Odd Duck in Bridgewater

This bird has pretty feathers but his beak looks almost blistered. We believe he is a Muscovy duck, which is native to Central and South America. We don't see them often but they do live in the U.S., even in winter time. This one found a place to sit in the North River above the dam.

Sharing with: Weekend Reflections

and The Bird D'Pot.

A Dam in December

Bridgewater, Virginia

We've visited Wildwood Park in Bridgewater a number of times. The sound of the North River tumbling over the dam is impressive and the park offers a pleasant place to walk and watch birds.

Sharing with: Weekend in Black and White

and Scenic Weekends

Holiday Sepia Snapshots

Here are three more pictures from Christmas, starting with one of Marie.

The next two were taken inside a restaurant using available light that cast a yellow glow. I decided they would look as good or better in monochrome. Now they qualify for Sepia Saturday.

Family is the Highlight of my Christmas

Allison and Dave visited on the afternoon of December 24th and Marie showed up that evening. We all went to dinner at IHOP since almost every other place was closed.

In the first picture we see Frank seated with Allison (his middle daughter) and her husband behind him.

Lynn was planning to join us on Christmas Day but high winds forced her to delay driving her tiny car until the wind settled down late in the day. Marie and I decided to meet her for dinner. Again, not many places were open so we met her at a buffet in Harrisonburg called Aroma. We had a decent meal and exchanged gifts.

It's always fun to see my daughters together!

Sharing with: Orange You Glad It's Friday

Fence, Shadow, Barn, Cattle

These scenes are from last month at Frying Pan Farm, Herndon, Virginia. Through the fence you can see some cattle.

I walked a bit closer to take a look at the livestock.

Sharing with: Good Fences

and Skywatch Friday

Christmas with Flash

Sharing with: Thoughtless Thursday

and Little by Little

Happy Christmas

Sharing with: Wordless Wednesday

Northern Cardinal

Sharing with: The Bird D'Pot
and Our World Tuesday
and
Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

Mural of Luray Train Station

The town of Luray has a great selection of outdoor murals. On the far left of this one you can see a sign that says "Another Project of the Luray Tree and Beautification Committee."

Below we see a scene in downtown Luray. Do you see a train? It's crossing the street a block ahead.

Sharing with: Monday Murals

Front Royal UMC

Last weekend we went to Front Royal to see the Christmas Parade and parked near this Methodist church. Some church members were outside selling refreshments and a gentleman graciously offered to show us the sanctuary. Frank said it reminded him of the church he attended as a child.

Sharing With: InSPIREd Sunday 

and Sundays in My City

Nativity Scene Set Up on the Front Lawn

Canada Geese Fly In

Sharing with: Camera Critters

and Weekend in Black and White

Mosby the Cat

This is a feral cat visiting our deck. I photographed him from a window after one of our dogs raised a ruckus, having spotted him through a glass door. Neighbors tell me his name is Mosby and he is one of the cats living in the woods on the other side of the lake.

The feral cats around there are looked after by people in our neighborhood who took them to be neutered before releasing them back into the wild. Animal rescue experts say that this is a good way to handle a feral cat colony because if you turn them in to the animal shelter, other stray cats will move into the very area that they vacated. Cats are territorial and apparently quite opportunistic

Last year Mosby was mysteriously shot with a BB gun and a woman took him for treatment and nursed him back to health. Now he's back in his old territory but he's not so shy of people that he avoids houses.

I think Mosby is an appropriate name for a cat on a raiding mission, likewise one who was wounded but recovered. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Virginia's Civil War history, Mosby was the last name of a Confederate officer who became famous as the most successful partisan leader in this part of the country. (See all my Mosby posts.)

Sharing with: Sepia Saturday and Saturday's Critters

Winchester Discovery

This is the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum in downtown Winchester. It provides hands-on learning experiences for children. Let's take a closer look at that wall! Click on the photo to see it larger. 

Before we leave Winchester, take a look at the grand old courthouse. I took this picture from a parking lot across the street. 

Sharing with: Skywatch Friday

and Orange You Glad It's Friday

December in Old Town Winchester

These pictures shows scenes along the Loudoun Street Pedestrian Mall in Winchester, VA. I made sure I photographed some fences and gates for Theresa's Good Fences linkup. Some of the fences mark the outdoor seating areas of restaurants. 

If you look closely at the second photo, you see an inflatable Santa on the right. He was having trouble standing up so Frank went over to give him a hand.

Here's old Santa again, photographed from the other side. Wait, is he bowing to the church?

The buildings in this part of Winchester appeal to me because they remind me of historic Alexandria (Virginia), where I spent countless hours. That used to be my hometown and it's a fine one!

Sharing with: Today's Fences 

and Look Up, Look Down

Floating Duck

Sharing with: Wild Bird Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday

and Black and White Wednesday

Signs: History, Humor, and Healthy Air

These are not as clear as I'd like because the first one was in a glass case in a museum, the second was taken with a cell phone on my way out of a store, and the third sign is weather-worn. But I was intrigued by them and wanted to share them.

I don't see how we could have an army without music.

Robert E. Lee

Complaint Dept. [at Exit Door]

Healthy Air Zone
Help Us Keep Our Shenandoah Valley Beautiful
Please Turn Your Engine off

Posted at a Gas Station

Sharing with: Signs, Signs

The Finest Reindeer in Rippon

Sharing with: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

A Barn and a Farm

The first barn is along Strasburg Road near the North Fork. A sign says Retreat Center so it's not just a regular farm.

Next we have a nice looking farm I photographed a month ago. I hate to admit it but I don't remember the exact location. It's here in the Shenandoah Valley.

Sharing with: The Barn Collective and Our World Tuesday

Birthday Thoughts

My parents said I looked like Ike when I was a baby! It was the tall forehead. Well, I have to admit I was not the prettiest baby. (For you young folks, Ike was the nickname for  President Eisenhower.)

I grew up thinking I was ordinary looking so I made an effort to smile a lot to make my face look pleasing. It seemed to work.

Once you start to feel old, birthdays make you feel even older. I practically had to drag myself out of bed to face the morning. That may be partly because my aching back sent unusually painful spasms through me yesterday.

For years I kept pretty quiet about my birthday. But you can't really hide from it, and I decided to enjoy getting greetings from friends.

One thing that makes my birthday feel depressing is that it falls during the week of shortest days of the year. I require sunlight in order to feel optimistic. Fortunately, today was warm and fairly sunny, so we took a walk and then had a really good dinner.

Now that my birthday is over, I can entertain myself with Christmas preparations for the next 10 days.

Bottling Works Mural

The old bottling plant in Winchester (Virginia) has been for sale for a long time. A huge picture shows potential buyers and others what it might look like with some refinements, I guess.

Over the door is carved "Coca Cola Bottling Works 1940." I've seen old bottling plants in other towns, sometimes as vacant as this one.

Sharing with: Monday Murals

Today in Winchester

Frank, Parking Lot

Sharing with: Weekend Reflections

and Black and White Weekend