A slow, tree-lined mountain road is the only way in or out of Helvetia,West Virginia. Where in the 1860’s a strong and talented group of Swiss and German settlers founded a new community within the isolated mountains of Randolph, County. To visit Helvetia today is to step back in time, to a place where culture […]
Katrina Smith-Johnson at Walmart with Mask April 2020 So do you remember when The Hunger Games came out in theaters and everyone was impressed with its colorful images of the future? The bold hair colors and clothes that were on fire but didn’t burn you. The different districts that were so very strange and unique. […]
In this blog you will find stories about my family, our adventures traveling the state we call home, our love of cooking, canning and raising children.I write about West Virginia history, culture, the arts and their traditions. I share things about the work I do working with Non-Profit organizations, who battle everyday to make my […]
Fresh concord grapes from the backyard 2019. This post is actually 2 years in the making. Last summer (2019) was the first time in years the Japanese Beetles did not destroy my chances of getting grapes from the Concord grape vines on our property. We treated for them (more about that later) so I was […]
Front steps of Boerttart porch of the house My trip home to attend my mother’s internment in my home town of Boulder Co. was like no other trip I have ever made. Returning to the mountains in Colorado, I not only said goodbye to someone I loved, but I spent much of my time revisiting […]
In this blog you will find stories about my family, our adventures traveling the state we call home, our love of cooking, canning and raising children.I write about West Virginia history, culture, the arts and their traditions. I share things about the work I do working with Non-Profit organizations, who battle everyday to make my […]
I think 2019 was the year I finally grew up. I think maturity came even when it was unwanted. As I look back over the year I see where I really grew a lot and where I struggled. I can’t believe that in a matter of 12 months I have started my own business, changed […]
As of Valentine’s day of 2020, I finished up my 7th year of blogging. It has been a wonderful journey, I had no idea I would still be here writing. I hope this post helps me refocus my need to write and share about West Virginia. This blog was created because of my personal disappointment […]
I think 2019 was the year I finally grew up. I think maturity came even when it was unwanted. As I look back over the year I see where I really grew a lot and where I struggled. I can’t believe that in a matter of 12 months I have started my own business, changed […]
Katrina Smith-Johnson at Walmart with Mask April 2020 So do you remember when The Hunger Games came out in theaters and everyone was impressed with its colorful images of the future? The bold hair colors and clothes that were on fire but didn’t burn you. The different districts that were so very strange and unique. […]
In this blog you will find stories about my family, our adventures traveling the state we call home, our love of cooking, canning and raising children.I write about West Virginia history, culture, the arts and their traditions. I share things about the work I do working with Non-Profit organizations, who battle everyday to make my […]
In this blog you will find stories about my family, our adventures traveling the state we call home, our love of cooking, canning and raising children.I write about West Virginia history, culture, the arts and their traditions. I share things about the work I do working with Non-Profit organizations, who battle everyday to make my […]
I think 2019 was the year I finally grew up. I think maturity came even when it was unwanted. As I look back over the year I see where I really grew a lot and where I struggled. I can’t believe that in a matter of 12 months I have started my own business, changed […]
In this blog you will find stories about my family, our adventures traveling the state we call home, our love of cooking, canning and raising children.I write about West Virginia history, culture, the arts and their traditions. I share things about the work I do working with Non-Profit organizations, who battle everyday to make my […]
