Utility Box Mural, North and Main

Woodstock, VA

Monday Murals

Seeking a Photo of the Year

Selecting my "Photo of the Year" is difficult because no particular image stands out in my mind. Here I've just selected some that I like from the last three months. Now I just have to go back through the rest of the year, and then narrow them down.

I have some pretty autumn scenes, many of them from Shenandoah National Park. 

I live in a beautiful region in Virginia, so I photograph scenery almost daily.  

I have some pictures of pets and people that I really like, although they’re not likely to rate as the year’s best.

Sunday Best / Mosaics

How would you go about picking a photo of the year?

Two Murals in Merrifield

Fairfax County, VA

The first mural is on a coffee shop. It is partially obscured by a tree, but it’s abstract so I think the color is the most important feature of it.

The floral mural is in a development called the Mosaic District. I went there last week to shop at a well-stocked organic market.

Monday Murals

November Views of the North Fork

Of the Shenandoah River

Woodstock, VA

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday / Water H2O

Bloom Season Ends

We finally had a hard frost the other night. My reblooming iris and coreopsis succumbed to the cold. They had survived the first frost, which was just barely below freezing,  but this time they gave up. Here they are before that.

Today, Charlie and I walked around the yard and saw that some flowers are still blooming. A single small zinnia is hanging in there, and yarrow looks more conspicuous now that it’s competition is gone. 

My small garden in the back has fared better than the one in the front yard. Blanket flowers are still putting on a show, and some black eyed seasons are blooming.

And here’s my assistant looking up at me on the deck. 

Late October Leftovers

Fort Valley Landscapes

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Along U.S. 340 in Page County

Not Far from Luray

Here we see the South Fork of the Shenandoah from a boat landing just off 340 where it bypasses Luray. There’s also a business route 340, the old route that goes through Luray and Stanley. U.S. 340 runs from Greenville, Virginia to Frederick, Maryland, and I’ve traveled all of it at one time or another. It passes through some beautiful country.

I took these pictures at the end of October. I imagine the leaves have fallen since then. We had a frost yesterday, and today there was much-needed rain.

 The third picture is from later that day when I was driving back along 340. In the distance is a peak in the Massanutten Mountains.

Skywatch

November View, Riley Park

 Woodstock, VA

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Beagle on the Go

 I go places with my mom. I don’t really like riding in the car but it’s even scarier to be at home by myself.

Mom thinks I should wear a harness in the car. I don’t like being tied down so sometimes I get the harness off. I know three ways to do it. The easiest way is to break the plastic buckle. It just takes one good chomp! Another way is to chew through the strap. That’s what I did with the one you see here. I kept it for a long time first because it had metal buckles that didn’t break, but this week I decided I wanted to be free. After all, I lived nine months in a cage before I was freed from it. That was two years ago and I want be free forever, but also I want to be close to my mom.

Oh, the third way is to wiggle out of it. That’s not the best way because sometimes my leg gets stuck when I’m part of the way out.

Anyway, here are some pictures of a place called Flint Hill. Don’t worry, the skeleton is not real.

We still go to the dog park and it is near some farms.

I like going to Seven Bends State Park too. 

We take walks around my neighborhood every day. I still see Tripod sometimes.

Lots of leaves are on the ground now. I guess that’s all I have to report today.

Wayside and Overlooks

I haven't seen one of these tool stations before, have you?

It’s part of a fix-it stand with tools for bike riders. There’s even a QR code that takes you to a link for bicycle repair videos at dero.com. 

This was at Loft Mountain Wayside in Shenandoah National Park. 
 

I don’t get to Loft Mountain very often. It’s in the southern section of the park, and the northern section and central section are much closer to my home. They are both spectacular enough that I don’t feel the need to drive farther. But last week I decided to drive my car the length of that section to see the last glory of autumn foliage. It was past its peak at the higher elevations but the views were pretty, and it was a beautiful day.

The store at the wayside was open, so I bought Charlie a souvenir bandanna. 

Here are some other scenes from that journey along Skyline Drive. I entered from Route 33 above Elkton and drove 39 miles to the southern end at Route 250, which takes longer than you might think. The maximum speed is 35 mph, and you have to slow down on some sharp curves, plus you should stop at some of the overlooks to enjoy the views.

By the way, although Skyline Drive ends at Route 250, you can drive a short distance and enter the Blue Ridge Parkway for an even longer scenic drive.

Site of CCC Camp NP-27

“Men and nature must work hand in hand. The throwing out of balance of the resources of nature throws out of balance also the lives of men.” — Franklin D. Roosevelt