More Scenes at the River

Today started out hazy and quickly got worse as the smoke from Canada's wildfires reached us. First I noticed the acrid smell, then the irritation in my eyes. By late morning, the haze was thick and air quality was rated as unhealthy, so we didn’t go to a park today. These photos are from yesterday‘s visit to Seven Bends State Park. 

The person in the blue shirt was fishing in the Shenandoah. Just a half hour later, I crossed back over the bridge and shadows had gotten darker.  A photo of the water looked almost black and white, so I went ahead and desaturated the trace of green that still showed in the grass and dark trees.

Fishing by the Lupton Road Bridge

North Fork of the Shenandoah

With the temperature at 93°F, the most desirable outdoor activities this afternoon involved water. These young men were fishing next to the low-water bridge at Seven Bends State Park.

Skywatch / Water H2O Thursday

Birds on Boards

It’s Wild Bird Wednesday, and I only have two bird photos to share. I haven’t been filling the bird feeders because it’s better for birds to eat their natural diet in the summer. Yesterday I moved the automatic Birdfy camera back to the deck, but so far the only pictures it took were of me pouring water into the birdbath. 

 Using my camera, I took one picture of this cute downy woodpecker before it flew away.

I got several pictures of the house sparrow, but they’re just cell phone shots and this is the clearest one. 

Our weather has turned very hot again, and smoke from distant wildfires is predicted to reach us soon, so I probably won’t spend much time outdoors until things clear up. 

Floral Combos

Summer Blossoms

Assembled using PhotoCollage for the Mosaic Linkup

Scenes of Historic Leesburg

This mural is on the side of a parking garage in downtown Leesburg. The artist is Penny Hauffe. 

Artist’s Gallery / Monday Murals

The View from Sheetz Mill Road

Near Woodstock

This rural road is not very long but it crosses Narrow Passage Creek twice. The creek curves around, following the path of least resistance, as water tends to do. 

Pictures and Parks with Charlie

Hi, everyone! We’re starting off with a portrait of me. I wanted to look dignified.

Mom has a way of scooping my stories. I wanted to tell you that Marie came, but she already wrote about it. Marie was only here for a day and we went to Skyline Drive.
 

There are animals in the mountains. Mom slowed down when a deer crossed the road, and then we saw a little deer waiting to cross. Mom hit the brake, and I started to fall off the seat because I was standing up to look out the window.

Luckily, I had my seatbelt on, so it stopped me from rolling off until Mom could help me get back on the seat. I don’t really like seatbelts, and I have chewed through quite a few of them. I wasn’t able to chew up this one because it has a steel wire. I did get most of the plastic off, though.

Here’s a cat that likes to rest under cars.

We found out what has been eating one of the rose bushes in our yard. It’s a deer.

Yesterday Mom drove us to Seven Bends State Park. We explored the pollinator garden.

There are signs with a story about dogs. 

I guess that’s enough for now. What have you been up to?

Corridor, WMC

My eye exam was at Winchester Medical Center. Afterwards, I spent a few minutes walking around because I needed to be sure that my pupils were normal enough for me to drive. This corridor connects the office wing with the Surgi-Center.

Street Scene at 1390 Feet Elevation

 Shenandoah National Park

These visitors appear to represent three generations. Grandmother is in traditional dress, mother has a modern yet modest outfit, and the youngest member of the family wears summer clothing typical of American children.

The view shows part of Front Royal with two mountain ranges in the distance. This is the first overlook you reach on Skyline Drive if you enter at the north end.  Most of the other viewpoints are from a higher elevation.

Today I Welcomed the Rain

You know how they dilate your pupils when you go to the ophthalmologist? That leaves your eyes extra sensitive to bright light, and it takes hours to wear off. Well, I had an eye exam this morning, so I was glad that it was a cloudy day. That makes the drive home much more comfortable. 

I was still in the parking lot after the exam, eating a snack, when the rain started. I took some pictures with my cell phone. 

The glass on the sunroof is tinted, so pictures I took through it have a pale aquamarine color.

The rain actually stopped when I reached the supermarket, so I was able to do some quick shopping without getting wet. It started again as I began to drive home. 

At one point, the downpour got so heavy that I took the next exit and left the interstate for a slower road where there were places to pull off if needed. I made it home and the rain stopped again. My timing was lucky today!

Also, the news from the eye exam was good. My left eye has completely recovered from the cataract surgery, although it took almost two years. Dr. Viti agrees with me that we don’t need to have the right eye done yet. 

More Views of Stony Creek

Near the Edinburg Mill 

Wordless Wednesday