Simply Blessed Uncategorized

WV Route 66

According to the US National Parks System, US Department of the Interior, “US Highway 66, popularly known as “Route 66,” is significant as the nation’s first all-weather highway. The often-romanticized highway represents an outstanding example of the transition from dirt track to superhighway.”  It is a road through “small town USA.”

Although not geographically a part of this “superhighway” from the past, West Virginia has its own actual Route 66 that is also unprecedented, unique, romantic (or could be) and oh, so beautiful.  Route 66 in West “by God”, encompasses eight entities within one county with two mountains in view, two rivers, one stream, and goes through two small towns.

Our Route 66 starts at the base of Cheat Mountain in Linwood, WV.  Linwood is a half mile above sea level.  That’s high up there.  But it doesn’t quite compare to the highest point of Cheat Mountain which is 1.478 m above sea level. 

Next up, you will see the water of the Big Spring Fork River which is the second source of the Elk River.  This part of the drive takes you through “Nature’s Mountain Playground -Pocahontas County, West Virginia.” Two great tourist areas in Pocahontas County on Route 66, are Snowshoe and Cass. 

Snowshoe is an unincorporated community in West Virginia, best known for extensive and exceptional winter activities.  Ski slopes make up 244 acres of the Snowshoe Resort.  There is a wide range of options for lodging, dining, shopping, and entertainment.  Some of the cold weather opportunities are skiing, tubing, and snowmobiling.

Summer at Snowshoe Mountain includes golf, fishing, biking, swimming, yoga, and more. For more information, hit Cntl and click https://wvtourism.com/company/snowshoe-mountain/

Along the way on Route 66 WV, you will probably see Deer Creek (considered a stream) and many deer.  Deer are not the state animal, but we have plenty of them; over 550,000.  White tailed deer are the deer of West Virginia.  They have good eyesight and you can see them with the naked eye.   

Cass, population 52 in the 2010 census, is home to the Cass Scenic Railroad State Park.  Train excursions are available Tuesdays through Sundays, plus several special events throughout the year.  The enterprise is run by Durbin and Greenbrier Valley Railroad.  Their description is “Historic. Authentic. A ride into yesterday.”

 

This is a wonderful chance to see the quiet, scenic landscape of our state with panoramic views.    Many natural photography opportunities are available plus a great way to search and view wildlife. 

I’m not your average grandma.  Maybe not many of them are fascinated by trains like I am.  I live not far from the tracks and feel and hear their monumental movement daily.  I am fascinated, as most kids are, with the giant face of the huge black engine.  And cabooses are cool, as well.  You get the real train deal at this State Park.

For more information, click https://wvtourism.com/company/durbin-and-greenbrier-valley-rail-road/

A great place to stop (just off Route 66) for refreshments and food is the Last Run Restaurant where they serve, breakfast (8 til 10:30), Lunch (10:30-close) and Dinner (4 til 8pm). They have “set” dining and an “old timey soda fountain with all kinds of ice cream.”  Last Run Restaurant is one of the “101 Unique Places to Dine” (in West Virginia)

Some highlights from reviewers include that they have are loved for their homemade coleslaw, crinkle cut French fries, Reuben, excellent service, friendly staff, cozy atmosphere and scenic views.


To see the full menu, visit

https://www.facebook.com/pg/lastrunrestaurant/about/?ref=page_internal

You will pass over the Greenbrier River.  The Greenbrier River has logging history and is one of the longest rivers in West Virginia, covering 162 miles.  It is a tributary of the New River.  The Greenbrier is the longest untamed (unblocked) river left in the Eastern United States. 

“Brown, rainbow and brook trout, smallmouth and largemouth bass, muskie, catfish and carp” can be found in the Greenbrier River, according to  https://greenbrierwv.com/.

All good things must come to an end, and thus does Route 66 in West Virginia.  It ends near Green Bank, which is another story altogether.  The original Rt. 66 has national landmarks, which we don’t have on ours, but we still have dirt tracks off to the side that are #almostheaven.  We feel Route 66 in West Virginia rivals the scenery and adventures of where people once declared, “get your kicks, on Rt. 66”. 

Happy Driving!


Simply Blessed Creative, Uncategorized

Where Good Ideas Come From

An Assignment Q&A.

