April 30, 2014

Swinging Bridge at the Carrier Arboretum



Linking to: Wordless Wednesday

Bunny and Square Slates


This little bunny has been hopping around our yard.




Alternate Blog?

I signed up for a Wordpress blog but not because I'm planning to switch. I just wanted a streamlined way to comment on other Wordpress blogs, complete with "Gravatar," which is their name for an avatar, or icon.

Now I see that you can create a Gravatar without a blog. See the Globally Recognized Avatar website.


April 29, 2014

Portraits at the Arboreturm

Edith Carrier Arboretum, Harrisonburg, VA


A pretty spring day is a good time to take "people pictures" in a garden. We saw families doing this and we couldn't resist taking a few ourselves.

Frank doesn't normally wear his hat this way. He had pushed the brim aside when he raised the camera to his eye to take a picture of me! (Yes, our cameras all have viewfinders, except for the ones on the cell phones.)

Linking to: Our World Tuesday

Virginia Bluebells

Mertensia virginica

Bluebells grow in moist woodlands. These are in Harrisonburg, but I've seen stream valleys full of them.
Linking to: Nature Notes

April 28, 2014

Springtime Serenity, JMU


Last week we visited James Madison University's Carrier Arboretum. Even though a number of people were there, the sweetness of spring permeated the atmosphere around the pond.

This is off University Boulevard in Harrisonburg in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley.




April 27, 2014

Trillium and Footbridge


At the Carrier Arboretum, Harrisonburg, VA


Linking to: Shadow Shot Sunday

April 26, 2014

It's Historic Garden Week in Virginia

Historic Long Branch, Clarke County
Throughout Virginia, Garden Clubs are working with homeowners and preservation groups to offer citizens a chance to tour gardens, historic landmarks, and fine homes. Many of these places are rarely open to the public, so those of us who love gardens or are just plain curious can explore these special landscapes and buildings. See the Virginia Garden Week website for schedules.

Linking to: Today's Flowers

April 25, 2014

Skywatching with Vultures

Massanutten Range near Waterlick, VA


Linking to: Skywatch Friday

As Long as They Still Serve Cream Pies


Frank loves the cream pies served at the Southern Kitchen in New Market. We read that the restaurant is on the market. We hope that if it's sold, the new owners won't change the menu too much, especially the homemade pies.

April 24, 2014

A Proud Goose


Linking to:
Ruckus the American Eskimo Dog Blog

Massanutten View from Woodstock


Here we're looking toward Edinburg Gap from W.O. Riley Park in Woodstock, Virginia. I've posted views from this park before but this railing is a recent addition.

Linking to: Good Fences


April 23, 2014

Chickadee on a Seed Bell

There wasn't much color in the close-up version so I turned it to a grayscale image for Black and White Wednesday. However, the non-zoomed scene taken a few moments earlier has plenty of color because it shows the background, which has  blue and yellow tones.  Both of these images qualify for the Wild Bird Wednesday linkup.

April 21, 2014

Narcissus


We usually call these daffodils but the actual name for the genus is narcissus. They belong to the amaryllis family.

These grow easily in Virginia from bulbs that you plant in the fall. Deer don't particularly like them so they don't "mysteriously" disappear even in the country.


April 20, 2014

Angel in the Woods


I may have gotten carried away with Photoshop here. But it was fun!

Lunch with Lynn and Bobby

In Strasburg, VA

April 18, 2014

Skywatch: Geese

... or are they ducks?




Linking to: Look Up, Look Down

Easter Decor at the Community Store


At the resort
The windows report:
Springtime is here,
Easter is near.

Eggs in pastel
Colors that tell:
A season's rebirth!
Springtime on earth!



Linking to: Six-word Friday

April 16, 2014

Birds Without Words




Linking to: Wordless Wednesday

The Railroad at Boyce, Virginia

RR stationThis railroad station in Clarke County was completed in 1913 and is no longer used. A sign indicates that it was repurposed as a library for a while.

I modified the second picture in Photoshop using one of the monochromatic presets under Image/ Adjustments / HDR Toning.


Linking to: Rurality Blog Hop

April 15, 2014

The House on Strudel Court


Here are a couple of pictures I took at the house I wrote about yesterday. The house is pretty much empty now except for that sofa and a couple of rugs. The great room looks really huge without the dining table!

I posted a rental listing on Craigslist and the pictures there are from two years ago before we moved out.


Linking to: