The New Neelys

Dustin and Cindy Neely and daughter Madyson were visitors this week. Dusty is a State Highway Patrolman and Cindy will manage the downtown home office of the Park National Bank. Great kids of friends Dave and Tracy Neely.

Who does it look like Madyson takes after??

An Open Invitation To Join Us Camping

Pat and I have tent camped at Mohican State Park for over 35 years. This year we invite you to join us. We will be camping from Thursday August 23rd to Monday August 27th. We would love to have you join us for an evening or a couple of days or the whole time if your schedule allows. There are still campsites available. To register Google Mohican State Park. Click "Reserve Campsites" and join us!
If you have any questions give us a call and we'll help you through the process.

.......you too can experience an evening at the camp fire.......

.........or participate in some of the ancient Native American fire rituals performed by actual descendents of the Adena and Hopewells!

Come and join us for a day or a weekend...

....the anticipation of adventure........

.......the exploration of wilderness waters.....

.....THE TRIUMPH OF CONQUERING THE RIVER.....MUCH LIKE LEWIS AND CLARK MUST HAVE FELT.....

Happy 22nd Birthday, Granddaughter Chelsey!!!

....cute cake....and lovely hair decoration!

....so sweet and petite........

....THE REAL CHELSEY!!!

......the unusual candles....

....face all aglow!

.....I hope and pray your wish comes true.....

Legacy Vs Garden Pictures...My Dilemma..

As you blog followers know Seth and Heather gave me a book called "A Father's Legacy" (see blog page ....to leave a legacy below) and wanted me to write about my past. I only have so much time to blog (Usually between 5:00 and 7:00 AM) and I am torn because I also want to share pictures of the gadn and life on Pleasant Chapel as well.....SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSOOOOOOOOO......

.......AS I SAT ON A BENCH PHOTOGRAPHING THESE SCENES IN THE EARLY MORNING....I MADE A DECISION....

....to do both at the same time.

Being a visual sort of guy and knowing how much I love the pictures and stories on other people's blogs...I'm combining both.....telling some life story..... and sharing pictures like these from my garden.

HERE GOES....

My name, William Edward Weaver, came from my uncles. William was from my Uncle Bill (who lived with aunt Ginger who lived to be 105 years old!) and the Edward came from Uncle Ed (Who gave me my first job cleaning his L&K Cleaner Laundry business for 35 cents an hour!) At Newark Hospital on February 9th 1945 at 6:04 AM I wasn't...... and at 6:05 PM.... according to my birth certificate....

I WAS!!

My Stock...

Above is my Grandpa Miller. He was a railroad detective and would describe to us his work chasing down people who tried to sabatoge the trains and equipment. I would love to stay over night with him and Grandma and sleep in Tina's room when I did. In the book case in that room were lots of books I loved to peruse. My Uncles, Jerry, Ed and Don served in WW II. One particular book they brought back and I remember so clearly looking at the pictures in was about the Holocost. I'll never forget those images. Grandpa had a great sense of humor, loved boxing (always talked about Lewis and Dempsey etc) and loved his grandkids. At Christmas one year he got the gift of a brick....then anbother then another....then another....He got bricks for Christmas a numer of years in a row saying he was saving them to build a new house!

Grandma Miller was an amazing lady! She was a great intellect...loved to read...laugh....cook...enjoy her grandkids. She would take me to church on occasion and then I would get to go home with her after church when it would be just her and I...talking. As soon as we would come in the door after church she would walk over to the heat grate and stand over it to let the coal fired furnace heat go up under her Shelton Stroller dress to warm her up! Grandma taught me the value of prayer. Mainly at meal times but other times as well she would bow her head (sometimes I would peak to watch her!) and she would pray....always for others. When I went away to Marietta College she handed me the gift of a bible. In the front of it she had written these words which I have repeated to myself and others many times since, "All in this life will soon be past. Only what's done for Christ will last." I remember coming home from college and going down the street to where she lived to talk with her. I wish I had spent more time doing that. She would ask me questions and I always would wonder why......I thought she knew everything! Probably the most fervant prayer I ever prayed was when I was with her in her living room when she had her stroke. I didn't want God to take her! I wasn't done knowing her yet! Lookng at this picture causes me t reflect on her love...how she smelled....how she would occasionally drop her pearls of whisdom to me...HOW MUCH SHE LOVED ME AND HOW MUCH I LOVED HER.....and still do!

Hanover Red, White and Kaboom Celebration

It just doesn't get any bigger than this in downtown Hanover......

The Weaver parade unit.....

....and of course a celebration of the Licking Valley's ancient past....

Wes Performs His First Official Act As New High School Principal.....

.....on the dunk tank.......where of course he bates the crowd......

....only to accept the fate of all dunk tankees.......much like his father before him......

.......THE PLUNGE......

....the Small Group Gathers....and waits......

.....and waits.......and waits......

....for the grand finalle........

.......and then ....the real GRAND finalle!