Let’s agree to disagree and move on. Nope, not the election. Nope, not religion.
Romance!
What is “romantic” for some is just terrifying for others.
Relaxing and watching a movie by the fire vs. hiking to a wonderful view.
Not having to cook dinner and clean up vs. preparing a candlelight dinner for 2.
Trying something new and adrenaline-packed vs. soaking in the hot tub watching nature at your fingertips.
The spectrum is broad, and luckily we have a lot to offer here in the New River Gorge and Fayetteville area.
I bet for some of us, it changes day-to-day. What worked last week is not budging the romance meter at all today.
Cabin getaway in WV? That’s romantic.
Very few people would disagree with this one, though:
A cabin in the woods. Yep, a nice, clean, cozy cabin, warm fireplace and a hot tub. That, you have to agree, is romantic. Now just add any or all of the ingredients listed above, and you have an Ossum recipe for a romantic getaway.
You need a plan, but don’t have to stick to it. Well, except when the plan includes a reservation for your in-cabin massage, biplane ride or guided trip.
Opossum Creek Retreat offers a few getaway packages to help give you ideas and make it easy, or make your own affordable romantic getaway package.
Top Climbing Town in Climbing magazine. Photo from Secret Sandwich Society.
Now here is the really amazing thing: Fayetteville, our little town, has been on top 10 lists of all kinds— climbing towns, rafting towns, coolest towns, best small towns.
Reading this list makes me want to hit the road and see them all.
When you add these all up, it makes a very powerful statement about where we call home. If these weirdly diverse groups and categories can all agree (and they do) that’s a lot of fingers pointing in our direction from a bunch of very different angles.
And we are willing to share this wonderful place with you. Okay, when are you going to see firsthand why we are on so many top 10 lists?
Reminds me of a song. “The only way to the top is looking out for number 1, and thats me. I am looking out for number one.” Name that tune and who recorded it for a bunch of ossum free stuff with your next stay.
On some level, we all ride in this space at all times. As humans, we seek it. Some seek more, much more. Others push as far as they can toward the safe end of the spectrum. We all should know it is there.
Thanks for your service!
This is not a USA thing. It is a human thing. It’s just that in the USA, we have options. Well, most of us do. In much of the world, the spectrum is infinitely smaller, and skewed hard toward the “harm’s way” end. My deepest hope is that our efforts in the truest and purest form can help this spectrum grow for the rest of our fellow human peoples.
Some call it freedom.
Putting yourself in harm’s way for the sake of others is a conscious choice. One that is not made without serious contemplation. Not everyone can sacrifice in this way. You are a special person.
In honor of those who choose to serve our country, we would like to say thank you for being willing, ready and able to be placed in harm’s way so the rest of us don’t have to get any where near that end of the spectrum.
For years, we have offered free cabins to the members of our armed services on Veterans Day just to say thank you. Today seems like a good day to make that offer again.
Thank you to those who serve and have served in harm’s way. As a gift to you in appreciation:
-2 free nights at Opossum Creek Retreat
-A set of OCR mugs or glasses, your choice. Let us know when you make your reservation.
First come, first served. All we ask in return for your free stay is that once you have stayed at Opossum Creek Retreat you post your favorite service-related picture to the OCR Facebook page and when you post it, tell us your rank, branch and where you served. Or take a selfy by our sign and post that.
If you have had the opportunity to take advantage of this offer in the past, please share the offer with your friends and family to allow others to do the same.
We hosted a beginner bird banding class last week, limited to 8 people, and sold out early. These folks spent an intensive week learning how to net, identify, band and release birds safely.
Some birds are well-named. This is one. Many have names that have nothing to do with the bird, but that is its own rant I will save till later. This is a yellow-throated vireo. To hear his song, click here.
When I saw this sticker, I knew it was going to be a good week. This is the organization the oversees and provides the training for banders. Edye Kornegaywas the banding instructor that made it come true. She was amazing.
Keith in the hot seat learning the Tools of the trade. Serious work. Big heavy books not only identify, but collect a lot of information on these tiny little birds.
Opossum Creek Retreat provided lodging, meals and a great family feel for the whole group for the whole week. We love hosting our fellow bird lovers.
Quilting bee? Book club? Yoga? Bible study? Writers’ workshop?
Gone are the berries. ‘Tis the season. It’s all the rage. All the cool states have ‘em:
WEEDS.
The weeds are coming, and we love ‘em. They are inevitable and it’s going to be huge! It is futile to fight it.
Even the names are huge: iron weed, pokeweed, goldenrod, boneseed, Queen Ann’s lace! Chinkapin, sneezeweed, sweet joe-pye weed, black-eyed Susan, sow thistle and king devil, to name a few. Vipers Bugloss, rageweed, fireweed…
But my favorite part about them is that they can be huge! 12 to15 feet tall and beautiful. And strong. Did I say huge already?
Red Admiral sits on a weed.
I think I like this color palate of weed season better than the pinks of spring. Yes, I know there are lots more colors in the spring, and everything is new, but weed season means we now we have purple and gold and yellow and white (so white), and then it will all be gone.
So while you can, get high on some of those weeds! The ones that are much maligned and misunderstood and neglected, or even worse, mowed down before their time.
The briers have borne their fruit, and apples are not ripe yet, but we have the weeds to thank for some awe-inspiring beauty to carry us through ‘till Fall.
Catch the spectacle before it’s gone. Take a long Labor Day weekend here to enjoy the unconventional beauty of the weeds.
Birds and Opossum Creek Retreat have a long history.
A warbler from the nets at the New River Birding and Nature Festival.
