Trail Camera by the Lake in Springtime.

My Moultrie camera has been working hard this month. I only downloaded the photos with something in them other than blowing branches, and here are my favorites from the latest batch.

Grackles showed off, deer made an appearance, and of course our resident geese were photographed many times. I cropped some of these, leaving the first and last ones full frame.

Wild Bird Wednesday.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Culpeper

Links: 

• History of The Piedmont Area Vietnam Veterans Memorial
• Tuesday Treasures 
• Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Earth Day Random-osity

The Good, The Random, The Fun.

The Good: Happy birthday to Marie Javins, my younger daughter. She was not born on Earth Day because it was founded when she was a little girl. I'm pretty sure they didn't pick April 22 in her honor, but perhaps they should have!

A woman made this sketch when Marie was still in elementary school. I kept it all these years.

The Random: Saturday I drove to a scenic spot to take some spring photos and found another photoblogger was already there! This is not the first time I've run into Dawn of Lingering Visions while taking pictures.

The Fun: I stopped it Woodstock to check out their Earth Day Celebration. 

Mosaic Monday.

Rural Re-runs

Usually I try to show places that I haven't posted here before, but some places deserve a new photo.

Dry Run Christian Church. This is one of the most photographed places in Fort Valley because it is so charming. (I shared it five years ago.)

Also in Fort Valley, this pretty farm.

At the other side of Shenandoah County is Mt. Zion Lutheran Church, which I also photographed in 2009 from almost the same spot.

From this church you have a great view of the countryside and Great North Mountain.

Bunnies and Birds

There are some rabbits living in my yard. I don't think one is the Easter Bunny, but you never know!

I altered the rabbit picture in Photoshop. I was intending to do something creative for the Caturday Art Blog Hop but after a few layers and filters,  it was so much improved that I just stopped. The haze from the window glass was gone, the subject was extra-sharp, and the background slightly blurred. Good enough!

The goldfinches have shed their dowdy feathers and magically become brilliant yellow.

I discontinued filling most of the bird feeders because April is when bears start wandering through the neighborhood. They're awake and hungry, and they'll tear up bird feeders to get the seed. Yesterday I put my spare feeders away because high winds were forecast and I didn't want them to become airborne.

It is hard to stop feeding the birds. I so enjoy watching them! I still have two feeders up. If the bear doesn't destroy them in the next few days, I'll put them away when the seed is gone. 

Today I stopped in Woodstock and met this pet duck. I did not attempt to pet him but he seemed friendly. So cute!

Happy Easter,
Happy Spring!

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and 

I'd Rather Be Birdin'. 

Light, Dark, and Flowers

Willy Nilly Friday.

1. On Wednesday evening I attended a lecture at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal. This was only the second time I've been to that facility because it is rarely open to the public. It is a beautiful place in the green foothills of the Blue Ridge.

Cell phone snapshot for Skywatch Friday..

2. Can you tell what my black and white image is?

3. Tulips are blooming in my yard! It seems like everything is blooming at once this year.

Sharing with Floral Friday and Friday Bliss.

4. Rain moved in this afternoon and there were warnings of high winds. We didn't get much wind here but there was a tornado reported in Northern Virginia.

5. The final image shows forsythia reflected in a small pond.

Weekend Reflections.

April on Skyline Drive

Redbud trees are blooming.

Sharing with Fences Around the World.

Skyline Drive runs the length of Shenandoah National Park. With its engineered curves and beautiful views, it is a delight to drive. Be patient, though; the 35 mile per hour speed limit keeps you and the wildlife safe.
 

Watch for free entrance days.

Pink Trees and a Green Heron

Belle Grove, A Treasure in Middletown

Built in 1797.

Sharing with Tuesday Treasures Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday and My Corner of the World.

See More Posts on Belle Grove.

Barn Turned into Visitors Center

Middletown, Virginia

The bank barn at Belle Grove has been beautifully remodeled and turned into a visitors center with a gift shop, meeting room, exhibits, and a large room for events upstairs.

I went to their grand opening on Saturday and was amazed at how the lower level had been transformed. I saw it a couple years ago when it had a dirt floor with hay and old boards strewn about.

Tickets for the manor house tour will now be sold in the new gift shop. The counter is decorated with a mural featuring chickens.

Sharing with Monday Murals and the Barn Collective.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday.