Along Coldstream Road

A week ago I posted photos of the Methodist Church at North River Mills. We were in that town for the Ice Mountain Festival and I took many other pictures. I'll show you some of them now.

First, for InSpired Sunday, here's another church that we passed on the way there. It's the Sandy Ridge Christian Church on Cold Stream Road near Capon Bridge. 

Next we have some rustic scenes from the town of North River Mills. Some are shareable with The Barn Collective.

The large barn is "for sale."

We were in North River Mills for the Ice Mountain Festival. Nearby Ice Mountain is known for its cool environment.

In colonial times, the town lay along the Great Wagon Road from Winchester to Romney. The area suffered at least two attacks during the French and Indian War.

The last image shows a shed built upon an older foundation.

Shooting Pictures without Film

Okay, my camera doesn't use film; it uses memory cards. Somehow last weekend I either forgot to insert the card or it fell back out. I lost two days of pictures! Yes, toward the end of the second day I noticed a little red warning through the viewfinder but I couldn't read it so I didn't realize the card was missing until I tried to remove it to transfer the images to my computer. Oops!

This Sony camera does not have built-in memory like my Nikon. Some of the pictures I lost were of little consequence: flowers in a nice garden (I have others),  a deer (I have hundreds of deer pictures). Other pictures I wish I had: Lynn in the arboretum at JMU (although I think she was frowning at me) and three baby birds (possibly grackles) that had fallen from a nest at Birdsong Garden. (We did notify our hostess and she said she would keep an eye on them.) Then there was a great shot that I missed and now I'm glad I missed it: a young bear that we saw crossing Skyline Drive. By the time I stopped the car he scrambled into the woods. If I had shot pictures of him, I'd be really unhappy about losing them!

Well, I have some other pictures to share today with Saturday Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin', starting with these ducklings and their mom.

The robin's nest was on a sill in someone else's house. The parent was nearby and the little ones had recently hatched.

The next three pictures show goslings. They are with their parents plus an extra goose, whom I call Auntie. Geese often group together to keep babies safe.

Last but not least, here's my baby! He looks a bit forlorn because I stepped down into the yard to take pictures and left him on the deck.

Flash is doing okay considering his age and ailments. Getting his medicine into him is a test of wills. He sleeps most of the day and only shows energy first thing in the morning and later after 5 PM. Then he follows me around for a while, eats, drinks, and hangs out with us. Eventually he gets tired and goes into his crate to go to sleep.

Fed Up Friday

The Willy Nilly Friday linkup reminds me to post a group of things that don't really fit into one cohesive post. 

1. I'm feeling down because there has been another school shooting, this time in Texas. And I'm angry because this should not keep happening.

I recognize the important role hunters play in the ecosystem, at least here in the eastern states where other predators are not present in numbers. And I believe that target practice is a fun activity that builds hand-eye coordination. But "responsible" gun owners have failed to keep their weapons out of the hands of youngsters and misguided people. It is past time for change!

2. We've had rain, rain, and more rain. Fortunately it lets up from time to time, but not for long. Here are some clouds I saw yesterday.

By the way, many roads are flooded around here.

Sharing with Skywatch and Black and White Weekend.

3. We stopped in a restaurant last weekend and I was served a nice-looking salad. But I was afraid to eat it because of the big romaine lettuce recall. I've heard that the tainted lettuce is off the market but then again, one of Lynn's friends has not fully recovered from a salad that sickened her.

4. Frank gave me a nice planter for Mother's Day. The geraniums are even brighter than they look in the picture.

5. Speaking of flowers, here are some other bright ones I spotted at Weber's Nursery. 

Orange You Glad and Floral Friday.

6. There are a couple of new stores in Front Royal aimed at the outdoors enthusiasts. This one is on South Street where it can be seen by motorists heading for Skyline Drive or the Shenandoah River.

I hope you have a nice weekend.

A Drive Through Blandy

I drove through the State Arboretum a few weeks ago. This tract is part of the Blandy Experimental Farm in Clarke County.

In 1926, Graham F. Blandy bequeathed 700 acres of his approximately 900 acre estate to the University of Virginia. The university keeps it up and uses it for environmental research and education. I am thankful that this beautiful place is open to the public.

Sharing with Fences and Thankful Thursday.

Bunker Hill Mill in West Virginia

The Bunker Hill Mill Complex is not very far from the Virginia State Line so I drove there after an errand in Winchester. I'd like to go back to Bunker Hill some time to see the other historic sites.

