Greenbrier Valley

 

GREENBRIER VALLEY — Lewisburg, WV

Jim and I knew going into this trip that we liked Kentucky and West Virginia landscape but we have both decided that we actually love West Virginia. Pictures can’t capture the way the light falls through the jagged crevices of the rock formations on the mountainside. Everywhere you look, you see natural curves, and edges. I’m talking about the landscape right now people. The people are pretty curvy in some of these towns as well.

We met some SUPER nice curvy women at the Greenbrier Valley Visitor’s Center. I don’t know if  some, all, or any of them were Christians, but it would have very much surprised me if at least some weren’t. They had Col 3:12 all figured out and well practiced. 

Jim and I stopped into the Visitor’s Center in downtown Lewisburg for information on trail maps. We found SO MUCH MORE!!! There was a large beautiful garden quilt hanging in one side of the room. On the same side, there were lovely art pieces displayed. Jim and I separated, looked at the trail maps available and soon I was over at the art. The woman sitting at the table in front of the beautiful quilt started working on Jim. She was selling the raffle tickets to raise money for the Garden Club.

The thing about it is that she wasn’t pushy or anything like that. She was telling Jim about the quilt, what the raffle was for, and that she would ship it to us for free if we won. If it wasn’t our style, we could give it away as a gift! She was genuinely so excited we were there. I had the thought that it was a good thing that she was a larger woman because gravity was no match for enthusiasm. 

While Jim was finishing the purchase our raffle tickets, a couple of elderly individuals came in. Our short, talented, excitable friend (Stef for short) suddenly made a short scream of intense joy.

Stef then said to us. “I’m sorry, but you HAVE to stay for our Ukulele Group Performance! The woman who just walked in has been really sick. We didn’t know if she would make it. I’m so glad to see her. Have you eaten dinner yet? There are several great places to eat nearby. You would have just enough time to eat and then come back and enjoy the show!!” 

At that point Stef gave us all the information we needed to make an excellent dinner choice. While talking to her, the artist and others there, it didn’t take long to convince us that it would be a wonderful place to come back to or move every family member, friend, and neighbors there as soon as possible! It was contagious hospitality. So contagious Jim told the hostess, and the waitress what our plans were after dinner. Neither one of them seem too impressed. What is wrong with these people!! Lol! We made it back after dinner to cheer on some mediocre musicians with  average singing voices named of Greenbrier River Optimistic Ukulele Players (G.R.O.U.P).

Peggy Owens, Accidental Artist

Owner of Chaos Acres Studio

Peggy was a 1st grade teacher most of her career. A new year came and the only spot open was an Art/Special Ed Teacher. She had no training for either. In West Virginia, you don’t need any schooling to be a Special Ed teacher. You just need to pass a test. She has ADHD, and has a heart of special needs so she took the test without studying. She figured if she passed, great, if not well, that will show them! Ha!

Two things hit me about this story. First of all, that West Virginia doesn’t require more training for their Special Needs teachers. It was also something that she is also very frustrated by.

Also, we are all so guilty of this. The denial of very obvious clear path ahead of us, We think, “this isn’t my future”. “Oh, God has such a great sense of humor.”

Well, she passed and did that for years until Covid hit making her to take a break due to a congenital heart disease. It did, however, begin her love affair with Art and talking to people/kids on how to use Art  for mental health and improve fine motor skills. Check her out on Facebook. She is one of a kind. :)

LINK TO CHAOS ACRES STUDIO FACEBOOK PAGE