People-Watching Over Coffee

Do you have combination gas stations/ coffee shops/ convenience stores? We have a number of them here in Virginia.

I often stop at Sheetz because they have clean restrooms and decent coffee. It’s a chain that is centered in Pennsylvania and has expanded to other eastern states. Their larger stores have seating areas where you can consume food.

Changing Weather, Traveling for Groceries

This morning started out with light snowfall and temperatures below freezing. This did not stop Charlie from wanting to go outside before sunrise. By the time I got us both bundled up, there was light in the sky, although it was very gray and the wind was blowing. We hurried through his walk and came back inside. He took a long nap, and the sunshine showed up while he was sleeping.

Since the heavy snow did not reach us, I felt safe making a drive to Northern Virginia to buy some of the groceries that I can’t find around home. I left Charlie in daycare at the veterinary. The roundtrip drive is over three hours, and Charlie would not have liked it. I don’t like it much either, but I do like having some allergy-safe treats. The dry goods are also available online, but not the refrigerated foods. We are outside their delivery range. Allison has kindly picked up a few items at Whole Foods in the past, but that store doesn’t carry some of my favorites any more. Like other chain stores, they are losing the qualities that made them distinctive. 

These are a few of the items I picked up at Mom’s Organic Market. I use goat milk dairy products because cow’s milk gives me horrible cramps.

As usual, I ran into traffic on the way home. By 4 o’clock, the sun was getting low in the sky, and it made driving southwest painful to the eyes. I made a detour through Middletown and stopped to take some pictures near Belle Grove.

Gray and White with Bright Eyes

Dark Eyed Junco

A Neighbor's Cat

Portals: Gates and Entrances

Photos from Earlier Posts

Wordless / Mosaics

Tiger on the Wall

Harrisonburg, VA

When I happened to see this painting in downtown Harrisonburg, I stopped to take a picture. Looking it up today, I see that this was painted by Amelia Claire Arts. The idea for the tiger logo came from Mike Reisenburg of Mashita Restaurant. 

Not far from there is another mural which I believe I have shared here before, but it’s been a few years so we’ll take another look at it.

Monday Murals

 

The Theme is Slow

Slow may be my speed, but it is not my preference.

I didn’t have anything ready for City Daily Photo’s December theme, which is “Slow.”  So, after running an errand this afternoon, Charlie and I rode over to W.O. Riley Park, where I knew the speed limit was low. Many motorists don’t drive that slowly, though. 

On the other side of the park, the speed limit is a reasonable 25 miles an hour, which is pretty standard in busy areas of town. 

I remember that when I was a child, I would pretend to think the “Slow Children Playing” sign meant that the children were slow. The addition of a drawing of a running child spoils that joke. It wasn’t a very good joke anyway.

Dickey Ridge and Dogs

Saturday is Critter Day here in Blogland, so I’ll turn the narrative over to Charlie after I show a few pictures from Dickey Ridge in Shenandoah National Park. I made a brief visit there one day after a dental appointment in nearby Front Royal.

Did you spot the deer? I often see them at Dickey Ridge. 

In front of the visitor center is a beautiful view. Usually there are tourists here.

Dogs are allowed in the park on short leashes, except on some trails that are known for bear activity. Bears and dogs are a threat to each other. 

I was taking pictures of textures and a drinking fountain caught my eye. It’s funny because I’ve been drinking from these fountains since I was a small child. I don’t keep track of how many times I’ve been to Dickey Ridge. Over a hundred, I’m sure.

As promised, here’s Charlie!

Hi! My big sisters came to see me. We had a good time. 

Yesterday Marie bought me a new harness at Petco. It felt very comfortable walking through the store. But then Mom fastened it to the doggy seatbelt in the car and it did not feel good. 

But I know ways to get out of a harness. Mom asked me who chewed it, but I think she knew. She did not sound proud of me though.

I probably told you before that I don’t like riding in the car. It makes noise and moves around, and it doesn’t have a friendly smell.

It takes us places, though, like Seven Bends State Park. I like the smells there. Beagles are good sniffers.

Sometimes when the weather is not friendly, we go to a store that likes dogs. One day we got out of the car at Lowes and the car next to us smelled like a car at the dog park. I kept sniffing the tire. When we got in the store, we saw my friend Ryleigh from the dog park. Her mom took a picture for my mom.

The scary Halloween things are gone, and there are new decorations. This is also happening on our street.

The other thing I want to tell you is that it’s cold outside. The chair is warm though, so if you get cold, come inside and lie down in a chair.

They Call it Black Friday

Supposedly the day after Thanksgiving is such a big day for retail stores that they are now “in the black” for the year. I’ve never been anxious to shop in crowded stores so I don’t participate much. Marie and I did take Charlie to Petco and I also bought food today but that was all. I might buy something online before the day is over. 

Today started early for me because Charlie woke up an hour before daylight. I managed to keep him calm until there was a little bit of light in the sky, and then we went for a walk. It was cold outside.

In late morning, we headed out to Strasburg and Front Royal. Marie drove separately because she needed to go to the airport later. She stopped to pick up something at the store, so Charlie and I arrived at the dog park in Strasburg before she did. 

There were no other dogs there, probably because it was cold with a trace of snowflakes coming down. Charlie was very happy to see Marie when she arrived. He ran around in circles, and then chased a ball.

We went to Petco in Front Royal after that and she bought Charlie a new harness. Then we had got burgers for lunch at Spelunkers, a local place which cooks fresh, juicy burgers. All too soon, she departed for Dulles Airport, where she returned the rental car and took a flight to New Jersey. 

Thanksgiving 2024

It's always delightful to have my daughters visit. They provided most of the food for our Thanksgiving dinner, which was delicious.

We also celebrated Lynn’s birthday, which was Saturday. She had already celebrated with friends. 
 

They also worked on a bird camera app for me, which simply did not work. Lynn cleared everything off my broken old phone, which she is going to use to give the battery to a friend.  Marie copied files from an old laptop for me and then deleted them so I can sell it.  They also entertained Charlie, who was excited to see them but did not want to pose for pictures.

Turkeys and Family

Let's start with an old photo of Marie with some Thanksgiving artwork she did in school.

Thanksgiving Day is tomorrow. Turkey is traditionally served, but we’re having beef because Lynn doesn’t like turkey and I’m allergic to it. 

Here’s a photo of a real turkey that I took over ten years ago. Wild turkeys and some domestic turkeys are brown, but other domestic breeds are white.

Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate it! The best thing about it is getting together with family and friends.

Marie arrived today. Charlie wanted all her attention.

November Views of the North Fork

Of the Shenandoah River

Woodstock, VA

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday / Water H2O

Art Between Appointments

Harrisonburg, VA

I had two appointments scheduled today with several hours in between, so I researched “new mural in Harrisonburg” and located this one near Court Square. The artist is William Snyder III, and the branches of the tree represent the schools in the Harrisonburg Public School System. The mural was the idea of high school students in the city.

I took a few snapshots of the area. In one of them, you can see a decorated utility box in the distance. I walked over there and took pictures of it.

My appointments were with the dermatologist in the morning and a nurse practitioner at 3 o’clock in the afternoon for the annual “Wellness Visit” that Medicare likes you to have. I also ran several errands and got a haircut. I try to make the most of the day when Charlie’s in daycare because he does not like being left alone.

Monday Murals / Mosaics