Happy Halloween

Doug, Josie, and Frank

We went a 3-D movie with Sue, Doug, and the kids. (This was 11 days ago when we were in Puyallup.) The theater had really comfortable chairs.

In honor of the movie and halloween, here's an altered picture of Benny.

Autumn Window Decor

Our Kitchen Window, 10/2012

Reflections on the Storm

Our household survived Hurricane Sandy with little damage. We stayed home today because many roads were flooded and the weather was still rainy, but we were among the fortunate folks who did not lose electrical power.

My daughter in New Jersey did lose power and even cell phone service. Many people fared worse.

Much of the ferocity of this storm was due to the coincidence of a the hurricane coming at the same time as a nor'easter. Was some of the damage due to climate change? Personally I believe it was. Water levels around New York are higher than they used to be due to polar warming, and warm water fuels hurricanes. For a long time I thought climate change would cause problems in the future, but weather now is definitely more extreme than it was during my first four decades. We need to be prepared for more weather disasters.

• Related article on MSNBC 
• Hurricane Sandy - Help Those in Need
• LCV on Global Warming

Sue With Pumpkins

It was raining hard by the time we left the pumpkin patch. Many people were leaving at the same time so traffic got gnarled up, but at least we didn't get stuck in the mud.

As you can see, Susan is not disturbed by rain. It rained last year when we visited her too.

Group with a Lion

Frank, Susan Doug, Josie, Lion, and Ryley

As you can see, we got rained upon in the corn maze. Shortly after this photo op, the kids and I expressed our desire to get out of the rain. Fortunately Sue was able to make sense of the map and led us out of there.

Rain in the Corn

The rain started to come down harder as we explored the corn maze. At first it did not bother our hosts. Susan says that in Washington State, people with umbrellas are tourists.

Clown Car

Frank took this picture of me in the corn maze.

Studying the List

The corn maze featured a number of locations that participants found and marked off the list using a hole punch with a shape unique to that spot. Here Susan and Josie emerge from a "tent" and check their lists. Susan also has a map, which turned out to be very useful.

Welcome to the Corn Maze

It looked like rain on the day we went to Spooners Farm so Frank borrowed a jacket from Doug. A light drizzle started as we entered the corn maze but it didn't seem like a problem because rain is practically a daily event in the Tacoma area.

The maze had a circus theme.

Pumpkin Shoot

We went to Spooner Farms to visit the pumpkin patch with the Boyles children. The first attraction they wanted to visit was the Pumpkin Sling Shot.  I was not familiar with this sport but they had fun! (Check out the brief video.)

Field of Pumpkins

In the Puyallup Valley, Washington State

At the Gate

I took this picture last week when we were on our way to Washington State. We flew Delta this time. The people were nice but I did not like the airline's cash-sucking policies or the overcrowded seats on the jets.

By the Lake, October Morning

Frank and the dogs in our lakeside back yard
With Massanutten Mountain Behind the Trees

Shadows on the Grass

Supporting Our Home the Earth

With a major election just two weeks ago, I am getting tired of the web ads, junk mail, and phone calls promoting this candidate or that one. So I don't want to add to the noise too much here, but I will state that I feel that protecting the environment is an important issue and I vote accordingly. Also I support some environmental organizations which are involved in politics such as the League of Conservation Voters and the Virginia Conservation Network.

If you don't know why protecting the environment is essential, I won't waste my time trying to convince you. Perhaps you have another planet that your grandchildren can move to after this one becomes hard to live on.

Along the South Fork

These first two pictures are from a September visit to Shenandoah River State Park. The last one is from a visit in October, when we took Frank's brother to see the park.

I have been going to Virginia's state parks all my life and I am so glad our state has preserved these natural areas and made them visitor-friendly.

Marie visited many of our fine state parks when she was working on The Best in Tent Camping: Virginia. (Disclosure: If you buy a book from Amazon through my link, I get a small credit toward a future purchase.) See also my 2006 post, 70th Anniversary of Virginia State Parks.

Cullers Overlook

A few days ago I posted two pictures I took at this overlook along with other images from when Frank's brother visited us recently. However, Frank and I had visited the state park a month earlier and were impressed by the view.
A sign tells us that much of the land below us to the left was once a farm owned by Everette and Nettie Cullers. In 1999, the state of Virginia purchased acreage from one of their sons adding two miles of scenic river frontage to Shenandoah River State Park. I don't know why the name Everett(e) is spelled two ways on the sign.

View in September (Compare to October Scene)

Sign of the Times

Hybrid Privileges

At Shenandoah River State Park

Natural History Exhibit, Shenandoah River State Park

Like many park visitor centers, this one has exhibits showing many of the animals you might see in the park. This first one is a fox squirrel. Children especially enjoy viewing the stuffed animals and the shells and skulls.

Link: Shenandoah River State Park

It's a Bear... Sort of.

This black bear is a stuffed model on display in a visitor center in Shenandoah River State Park.

A Visit to Shenandoah River State Park

The South Fork as Seen from Cullers Overlook

One of the nice things about having guests from out-of-town is that it gives you a reason to go sightseeing. Last week we took Frank's brother to a number of local attractions. One was the state park south of Front Royal, Shenandoah River/ Andy Guest State Park.

Landscaping at the Visitor Center

Frank and Bill on Skyline Drive

We took Frank's brother up on Skyline Drive. We didn't have much time so we made it a brief visit. Frank has a senior pass so we don't have to pay the entrance fee. Otherwise a park visit of an hour or less would be too wasteful.

Bunny Ears

If you look closely, you can see Frank's brother holding up bunny ears behind Frank's head. And even sillier is Frank giving bunny ears to a rose.

Fall Foliage, Moreland Gap

Moreland Gap Road runs from U.S. 11 at Meems Bottom into the Massanutten Range. We drove there Sunday as part of a scenic route home from Mt. Jackson. As we emerged from the gap into Fort Valley, we turned left and enjoyed the remaining 23 miles through that pretty little valley.

You might like: Moreland Gap, 2007
and View of Short Mountain

A Frog in the Grass

I think this critter is a bullfrog because he does not have stripes down his back.

We have plenty of frogs here by the lake!  Usually I don't get a picture because they sit by the water's edge and jump in as soon as we approach.

See all my posts about frogs. 

Happy Birthday, Peggy!

It's my sister's birthday. Here's a picture from a long time ago when she was learning to ride a bike. I took this with my first camera. (I was ten.)

Peggy and Our Mom, Eleanor Suiter

We Got a Wood Stove!

We bought a woodburning stove from Tractor Supply. Now we won't freeze if the power goes out this winter!

We had a similar stove when we lived on Joyce Court. Our last home had a nice fireplace.

Catching Up

I spent so much time on photos from our brief trip to New Jersey and the Eastern Shore that I've gotten behind on my other pictures. 

And now the season has changed! Frank is sad that he won't be able to get sundaes at this stand in Strasburg after this weekend. He loves ice cream!

You can see a little bit of fall color from our back yard. But drive up on the Massanutten and you'll see bright leaves of red and yellow!

These trees are in Edinburg Gap. I drove a short distance on a forest service road near the top of the mountain and found a safe spot to pull off and take a few pictures. You may like: Today in Edinburg Gap, 10/20/2007