Patch of Blue

This is my contribution to Skywatch, which has remained popular even as blogging in general is declining. This blog hop has been around since 2008 (under different management). 

The challenge of finding an interesting sky photo each week has helped me to pay more attention to the skies. 

Robin and Sparrow

American Robin

House Sparrow 

I picked out these two pictures to share today and when I thought about a title for this post, I realized that “Robin and Sparrow” sounded like a poem I had heard somewhere. I looked it up and sure enough!

Here’s an excerpt from A Time and a Place by Phil Keagy.

Said the robin to the sparrow

"I would really like to know

Why these anxious human beings 

Rush about and worry so" 

Said the sparrow to the robin 

“Friend I think that it must be 

That they have no heavenly Father 

Such as cares for you and me" 

Have you considered the sparrows up above? 

They do not sow, they do not reap 

And yet your heavenly Father feeds them 

And His love for you is much more deep 

After all you are part of it all.

The Best Photo I Couldn’t Take

When I was on Skyline Drive with Charlie a few days ago, a bear crossed the road in front of us. By the time I stopped the car and got ready to take a picture, he was disappearing into the woods. That’s okay because I’ve taken pictures of a bear crossing the road before. [See this post and this.]

It reminded me of the time I missed a great picture of a bear that appeared out of the fog. The fog (actually a cloud covering the mountaintop), was so thick that it was dangerous to stop on the winding road because if another car had come around the bend, the driver would not have seen my car in time. 

Well, this bear was awesome because it was lumbering along the top of a stone wall, and seemed to just materialize out of the fog. What a moody picture that would have been!

Today I decided to re-create the scene using StarryAI. I uploaded a photo of one of Skyline Drive’s iconic stone walls and asked the app to add a bear walking on it in thick fog. It took several tries and revisions before I got anything that resembled what I saw. Even then, I cropped and refined the two best images in the IOS photos app. Here are final versions that I chose.

Bicycle Mural

 Leesburg, VA

What a colorful way to brighten up a parking garage! 

I was surprised to see it, and pleased that I was able to stand back far enough to get the whole thing in one photo. 

For a closer look, here are some detail shots. The main artist is Kevin Dunn.

Monday Murals

Classic Cadillac and Lincoln Continental

Today I was in Front Royal and noticed this shiny blue Cadillac. When I reached the entrance to Shenandoah National Park, it was right behind me. Since they had to stop to pay the entrance fee, I had time to reach a parking spot so I could take a picture as they drove by.

I recognized it as a Cadillac, but I didn’t know the model because I am not a car enthusiast. Bing’s visual search engine says this is a 1960 Cadillac hearse.

Another classic car was behind it, but I wasn’t expecting it so I didn’t get a picture. Later, I saw them at an overlook. The drivers were doing what classic car enthusiasts do: checking out what’s under the hood.

The gray car is a Lincoln Continental, likely a 1965.

I saw a few other classic cars this weekend, so I guess there was a “Cruise In” nearby. I’ve been to a couple of those, but got bored quickly. It’s more exciting to see these cars in the wild.

I remember when fashionable cars were long like these. Their gas mileage was only about 12 MPG, but gas cost something like $.29 a gallon.

None of the cars that my parents drove looked like these. I think they only bought used Chevrolets when I was growing up.

Other Scenes at this Overlook

 

Mosaic Blog Hop

Goat Pictures and a Short Report

Hi, it’s Charlie! I don’t have many pictures to show today because I didn’t have as many adventures this week. The goats are from a few weeks ago.

Mom has already told you that we went to Edinburg Park. We took a short walk and put some books in the little box next to the playground.

I stayed at daycare twice this week, and I visited Sadie a few times. She thinks she’s my girlfriend.

Here’s a squirrel. Today one started to creep onto our deck when I was napping in the shade. As soon as I looked at it, it ran away.

Here I am waiting on the grass for Miss Deborah to come and go for a walk. I’m always glad to see her.

That’s all I have to report right now. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

A Moment at the Edinburg Pool

 Blog Post 9490

Local swimming pools have opened for the season. Most of the larger towns here have outdoor pools. There are very few indoor pools that are open to the public.

Tall Trees and Sky

Edinburg, VA

Often I take Charlie to the town park in Edinburg after I stop at the nearby recycling center. 

The tallest trees there are pines, which appear to have been planted in rows many years ago.

Charlie enjoys sniffing the trees and exploring the park.

Birds Gold and Gray

American Goldfinch

 Gray Catbird

Passage Creek and a Path in the Forest

George Washington National Forest

This is a view of Passage Creek in the Elizabeth Furnace Day Use Area.  It’s a popular fishing spot, and adjacent to a picnic area.

Not far from there is a path where I stopped to take Charlie for a short walk. 

 

Mosaic Linkup