The West Virginia Life

One of several curious, happy free-range hens named Ginger.

We have been living at Claymont for a week now, and each day I find myself more comfortable and at peace with solitude. Our schedule allows time for inner work as we work our bodies in the garden, greenhouses, cleaning the buildings, and exploring the property and area. The Claymont residents (about a dozen in all) each have their own homes, but share the land and an intentional purpose for their lives here, particularly The Fourth Way. They host a different retreat nearly every weekend, from church youth groups to meditation circles.

There is an amazing historic mansion that the residents have renovated, called Claymont Court, that is used for some of these retreats. The mansion was originally built by Bushrod Washington, grand-nephew of George Washington. It is incredible to walk the grounds and imagine it in its full splendor in the 1850's. (I'll post some pics soon.)

This region is also noted for its rich Civil War history. A couple of days ago, Mel & I took a driving tour of the area, stopping for a walk along the Appalachian Trail section of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park along the Potomac River; checking out where the famous abolitionist John Brown stockpiled munitions; went to Harpers Ferry, Antietam, and Sharpsburg; and enjoyed the scenic beauty of these sections of W. Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia, particularly the Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers.

Even though we're only an hour from Baltimore and Washington, D.C., it feels very secluded. I have never seen so many deer and cardinals in one place in my life! Last night we drove to Bethesda, MD to visit my friend Jamie and to make sure the social bar scene still exists. Well, it certainly does, and as Mel said, being in Bethesda reinforces how much we love and appreciate the people and venues of Portland, Maine!