  1.  Yes, I would love to be more creative!  It’s very fun to be creative. 
  2.  I would like to be more creative in how I market the booth at Down Home Creations.  I’m going to do a flyer with a coupon and pass it to everyone I know.  I think it will help me rehome my mom’s things and get more traffic for the great crew at DHC.
  3. I’d love to find new ways to improve my home business (Boarding House for Students).  I used to try one new recipe a week so that I could be more skilled and make flavorful, filling meals for my house family.  I have streamlined many things but would like to streamline more so I don’t get overwhelmed with day to day chores when I finally move home.
  4. I’d like to get a side business going making logos and marketing materials to have fun and help others.
  5. Historically, people had casual think tank places like Coffee Houses.  Now, we have SO many ways to connect; to reach out and find other people.  There is more of  a chance (favors) to borrow other people’s hunches and combine them with our own through internet connections.  We can work with others (brainstorm) to create something new or find the missing piece we need to complete our own ideas.  We might just stumble on a new piece of information when we take a chance on a connection.  That chance piece of information may help us build or improve our own ideas. I think of it as “nothing ventured, nothing gained”.  Or in other words, “It never hurts to ask.”
  6. I connect, creatively speaking, in the following ways. a Pinterest.  I use this forum to collaborate ideas with my friends and family if we are working on a joint project or planning an event together.  For example, my friend Lyndsey and I planned a baby shower using pictures, recipes, etc. in a shared board there.  My sister in law and I planned our families Game Weekend with brownies that looked like dice, etc. b. Research.  I have traveled a lot and always go to different flea markets to see what others are selling or how they are packaging things.  I ask a lot of questions.  Since I’m not really competition here in Harrison (live far away from them), they are usually very helpful. c. Networking and Sharing.  I take photos of room designs and share them with my niece who is an interior designer.  We learn from each other.  She is more in tune with the current housing market.  I am part of an Essential Oils Group and we share diffuser recipes and sales ideas.
  •  An example of a time that I collaborated on an idea was when I made a goal while working for the South County YMCA in Laguna Niguel, CA.  I  wanted to get my day camp ACA accredited. (ACA = American Camping Association)  ACA Accreditation reviews program quality and the health and safety of staff and campers.  You need to have policies, procedures, and practices in place.  Gaining the accreditation is a marking of 50 years of parent trust in accredited camps.  I always wanted my programs to be the best they could be and my people to grow to their fullest potential.  I set up a timeline and asked my fellow directors to visit and review our day camp in the various categories.  They gave me feedback and helped with any needed additional items.  (We had 30 professional staff at South Coast.)  This helped me thoroughly prepare for the actual visit from the ACA team.  It was a peer review process with folks from camps all over California.  The outcome was that we were accredited, and my team all felt a part of the prestige and a part of the process.  It encouraged everyone to seek the highest standards for our many programs.
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Simply Blessed Uncategorized

The Blessing Box Experience

In my time here in Harrison, the “Blessing Box” at the Library has given me far more than I have given to others through that blue cabinet. “The Blessing Box (nationally) is a faith based nonprofit service organization that will inspire, nurture, and empower the human spirit by providing social services, charitable assistance and emotional/spiritual support to individuals.” -theblessingbox.org

The box at the Library is not a part of that national organization.  It is a local idea that citizens here built and stock for those that need food and personal items.  The above description is so uplifting to me as a giver.   It  is what the receiver is meant to feel.  But I, as a giver, experience the same, cherished moments.  I receive emotional/spiritual support and it puts a big ole smile on my face every single time.  Placing personal items in The Blessing Box empowers my human spirit and increases it.  Putting food in The Blessing Box inspires me to help others in need. It is such a natural high for me.

I became involved with The Blessing Box in the Harrison and surrounding area through Northark College PBL.  PBL stands for Phi Beta Lambda.  It is the college version of FBLA, Future Business Leaders of America.  FBLA-PBL is the premier student business association. The mission is to bring business and education together in a positive working relationship through innovative leadership and career development programs.

At one of the first meetings I attended at Northark, the stocking of the blessing boxes was discussed.  Also, I received an email and contacted the chapter President, Brandy Gatlin, about them.  I emailed her because I was cleaning out my mom’s pantry (she was moving to Assisted Living) and I wanted to donate those items.  From there, I volunteered to be the PBL point person for stocking The Blessing Box at the Boone County Library, 221 W. Stephenson Ave.  I go and stock that beautiful (to me) box once a week with personal items and food.  It is a real joy to me.

You can find more addresses of local Harrison Blessing Boxes at https://www.facebook.com/pg/NorthArkansasCollegePBL/about/.  Please like our page while you are there.

Some simple ways to affordably stock a blessing box is to buy a few discounted items while you are grocery shopping. Also, I got some small cheap zip lock bags and put extra cereal, bread, rice, etc. in them.  For a better list of ideas, see the Northark PBL facebook page.

My hope is to get more people to help with the local blessing boxes and feel joy in doing so.  And to further others to feel as blessed as I do.