The mill was built in the late 19th century on the site of an older mill that burned down. You can read about it and more on the nomination form to the National Register of Historic Places.

A "Washington Heritage Trail" sign gives some history of the mill. The trail is a "scenic byway inspired by the prominent footsteps of George Washington."

"Bunker Hill was a thriving community in the 1820's with at least 10 mills, a brick plant, a copper shop, and other industrial operations. This 2000 acre dispersed village was established by General Elisha Boyd, the owner of Martinsburg's Boydville Estate. Bunker Hill Mill was one of the earliest mills, which was operational in 1738. It was built by Colbert Anderson who purchased the property from his father Thomas Anderson. It was rebuilt in 1890 and is the only mill in the state featuring dual water wheels. The present gristmill structure contains 19th and 20th century milling equipment that is still in operating condition. 

Many Civil War battles took place in the Bunker Hill area. Three of the town’s original church buildings, badly damaged during the Civil War, still stand today. In 1890, freed African American slaves established “Black Row,” a residential area in town. Only a few of the buildings remain."

Across the road from the mill is the old Mill Creek School. I did not find information on this building but it looks like it may have been moved here (rescued) from another location.

More Links:

• Washington Heritage Trail
• My post on Boydville
• More posts about Mills
• Library of Congress Photos of the Mill
• Backroads Traveller Blog
• Not So Wordless Wednesday
  

After the Rain

Sharing with Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday.

A Ferry, Flowers, and Hikers.

Random-osity 

Monday Murals

The Good: This mural in Luray shows a ferry which crossed the South Fork of the Shenandoah from 1870 to 1910. The white house shown on the hill still stands and is now managed by a foundation. The house dates to 1760.

A bridge now crosses the river, the fifth one at the site. One of the earlier bridges was burnt by Stonewall Jackson during the Civil War, and its replacement was destroyed by a flood in 1870. The county decided against replacing it for many years, during which time the only way to cross the river here was by ferry.

I brightened the image a little because the mural had faded.

The Random: Now that it's spring, I have a surplus of flower photos, so I made a collage out of six of them.

The Fun: Here some hikers on the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) are treated to a surprise picnic at Compton Gap. The man holding the propane tank is about to grill hot dogs and invited these strangers, who are thru-hikers, meaning they plan to hike the entire 2,190 mile trail. 

The truck has a placard saying Welcome 2018 and the AT symbol. I can't read the rest of it.

I used to fantasize that it would be fun to hike the entire trail, but now my ankles would not make it. 

The Church at North River Mills

 This Methodist Church dates to around 1893. We saw it yesterday when we drove to this small town north of Capon Bridge, WV, for their annual Ice Mountain Festival. I had never been to North River Mills, although I've been to Capon Bridge a few times.

This is in a scenic mountain area that has a rich history. The town is almost deserted now, but the church is still in use.

A history of the church was posted and can also be found online. It includes information on the stenciling around the ceiling.

There is a small balcony that was used by an African-American family to attend services in the early years of the church, when segregation was still commonplace.

Sharing with InSpired Sunday
and Shadow Shot Sunday.

North River Mills Page, Hampshire County.

Goslings and Ducklings

It's family time on our neighborhood lake! Geese and ducks are raising little ones.

Picture #1 shows a goose and gosling. I spotted them from our house and zoomed in. The next photo shows a "stop the car" moment. Often when I drive around the lake I see geese and ducks, but babies are a reason to stop and take a picture! Same thing for the next picture, which I took the next day. Daddy Mallard was just out of the frame, keeping an eye on the kids.

The family of Canada Geese showed up in our yard yesterday. They had gone away after the swan decoys were placed in the lake, but now they're back. The little ones have grown into big kids since I saw them before.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Five from Weber's Nursery

Willy Nilly Friday

  

A photographer friend recommended Weber's Nursery in Winchester. Her pictures showed a pond and fountain so I figured Frank might like to go there. We went today and he loved it! I took plenty of pictures so here are a few. 

1. They have some rusty old farm equipment. I took this close-up with a black and white composition in mind. 

 2. They do have ponds. Ponds with fish, turtles, fountains, and reflections.

3. I was fortunate to get a photo of a turtle swimming, and with a koi too!

4. This is, I believe, a double-flowering hibiscus.  I'm sharing this one with Orange You Glad and Floral Friday.

5. Last but not least is this brilliant parrot. He was in a flight cage and I pressed my lens to hole between the wires. I was pleased when I saw how this came out!