Life and Death

Old house, Cornwallis, WV

Ok…I said I wasn’t going to post till Monday. I tried not to. I really did. But I can’t NOT WRITE! Writing is like breathing. Brushing my teeth. Making my bed. It’s what I do. Every…single…day. I can’t help it…it’s just so much a part of me now, so here I am.

Yesterday was the perfect spring day here in West Virginia! I slept in, had my French pressed coffee and breakfast al fresco on the front porch, then headed to the local state park to hike. I did three and a quarter miles. It was warm and slightly overcast so it was very comfortable. And the wildflowers were amazing! There were several people out on the trail and a guy fishing nearby caught a good sized trout. Afterward, I had a very affordable (and yummy) dinner in the lodge. I came home and sat on the porch and watched as day turned to night. It was truly a perfect day.

This old house was a half mile down the Rails to Trails system in what was once a booming oil town called Cornwallis…named in honor of Lord Cornwallis. Now, it’s a ghost town with a population of maybe 5. I look at this skeleton of someone’s home and the new growth of spring stands out in sharp contrast. It’s like life and death in one photo. The earth is reclaiming what was once a prized possession yet it’s returning with fresh, green treasures…a prize in its own right. West Virginia is full of the dichotomies of life. It is a poor state monetarily, yet it is rich in resources and natural beauty. I love my home state and I’m proud to be a country girl from the hills.

Old Cornwallis, WV

Old Cornwallis, WV

Enjoy your Saturday! It’s SPRING!!! ❤️

““Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

20 thoughts on “Life and Death

  1. When I see old, broken down homes like this one, I often wonder what it was like when it was “new”…a family was excited to be moving in, curtains at the window, children laughing….what story could it tell me…

    1. Not all country homes were this ‘grand’. For an up-close look at rural living in the South, read ‘Ava’s Man’, one man’s story of his family’s life in rural Georgia-Alabama, from the 1800’s through a family reunion in 2000. A companion book is ‘All Over But The Shoutin’ . By Rick Bragg. Breathtaking prose.

    2. Me too. I want it to talk to me. Wonderful post today. Glad you had such a wonderful day. Spring is fresh, new beginnings.

  2. My favorite show, Barnwood Builders, is in WV, buying old barns, homes and rebuilding and repurposing all the wood they can. It’s sad to see this home “die” like this, just thinking of the family or families that lived life there.

    1. I thought of them, too. I was talking with a friend yesterday about all these barns falling down. I’d love to see the wood salvaged. ❤️

  3. Thank you for sharing this bit of history, photos and scripture. I enjoy your travel writing and insights.

  4. I almost didn’t check your blog today since you were taking a holiday break, but I am certainly glad I did. Perfect Bible verse for me today as I am purging my house of things not needed or not necessary any more. Thanks for writing today, Ginny. xoxo

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