Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Beauty of the Shenandoah Valley in the Fall


The Beauty of the Shenandoah Valley in the Fall

While I am a summer girl who loves the beach, the sun, fresh tomatoes from the garden, landscaping, and lazy afternoons on the porch with a glass of tea or vino, appreciating the bounty of hot weather, when autumn arrives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and mother nature paints the trees with a kaleidoscope of color I am filled with awe at the wonder of the universe.

We spent this weekend at the anniversary of the 148th Battle of Cedar Creek   reenactment. I was struck by the sheer beauty of the landscape. For me it is impossible to look upon the terrain of North Mountain and not see the influence of a higher power. The red, gold, orange, yellow and faded green dotting the hillside of the battlefield causes me to wonder what those men so many generations ago must have thought as they engaged in battle.  The contrast of beauty and bloodshed must have been hard to reconcile. I know it is for me today.

When I gaze upon the amazing beauty of Frederick County, Virginia, where I make my home, I can see and understand why the citizens of Virginia were compelled to fight for their state.  No matter the ideology of the world today, one can easily understand why the citizens of Virginia were willing to fight for this territory.  This was the frontier at one time. The citizens fought the Indian wars and carved a life out of wilderness.  George Washington surveyed this area and had an office in Frederick County. We forget that Jamestown was founded in this state, that the original settlers forged a new civilization. This was the homeland of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, James Monroe and James Madison – the very cradle of American democracy.

No matter the history, I embrace the beauty and thank my higher power for the privilege of enjoying the landscape that surrounds me.


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