Hi Tom, Great to read your post. That snow of March 1962 was the ONE that stands out in my mind, and to think that over the Massanutten Mountain in the Page Valley you couldn't be out in it. That would have about killed me. It was almost to the top of the picket fence around our yard. We don't get any of those clean white snows to make snow cream anymore. :( I had almost forgotten about carrom boards. We had one there at home made by my Uncle John D. Clem. Only thing was, we call it "Archarena". My uncle had his named printed on it, and we had the best times playing the game. I don't remember any jigsaw puzzles at home, except for the map of the United States. We learned our country's geography from that one. Otherwise, Mom told us they were a waste of time. LOL Wonder what she would say if she knew I put them together daily on the computer, and that I make up some of my own from photos? To me it is art and relaxation. Times sure have changed. Tom, when I see your name I always think of Page County and my ancestors over there. I love reading about the mountain folks, the hollows, the ridges and the national park. Just today I came across a map of Page County drawn by Ken Grisey. I find Lucas Gap and Lucas Hollow over there near Tanners Ridge, and that is not too far from Big Meadows, is it? Are you related to the Lucases, too? I see Cubbage Hollow in that area. Was always told to "stay outta Cubbage Holler". I wonder if Lucas Hollow was as "bad"? Our older son, John, used to fight forest fires for the US Forest Service and knew lots of tough guys from over that way who fought with him. I can remember only one time visiting down in that area, and we went by the Jordan Hollow Farm Inn. http://www.jordanhollow.com/history.asp?id=26 If you watch the horse weather vane in the picture at the top of the page it changes to a wonderful view of the farm. Mom always wanted to go back and sit in one of the rocking chairs there on the porch. I read a good book that took me to that area "in my dreams" in the last year or so. It is LOVER'S KNOT by Emilie Richards, the third book in her Shenandoah Album Series. The story takes the reader into the history of Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Her two earlier books, Wedding Ring and Endless Chain are interesting reads having to do with the Toms Brook and Woodstock area. Her novels feature complex characterizations and in-depth explorations of social issues, a result of her training and experience as a family counselor. Emilie, a mother of four, lives with her husband in northern Virginia, where she is currently working on the next book in the Shenandoah Album series. The funeral I went to Saturday was for Dorothy Holsinger Seal Walker. Her first husband, John Seal, was Mom's first cousin, classmate and good friend. So, I had quite a time trying to figure out the Seals. They must have all originally come from Page County. I know that two of my grandmother Bessie Henry Clem's sisters married Seal brothers. They were Lula Henry who married William Otha Seal and Virgie Henry who married Charley Seal. Hoping to get back into my Page County ancestry later. Finding others now, including the Comers, Prices, Franks. I already knew I was part Henry, Burner, Grove and Lucas. I think you told me once the story about James W. Henry and that he was AKA James Finter/Finder. Maybe, I will come across that someday, too. He married Delila Price, didn't he? I am wanting to know if he served in the Civil War as someone said his son, Stephen "Buck" Henry, was too young to go and that he had served instead. Do you have any idea? My three other great grandfathers served in the war. Well, I better get back to Shenandoah County and the here and now. Haven't eaten my supper yet. Later, Nancy PS: Having our January thaw here. Temp was up around 70 today!!! > Today's Topics: > 2. Re: Pancakes and Puddin'Meat/ETC (Thomas Pierce) >> Message: 2 >> Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2008 19:31:08 -0500 >> From: "Thomas Pierce" <[email protected]> >> Subject: Re: [VASHENAN] Pancakes and Puddin'Meat/ETC >> Nancy, >> I remember it well. I had just had an operation and was not allowed to go >> out and shovel (alas, poor me). We were completely isolated for about 30 >> hours, then here came the milk tanker! Maybe the highway dept or the >> emergency services couldn't get thru, but that guy had a living to make >> and >> he put chains on and bulled his way thru. He broke enough of the snow >> that >> the highway plow came next day. The National Guard had to drop supplies >> from >> helicopters back up on Tanner's Ridge for a good 2 weeks afterwards. >> You're right, it wasn't a big deal. We had wood for the stoves, coal oil >> for >> light, and a couple big puzzles to work on the carrom board. If it hadn't >> been for the cows needing milked and fed, we'd have all stayed in and >> been >> content. >> Tom >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Nancy Shrum" <[email protected]> >> To: "VASHENAN group" <[email protected]> >> Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 11:15 PM >> Subject: [VASHENAN] Pancakes and Puddin'Meat/ETC > >> Now, back to the cold winter and how it reminds me of olden days in Fort >> Valley. I remember the deep snow of 1962 when we could live in a small >> part >> of our house only. A week earlier a fire from the big chimney destroyed >> the >> north side of the living room, the steps to the upstairs, and the north >> side >> of the upstairs front room. The Strasburg Fire Dept had their trucks up >> there in time to save the house. Later, after the snowfall, I rode the >> old >> work horse to neighbors' houses, and took them care packages as nothing >> else >> was moving thru the valley for four days or so. Electric was gone and no >> phone service. So, we checked on the nearest neighbors after the horse >> broke >> a path. I don't remember feeling isolated, but can imagine how folks >> today >> would feel over there in the mountains if they didn't have cell phones? > >