Hoping for a Better World in 2026

Wild Bird Wednesday

This is the last day of 2025, and I can hardly believe it’s been a quarter century since the millennium. Where does the time go?

I certainly hope that the new year brings more peace and hope. We have to hang in there and do what we can. As individuals, we might only make small steps toward the big problems of the world, but we can make significant steps in specialized areas or local matters. This is what keeps me from feeling powerless. I can help someone learn something, and do something for our local parks, and help protect wildlife. I can spread a little joy and encouragement.

Well, I usually post some bird pictures on Wednesday. I took a photo of a kingfisher on the weekend. I often see them or hear them down by the river, but I don’t get photos of them very often. They fly away when they see me, or perhaps it’s because I have my dog with me. I saw this one from the car. 

I don’t think any of my bird pictures are fine enough to be my Photo of the Year, but here are some that I like.

Hang on!

Some Summer Favorites

2025 Scenes

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday 

Looking at 2025 Favorites

I’m starting to make choices for my photo of the year. So five only gone back three months and selected some favorites.

Mosaic Monday

My tablets running out of charge so I’ll look at the rest later.

Views at Muse

 Charlie and I took a walk around Muse Vineyards yesterday afternoon.

It’s located between the North Fork and the Massanutten Mountains. Several times a year, the river rises and floods the Hollingsworth Road Bridge, and residents have to use footbridge, which is elevated, if they want to go to Woodstock.

Charlie’s Holiday Report

Hi, it's Charlie! I’m kind of tired because we had a busy week. Here I am stretching by the front door.

I like to go out that door when it’s not too cold outside. It’s fun to sniff everything and sometimes I see animals. Here is a cat who lives down the street. It’s a little shy. 

 

Marie and Lynn came for Christmas. Here they are with one of my presents. Everyone got presents!

Mom took me to a new place to walk this afternoon. We saw these fancy deer decorations.

We have some deer decorations at home too.

Mom put up a painting that looks a little like a deer, but a little like a cow. I don’t know what it is.

I’m thinking about being a detective when I grow up. I can find out a lot of things just by sniffing. Perhaps I’ll  dream about it when I go to sleep.

Seen from my Door

Earlier this week, I heard loud machinery and looked out my front door and saw a work crew digging around the storm drain across the street. Eventually they replaced the sidewalk with gravel and blocked it off with caution tape. I suppose they’ll come back next week to fill in the concrete, weather permitting. For now, Charlie and I have to step out on the street to detour around it when we take our walks.

The weather was mild that day and pleasant through most of yesterday. Then the cold returned. There was a chance of snow this afternoon, but it passed to the north of us.

The forecast said that New Jersey and New York were going to get hit with a severe snowstorm this evening. Marie was headed that way on the train today, so she left earlier than planned and changed her ticket to a train that got her there an hour and a half earlier. Tonight she posted that she made it there just as the snow was starting to stick.

She returns to Southern California in January after a winter break. The weather there has been pretty awful, with torrential rains that flooded some towns and closed roads. I hope her luck continues so that she stays safe and comfortable.

Christmas 2025

The other night, I was walking Charlie and heard sirens in the distance. Then I heard music and realized that Santa Claus was coming on a fire engine. I don’t think Charlie knew what was going on, but he didn’t seem scared.

Marie arrived late Tuesday night. She worked-from-home yesterday. As an editor, she has writers and artists to supervise.

While she was working, I took Charlie to Seven Bends State Park. The weather was nice, but the river level is low.

Today was Christmas Day. Lynn drove down here, bringing gifts and food for dinner.  

We opened gifts and had an tasty meal that Marie cooked. I received a new phone and they set it up for me. I used to be tech savvy, but since I retired, I have found it’s hard to keep up with all the changes.

I hope you had a great day too.

Peace Dove, Mourning Dove

I selected this “Peace on Earth” garden flag to display this season. It represents an ideal that would take a miracle to achieve. Pardon my cynicism, but I’ve been hoping for peace for a long time.

The dove is often used as a symbol of peace. It is also used as a symbol for other ideals in cultures around the world.

I don’t recall seeing a white dove in the wild. Mourning doves, which are predominantly gray, are very common here in Virginia. 

Doves and pigeons are members of the Columbidae family.

On the Day before Christmas Eve

Riley Park and Beyond

Sharing with Wordless and Mosaic

Reach for the Stars

Harrisonburg

When I was in Harrisonburg three weeks ago, I found this mural in Ralph Sampson Park. There are many murals in Harrisonburg, and there’s still a few that I haven’t photographed yet.

The park is named for basketball player Ralph Sampson, who was from Harrisonburg

Monday Murals

I did not find information on who painted this mural, but it has the look of a community project. Some of the paint is faded, but the black lines are still dark. I believe they are streets and you can see the houses along them. I suspect that the large building is the nearby school. Mountains are in the distance. A person is on a ladder, reaching for the stars.

 I was there on an overcast day and it had rained earlier, so I didn’t take many pictures. I did take one of decorations in the doctor’s office and one of fog and traffic as I waited for a light to change.