In Honor of America’s Indigenous People

Indigenous Peoples Day was created in response to the Columbus Day Holiday, partly in protest against the European treatment of Native Americans, and also in recognition of the history and cultures of those tribes that were here long before 1492.

Today’s photos are from old posts, starting with an event called The Gathering in Berryville. 

Growing up in Virginia, I heard a lot about the native people who lived here long before colonial settlements. My community was named Tauxemont after a Doeg village on John Smith’s 1608 map. He spelled it Tauxenent. 

Many descendants of these first Americans still live in Virginia, some on reservations, but most are fully integrated into American life. My daughters have Native American blood through their father’s great-grandmother. 

The next picture is from living history at Jamestown, and the collage below it is from a Monacan exhibit at Natural Bridge.

Mosaic Monday

Charlie’s Ordinary Week

Hi, it's Charlie! I don't have any big news this week, But still, I had a pretty good time.

Here I am at Edinburg Town Park. They have lots of tall trees to sniff. Here’s an artsy picture of me.

(Asked ChatGPT to do this.)

We saw some sheep outside of town. 

There were cows too.

There was a bug on my window, but it went away.

Today I visited Sadie. We had a good time, but I got tired.

Nap time!

Not Wind Chimes

 I’m not sure what this thing is, but I’ve seen it at a couple of gas stations.

It occurred to me that I could ask Google Lens. It responded with this nonsense: “Black metal cylindrical wind chimes with deep resonant tubes.” 

My guess is that it’s some kind of pressure release system for the underground tanks. Judges?

I took that picture on the way to Harrisonburg for a medical appointment. As I mentioned the other day, I had nerve conduction testing. The doctor told me the results would be posted on “My Chart,” their online portal. I checked several times, but I was looking at the “Test Results” tab. Finally, I found a report under “Notes.”  It’s technical, but apparently I have peripheral neuropathy, at least on the right leg. I’ll talk to my doctor about it next week. 

I don’t have the tingling that I associate with neuropathy. My main symptoms are balance problems and occasional dizziness. The step tracker on my phone keeps telling me that my walking steadiness is low. Since I know my doctor is going to ask again if I am using a cane, I practiced using it today. It feels awkward to me, but I know she will remind me that I need to minimize the danger of falling.

The second photo is from the reception area in a medical office. There are glass windows separating  patients from the receptionists. This has become standard since the Covid pandemic. Windows and mountains are reflected on the glass.

Speaking of Covid, I got the latest vaccine yesterday. My shoulder is sore from it, but that’s okay. 

Key Observation Post

Signal Knob

This Civil War Trails interpretive sign overlooks the North Fork in Strasburg Town Park. It describes the significance of Signal Knob during campaigns in the Shenandoah Valley, and even tells you where to go if you want to hike up to the peak (knob). 

I find it interesting that they could communicate with distant signal stations using signal flags, lanterns, and telescopes. A Confederate General described the view in 1864: “What a splendid sight was before me....The vision was limited by the Blue Ridge on the right, the Alleghenies on the left...like a narrow ditch the Shenandoah wound its way through the plain at the foot of the mountain toward the Blue Ridge....The Valley Pike like a white ribbon lay along the center, the country roads looked like foot-paths, the woods looked like little parks, and the fields looked like little gardens....”

You can read the rest of the sign on Historical Marker Database. I have posted pictures of Signal Knob many times, especially when I lived where I had a view of it from the other side. 

Here’s how it looks from the entrance to the Town Park. 

Signal Knob is at the northern end of the Massanutten Range. 

Unreal Birding

Wild Bird Wednesday

I didn't photograph any birds this week, except for an undistinguished one on a wire, plus this metal bird on top of my feeder pole. I like to think it's a bluebird because of its shape.

I did see a good-looking hawk on a tree branch, but I was driving and could not safely pull over. I found a similar scene in my files, but the hawk looked blurred. I used an app to sharpen it, but I don’t know if it’s totally true to reality. Therefore, I added a label to show that it’s modified. 

 

Two Photos from Friday

Friday afternoon was stressful because I had two medical appointments and not much got resolved. Progress is very slow when you have to wait months for appointments, and then you have to wait again to get test results or for the follow-up appointment. Fortunately, both appointments were at Rockingham Medical Center, but I had to wait an hour in between. So I drove a short distance to view country scenery and decompress. It’s pretty out there, but there’s a lot more traffic than there used to be.

One of the appointments was for a nerve conduction study, which involved shocks on multiple nerves! I wasn’t expecting something so painful, but at least it didn’t last long. I don’t have results yet.

Earlier that day, I stopped at my county center to vote. We have early voting here in Virginia, and I take advantage of it. That way I don’t have to wait in line, and I don’t have to worry about my ballot getting lost in the mail. 

Mural at the Art Hive

Staunton, VA

 

My daughter Lynn took this picture. I think it’s a beautifully creative mural. 

Information on the Internet says that this was painted by Andrew Davis and it’s called. “The Queen.” Do you see the beehive references?

Links:

• The Art Hive
• Monday Murals

2026 Piedmont Art Show

The Plains, VA

Yesterday I picked up Deborah and Frank and drove to the art show at Grace Episcopal Church. It’s always a lovely show, enhanced by light coming through the stained glass windows.

Here are five paintings that caught my eye.

We took Charlie with us because he can’t handle staying alone. Deborah and I took turns walking him so we could each see the art. 

The church was founded in 1855. Some of the tall trees around it appear to be almost that old.

Mosaic Monday

Early October in Charlie’s World

 Hi, Happy Dogtober! Here I am at the County Park.

And here is an artified photo for Caturday. This is not my friend-cat; this is one that avoids me. 

I had a pretty good week. I got to play with Sadie several times. She had a new toy but she does not like to share toys with me.

Lynn came to see me one day and she brought a coat for me that she called a taco. At first, I did not like it at all. 

She kept saying I was cute, and that made me feel better.

One day I saw something strange in Strasburg. 

Today I saw something strange in another town. October is getting weird already and it is just starting!

Are things strange where you are?

Monochrome Angles, Colorful Clothing

At the Riley Park Playground