Two Rainbows

Subtle Rainbow Over Walmart, Woodstock

Partial Rainbow, Basye, VA

View Seen Through the Windshield

Near Mauzy, VA

When I drive from Basye to Harrisonburg or Staunton, I like to take Route 42 to Broadway and from there continue straight onto 259 (Mayland Road) out to Interstate 81. This is a shortcut and is delightfully scenic.

I took this picture at the intersection of U.S. 11. Directly ahead is the ramp to I-81. At the horizon we can see the Massanutten Range.

Enjoy October Events

It's a great time of year to be outside and the Shenandoah Valley has plenty of events to enjoy in October. Mount Jackson is holding their Harvest Festival on Oct. 8-9 with plenty of bluegrass music, crafts, food, and family fun.

For other events, check the lists at Shenandoah Valley Web and Shenandoah Travel.

2009 Pics, Mt. Jackson Festival

Civil War Medicine Returns to Moorefield

One of the Heritage Weekend events was an exhibit on Civil War Medicine inside the Presbyterian Church, which was used as a hospital during the war. The young lady who explained the medical tools turned out to be a precocious child. She did a good job! You might also like: CSA Medical Staff Civil War Doctor Graffiti House, Brandy Station  Shawnee Springs Civil War Hospital Heated Hospital Tents Confederate Hospital, Mt. Jackson, VA Tour at Exchange Hotel

Moorefield Presbyterian Church

The Presbyterian Church was open on Heritage Weekend and Civil War Reenactors were there. I didn't get close-up photos of their camp because the batteries in my camera went dead, but you can see pictures from last year here.

The older historical marker tells us that "During the Civil War this church was used by both the North and South as a hospital. Union soldiers stabled horses here and burned pews for firewood. Federal government paid $800 indemnity in 1914."

For the text of the Civil War Trails Marker, see the Historical Marker Database.

McMechen House in Moorefield

This historic house in Moorefield was built by merchant Samuel A. McMechen around 1853. Notice how the Greek Revival front is reminiscent of the Reymann house and the center section of The Willows, both of which were built in Hardy County in the 1850's. 

During the Civil War Moorefield changed hands several times. Mr. McMechen supported the Confederacy and left town when Union forces occupied the town and supposedly went to his cabin at Howard's Lick, which is now Lost River State Park. (Incidentally, his name appears in a history of Howard's Lick.)

The plaque on the wall gives us a brief history.

S. A. McMechen House

Built in 1853, this home was occupied by officers of both sides as the fortunes of war changed. McCausland was staying here when Gen. Averell attacked his troops camped at Goings Ford and Old Fields.

The Civil War Trails sign provides more details and tells us that:

Moorefield changed hands several times during the war as each side sought control of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, or advanced to or retreated from the Shenandoah Valley. Each army foraged for horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, wheat, corn, and dry goods in the countryside and in Moorefield. Confederate Gen. Fitzhugh Lee reported at the end of 1863 that few supplies could be found here.

Historic Moorefield

Last weekend we took advantage of Hardy County Heritage Days to visit a couple of towns in West Virginia. My excuse for driving to Moorefield was to visit the old theatre,  but I looked forward to the journey because crossing the mountains on "Corridor H" is fun.  (See this 2010 post for a highway photo.)

Moorefield is a busy town with some quaint historical buildings in the center. It was founded during the Revolutionary War.

This marker gives a very brief history of Moorefield.

Chartered, 1777, and named for Conrad Moore, early settler. During Indian wars, Town Fort, north, and Fort Buttermilk, south, gave protection. Here, 1794, Gen. Biggs brought part of the troops recruited to suppress Whisky Rebellion.

Theater and Museum

Hotel Moorefield

Click here to view all my Moorefield posts.

Where Did the Summer Go?

Here it is October already. Summer went so quickly! Join me in reviewing some of our excursions here in Virginia and our closest neighbor state.

• June blog posts include of a Brandy Station Field Trip and Maymont Gardens.
• July features a trip to Chincoteague and a day trip to Winchester.
• August blog entries showcase a ferry ride to Tangier Island, a visit to Glebe Harbor, dinner in Strasburg, and some whitetail deer.
• September picture stories share a farm tour in West Virginia, an event at the Basye Library, a hike on the Storybook trail, and some local scenery.

Touring the Greenhouses

WVU Experimental Farm
Wardensville

Feeding Trout

Admiring Spring-Watered Veggies

For more about this, see previous Farm Tour post.

Farm Tour in West Virginia

We made it to Hardy County last Saturday for their annual Heritage Weekend. Our first stop was the Reymann Memorial Farm near Wardensville, which is operated as an experimental farm by West Virginia University.

The farm was donated to WVU back in 1916. The Greek-revival farm house dates back around 1850. It reminded me of  "The Willows" in Moorefield — see this post from 2010 and compare them.

On Saturday, we arrived just in time for a hayride tour. (See the video below.) It included a stop at two greenhouse-type buildings. Both had water from a nearby spring flowing through, which kept temperatures moderate all year. The first building was used for raising golden trout and the second for raising vegetables and flowers.

See WVU Today: Researchers Combine Hydroponics and Aquaculture.

Valley Scene, West Virginia

Landscape North of Wardensville

Goats on the Steps

The girl was feeding corn stalks to the goats. Little Goat seemed delighted with the snack.

I took these pictures in Hardy County, WV.

Library Party

Last week the September meeting at our Basye Orkney Springs Community Library was followed by a brief reception honoring volunteer Lynn McFadden who organized our book sales for many years. Here are a few of the photos that I took.

Click on an image to see a larger version.

Visit the Library Web Site

Flowers, Lake, Mountain

I took this picture last week at Shenandoah River Lakes. I think the flowers are coreopsis. In the distance, you can see the north end of the Massanutten Range .

Near Waterlick, VA

You might like: Ducks Flying at Dusk

Our View with Mixed Clouds

Taken 9/23/2011

Update on Glebe Harbor

I'm pleased to report that our house in the Northern Neck is now leased for a year. The folks who rented it are building a house nearby.

See the view from the back yard.

Just a Chicken

September Squirrel

Toad in the Driveway

Here's our amphibian buddy showing himself in daylight. I placed a dog statue next to him for scale. The dog is 11 inches tall.

I worry about our real dogs grabbing a toad! They can be somewhat poisonous.

See also: Rust Colored Frog or Toad

Boat Landing

I don't know how many times I've followed a sign to a "Public Boat Landing." It's not that I'm a boater or even a fisherman. Rather, a boat landing is on a body of water, and often there's a scene worth photographing.

This sign is at the foot of Luray Avenue in Front Royal. The body of water is the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.