For twelve years now, Opossum Creek has hosted the New River Birding and Nature Festival,which has evolved into an event that has a wonderful “back porch” kind of feel— like a family reunion with a family you would hand pick for yourself.
From the very beginning, bird banding has been a part of the festival. This year, we are taking it to another level: Opossum Creek Retreat and the Institute for Bird Populations are teaming up to offer our first ever “Beginner Bird Banding Class” Aug. 18-24 here in The New River Gorge.
Bird banding helps us learn more about the birds we love, understand their behavior and their habitat needs. With the information gleaned from banding, we are able to address environmental issues that have an impact on our feathered friends.
Now, there’s a whole lot more that we learn from the info gathered, but you can read more about that from a more accurate source, like the Institute for Bird Populations.
You too can learn more about our feathered friends! There are still a few spots left. For info on the class, call Keith at 888-488-4836.
Beginner Bird Banding Class details
August 18th- 24that Opossum Creek Retreat $1,800.00 per person; includes all class materials, instructors’ fees, lodging and meals.
At Opossum Creek Retreat for the Birding & Nature Festival
The class will begin on the afternoon of Aug. 18 and end after banding Sunday, Aug. 24.
Each day, we will be in the field at sunrise and work the nets for 5-6 hours. Then, we will have lunch (1 hour), and a 2-3 hour classroom session, followed by a break and then dinner.
There will be some “homework.” Information and details of course materials can be found at the IBP website.
Proper field attire is necessary. (Mud boots and rain gear, too). We are in the woods. Mosquito and ticks are present.
FACILITIES & LODGING
Opossum Creek Retreat is nestled uniquely just minutes from theNew River Gorge National River in South-Central West Virginia.
Interacting with the birds at the festival
Classroom activities will be held in the 1,000 square-foot meeting /great room of the Meadows Cabin. Lodging in the Meadows Cabin is included in the registration fee. Each registrant will have his/her own private room (all linens and towels are provided). There are 3 full bathrooms to share.
There are several other privatecabins available at an additional fee if you would like your owncabin.
There is a guest laundry available for your convenience during your stay.
Also included in the registration fee is a continental breakfast, lunch and a home-cooked dinner each day. Please let us know of any dietary needs or issues upon registration.
REGISTRATION
Class is Limited to 8 people, with a minimum of 6. Full payment is due upon registration. To register, contact Keith at 888-488-4836. Please do not book your flights until the class minimum is met.
I have a father, I am a father, and I know this to be true.
Dads only want one thing for Father’s Day!
No ties, no tools, no new shirt, no gift certificate, no fishing tackle (well, maybe.)
All your dad wants for Father’s Day is your time. Not a whole weekend at a cabin with him, just some time. Chill with your dad for as long as you can stand it.
Pay it forward, so when your little shits grow up they may have it in their DNA to set aside some time for you. You and yours will all be better for it.
Then come spend some time in a cabin at Opossum Creek Retreat to recover from the trauma of it.
Some of you know this firsthand. We have been told many times by many guests how much better they feel after staying here.
Although it was not in style, I did graduate from high school. I thought everyone did. Well, almost everyone. And I did not get what the big deal is, until now.
What a great reason to spend the weekend with family and friends. The whole weekend was relatively low-key. We made some of the food, ordered some from local restaurants. There was always a table full of snacks and drinks for whoever and whenever. Mostly we spent a lot of time talking and laughing with loved ones.
The first night everyone was on their own for dinner, and that worked really well, because everyone one was arriving at different times. The next night we made salads, and then ordered ribs from Dirty Ernie’s, and my wife’s favorite dish in town, shrimp & grits from Gumbo’s. It was easy and delicious.
One morning, all the guys went out to breakfast for a “man-date.” Fun stuff, great conversation and fellowship.
Cupcakes from the graduation celebration.
On Saturday we had the party. We shared decorating and setting up the great room. Cousin Katie made a piñata that weighed as much as she does, and it was the hit of the bash, filled with all manner of stuff (family members thought a college kid might need not just candy.) The A-team of bakers made the requested table full of cupcakes.
Not sure who enjoyed them more: the people who made them, the ones who ate them or the ones who did both.
Graduation Pizzas from Pies & Pints!
Those darn kids. Yes, they graced us with their presence for a little while (as long as the pizza lasted.) It was great to see how freely these “kids” mingled with us old folks. Most of them had never met us, “the parents,” let alone the out-of-town relatives, and they really did mingle. These kids have stuff to distract them that we only saw in comic strips, yet they were present and participating in the whole evening, and they made it a lot more fun to be sure. Plus, they taught me how to take selfies. Watch out!
Group photo at the Graduation Party.
We don’t often use The Meadows for ourselves. It was great to see it first-hand, filled with love and laughter of family and friends. Maybe that is what the big deal is all about.
How is your family celebrating this graduation season?
Of course you don’t have to bring everyone… unless you really want to.
“Oh, it’s okay. Don’t do anything special for me.”
You have heard your Mom say that, haven’t you?
This is tricky, because sometimes she means it; other times, not so much.
The question is: why risk it?
Yes, for some weird reason, Mother’s Day gets neglected, and I don’t know why. Do you?
You can fix this for your Mom, and maybe make up for some of those other Mother’s Days.
The weather is great. Spring is in all its glory. We just finished an amazing week hosting The New River Birding and Nature Festival, and we are all warmed up and ready to go here in the New River Gorge area. Come join us.
Make Mom really happy, and bring her to OCR this weekend.
We will even buy you lunch. Just mention this post.
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