The scary metal Mothman scupture with the creepy eyes!

According to Little, yesterday was the BEST day yet! We had a couple of lay low days and a couple of really busy canning days so they were more than ready to get out for an adventure! I went in and did the wakey-wakey thing and got dressed and pretty soon we were out and about…looking for something to get into!

Little posing in front of a mural at the museum.

The first thing we did was stop at Starbucks for a refreshment and a morning nosh. Then we hit the new Goodwill Store. We found some pretty cool things and Little got some awesome back to school clothes. I found a Mr. Juiceman juicer for $10 that I’m looking forward to trying. I also got a cool teaching kit for the littles for when they head into preschool and kindergarten.

A poster at the Mothman Museum.

Once we wrapped up at Goodwill, we hit the road. I had a big surprise in store. Little is at that age where theatrical and creepy ghost stories are ALL that and a bag of chips. So, we headed to The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant. I don’t know if you saw it or not, but Richard Gere of all people starred in a movie called The Mothman Prophecies in 2002. I remember hearing about the Mothman when I was growing up. From November 16, 1966 to December 16, 1966, several sightings were reported of a man-sized bird-like creature near Point Pleasant, WV. The first newspaper story was published on November 17th about two young couples who were out joyriding near the old TNT factory when this thing swooped down and landed on their car and they took off. It kept getting ahead of them and stood along the road, eyes glowing red only to dash ahead and do it over and over.

Our picnic supper of the best Chinese food!

It was all over the news…people were out looking for the mythical creature that became a colorful piece of West Virginia folklore. The good folks at the Mothman Museum in Pt. Pleasant…billed as the ONLY Mothman Museum in the WHOLE WORLD…are doing a brisk business. You too can drop a small bundle and walk behind the camouflaged doors to cast your eyes on such incredible things as the actual watch that Richard Gere wore in the movie or numerous framed copies of the newspaper articles relaying the reported sightings and the uproar they caused. Which segues to the events of December 16th, 1966. The Silver Bridge collapsed into the Ohio River during rush hour killing forty-six people. Twenty-one people survived the plunge into the icy waters. Local scuttlebutt had it that the Mothman was never seen after the bridge collapsed so logically, the two must be tied together, right? This is how myth becomes legend and conspiracy theories are born. For filler, there were pictures and stories about UFO sightings all around the country during the same time period.

Yummy edamame.

This was right up Little’s alley, being a theater kid and all. We had our picture taken with everything except the silver metal sculpture located around the corner from the museum. I can’t say as I blame the kid…it’s pretty menacing with its sharp teeth and claws and bulging red eyes glowing like two coals in the night. Yeah, we steered clear of that guy. But, we had to buy the obligatory souvenir t-shirt and a pair of cool socks for Big and a sticker for her mom’s water bottle.

Little spotted this heron when we were listening to the little band at the shelter in the park.

We were getting ready to leave when we noticed a huge antique mall just a few doors down from the museum so we dodged in there for a bit. Little found some candy and I found a cookbook and a couple of gifts for Christmas or birthdays…not sure yet. I’m looking forward to reading the cookbook about Julia Child written by Dorie Greenspan…both chefs extraordinaire in their own rights.

The Ravenswood Cemetery where many of my ancestors rest in peace.

When we finally finished, Little said they would LOVE to have Orange Chicken for supper. I asked Siri where the nearest Chinese Restaurant was and she told me about one just around the block. I’ll tell you what…that was some of the best Chinese food I think I have EVER eaten. And they gave us SO much of it. I got House LoMein with chicken, beef, and shrimp. We both got an appetizer of edamame. If you haven’t had that…you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s steamed soybeans, served in their hulls. You salt them, then nibble the beans between your teeth just enough to pop the edge of the pod open and you can squeeze out the bean. SO yummy and good for you!

The old Wilding Graded School built in 1897.

When we got to Ravenswood where my dad was born, raised, and died, there was an old timey band playing in the park on the banks of the Ohio River. We had to stop and listen while we sat in one of the big metal swings overlooking the water. I scattered my father’s cremains on the riverbank not a football field length away from where we sat, so I regaled Little with stories and showed them pictures of my dad.

The poor old house looks so bad. I think someone is trying to fix it up, but it’s pretty sad looking.

Before long, we drove on…stopping first at the cemetery where my Grandmother Roush and other family members are buried, then on out the country road to see what’s left of my Aunt Marge’s farm. It was nearly dark by the time we got home. We were going to go swimming together, but I chickened out when I felt how cold the water was. I ended up sitting on the deck and having a most delightful conversation with this darling grandchild of ours. 

I fed calves in this barn and my dad raised pheasants here.

We will rid up Little’s laundry today and pack. We need to pack up all the extra things so we can run to the post office and ship them back to Colorado for them. Then I promised we would go back to the Mt. Zion Church to clean it before they leave tomorrow. So, one more sleep, and my Little Bear will be jetting west to spend some time with Big before she heads off to college.

The round barn on what was the Butcher’s Farm.

And…the beat goes on.

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“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”

Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV