Last Year in Girdletree

Last summer we vacationed on the Eastern Shore and I never did post all my photos. These scenes are from the small town of Girdletree, Maryland. I pulled into a parking spot just to take these pictures. 

Barnes Bank, c. 1902

I was intrigued by the town's name. Girdling trees is a way of killing them by removing a band of bark and early settlers did this to clear land. (See the Maryland Forest Site for more about this.)

Critters Standing... and a Cat

Weekend Reflection

Friday Five for End of July

1. Trout Pond Recreation Area is in West Virginia, just across Great North Mountain from us. Doesn't the pond look smooth? 

2. Summer woods: The Doris Agnew Lake Trail at Trout Pond.

I like walking and my doctor advised me to walk at least half an hour a day. I was doing it fairly regularly until two weeks ago when foot pain made it impossible. There is a swollen area right over the arch on my right foot and the podiatrist diagnosed a bursa over arthritis. He gave me a (painful) cortisone shot and the swelling went down enough that I can feel a hard bump like a bone spur. I can only be on my feet for a few minutes before it starts hurting. I have to put up my foot and soothe it with a cold pack. It's frustrating because I want to enjoy nature by getting out in the beautiful parks and forests around here. Also I have errands to do that are now too painful.

3. I saw this sculpture on a garden tour in the spring. I like the way it echoes the form of the tree. 

4. Here's another scene from the garden tour. It reminds me of the poem "Patterns" so I added a verse using Photoshop. I remembered this verse from reading it for a class many years ago.

5. Frank still owns a house in Dale City. The tenant who has been there for eight years is buying a home so now he needs to find a new renter, but first he'll have to get the inside painted and fixed up.

A Few Good Fences

Wood has always been plentiful in the Shenandoah Valley so we see plenty of fences made from rails and boards. I've been collecting them for the linkup at Run-a-Roundranch, so here are four fence photos. 

Lake Frederick in Black and White

Sunroof as a Reflector

Formerly the Jefferson Security Bank

The old bank building is Shepherdstown looks like a Tuesday Treasure to me! Constructed in 1906 in the Beaux Arts style, it was the town's main bank for many years. Then it became the Yellow Brick Bank Restaurant, which added colorful touches but eventually closed. Now it is a Mexican Restaurant. This is on the corner of East German Street and Princess Street.

You can see it on the far left of this view of Princess Street, which becomes Shepherdstown Pike. We follow it when we are heading home through Charles Town.

Encampment at Sunset

Random-osity at Belle Grove, July 22

The Good: A covered pile of hay promises abundance for the coming months.

The Random: White tents spread across the fields of Belle Grove as participants prepare for the reenactment of the Battle of Bull Run. This Civil War battle actually took place 55 miles away, but this location at Cedar Creek Battlefield is one of the few still available for such large events.

The Fun: Camping out with horses! As I drove by the "Union camp," I smelled wood fires and food cooking. Yum! I recalled family camping trips and gathering around the fire.

Looking Down on Meadow Mills

Here we are looking down from the grounds of Belle Grove. Meadow Mills Chapel is below us, only slightly obscured by some outbuildings across the road.

I've cropped a similar image to focus on the older part of the church.

Before a Storm

Blog Post #5650

Some Birds and Fuzzy Critters

Tomahawk Pond

This pretty pond is in George Washington National Forest between Orkney Springs and Broadway, Virginia. It's on Runions Creek Road and easy to miss since it's not well marked and is kind of in the middle of nowhere.

This looks like the sort of vacation spot that our mountains are famous for. People still come here to fish, but the recreation area here isn't maintained anymore, so if you want to spend more than an hour exploring a lake, you might want to check out nearby Bryce Resort or go across the mountain to Trout Pond in West Virginia.

Photo by Frank. Orange You Glad It's Friday?

I was disappointed to see the area in disrepair. The restrooms are closed, the bridge is damaged, and even the signs are neglected. The forest service website does not mention that they have cut back on services here but there is a sign on the now-locked restroom building.

The biggest disadvantage to hanging out at Tomahawk Pond is the ants! I believe they are Allegheny mound ants and they will bite!

I almost hate to tell you those negative things about this scenic pond. If I'd left off the narrative and the last two pictures, you'd be left with a nice impression of the pretty reflections.  But that wouldn't be fair to the folks who find this post by searching for information about Tomahawk Pond. 

Farm Gate, Late Afternoon

I took these images at the Bowman-Hite farm last week.  It's across Cedar Creek from Strasburg.

See all Bowman-Hite Farm posts.

Sharing with Good Fences, Little Things Thursday, and NF Trees and Bushes

Miss Sparrow Takes a Bath