Barn on a Sunny Day

This was not today. Today was rainy. So was yesterday. It looks like the next few days are going to be rainy also, but that can change.

I can’t complain. We desperately need rain. The state of Virginia is officially in drought stage. Strasburg is already asking people to conserve water. Usually this doesn’t happen until July or August.

I had appointments today: Physical therapy and the eye specialist. I also picked up a prescription and had blood drawn for diagnostic tests. I don’t seem to have anything serious, but I have a bunch of nuisance problems plus ever-present fatigue. Yesterday I saw a new doctor and I’m grateful that he’s trying to be thorough. At least he doesn’t chalk up my concerns to old age! 

I was able to ignore my age for a long time, but my body reminds me every day that I’m not 39 anymore. Or 59!

Overall, I feel fortunate. I was born after World War II, and I’ve lived through somewhat of a golden age. The economy was good for most of it. It may fall apart now, with conflict and corruption threatening our country’s strength.  I hope not. 

My parents survived the Great Depression, followed by war. They taught me how to be frugal. Will that be enough? The health problems of getting older are a lot more expensive than I expected.

I don’t mean to go off on a tangent, so I’ll stop. I just wanted to say that my generation was very fortunate, in spite of challenges that we had to face.

The Pileated Woodpecker Returns

 In late April, I saw this large woodpecker in my backyard, but he disappeared before I could take his picture. Fortunately, I heard him yesterday — they can be noisy birds! I looked out and saw him on a stump next to my deck. Unfortunately, the view was obscured by the railing. Then he flew up to a tree and I was able to get pictures, although at a distance. They aren’t the best woodpecker pictures I’ve taken, but they’ll do for now. He quickly disappeared again.

Here’s the stump that he’s been pecking on. I recently noticed that something had been tearing it up. I was relieved to see that it was a large woodpecker and not some sort of rodent. The stump is near my house, which is one reason that I had the tree cut down four years ago. The branches were brushing against my windows, and they also provided a bridge for a squirrel that got into my attic.

The tree was a Bradford pear, also called Callery pear. It had pretty flowers, and was a popular landscape tree until people noticed that it was reproducing itself as a thorny shrub. Now it is considered an invasive species.

I appreciate the woodpecker attacking this trunk. It must’ve been harboring insects, because the woodpecker has destroyed about a third of it. I hope he chips away at the whole thing.

One More Post about the Lavender Farm

White Oak Lavender Farm, Part Three

It isn’t often that I make three posts to show you one place, but there’s a lot to see at the Lavender Farm, and I didn’t even take pictures of the eating spots or the gift shop. I did pay a small fee to explore the Discovery Area, because that’s where you can see the mural and farm animals.

I didn’t have a tour guide and you don’t need one either. Let’s just wander through and see what we find.

Link: White Oak Lavender Farm

Double Mural, Purple Barn

White Oak Lavender Farm, Part Two 

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I went to the Lavender Farm to see the new mural. It covers the back of a barn plus an extension. I found it impossible to get the entire thing in one photo. I tried a panorama shot, and then flattened it using AI. Even then, there was a portion on the adjacent wall that I could not get in the frame because there was a butterfly house that I had to step around. Also, there were buttresses painted with lavender plants.

Monday Murals

The artwork is by Real Creative Studio in Harrisonburg. Speaking of artists, I saw some at work painting “en plein air.”

Another structure had flowers painted on the wall. 

There was even more to see and photograph, but it will have to wait until another day. Stay tuned!

Lavender Farm Flora

 White Oak Lavender Farm, Part One

When I stopped at this venue near Harrisonburg, I wanted to get a picture of the new mural, which I will show you tomorrow.  But there were other things to see, and I walked until I was quite tired. The place is popular for events and weddings, and there is a winery plus things for children to do.

Lavender was starting to bloom, as well as late spring flowers. 

Sharing with Mosaic Monday and Garden Affair

Mid-May with Charlie

Hi! Here’s a picture of me at Edinburg Park.

We also stopped at Edinburg Mill to see the ducks in the creek. I had to stay in the car, but Mom got out to get some close-up pictures. They weren’t afraid of her, but she said they might be afraid of me. 

We didn’t go to many parks this week, but I did get to visit Sadie. One day I went to day boarding at the veterinary while Mom went to Harrisonburg. 

Our driveway was blocked by construction all week so we didn’t park in the garage. I watched the men working, and when I went for walks, I met some of them. 

Do you like horses? I haven’t decided if I want to meet one or not. They are very big.

I don’t have much else to report. Mom already told you that Lynn came on Mother’s Day. Maybe I’ll have some adventures to write about next week.

Dianthus

These are actually pink carnations, but I’m showing them in black-and-white. Carnations are a type of dianthus. (Or nations of vehicles, if you can’t stop thinking of old jokes!)

Our power is out right now so I’m making this a short post. 

Photographing while Waiting

Today I had an appointment in Harrisonburg. I didn’t have to wait very long, but I did have time to take a few pictures of their plants.

On the way home, I ran into a construction zone. This turned out to cause a ten-minute wait, so I took a picture of a barn. I never did see exactly what the road crew was doing because I turned off on a side road and took a different route. 

Downy Woodpecker, Cell Phone Pictures

Yesterday I was relaxing in a comfortable chair on my back deck. Charlie was lying on the floor nearby. Several birds flew up to the railing but flew away as soon as they saw us. The downy woodpecker, however, stayed around long enough that I could get pictures of it using my iPhone.

What the World Needs Now…

is Love, Sweet Love.

No, not just for some
but for everyone.

—Lyrics by Hal David, 1965.

This is a new LOVE sign in Mt. Jackson. It was created by students at Triplett Tech.

In Toms Brook, a LOVE sign stands in front of a house. The sign has been there for years, but it gets periodically redecorated.

A closer look.

The tradition of creating these signs began in 1969 to go with the Virginia tourism slogan, “Virginia is for Lovers.” There are over 300 LOVE signs in the state. Many are unique, with stories behind the individual letters. Notice the apple tree symbol in the first sign, and the metal wheel in the second one.

Give Purrs a Chance

Berkeley Springs, WV

Monday Murals

This is a large cat adoption center where visitors can spend time with cats and purchase cat-themed gifts. See their kitten cam.