Here are two photos I took of historic locations in 2005. Left: A garden gate at George Washington's Birthplace near Montross, VA.
Above: Lafayette's Headquarters at Brandywine Battlefield Park in Pennsylvania.
July 31, 2009
Post #2005: Photos from 2005
Sunrise at Glebe Harbor, Montross, VA
View of the Potomac at George Washington's Birthplace near Montross
I started blogging in 2005 but did not include many photos that year. For one thing, I did not get my digital camera until December, although I usually had scans made of my film at time of processing. Also, when we spent several months near Montross, we did not have access to high-speed internet so uploading pictures took a long time. So here are a few landscapes from that time period.These were all taken near Montross, Virginia (Westmoreland County). The river you see here is the Potomac.
Right: Tree at Cabin Point.
July 30, 2009
Post #2004: Photos from 2004
Linda at Ohiopyle Falls, Pennsylvania
Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle, PA
A View near Fancy Gap, VA (near North Carolina state line)
Ben and Frank at Dolphin Beach, Lake Montclair
Justin
Marie passing out gifts
Susan, Josie, Ryley, Doug, Allison and Dave
Right: Sunset at Glebe Harbor, Montross, VA
July 29, 2009
Post #2003: Photos from 2003
Old boat at Gwynn's Island
We gave Puppy Ben a chance to swim. He did not like it.
Frank at Glebe Harbor
Weatherall Creek meets the Potomac River
Family gathering: Javinses, Silvershield, Fallons, Suiters
Silly cousins
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| Lake Laura | Frank on a dock |
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| At Bryce Mountain, we had snow about 30" deep. | |
July 28, 2009
Post #2002: Photos from 2002
I hadn't started blogging in 2002, but I did post some pictures on my Javins website and on another site (members.aol) which is now defunct. You probably haven't seen these photos before.
Captions are below each photograph.
Family Photo at our Wedding
Frank at Antietam
Guppy, Montclair
Neighbor Kids at Lake Montclair
Marie with her backpack
Mom and Frank
Elias, Marie, Linda, Lynn, Larry, and Peggy
July 27, 2009
Post #2001: Photos from 2001
In 2001, I saw the Pacific Ocean for the first time.
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| Ryley was born in Belgium where his dad was stationed. | Marie traveled around the world. We saw her in Berlin. |
We bought the chalet. On our first night there, we slept on a mattress on the floor.
July 26, 2009
In the Garden at Belle Grove Plantation
Above: Student Gardener at Belle Grove, Middletown, VARight: Purple coneflowers or Echinacea Purpurea. Named after the Greek word for hedgehog, echinos.
Garden Club Members at Belle Grove
On Wednesday I met other members of the Mt. Jackson Garden Club for a program at Belle Grove in Middletown. Master Gardener Lynn Hoffman gave a talk and then showed us the garden behind the manor house.
When I viewed this photo, I thought it looked like the ladies were trying to do an Irish dance, but I'm pretty sure they were just walking across the grass.
When I viewed this photo, I thought it looked like the ladies were trying to do an Irish dance, but I'm pretty sure they were just walking across the grass.
Belle Grove is about an hour from home and I've been there a number of times. I posted pictures of a living history event there in October (see archive for 10/2008) and I have several pages of Belle Grove pictures on my Civil War Tour Site.
Outside the Wayside Inn
Middletown, VA
The historical marker tells us that "Here Stonewall Jackson, on May 24, 1862, attacked Banks retreating from Strasburg and forced him to divide his army."
July 25, 2009
Virginia Farm Bureau Lists Events
You can see a list of Virginia Food Festivals at Save Our Food. They also have a list of Farmers Markets.
I kind of wish the BAYOU BOOGALOO AND CAJUN FOOD FESTIVAL weren't so far from here (Norfolk). It has a great name!
Grapevines at Kernstown
Small Vineyard at Kernstown Battlefield.
This second image was Photoshopped, adding filters to darken edges.
July 24, 2009
July 23, 2009
Dove Decor
I bought this peace dove on sale at Wild Birds Unlimited. Had to stand on a little stool to get this picture yesterday. I wanted to get the clouds in the background.July 22, 2009
Mourning Doves on a Fence
I spotted this pair at Kernstown (Virginia). Of course, when I stepped closer, they flew off.
Wildflowers in July
We've had plenty of rain this summer so the wildflowers are doing very well. Driving and walking through the Shenandoah Valley is delightful - splashes of white and various colors brighten up the still-lush green background. I love it!
July 21, 2009
July 20, 2009
Bacteria in Filtered Water
Ever notice a cloudy film starting to build up inside your water pitcher? I had read that it was harmless, and since my pitcher held filtered water, I followed directions and didn't worry about it, cleaning the pitcher and changing the carbon filter every few months.
Pseudomonas In Purified Water, Spas and Drinking Water Systems tells us that "Carbon filters act as the perfect food source and allow Pseudomonas to flourish."
For years I've depended on my filter pitcher to improve the taste and smell of our water. And when I noticed a biofilm that kept coming back, I actually tossed out the whole pitcher and starting using a new one, just in case. The new one looked cleaner for a short time. But a recurrent health problem finally drew me to do a little research on filtered water. The growth in my pitcher is most likely pseudomonas aeruginosa. To avoid boring you with a long treatise, I'll just type in a few comments and provide links so you can read as much as you like.
Our local water company does not test specifically for pseudomonas bacteria. The director wrote that "pseudomonas occurs naturally and can introduce itself to palnts, animals, soil, and water. If you are noticing any growth in water pitchers and damp surfaces, routine disinfection is recommended." He sent me an informative link about Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/226748-overview. That article continues on multiple pages so you can read as much as you want. But what you need to know is that this bacteria does not usually cause serious problems unless you ALREADY have a health problem OR are elderly or hospitalized, but it CAN cause pneumonia, urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and numerous other conditions, some of which are life threatening.
Pseudomonas can cause ear infections. In dogs, it can complicate treatment because it is resistant to many antibiotics.
Activated carbon filters remove organic contaminants including chlorine from water... but they "can be a breeding ground for microorganisms. The organic chemicals that are adsorbed to the AC [activated carbon] are a source of food for various types of bacteria."
Pseudomonas In Purified Water, Spas and Drinking Water Systems tells us that "Carbon filters act as the perfect food source and allow Pseudomonas to flourish."
My reluctant conclusion is that pour-through filters are not a good solution to water quality problems. And damp areas around the sink and so forth need to be disinfected and dried frequently.
July 19, 2009
Progress Report on the Dogs
Pictured: Flash with his new hedgehog toy (before he pulled the stuffing out of it!)
When we went to Pennsylvania, we left both dogs at the kennel in Woodstock. Flash had never stayed in a kennel before, but he adjusted well. In fact, when we got him home, he played happily and seemed much less timid than he had been before. Apparently he got over being afraid of Ben (our grumpy cocker spaniel). They were allowed to play together in "the yard" at the kennel, and that must have gone well.
Ben also found his stay beneficial. The vet kept an eye on his ear infection and it improved significantly. We have to clean the ear and administer eardrops twice a day, and Ben does not appreciate this because his ear hurts when you touch it. But the infection seems to be clearing up at last.
Link: Dog Ear Infections
A View of Emmitsburg, Maryland
Beyond the pond and trees we see the steeples and a few buildings of Emmitsburg. I took this photo from the Maryland Welcome Center on Route 15.