A big shout out to American Destinations, Curtis Edwards and all the sponsors who helped make it possible for about 30 veterans and some family members to make a trip to the nation’s Capital.  The group left out of Clarksburg in a charter bus from the Clarksburg VFW at 5:30 a.m. last Thursday morning.  They returned home at midnight.

 

Their trip included visits to the war memorials where the American Destinations group placed wreaths.  The group also got to visit to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier where a ceremony was held and a wreath was placed at the Tomb.  For of the veterans who were on the trip, including my husband Dave, it was a very impressive ceremony.  The Veterans were treated to lunch and then had a very nice dinner before boarding the bus for the trip back home.  This certainly was a great tribute to our servicemen and a wonderful way to say than you.

 

American Destinations called the trip their "Freedom Tour".  It was part of the "Freedom Day USA" program that is held every year on September 10th.  "Freedom Day USA" was started right here in Clarksburg by local dentist Dr. Robert Martino.

 

It has been several years since I have made a visit to the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan College.  On Friday evening my sister Joan, my sister and brother-in-law Cathy and Dan Fisher and my son Michael and I attended the Senior Recital of Marilyn Nicole Evans.  Marilyn is the daughter of our cousin, Toni Veneziano Evans.  Toni is the daughter of Rocco and Virginia Andy Veneziano.  Her daughter Marilyn chose to attend Wesleyan to study theatre and voice.  It hardly seems possible that she has been here for almost four years.  The Evans live in Ohio.  Marilyn's program was titled "My Life's a Cabaret" and featured eight songs from different Broadway musicals.  Marilyn has grown into a very talented and beautiful young woman and it was an honor to attend her recital.

 

I am still waiting for the first appearance of the mushroom.  To date I have not received any, nor have I heard of anyone who has.  I am hoping that this rain will bring them up and I feel sure that with some nice warm days they will start appearing.

 

One thing is for sure and that is that winter will soon be here.  The cool evenings certainly point to that.  The one nice thing about fall is that this is the time of year for soup.    The basics of vegetable soup and chicken pastina will always satisfy me.  A reminder to try a few new recipes.  French onion is great as is potato soup. 

 

About the only thing left in our garden is Swiss chard.  I was able to get a nice batch of beets and made a container of pickled beets. I will continue to watch the chard and if nothing else will par boil it and place it in the freezer for this winter.  I have a few peppers still on the vine and I am hopefully saving them so that I might use them in the crock if I am fortunate enough to get a mushroom or two. I hope you were able to enjoy the fruits of your labor from the garden.

 

I send out condolences to the Cann family on the passing of Margaret Cann and to the Sears family for the passing or Tom Sears.

 

Keep in touch, I love to hear from you and until next week "Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine."