Guess Who Went to the Groomer Today!

Linking to: Wordless Wednesday

and Wednesday Blog Paws

Don't Text and Fly!

I've seen these crashing witches before but I liked the sign under this one enough to stop and take a picture. 

 While I was at it, I photographed the house across the street from it. I don't know if it's historic but it looks like a 19th-century home.

In Strasburg, Virginia

Sharing with: Signs, Signs

and Wednesday Around the World

Mary's Rock Tunnel, Skyline Drive

Sharing with: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

A View from Apple Mountain

Near Linden, Virginia

Sharing with:

Union Left Flank, Cedar Creek Battlefield

We went to the dedication of a new Civil War Trails marker at Thorndale Farm near Middletown. Here Union Cavalry mounted a counterattack that was crucial in reversing Confederate successes that morning at Cedar Creek.

Last month we attended a program about Custer's Cavalry on the other flank of the Union Army. This program (on Sunday) was part the 150th anniversary commemoration of the battle. My friend Ranger Shannon told us about Gen. Wesley's Merritt's First Cavalry Division and their thundering cavalry charge. Also, the owner of Thorndale Farm spoke about the property and his part in documenting it's history.

The lower right corner of the marker gives a brief history of the farmhouse and barn. The barn, built around 1870, "incorporates hand-hewn fire-damaged beams from an earlier structure on the stone foundation of an earlier barn."

You can see a picture of the Larrick-Nixon house in my August 16 post.

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Linking to: The Barn Collective

and Our World Tuesday

Cloudy Day at a Pumpkin Patch

We returned to the pumpkin patch in Meems Bottom that we went to in 2009. It's in a scenic river bottom area near the North Fork of the Shenandoah.

I thought the painted shed was really cute.

Linking to: Monday Murals

Mt. Olive UMC

This church stands at the corner of Back Road and Mt. Olive Road in the small town of Mt. Olive west of Toms Brook. It was dedicated in 1869.

Linking to: InSPIREd Sunday

Goat Behind a Wire Fence

Linking to: Sepia Saturday

and Camera Critters

Geese Flying at Sunset

Sometimes when I venture out to take pictures of the sunset I am lucky enough to see the Canada Geese in flight. In the first image they are far away, flying in from somewhere beyond the Massanutten Mountains. You can see them through a break in the clouds to the right of the center of the picture.

Often I can hear them honking before I see them.

Linking to: The Bird D'Pot

and Saturday's Critters

A Tree in Front Royal

A tree stood unnoticed and plain,

But autumn gave it glory again.

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Linking to: Six Word Friday

And Orange You Glad It's Friday

Sky Shark with Moon Eye

We were taking pictures at an overlook this afternoon when my husband pointed out that the moon was shining through a cloud. I looked and saw a shark!

I'm including a second photo for a closer look at the moon shining through the cloud.

Linking to: Skywatch Friday

and Weekend Blog Hop

Red Shutters and a Fence

This house in Waterlick dates from 1891. It has a barn that I shared not long ago. The property happens to be for sale right now.

You might notice a Beware of Dog sign but did you spot the dog?

Linking to: Today's Fences

The Mist Rises, The Sun Sets

After five days of rain,  the clouds finally parted late this afternoon. I was happy to see a bit of sunshine so I took some pictures from a window.

The cloud in the middle looks like a flying pig to me! He appears to be pushing away the larger cloud.

When the sun got low in the sky, I went back to the window and took this third shot. Then I walked outside to get some pictures of the sunset at the lake.

It turned out to be a spectacular sunset! And my Nikon lens served me well by intensifying the colors a little. This camera is having some mechanical problems but I like the lens and the compact size.

This last shot reminds me of ink blots, or a Rorschach test.

Linking to: Outdoor Wednesday

and Wednesday Around the World

Sign on a Truck

Hi, there!

The first time I saw one of these signs on a plumbing truck I was startled by how realistic the picture looks — like a real man is waving at you! When I parked behind this van, I figured I should share it with you and the Signs, Signs linkup.

Fuzzy Toy Squirrels

Linking to: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Red Leaf

Linking to: Nature Notes

and Nature's Footsteps / Catching the Light

October Near Back Road

Shenandoah County, VA 

Bird House atop a Fence Post

Linking to: The Barn Collective

Patriotic Mural

In Front Royal, Virginia

It's a little hard to be sure in a two-dimensional image, but the flag over the door is painted on. If you look closely you can see the lines of the bricks.

Today is Columbus Day here in the States, so I thought I'd show a patriotic theme. I realize many Americans don't celebrate Columbus, especially the people whose native ancestors lost their lands to the European settlers. But for the rest of us. at least we can say "We're grateful to be here."

Linking to: Monday Murals

Visitors from a Neighboring Farm

At first I thought they were goats! But after looking more closely, I believe these animals are sheep. After all, they moved together as a unit. And as Sheep101 tells us, sheep horns are often curved and their tails point downward. Perhaps one of our blogging friends can identify their breed.

There's a farm across the fence from our community and once in a while this herd finds a way through the fence. Here they are on a lane that leads to the lake. Once they even showed up in my yard during a snow storm!

Linking to: Camera Critters

What are the Deer Plotting?

Are the deer plotting some sort of raid? This one wears a radio collar — do you suppose he uses it to communicate with other deer?

Let's step back from the sign. Notice the hay bales Perhaps the deer are plotting to steal them!

(Just kidding, y'all! I'm aware that you can plant seed for attracting wildlife.)

Linking to: Sepia Saturday

and Saturday Critters