt encouraged to write about my heritage. The Unquiet Earth by Denise Giardina The sequel to Storming Heaven. She wrote this after conducting workshops with high school students that served as research of which I participated. Fair and Tender Ladies... Posted at 09:00 AM Comments |
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10/10/11Think PINK: Recognizing National Breast Cancer Awareness MonthNot too long ago—25 years to be exact—when October rolled around, the only colors we associated with this favorite fall month were brilliant orange, golden amber, and rusty reds. Now, we think PINK. A testament to one of the most brilliant and important marketing campaigns ever—National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This campaign has empowered women and increased awareness, while raising money to find a cure. So, I’ve been thinking PINK and here are a few of my favorite PINK finds. 1. Kate Spade, hot pink coat, $695 2. Kate Spade, makeup bag, $55 3. Fabric covered E 4. Macaroons, $8 5. Mittens, $85 6. Fabric covered A 7. Platter, $25 8. Pink princess phone 9. Jessie Steele cupcake pjs, $65 10. Vera Bradley overnight bag 11.... Posted at 06:56 AM Comments |
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10/03/11WVU Homecoming: Honoring Paw Paw JackThis past weekend was WVU’s Homecoming—and it was a special weekend for our family. My father-in-law Forest “Jack” Bowman was honored with WVU Alumni Association’s Outstanding Alumni Award. Jack has had an incredible career—and he attributes much of his success to his experiences at WVU. You can read more about Jack’s accomplishments on WVUToday. I’ve been a part of the Bowman family for nearly 20 years, and I can honestly say I have never known a greater man. This weekend, while others were touting his great awards and achievements, I thought I’d ask my children what they thought about their Paw Paw Jack. What makes him special? This is what they said: He has really white hair. He is a good sport when I make... Posted at 06:37 AM Comments |
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09/22/11Success Story: WV LIVING Road TripWe just returned from our first WV LIVING Road Trip—it was awesome! We had an incredible group of folks, who braved the back roads on what seemed like an 80-foot-tall and 500-foot-long bus (we went through four boxes of Dramamine), as we made our way to the studios of founding Tamarack artists, Brian Van Nostrand, Ron Hinkle, and Katherine Miller. We also made stops at Café Cimino, Chef Dale Hawkin’s Fish Hawk Farms, Buckhannon’s Main Street Art Fair, and Lamberts Winery—and spent the night at Days Hotel in Flatwoods. I learned a few things. 1. Don’t ever try to be Suzy Tour Director while riding backwards on a bus on Route 15. Dramamine won’t save you. 2. Expect to find out you are related to and/or went to the same high... Posted at 07:30 AM Comments: 1 |
