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Mt. Olive, Virginia |
May 31, 2015
Views of Mt. Olive
Mt. Olive is a small town in Shenandoah County. The sign in front of the church says "Mt Olive United Methodist Church. Under Same Management for Over 2000 Years."
Sharing with Inspired Sunday and Weekend No Rules
Labels:
Churches,
Massanutten Mtn.,
Shenandoah
May 30, 2015
May 29, 2015
Sunset with My First Canon
These are images from the first session with my new pocket-size camera, a Canon PowerShot G16. My old Nikon P6000 has been having exposure problems for a while and since I've already had it repaired several times, I decided to get a newer camera. I particularly wanted a small model with a viewfinder and they are getting hard to find. I finally found a few that I liked at Crutchfield in Harrisonburg. I decided on the Canon because it has features I liked in my old camera and it was within my budget.
I'm pleased with it so far. It's my first non-Nikon camera in years, but my last Nikon purchase, a P510, was a real disappointment. It is very erratic in focusing and when I sent it in for service, Nikon said there was nothing wrong with it. So... I still use it for shots from my window (mostly of birds) since the zoom is powerful and the images are usually not important. But I gave it only 2 stars on Amazon (out of 5) and explained the problems in my review.
Labels:
Lakes and Ponds,
Photo Techniques,
Sunsets
May 28, 2015
Rockland Park is Now Open!

Plans for future phases of the park include athletic fields and camping facilities.
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Park Entrance is at 706 Rockland Road, Front Royal, VA |

I'm proud of Warren County for their progress on expanding recreational opportunities, particularly trails. Nearby Shenandoah National Park is a magnet for hikers, but if it's too expensive or you just want to stroll along the river, Warren County offers some lovely trails.

Sharing with Good Fences and Signs, Signs
Labels:
Fences,
Recreation,
Shenandoah,
Signs
May 27, 2015
May 26, 2015
Do Not Spray...
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Railroad Near Waterlick, Virginia |

The railroad sprays a defoliant along the tracks to kill weeds. I don't know what chemical they use but it's very effective. I hope it is not damaging to the waterways because the tracks run near our community lake.
Once I was in a doctor's office and a patient came in who had been sickened by the spray.
Sharing with NF Trees and Bushes
May 25, 2015
Good, Random and Fun, Memorial Day Edition

I took a number of pictures there and have put four of them together. (Click the image to open a larger version.)
The Random: I couldn't do justice to this flag mural. I found myself wishing the sun would go behind a cloud to get rid of the shadows from the utility wires. Maybe I'll remember to stop there on a cloudy day. It's in Front Royal and I go there to shop fairly often.
Here's a closer look at that upper star. I like the eagle!
The Fun: On Saturday, I took my older daughter to Wolf Trap Center to see Garrison Keillor and the taping of Prairie Home Companion. Since it was Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. Navy's Brass Band played a number of rousing patriotic songs. Keillor and his regulars were very funny, as usual. I often catch their show on the radio on Saturday or Sunday.
Lynn took the first and last pictures in this mosaic. I gave her Frank's ticket because he was visiting his brother who just got out of the hospital.
Sharing with The Good, The Random, The Fun
and Monday Mural and Monday Mosaic
Labels:
Arts and Crafts,
Family,
Recreation
May 24, 2015
Trinity Church in Upperville

The church and associated buildings were a gift to the Parish by two of its members, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon.
Sharing with InSPIREd Sunday
Labels:
Churches
May 23, 2015
Who's in the Martin House?
I believe this is a tree swallow. Look at that color!
Sharing with Saturday's Critters and The Bird D'Pot
Labels:
Birds
May 22, 2015
Friday's Random Reports
Willy Nilly Friday ~ 5 Random Things

At least the flowering tree behind it looked glorious!
2. We no longer have the trusty Montero. Frank sold it online to a buyer in the U.K. and a shipping company picked it up this week. We didn't drive it often because it used more gas than our sedan, but it was handy when we needed 4-wheel drive and when we needed to move furniture.
We bought it back in 2001 after we purchased a vacation home in Bryce Resort. "Monty" was great for navigating mountain roads in the snow except for one time when we got almost 3 feet of snow and even an SUV could not plow through.

I decided not to go with him this time. With two dogs (and one of them needing a lot of care!), it is very difficult to travel on short notice. But I sent warm wishes along for strength and recovery.
4. We've had some afternoon showers lately and with them, some fine rainbows. Frank got this shot from the passenger seat of our car while I was driving on I-81.

I think it looks like a cormorant but I don't see many of those around here. As for the fountain, Frank ordered a new pump for it to help aerate the water. I believe the orange bottles were tied on the device so that it wouldn't be hard to find when the new pump arrives.
Sharing with Willy Nilly Friday and Skywatch Friday
Labels:
Birds,
Family,
Lakes and Ponds,
Skies
Modern Signage for the Appalachian Trail

This is a civilized-looking stretch of the trail, with a boardwalk crossing the stream that spills out of Lake Front Royal. But don't be fooled; it soon ascends up into the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Next to the trail is a tall chain link fence that marks the boundary of the Smithsonian's Conservation Biology Institute, a zoological research facility. The fence is covered with vines.

Another map shows where you are on the Appalachian Trail, which runs from Maine to Georgia. I've walked small sections of it but many folks have hiked the entire distance of over 2,100 miles!
The QR code for the "Appy Trail" is a modern touch.
The new signs are on the trail just a few steps from a parking lot that's between Harmony Hollow Road and Lake Front Royal.
Sharing with Good Fences
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Across the road, the trail heads north. |
Labels:
Blue Ridge,
Recreation,
Shenandoah,
Signs
May 21, 2015
May 20, 2015
May 19, 2015
The Trees at Milepost 8
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Along Skyline Drive |

Sharing with NF Trees and Bushes
Labels:
Shenandoah,
Trees
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