Another Washington Monument.

This is in Charles Town, West Virginia. The obelisk looks very similar to the Washington Monument in D.C., but it is smaller and is set on a pedestal so that the silhouette is not angled as smoothly.

Nearby is a second structure, shown below. There may be a sign somewhere but I did not see one as I walked around taking photos. These are at the entrance to a subdivision called Huntfield on the outskirts of Charles Town.

I found very little on the internet about the monument, just a short video stating that the obelisk is a memorial to Charles Washington, brother of our first president. Charles founded the town of Charles Town in 1786, after inheriting land there from his half-brother Lawrence, who died of tuberculosis.

I found nothing about the small round temple that is centered in a little park nearby. Perhaps someone will find this and contribute a history of these striking buildings.

Tuesday Treasures.

Mural Done, Mural Started.

Monday Murals, Mosaic Monday.

In this post we return to Charles Town to see a completed mural and then return to Strasburg to see one that is in progress.

Charles Town is in northeastern West Virginia, not to be confused with Charleston, the state's capital. Last year (hard to believe it's been so long!), I reported on a mosaic nearing completion there. You can glimpse it from Washington Street, but it is worth parking the car and walking up to it. Pictures don't do it justice because it is long and detailed. Citizens and school children helped the artist create it.

The mural reflects the town's history and ideals. Abolitionist John Brown, who was tried and hung in Charles Town in 1859 for his violent raid on Harpers Ferry, is mentioned.

Charles Town was found by George Washington's brother Charles. 

Meanwhile in Virginia, a new mural is being created in Strasburg. 

The artists are a duo called "Signature Unknown." The theme for the mural is "barn quilt," a suitable subject for this town in Shenandoah County.

I took the final picture this afternoon. It looks like they will be ready for the "unveiling" of the mural on Wednesday.

Stanardsville, A Town of Barn Quilts.

When we stopped in Stanardsville last winter to view the Blue Ridge Heritage Memorial, I noticed that an unusual number of barn quilts were hanging on regular buildings. So recently I went through there again, stopping at a store to ask some questions. I also stopped to take pictures of this charming church. 

The sign was down but I was later able to determine that it is Grace Episcopal Church.

Nearby is the Oddfellows Hall, and they have a barn quilt on the door. Even garages in Stanardsville have barn quilts decorating their buildings! I asked about this at a shop and learned that the local art guild makes these signs upon request. It is a fund raiser for them and customers get custom-made designs.

After I left town, I noticed a farm with some barn quilts on the fence. In the distance is a barn, so I zoomed in a bit and later cropped the photo to show the painted barn quilt.

This "crazy quilt" design is on the other side of the driveway. It has painted-on stitches.

The final photo is from farther up toward the Blue Ridge Mountains. It shows a barn-style birdhouse placed in a tree.

Links:

Blue Ridge Barn Quilt Trail.

The Barn Collective.

InSpired Sunday.

Hooved Beauties

Saturday's Critters.

Today we have some wild animals and some tame ones, but they all have hooves. Let's start with a couple of beautiful horses. They look very intelligent. 

Next, some small farm animals: a goat and some curious sheep. 

The deer shown here are in Shenandoah National Park. 

Mother Deer wears a tracking collar. Researchers are monitoring the park's deer in hopes of avoiding an outbreak of chronic wasting disease.

These deer were in Dickey Ridge Picnic Area in the northern section of the park.

From the sublime to the ridiculous, we came across a Llama Kissing Booth at a small fair in Woodstock.  I did not kiss the llama but did put a small donation in the container anyway.

These llamas are from Posey Thisisit Llama Farm, which we visited almost a decade ago. They were in Woodstock for a gardening and sustainability event. 

Color, Light, and Black and White.

Willy Nilly Friday.

1. Yesterday I posted some photos from the gardens at Blandy, and I have a few more colorful flowers from there that I don't want to leave unseen. 

Floral Friday.

2. Also at Blandy there's an old brick building with an arched passageway. I'm showing this in black and white because the shapes and tones are interesting to my eye.

3. The river photo shows the Shenandoah at Riverton Park, on the south side of Front Royal.

Sharing with Skywatch Friday

and Weekend Reflections.

4. A little farther south, a roller rink still survives. Like the color? (I do.)

5. Speaking of purple, anyone know what this is?

Have a little fun this weekend!

Blooming Blandy, Late Summer.

Blandy Experimental Farm, the Virginia State Arboretum, is a lovely place to visit. Often I drive through, stopping for a little while or perhaps for an hour or so if I have time to walk around.

It's a large place, with some features from its old plantation days, plus newer attractions aimed at research and public education.

Links:

Fences Around the World

Floral Passions

Create Photo Collages Online

My Sept. 4 Post on Blandy

Wordless and Winged.

A Plaque on a Stone.

In the Shade of a Tree at the Courthouse
Front Royal, Virginia.

In Memory of the People Who Lost Their Lives on September 11, 2001.
Dedicated September 11, 2002.
County of Warren,
Warren County Chapter of Izaak Walton League of America

Red Barns at Frying Pan Park.

Links:
2014 Post at this park.
Frying Pan Farm Park, Herndon.
The Barn CollectiveWordless Wednesday on Tuesday.