King Street, also known as Strasburg Road / State Route 55.

East King Street in Strasburg was under repair for a long time. Sewer work next to the dairy had required excavation under the pavement several times, and other repairs were delayed until that project was completed. It seems like it took a couple of years. 

For the last few months I avoided the area, choosing to detour down Queen Street instead. Recently an explosion at the dairy caused a total closure of King Street for a day or two! But finally the street got repaved and the construction crews moved on to other road projects. 

Borden's Lumber and Hardware posted signs celebrating the long-awaited repaving of the street, which provides access to their store. 

Just east of that store, the street passes the Strasburg Museum, which once served as a railroad depot and before that, a pottery. 

Yesterday I stopped at the blessing box across from the museum to contribute a handful of items including a few face masks. I stepped out on the sidewalk to admire the sunset. Here we are looking west. 

 

A Few Flying Things

We had a long hot spell and now we're having a rainy spell. The birds must be staying in the shade instead of posing for me. I have seen a few in trees, plus the ever-present geese. 

These Canada geese were cooling off in the North Fork of the Shenandoah. 

I've been watching for butterflies, too.

 

Edinburg Mill and Museum

This large mill in Edinburg now has flood walls. When you look at shallow Stony Creek next to it, you may find it hard to imagine this area flooding.

Tuesday Treasures

 The mill dates to 1850. It narrowly escaped being burned during the Civil War.

There is a restaurant on the lower level and the upper level houses a history museum. 





 

A Lily Pond in Winchester

 

Yesterday in Warrenton

We drove to Warrenton for a belated celebration of David's birthday. He is married to Frank's middle daughter.

After lunch I went into the historic district to find a mural. Four months ago I posted a related mural and learned that it was one of three history-themed murals by Stewart White. I wanted to find at least one of the other ones. It turned out to be on a different side of the same building.

Here are some close-ups of the mural. The scene is meant to depict Mosby's Rangers, with Mosby sending a message to Jeb Stuart. You can read about this at Three Murals by Stewart Burgess White.

Monday Murals / Mosaic Monday

Here's a new photo of the one I posted in April. 

The third mural is no longer really viewable due to another building that now stands next to it. 

Sherando Presbyterian Church

Inspired Sunday Meme

This church is in the Stephens City area. It was built in 1996.

I believe the flowering tree is a crape myrtle.  They grow well in Virginia, except in the mountains where the winters are hard.

Yesterday in Shepherdstown

Marie was able to meet us in Shepherdstown and spend the afternoon. Lynn and I drove there together.

Neither of my daughters likes posing for pictures but they agreed to sit on the bench wearing their masks. Perhaps I took too many pictures of them when they were children, because I remember that by the time they were teenagers, they often rolled their eyes when I picked up my camera. 

We had lunch at the Blue Moon Cafe, which offers patio dining. We felt safer eating outside since the Delta variant is spreading, even though we have all been vaccinated. 

It was great seeing them again. I even sneaked in some candid shots.

 

Critters and Colors

White Butterfly

  Deer

House Sparrow

Hummingbird

August Color, Waterlick and Woodstock

Shenandoah Valley, Virginia

North Fork of the Shenandoah

The first two scenes are in Waterlick. The rest of today's photos are in Seven Bends State Park.

Pollinators on Mountain Mint

Tag: Pycnanthenum Virginianum

Two Sayings

When I saw the “I’m retired” message in a shop, I thought it was a sign. Now I see that it was a carefully folded T-shirt.

 

Bird Bath Views

The robin sometimes visits our bird baths.

In one of my bird baths, I have a small solar fountain that lights up at night. It has a battery that charges during the day.

 Geese like drinking from our bird baths. I know I showed them doing this before. We had a bird bath near the front door, seen below, which we moved out into the yard because the geese were making a mess on the concrete. They have no manners!

Neavil's Mill

Tuesday Treasures

"This Eighteenth Century Mill was operated by George Neavil. It was still in use in 1932, and was restored in 1962 by the Warrenton Antiquarian Society as a memorial to the early settlers of Fauquier County."

I came across this place by accident last year. I took a back road because Interstate 66 was blocked by a traffic incident. This is somewhere near Catlett, VA. It is said to have been built in 1769. 
 

 

A Deer in Sky Meadows State Park

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Welcome to Wardensville

Monday Murals

Wardensville is just across the mountain in West Virginia. I was delighted to see this bright mural at the softball field. On the side of the building we see that it was Joyfully Made by Youthwork Wonders. 

Let's see just a little more color with a collage from Capon Springs, a charming resort near Wardensville. 

Mosaic Monday

Country Scenes Near Forestville

Shenandoah County, Virginia

Solomon's Lutheran Church began in 1793. I did not find much about it except the old German records of both this church and the Old Pine Church were bound together in one volume. 

Many German immigrants settled in the Shenandoah Valley, bringing their religions with them.