OUR HILLTOP and THE WEATHER...............

As you know, we live on top of the hill.  From the main road running through our valley you can see our house, on top of the hill, in the winter when the leaves are off the trees.  Now that the leaves are coming out again, you can no longer see our house, and for folks not knowing we live up here, they don't have a clue.

In the summer the valley can run approximately 5 - 6 degrees warmer than our hill top.  In the winter 6 - 10 degrees colder than our hilltop.  There can be frost in the valley, none up here.  In dry weather the small creek that wanders through the valley can dry up.  Our spring (which is our water supply) has never slowed down.

In the valley they get strong winds.  Our hill top gets stronger, much stronger, winds.  We have had to chase patio furniture, pick up many many tree branches that have broken off the trees, but no leaf raking.  At our prior home we had maple trees, and I spent days and days raking leaves.  On our hill top, no raking, the wind blows them all away. 

Of course we have no trees close to the house - Jerry doesn't want the view blocked, and I don't blame him.  We are surrounded by trees, though,  but no leaves to rake.


left to right, small barn, machine shed, house

In addition to our house we have two other buildings on our hill top.  The largest is the machine shed, which contains all the necessities for the yard and garden, mowers hoes, rakes, shovels, etc. etc.

One end of this building has been partitioned off and turned into Jerry's workshop, which is actually his hunting buddies home away from home.  It has been outfitted, in addition to Jerry's workbenches and tools, with refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, bottled water, heater for cold weather, chairs, tables, etc.  This is where they lounge when they come to the farm to hunt - rabbit season, deer season, turkey season, whatever season.  They bring crock pots of hot food to keep warm, and other stuff.  That is where they "picnic" when hunting.  Talk about being spoiled!!!!!

The second smaller building was where the previous owners stored their hay for their horses, also had a couple of horse stalls.  This building is now used primarily in hunting season, and where the outside cats live - we keep a lot of straw in there for them to bed down in.  Keeps them cozy warm in the winter.

Why, do you wonder, am I telling you all this? 


front of house with the deck

It is because of WHERE WE ARE LOCATED.  We have had so much nasty weather the last few years, not just in our area but throughout the entire country.  There has been so much damage from wind, tornadoes, floods, hail, torrential rains all around us.  We have had storms, but have been spared the nasty stuff, just have to chase furniture and pick up branches.


yard and corn field from the patio

There seems to be a natural funnel that encompasses us.  As the storms are heading east, from the midwest, about the time they reach Zanesville, Ohio, they hit this funnel.  The storms break and move north and south, by-passing the Wheeling WV area, and our part of Washington County Pa., coming back together as they pass by the City of Washington.  There has been major damage all around us, east, west, north and south, but to date we have been spared.


as seen from or patio

We have been up here for 6 years.  We have heavy duty lightning rods on the house as we have some spectacular lightning displays, but so far have been safe.  We have had winds that we thought would blow us away, but so far we have been safe.  When the rains stop and everything drys up we still have water.  When the valley is flooded, we are dry.


fall, fog, deer, from our patio

No matter the time of year, we have a view.  We get hard rains, heavy snow-falls, drought, but through it all we have a good home in a beautiful location.
What more could anyone ask for?  We are truly blessed.


view from the deck



sunset from the patio

Enjoy the spring weather, as summer is not too far behind, and God Bless.