Mac’s Flower Stand

Woodstock, VA

Petunias are really showing off at this shop! I was attracted by the mural at the end of the building. The yellow blossom is flanked by a bee and a ladybug.

The store was closed when I stopped by. I was tempted to buy some double begonias, but I did not have the right combination of cash to put in the box. It amazes me that so many vendors still use an honor system. 

Mosaic Monday / Murals / Garden Affair

East of Edinburg

George Washington National Forest

After four days of rain, we were glad to have a day of alternating clouds and sunshine. Charlie and I were both ready to get out in nature, so I drove to the nearby forest on Massanutten Mountain. 

The mountain laurel is in bloom. I also photographed a bright yellow flower, which the app on my phone says it is Chrysogonum virginianum. Its common names include goldenstar and green-and-gold. 

The rains had brought extra water to a small creek.

A creek along Chrisman Hollow Road was out of its banks, with trees standing in the water.

More rain is forecast for tomorrow. I can’t complain because farmers really need the drought to end. 

Charlie’s Sunny and Rainy Week

Hello, I’m Charlie the beagle! 

The week started out very hot. Our sidewalk and street got too hot to walk on. I went to Seven Bends State Park with Mom and walked down to the water. The river was very low.

Mom says don’t touch that plant with the purple spots on the stem because it’s poisonous! It didn’t smell interesting so I didn’t sniff it.

Well, one day the weather changed. Wind blew and rain came. The rain stayed for days. It was cold!  We were able to walk on our sidewalk again, except where the barricades are. They’re not on our driveway anymore, though. We can park in the garage again. Our neighbor has to park her truck on the street now. I checked it out.

Late yesterday, the rain let up for a while, and we walked around outside. I saw my cat friend, Tripod.

I stayed home more this week because of the weather. I did get to play with Sadie. One day I spent the whole day at her house. 

Sadie can bark loud and high! I don’t do that, but I can yodel really loud! 

Some of you liked the horse I showed last week, so here is a close-up. It came up to the fence. They eat all the time.

I think it’s bedtime. Good night!

Monochrome Views, Stony Cteek

Edinburg, VA

This is the Stony Creek bridge by the campground in Edinburg. 

The second picture is not quite monochrome, but it is so full of spring green that it’s almost monochrome.

P.S. I see a typo in the title and I’m not going to fix it for a few days because that would probably break the links from the bloghops!

Barn on a Sunny Day

This was not today. Today was rainy. So was yesterday. It looks like the next few days are going to be rainy also, but that can change.

I can’t complain. We desperately need rain. The state of Virginia is officially in drought stage. Strasburg is already asking people to conserve water. Usually this doesn’t happen until July or August.

I had appointments today: Physical therapy and the eye specialist. I also picked up a prescription and had blood drawn for diagnostic tests. I don’t seem to have anything serious, but I have a bunch of nuisance problems plus ever-present fatigue. Yesterday I saw a new doctor and I’m grateful that he’s trying to be thorough. At least he doesn’t chalk up my concerns to old age! 

I was able to ignore my age for a long time, but my body reminds me every day that I’m not 39 anymore. Or 59!

Overall, I feel fortunate. I was born after World War II, and I’ve lived through somewhat of a golden age. The economy was good for most of it. It may fall apart now, with conflict and corruption threatening our country’s strength.  I hope not. 

My parents survived the Great Depression, followed by war. They taught me how to be frugal. Will that be enough? The health problems of getting older are a lot more expensive than I expected.

I don’t mean to go off on a tangent, so I’ll stop. I just wanted to say that my generation was very fortunate, in spite of challenges that we had to face.

The Pileated Woodpecker Returns

 In late April, I saw this large woodpecker in my backyard, but he disappeared before I could take his picture. Fortunately, I heard him yesterday — they can be noisy birds! I looked out and saw him on a stump next to my deck. Unfortunately, the view was obscured by the railing. Then he flew up to a tree and I was able to get pictures, although at a distance. They aren’t the best woodpecker pictures I’ve taken, but they’ll do for now. He quickly disappeared again.

Here’s the stump that he’s been pecking on. I recently noticed that something had been tearing it up. I was relieved to see that it was a large woodpecker and not some sort of rodent. The stump is near my house, which is one reason that I had the tree cut down four years ago. The branches were brushing against my windows, and they also provided a bridge for a squirrel that got into my attic.

The tree was a Bradford pear, also called Callery pear. It had pretty flowers, and was a popular landscape tree until people noticed that it was reproducing itself as a thorny shrub. Now it is considered an invasive species.

I appreciate the woodpecker attacking this trunk. It must’ve been harboring insects, because the woodpecker has destroyed about a third of it. I hope he chips away at the whole thing.

One More Post about the Lavender Farm

White Oak Lavender Farm, Part Three

It isn’t often that I make three posts to show you one place, but there’s a lot to see at the Lavender Farm, and I didn’t even take pictures of the eating spots or the gift shop. I did pay a small fee to explore the Discovery Area, because that’s where you can see the mural and farm animals.

I didn’t have a tour guide and you don’t need one either. Let’s just wander through and see what we find.

Link: White Oak Lavender Farm

Double Mural, Purple Barn

White Oak Lavender Farm, Part Two 

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I went to the Lavender Farm to see the new mural. It covers the back of a barn plus an extension. I found it impossible to get the entire thing in one photo. I tried a panorama shot, and then flattened it using AI. Even then, there was a portion on the adjacent wall that I could not get in the frame because there was a butterfly house that I had to step around. Also, there were buttresses painted with lavender plants.

Monday Murals

The artwork is by Real Creative Studio in Harrisonburg. Speaking of artists, I saw some at work painting “en plein air.”

Another structure had flowers painted on the wall. 

There was even more to see and photograph, but it will have to wait until another day. Stay tuned!

Lavender Farm Flora

 White Oak Lavender Farm, Part One

When I stopped at this venue near Harrisonburg, I wanted to get a picture of the new mural, which I will show you tomorrow.  But there were other things to see, and I walked until I was quite tired. The place is popular for events and weddings, and there is a winery plus things for children to do.

Lavender was starting to bloom, as well as late spring flowers. 

Sharing with Mosaic Monday and Garden Affair

Mid-May with Charlie

Hi! Here’s a picture of me at Edinburg Park.

We also stopped at Edinburg Mill to see the ducks in the creek. I had to stay in the car, but Mom got out to get some close-up pictures. They weren’t afraid of her, but she said they might be afraid of me. 

We didn’t go to many parks this week, but I did get to visit Sadie. One day I went to day boarding at the veterinary while Mom went to Harrisonburg. 

Our driveway was blocked by construction all week so we didn’t park in the garage. I watched the men working, and when I went for walks, I met some of them. 

Do you like horses? I haven’t decided if I want to meet one or not. They are very big.

I don’t have much else to report. Mom already told you that Lynn came on Mother’s Day. Maybe I’ll have some adventures to write about next week.