The Neighbors React to the Story About Larry's Water Garden

Mrs. I.B.Stern lives behind the Erbaughs and she wanted to go "on the record" as being the first to say it is an eyesore!

The Erbaugh's next door neighbor, Butch Boyer (also a third cousin, once-removed, of Joyce) says, "I keep telling Larry we should just forget the water garden idea, get a rubber liner and turn it into a

pool."

Another neighbor, Ms. Eloise Crouch, who lives across the street, tracked me down to say, "I can't even see the dreadful thing from my house and I think it's ugly as sin!"

Three More Penn Laird Stories

ICED TEA PARTY

At least one person in attendance at the Penn Laird is not at all happy that the meeting was adjourned early. Curtis Keyser is a member of the growing political movement known as the "Iced Tead Party" and he had hoped for a lively discussion of his proposal that Penn Laird secede from Rockingham County.

NEW RECORD STORE

When Doris Almarode learned that there was a new "record store" opening adjacent to the former Simmons Service Center in Penn Laird she couldn't wait to pick up some vinyl albums for her grandmother, Agnes Cash. Agnes refuses to listen to "her music" on anything but vinyl records (no ipods, MP3s or CDs for her; at 66 years of age she knows what she likes...and what she doesn't!).

THE WATER GARDEN

Joyce Erbaugh well remembers her husband Larry's words, "You decorate the inside of the house, so I will decorate the outside!" That was in May of 2009, and this is how their back yard has looked ever since. One day it will be the finest water garden in all of Penn Laird, Virginia. Sure. Yep. We believe that.
Joyce says, “Larry's excuse is that the fish keep drinking the water. He dug the hole at the wrong place, anyway. I'm tired of falling in there at night when I pass by there on the way to our outdoor john.”

Forging a New Alliance in Penn Laird Politics

Long-time Penn Laird residents (and previously bitter enemies) Bert Nesselrodt and Sammy Crider have finally agreed to forget their past differences and work together toward achieving the goal of town-hood. This gracious act of kindness and dedication so moved all those in attendance, that the rest of the agenda was tabled and the meeting adjourned.

The only negative incident of the evening occurred as folks were leaving: Mrs. Olive Thompson was overhead remarking that "the least Ruth Ann could do, if she's going to host the town council meetings, is serve punch and cookies!"

(Did you happen to notice Ruth Ann's Girl Scout ribbons?)

Eldridge Baugher Wants to be Mayor

Penn Laird Mayor-elect Eldridge Baugher stands by the podium to show the overwhelming agenda that is planned for their first meeting tonight. The folks of Penn Laird have been saving up for this day, and now each and every citizen expects his or her agenda item to be handled first.

Joyce Erbaugh is really campaigning hard against Baugher. She says, “I really think Warren Armentrout would make a better Mayor than Eldridge. Can we overthrow the current Penn laird government?”


She also commented, “I think Eldridge is far too progressive for us Penn Laird folks. I mean, look at his slick hair-do and his un-tucked shirt! His mommy should have sewn lace on the bottom! Warren would be a much better choice. Plus, the council could meet in his shop and drink beer - then Ruth Ann wouldn't have to bother with the punch and cookies.”

The Penn Laird Town Council

Since the Massanutten Development decided against becoming a town, the residents of nearby Penn Laird have taken matters into their own hands and elected a town council. This is a first step toward becoming an incorporated town.

Penn Laird has no Town Hall, so Ruth Ann Armentrout has graciously invited the council to meet in her basement. She arranged them in front of her “Wall of Honor” for this photo (you may notice just above Cecilia Yancey's right shoulder [far left] the plaque Ruth Ann won in high school for creating the largest ball of rubber bands of anyone in the Junior Class).

Uncle Bug's Greatest Creation

This woodpile was my Uncle Bug's downfall.  He worked so hard creating it that he refused to use any of the wood and eventually Aunt Charlotte made him sell the woodstove.

Shirttail Cure

     This was the method my Mom used, which is why to this day I still tuck in my shirt!

Another Great Idea Not Appreciated by Our Parents

This was our solution to a problem: our friend Phil Schroeder had fallen in Cub Run and he and his clothes were totally soaked. We were not supposed to be in the creek, so we couldn't just go home and get him clean clothes. We almost got away with it, but Mrs. Albertson saw him from her side porch and called my Mom. Mrs. Albertson hardly ever used her side porch. Sigh.



Phil's Mom was kind of a drama queen, so she made him hang there until she could go home and get her Brownie camera to take this photo.