Not Three French Hens

And not two turtle doves...

And not a partridge in a pear tree.

Okay, so I give up.

Anyway, here's the creature who scares away the birds!

Sharing with Caturday and

Saturday's Critters.

More December Evenings

1. Belle Grove, Middletown, VA.

Sharing with Black and White Weekend 

2. Our House

Orange You Glad It's Friday

3. Market Street, Harrisonburg, VA.

Skywatch Friday

December Night in Strasburg

Today is the winter solstice. I'm not a fan of short days, and I'm glad we have electric lights brightening up the darkness that falls so early. 

I like tidy fences around houses. I'm joining the Fences Around the World linkup today.

Casual Cardinals

Rosemont Manor

Historic Rosemont Manor in Berryville was recently open to the public for holiday tours. It is now a Bed and Breakfast and is beautifully appointed. It was built by the first sheriff of Clarke County in 1811. Part of the Battle of Berryville took place on the grounds in 1864. Senator Harry Flood Byrd lived here from 1928 to 1966.

Byrd became very influential and important figures him visited him here, such as Presidents Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Byrd, Nixon, and Johnson; aviator Charles Lindbergh; physicist Albert Einstein; and Admiral Chester Nimitz. Guest rooms are named for these famous people and portraits hang on the walls.

Links: Harry F. Byrd Marker
Rosemont Manor History
Tuesday Treasures

Virginia Museum of the Civil War

When Peggy and Bill visited last week, they expressed an interest in seeing the Virginia Museum of the Civil War in New Market. I've been there several times but not since it was refurbished.

Glass Mural by Ami Shamir.

Part of a Large Mural Showing Richmond in 1861.

The film about the VMI Cadets is still shown, and the gorgeous stained glass wall is still on display. The general layout of the exhibit hasn't changed as far as I could tell, but the graphics seem larger, brighter, and more appealing. There's a new exhibit on guns, and displays on the African American experience are being developed.

The museum sits in a 300-acre park on New Market Battlefield. Buildings of the Bushong Farm still stand as they did when the battle took place here in 1864. 

It was good to have my sister visit. She lives in Kentucky now and I miss her.

I'm sharing this post with Monday Murals, Mosaic Monday, and The Barn Collective.

Berryville Baptist Church in December

In 2016, I mentioned this church after I noticed the steeple had been improved. We were able to go inside last week when it was open for holiday tours.

The sanctuary is on the second floor. We were told that this was because the original church here was used as a stable during the Civil War, causing great damage. (Many churches in Virginia suffered this fate as large armies moved across the state.) When the church was rebuilt, members wanted to be sure this never happened again so stairs were put in as a barrier to horses!

This Christmas tree is adorned with gloves and scarves. I expect these will be donated to people in need.

If you like church architecture, check out InSpired Sunday.

Spinning Wheel

In the Stairwell at the Bushong Farm House.

Sharing with B&W Weekend and My Town Shoot Out.

I Opened the Blinds and Saw...

A Great Blue Heron!

This morning I slept a little late, staying in my cozy bed until the dog barked to wake me up. When I opened the blinds, I scanned the yard as I usually do to see what birds might be out there. Out by the lake was this heron!

I keep a camera next to the window for photographing birds and it has a fairly strong zoom lens, so I got several good shots.

I cropped in on one shot because his expression amused me. I think he may have spotted me.

Allow me to change subjects to more everyday critters. Here's my excellent  dog, Flash. He's doing pretty well for an old guy with a heart problem, loose ligaments, and a seizure disorder. Meds and supplements seem to be helping.

And finally, here's a cat that hangs out on the other side of the community lake. I believe he is feral, or perhaps he is from a nearby farm and just likes to watch the cars come in and out of the neighborhood.

It's Been a Busy Week.

It's Willy Nilly Friday so I'm posting five photos. All of these were taken over the past few days.

1. Bill S. and my sister Peggy came for a visit. It was great seeing them! I got them to pose for a snapshot as they left this morning. 

2. I took them to see where the new Seven Bends State Park is being built near Woodstock, VA. It's on the former Camp Lupton property. The sign by the fence says "No Trespassing. To be developed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation Division of State Parks. For more information call 540-622-6840."

3. This is the North Fork of the Shenandoah where Lupton Road crosses it. The bridge was recently improved but it is still a low-water bridge.

Sharing with Weekend Reflections.

4. Next we have yesterday's sunset, The building houses the Virginia Museum of Civil War History on New Market Battlefield.

Sharing with Skywatch and Orange You Glad It's Friday.

5. Tonight I chose John's Family Restaurant as the place to have my birthday dinner. They have good food! Unfortunately, this restaurant is slated to be demolished this spring because Route 340 is going to be widened there as it heads toward Charles Town.

Yesterday at Spring House Tavern

In Woodstock, VA.

With Peggy and Lynn