Recently Seen Critters

The horses were at Blandy, which has a bridle trail. 

Yesterday I saw the osprey again. I managed to get one decent photo and then my camera turned off -- "battery exhausted."

The trio of ducks was swimming in a pond across from the Fortsmouth Fire Department. 

The pair of ducks was in our community lake.

The squirrel posed well but was in dappled light that was not a good choice for his portrait. 

November Mountains

Life is a mixed-up thing. It brings challenges and pain but also beauty and mountaintop moments ... sometimes all in the same day. 

These first pictures are from Indian Run Overlook on Skyline Drive. There are springs dripping down the rocks, and I've seen them turn into frozen waterfalls. We've only had brief cold spells so far, but freezing nights were enough to form icicles and coat plants with icy formations. 

One of the things I like to do on Skyline Drive is cruise through a picnic area looking for wildlife. Next month the park will close the picnic area at Dickey Ridge, but for now it's a good place to watch for deer. 

Today it was my turn to go to the new medical center in Front Royal. It wasn't for anything major, just a nuisance itch all over my back that turned out to be a kind of eczema. This is the view from the upstairs lobby. 

There are beautiful things to see. I hope you get to enjoy them this weekend.

Peace Quote

I saw this large blue sign/mural in Merrifield's Mosaic District, a locale known for shopping, restaurants, and murals. 

“Peace is not something you wish for; It's something you make,

Something you do, Something you are, And something you give away”

― John Lennon
*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~

Today is Veterans Day, and many of us paused to appreciate the sacrifices and contributions made by veterans. I had a thought: Let's take that $300 million a day that we were spending on the recently-ended war in Afghanistan and give it to our veterans! 

Three Birds Doing their Own Thing

The autumn colors called me to pick up my camera, and I was fortunate that a bird flew into view. I think it was an osprey because it dived down to the lake to catch a fish. Ospreys move quickly and dive suddenly so I've missed getting their picture more often than I've been successful. 

This brown and white bird was in our yard. I think it's a brown thrasher. (Correction: It appears to be a hermit thrush.)

Late this afternoon I got out of the car and spotted a bird on a bush. Dusk was turning the sky pink so I was pleased that the little creature posed in silhouette.

The Stickley House and Saturday's Tour

The Stickley House stood along the Valley Pike during the Civil War and witnessed the Battle of Cedar Creek. It was one of the sites I visited on a history tour on Saturday. 

Tuesday Treasures

This house and the farm surrounding it are privately owned. The owner is an educator and often gives permission to history classes to visit the farm that surrounds it, although not the house itself. I have also visited the grounds on a National Park Service tour.

Saturday's tour was part of a seminar on "The Lower Shenandoah Valley's Border Region during the Civil War." It focused on the civilian experience rather than the military actions. After a lecture at Shenandoah University, we visited sites in Stephens City and Middletown as well as this farm on Cedar Creek, 

Here is a brief look at the morning lecture at the University. Professor Noyalas discussed the years leading up to the war and the arguments for and against secession. John Brown's raid in 1859 alarmed many people including the citizens of the Shenandoah Valley. 

Census records show a decline in the population of enslaved persons in the Valley between 1850 and 1860, partly due to fear resulting from Brown's attack on Harpers Ferry. There were 27,402 slaves in 1850 and ten years later there were 24,779. Although some were freed, many were sold to traders who took them to the deep south 

Red Sunset, Red Roof.

In Stephens City

 

Huntly in Autumn

Huntly is an unincorporated community in Rappahannock County. It is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and is rural and pretty. I was there yesterday for the Fall Art Tour. I only visited the Huntly and Flint Hill galleries and studios.

Mosaic Monday

Monday Murals: This tree mural was painted on the wall of an artist's studio. She was inspired by an apple orchard that was on the property. 

As you can see, fall foliage season is its glory in this part of Virginia.

 

Fort Valley Barns, Trees, and a Church

Fort Valley is a hidden gem and I am fortunate to live near it. Here are a few recent photos from a cloudy day there. 

The Barn Collective

I cannot get there without driving through part of a national forest. I guess that's part of what makes the valley seem magical. 

This is White Chapel UMC. It is near the community library.

Inspired Sunday

On the day I was up there, I could see clouds rising from the valley below. 

A Short Post after a Long Day

Since I'm tired after a history tour today, I'll make this a brief post. I'll share some pictures from the tour at a later date. My phone says we walked 1.5 miles, which we would have been easy at one time, but now that I'm older, it's tiring.

These geese are local and have been on this blog before. 

This deer photo is from last month so most of the leaves were still green.

After today's tour, I stopped in Kernstown to take a picture of the pretty sunset. There's a bird on the wire - can you see it? It is to the right of the pole.

Blog Post 7733

Considering that I publish one post a day on average, this is probably over the eleven hundredth Friday post. Often I catch up on Friday with varied pictures that don't have a unifying subject, so bear with me. 

I stopped at a gas station one evening and took this picture while I was there. Later I cropped it to show that the object in front looks like a flying saucer... at least, it does to me.

This morning I paused on Strasburg Road to capture a view of the North Fork of the Shenandoah in autumn colors.

Yesterday I mentioned that our flowers have been nipped by frost. I brought in my big potted coleus ahead of the drop in temperatures. It has flowers; which is not usual for coleus in my yard because they usually don't thrive for me.

Next is a yellow rose picture that I filtered for variety.

[Side note: I am having difficulty posting tonight because Blogger is behaving differently, probably because I am using a different browser.]

Skywatch:  Evening sky, Massanutten Range.

Scenes, Signs, Seasons

A warm October has left us and November brought frosty weather. These photographs are related to the changing seasons. The first two show decorations in Woodstock: Pumpkin people at a bank and a hay-bale tractor built by young 4-H members. The window boxes were in Fort Valley and the geraniums were still blooming on Saturday.

We had frost on Tuesday night so most blooms got nipped. Soon our only flowers will be indoor plants and fake ones. The autumn leaves are providing color now, and grass is still green so scenery looks wonderful. 

Christmas decorations are going up already. It seems early to me, but stores have to get folks in a shopping mood. 

Whatever season it is in your area, I hope it is colorful!

Sharing with:

 Garden Affair and Signs 2.

Heron and Kitty

This afternoon I needed to pick up a prescription for Frank. As I started to drive out of our community, I saw a great blue heron beside the lake. I took a picture through the windshield because I thought he might fly away.

The windshield is tinted so I pulled into a parking spot to get out and try for a clearer picture. A cat was sitting there, probably waiting for school kids to arrive in their bus and perhaps offer snacks. The kitty seems friendly and did not run off as I approached. I walked past to get closer to the heron.

This heron looks larger than the one I've seen in our yard. It doesn't seem bothered by the colder weather that we are finally getting. This morning I saw ice in our bird bath.

 

Shadows on the Old Pony Barn

Woodstock, VA

  

A Train Mural and Autumn Collages.

Monday Murals: I was delighted to find a railroad-themed mural in Leesburg. It is next to the W&OD Railroad Trail, which is a walking/biking path that follows the old railroad route from Arlington to Purcellville, a distance of over 44 miles. 

Mosaic Monday: Since today is the first day of November, I thought I would share some images of past Novembers.

 May this month be good to you!