A favorite past time of mine is reading and learning about farm animals.  There is an endless supply of knowledgeable people who are willing to educate and inform.  As a part of the animal loving community, I also like to share information.

     The story of my cashmere herd spans several states and includes the Eastern Appalachian Mountains.  When I did an internet search for that breed, I found a family in the South Mountains of Maryland who where willing to part with a pregnant doe and a young wether. I had somewhat of a romantic attachment to the South Mountains and so of course was delighted to visit there for a second time to purchase my new goats.

      Let me rewind to about six months before that event and share the history that is part of the Appalachian Souh Mountains.  On a visit to Gettysburg Pennsylvania my husband, son and I were surprised to learn that we could not get a reservation at our favorite hotel. We decided to look about thirty minutes outside of Gettysburg in the town of Wayneboro and found the history (and mystery) of that area of Pennsylvania very fascinating.

     Wayneboro is about  30  minutes north of the Mason Dixon line. It was an integral part of the Civil War no doubt in part because of its proximity to Gettysburg.  During the war, it became an escape route for run away slaves. That is the route we self guided ourselves on in which we fell in love with the area and the South Mountains.

     The three hour tour allowed us to imagine what life would have looked like in this area 157 years ago.  Time diminished the farmhouses and barns that housed those hiding from the war and slavery but left behind the remnants through placards and cornfields. So through the cornfields we ran, my son the runaway slave and me the bounty hunter imaganing the fear and anxiety of the life of a slave.

     Our tour ended at Caledonia State Park where Thaddeus Stevens built and managed the local Iron Works.  The site remains are located on a part of the Appalachian Trail that is well travelled by hikers and those enjoying a piece of history.  We learned that in a local town of colored workers for the Iron Works, slaves stayed and blended to hide from anyone searching with plans to return them to their former life.


     Most importantly, our family learned to overcome obstacles, (this time those obstacles where of the traveling nature) make due with what was available to us and most important use our imagination and enjoy each other.