Last Month at the Carrier Arboretum

Harrisonburg, Virginia

Wordless and Wild Bird Wednesday

The Inn at Narrow Passage

Chapman Landing Road, Edinburg, VA
 

Tuesday Treasures.

The oldest portion of this rambling building stood in 1862 and was used as headquarters by General "Stonewall" Jackson after the defeat of his army at Kernstown. This is where Jackson met with Jed Hotchkiss and told him, “I want you to make me a map of the Valley, from Harper’s Ferry to Lexington, showing all the points of offence and defence in those places."

The maps that Hotchkiss made proved to be invaluable to Jackson in his "Valley Campaign." These detailed maps are still used today by historians.

New Mural on Mexican Restaurant

Monday Murals. 

When I took this picture in April, the artist was just finishing the mural on a restaurant in Winchester. Unfortunately, the city said it was in violation of an ordinance on signs. They demanded that it be painted over, but citizens protested so a meeting was held. It looks like the mural may be allowed to stay.

The View from Wakemans Grove

Some people like to take the same routes over and over. I prefer to explore and go different ways, giving the old lizard brain a tweak.

Yesterday we had errands in Basye and on the way back I turned onto Swover Creek Road and then Wakemans Grove Road. Here we see Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren.

InSpired Sunday.

The church was build around 1900 on land donated by John Ozias Wakeman. (I found a church history online.) The church grew over the years, and eventually more land was needed to expand the parking lot. That parcel of land was donated in 1964 by Henry O. Wakeman.

This is in a pretty rural area of Shenandoah County. The barn with a "barn quilt" painting stands near the intersection of Wakemans Grove and Swover Creek Road.

And finally, another farm scene for The Barn Collective.

A Fancy Cat and Other Critters

 The cat is one of the neighborhood cats that hangs out at the school bus stop with the geese, waiting for treats. I played with her picture in Photoshop. Perhaps I'll call her "Matisse." I'm glad the Caturday blog hop encourages creativity.

The bird on the shed roof is a mourning dove. The next image has two birds among tree branches.

Also sharing with
  I'd Rather Be Birdin' and Saturday's Critters.

Grackle.

Turtle and Fish.

Canada Goose.

Skies, Bryce, Flowers.

Willy Nilly Friday.

1. This sky attracted my lens, shortly after I took the pictures I shared yesterday.

Sharing with Skywatch and Black and White Weekend.

2. Weekend Reflection: Outside a store in Middletown, Virginia.

3. We still own a house in Bryce Resort where we used to live. Our tenant is making plans to move so we are trying to sell it.

4. We went up to that house the other day to check on work that needs to be done. The azaleas were blooming nicely. 

5. Here are the tulips Frank gave me for Mother's Dy.

Friday Bliss and Floral Friday.

I left the Interstate...

... because I was driving into a storm. I was on my way home from Harrisonburg last Friday and heading straight for a dark-looking storm. I decided to take the exit at Mauzy and go down Route 11 for a while. There are places there to pull off it the rain comes done so hard you can't see.

With rain ahead and late afternoon sun behind me, it was not surprising to see a partial rainbow.

I turned on a country road to see if I could get a better shot. The rainbow was fading fast so this was what I got before it disappeared.

Since I've been in that area quite a few times, I knew I could find the road that goes by Endless Caverns. It's a scenic area and there could be more photo opportunities.

No doubt some of my readers will recognize the big letters on the hill advertising the cavern. Below that is a photo of the gateway to the caverns and campground.

Linking to Fences and Signs, Signs

I turned and took the Caverns Road back out to Route 11, stopping a few times to take some more pictures.

Look who's looking at me through the broken fence!

Steam was rising off the wet road.

A New Home for Front Royal Police.

Valhalla on Wildcat Mountain

Fauquier County, Virginia
 

Colorful Random-osity

Good, Random, Fun.
 

The Good: I saw this mural in someone's house. It has a great vintage look but the room is not that old so I guess it is a reproduction. The character in the center looks like he's from Arabian Nights, and there are palm trees in the background.

The Random: I made this collage of barns in Photoshop for Mosaic Monday.

The Fun: Lynn took me to lunch on Friday for an early Mother's Day meal. She is wearing her Schrodinger equation shirt. No, she doesn't understand it but at least she can name it!

She made me an awesome bag and took a picture of me holding it.

I like to avoid restaurants on Mother's Day because they are crowded. I'm not very patient when it comes to food!

Goodson Chapel and Recital Hall

Winchester, Virginia

Goodson Chapel on the campus of Shenandoah University is shown here on the right-hand side of the photo. The university is affiliated with the United Methodist Church.

The main campus in Winchester is beautifully landscaped. (See my post of April 12.) Here we see a creek that runs through it.

InSpired Sunday.

Thursday at Sky Meadows

Sky Meadows State Park is in Paris, Virginia. These pictures are from the Turner Pond area. I parked there and walked a little way up the Corporal Morgan Trail.

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and I'd Rather Be Birdin'