A Free Rose

A check-out clerk handout me a free rose at Kroger. The leaves had wilted but the flower was still pretty.

I photographed it on our deck. All the greenery in the background comes from pine trees, which stay green all year round.

A Light Snow

We had a light snow yesterday. This afternoon was warm so what little snow we had melted away.

We had a snowfall in October — unusually early for snow in Virginia. But since then the weather has been mild — unseasonably warm even for Virginia. We did see a little snow a month ago, but it was across our little valley and up on Great North Mountain.  Like many weather systems, it came across West Virginia, which ends at the crest of the mountain. I like the way the snow outlined the trees. I took a picture of it from our deck. —>

Tabletop Games, 1860's-Style

Inside the Bushong Farm house

"Christmas on the Farm" depicted life in the Shenandoah Valley during the Civil War. Here we see girls and an older woman playing games like checkers and pick-up sticks. These gentle scenes remind me of Little Women, which was set during the Civil War.

• See all Bushong Farm posts.
• See Living History posts.
• Visit the New Market Battlefield website.

Ladies in an 1860's Kitchen

Bushong Farm, New Market Battlefield, VA

One of the highlights of "Christmas on the Farm" was the kitchen. The women who portrayed 1860's homemakers had prepared a holiday feast, most of which had been eaten by the time I toured the farm. They were colorfully attired, as one might have dressed for Christmas.

The kitchen itself was in a building separate from the house. This would have protected the house from any fire that might spread from the large fireplace used for cooking, and also would be an advantage in summer, since cooking produces a lot of heat. Under yet another roof there's an outdoor oven for baking.

Meanwhile, Back at the Farm...

In late December, I posted a group of photos from Bushong Farm. I interrupted the series in order to share pictures of Marie's visit but I still had some pictures left from the Christmas at the Farm event. Here are a few.

Bushong Farm was the site of the most dramatic part of the Battle of New Market. You can see the farm from Interstate 81 in the Shenandoah Valley.

Lights-a-Whirl

Instead of taking a snapshot of our Christmas tree I decided to play with whirling the lights. I quickly learned that the easiest way to turn the camera in a circular motion is to start with the wrist turned backwards before pressing the button. It feels natural to turn the wrist back to normal position and then just keep turning.

I altered the third image in Photoshop® to make it different. I cropped it vertically, made a duplicate layer and inverted the colors, then experimented with blending modes until I found a color combination that I liked.

You might also like a previous Christmas Tree.

Tikis

Marie brought these carvings back from Polynesia.

See also:

• Marie's reports on the Marquesas in (Polynesia)
• Marquesa Islands on Wikipedia
  

The Most Accomplished Traveler I Know

Marie has gone back to New Jersey, completing her 10-month world tour. We drove her to the Metro in Fairfax on New Year's Day. She spent the afternoon with friends and took the DC to NYC bus the next morning.

It was great having her here for a few days. She's my younger daughter and she still amazes me with her abilities and grit.

See her "No Hurry" blog. And check out the trip around the world that she made 10 years ago.

On the Ridge at 1750 Feet

On December 30, Marie and I went to the Basye Post Office and then stopped by the ski slope for a look around. The uppermost trails were not ready yet due to unseasonably warm days, although I understand that they are open now, covered with snow.

See also: Busy Slopes in Basye

Ski Trails at Bryce Resort

Starting Point for Redeye, Bootlegger, and Revenuer's Run

Christmas Homes

In Sundance near New Market, VA

On Readus Road near Woodstock, VA

Dinner at the Wayside Inn

Middletown happens to be in the middle for Peggy and me, a midpoint where we can conveniently meet for dinner. The most historic restaurant there is the Wayside Inn, said to be the oldest continuously operating inn in the United States. It's in the northern part of the Shenandoah Valley and has been serving customers since 1797.

Bill, Peggy, Frank

Peggy, Marie, Linda

See also: Outside the Wayside Inn.

It's 2012!

It's the first day of the year 2012, another reminder that time is passing quickly and our lives are fleeting in the grand scheme of things. Last month held a landmark birthday for me, marked by eligibility for benefits I used to associate with old age. Yikes! I am getting old!

Sometimes I feel my age, like when I wake up in the morning with my back stiff and my left arm aching. But most of the time I am unaware of aging and feel surprised when I look in the mirror and see changes in my face.

Now the holiday season is ending and Marie has left to return home to New Jersey. My favorite thing about Christmas time is spending time with family members. Here are some pictures from the last few days.

Lynn	Marie

Me, Marie, Peggy, Frank

I hope you had a chance to spend time with family or close friends. And enjoy the coming year!

Another Year of Blogging Winds Down

	Here we are at the end of 2011 already. It went by quickly! I hope 2012 is a great year for you. We are spending a quiet evening at home except for the last half-hour of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. Marie was tired from traveling over numerous time zones (and crossing the date line several times) to get here from Tahiti, and I was tired from being on the road most of today to visit Lynn.
Lights in Timberville

My blog stopped showing the "Older Posts" links in the archives but I found a work-around on Blogger Help so I inserted a new gadget tonight. However, if you're looking for a particular post, the quickest way may be to use the Search box on the upper left.

Earlier this month, I posted a number of pictures of the children's holiday program at Bryce Resort. You can click that link to see all posts tagged Bryce Resort, or search the blog for "holiday program."

My favorite topics this month included Family, Living History, and Christmas. If you click on those tags, you'll see some overlap because some posts have two of those labels.

Marie is Back!

My younger daughter is back from a 10-month world tour. She blogged about it on Marie's World Tour.

She also did a world tour in 2001.

I picked her up on the 29th in Northern Virginia where she was enjoying a brief visit with her friend Marie Alice.

See also Marie and Marie, in 2008.

Marie Ellen & Marie Alice

A Very Young Reenactor

This cute little girl participated in "Christmas on the Farm" at the New Market Battlefield earlier in December.

I love seeing the children dressed up in old-fashioned outfits. They were representing the children who lived on Bushong Farm during the Civil War.

In the News at Bushong Farm

Bushong Farm, New Market, VA

After I wandered through "Christmas on the Farm" at Bushong Farm, I spotted a young man who looked familiar. I've seen him on TV news out of Harrisonburg. A volunteer suggested that he use me as an interviewee for a segment he was doing on the event. So I answered a few questions on camera, feeling a bit awkward but glad to share my interest in the event. I did not see the newscast, but you can read the print version on the WHSV website.

Children Playing 1864-Style, Bushong Farm

These children seem to be enjoying their roles as living history participants. In most cases they come with their parents who are  reenactors or museum volunteers. In this case, they are performing in Christmas on the Farm, New Market, Virginia.

Women at Bushong Farm

New Market, VA 12/3/2011

Christmas on the Farm 1864
Living History Event

Bushong Farm has been preserved on the New Market Battlefield. Although it is within sight of Interstate 81, it is a fine place to imagine what life was like during the Civil War.

The woman in the first photo sits next to a "Soldiers Christmas Box." It would have been packed with small gifts, including highly practical items like a sewing kit.

Related Posts:

• Bushong Farm, New Market
• Photos at Bushong Farm
• Relaxing at Bushong Farm

Musicians at New Market Battlefield

Earlier this month I saw these musicians at the winter encampment at New Market Battlefield here in the Shenandoah Valley. They are from the Valley Pike Fife and Drum Corps.

The battlefield park is home to the Virginia Museum of the Civil War.

Christmas 2011

Dave and Allison visited us last night and this morning. Lynn showed up this afternoon and stayed for dinner.

Marie could not be with us because she was still in the South Pacific. I miss her but she'll be arriving late in a few days.

Hope you had a nice Christmas!