Five for a Rainy Friday

It's Friday night so I'm using the Willy Nilly Friday format to post five miscellaneous pictures. I'm also linking to some other blog hops. 

1. It's pouring rain outside. We had unseasonably warm temperatures today, quite a change from the deep freeze we felt early this week. But I understand temperatures are about to drop again. 

Crooked Run Plaza at 5 PM today.

Sharing above with Weekend Reflections and below with Orange You Glad It's Friday.

2. I spotted this horse near Woodstock late one afternoon. 

3. Lynn is still dealing with health issues. She consulted with a new doctor who feels she needs another surgery. He does not do this rather extensive procedure and recommended another surgeon who is several hours away.

4. The next image is one I assembled for a local photo challenge to illustrate "glitter." I took this using my iPad.

Weekend Green.

5. I took this final picture while waiting for a traffic signal to change in Woodstock.

Skywatch Friday.

Have a good weekend!

Yesterday, Skyline Drive.

The cold spell finally broke so yesterday when we went to Front Royal to shop. I suggested a brief visit to Shenandoah National Park. There were scattered clouds in the sky so a nice sunset seemed likely.

We saw a family of deer just past the Dickey Ridge Visitors Center.

Looking West toward Signal Knob, Massanutten Range

Some January Visitors to My Yard

If you feed them, they will come.

House Finch

Northern Cardinal

Blue Jays

Mockingbird (I think).

Wordless Wednesday: Express Wash

I-81 and the Shirley House, New Market

(Built in 1875.) 

Blog Post #6200

Yes, I have posted well over six thousand blog entries. I began blogging in 2005. Sometimes I think I spend too much time on it. But more likely, I spend too much time browsing Facebook!

I did not make specific New Year's Resolutions this year. I rarely do. I suppose it is good to think about such things, and the start of a new year is a good reminder to consider what you'd like to change.

And I would like to change some things. In addition to spending less time on Facebook, I'd like to spend more time being active. It is difficult because I get tired easily and my feet hurt. The physical therapist gave me exercises to do and I really should spend more time on them. I know why I procrastinate on this: exercise is uncomfortable. It not only brings on pain, it forces my attention on physical weaknesses, and I'd rather think about something else, almost anything else!

It's been over a year since foot surgery and I do have less pain. But my ankles are not strong, and when they wobble I am reminded that I have loose ligaments and may never be able to hike more than a short distance. I fear another injury and this protective fear is probably a good thing. The podiatrist said that it was the frequent twisting of my ankles that caused scar tissue and that awful bone spur that made surgery necessary.

On a more hopeful note, I changed my health insurance so that I can see a doctor who may be able to help. The podiatrist is sending my records over to him. Fingers crossed.

Look Up, Look Around.

Random-osity

The Good: Here's another artsy utility box in Woodstock. "Look UP" is the message.

Monday Mural

The Random: Like Tom the Backroads Traveler,  I delight in collecting rural scenes. I spent my early years in the DC suburbs and my young adult years in the city of Alexandria, VA. Now that I live in the Shenandoah Valley, I want to see as much of it as I can.

Created Using PhotoCollage for Mosaic Monday. 

The Fun: This young lady was enjoying the scenery at Eastham Park in Front Royal. A friend was with her taking photos of the icy Shenandoah River.

Sharing with Seasons

Otterbein UMC in Hagerstown

This Methodist Church was founded in 1790 as a Brethren Church. I neglected to take an exterior shot because we parked right next to the building and frankly, I was too cold to feel like walking far enough away to frame a photo of the handsome brick building. But here is a clipping from the Historic Houses of Worship Tour brochure.

Moller Organ, Reflected in a Grand Piano.

A Good Week for Seeing Birds

This past week was one of the coldest I remember. I don't think the temperature ever got up to the freezing point. At least the big snow did not reach us!

It's rare that I spot a bluebird in our yard, but I saw one from our family room window and managed to get some pictures. Robins are not rare here, but usually I only see one at a time. A flock of robins visited the other day. I suspect they came here to escape the snow that hit the coast.

Speaking of flocks, a huge flock of starlings came through. 

When I drove out to go to the store today, I saw this pair of Muscovy ducks at the school bus stop. I guess they were escaping from the cold winds. We've seen cats in there too. 

This sapsucker rarely visits our feeders. I guess the frigid temperatures made her hungry.

Next we have the great blue heron. I doubt if he caught any fish. Most of the lake was frozen.

Last of all, here's a pair of squirrels.  I don't really mind them taking some of the bird seed when it's this cold. They need to eat too!

Sharing with Saturday's Critters and The Bird D'Pot.

Cold Winter, Bright Scenes

Willy Nilly Friday

1. We took down our Christmas decorations on January 1st. This star was in our kitchen window and it had a yellow cast. I filtered it and then made it black and white. 

2. Here's a flower arrangement to share with Floral Friday and Weekend Greens.

3. I've heard that sunsets are "trite" subjects but I like them.  I exited from the highway to find a spot to take a picture of this one.

Please visit Orange You Glad It's Friday and consider linking up. Participation has been dropping there. On the other hand, Skywatch Friday is very popular, and proves that other photographers like colorful skies too.

4. I had an appointment in Winchester today and went to Millwood afterward to get photos of the ice. Frank took the picture of me. The air was only 14° F.

5. Here are other pictures of the Burwell Morgan Mill and frozen millrace. As soon as we left there, I headed to Sheetz for hot coffee.

Two Months Ago in Woodstock

I'd like to escape from the cold weather for a minute, so here are some photos from the first week of November. It was warm and autumn colors danced around us. The scene was W. O. Riley Park in Woodstock, VA. 

Sharing with Fences Around the World

It's Frigid at the Lake!

B-r-r-r! It's been really cold in Virginia. Freezing temperatures are not unusual here but cold spells don't usually last this long.

And now a winter storm is heading north. It has already left ice in Tallahassee and snow in Georgia and the Carolinas. Named "Grayson," it's predicted to bring high winds and snow all the way up the East Coast. We may miss the brunt of the storm because we are west of the Blue Ridge.

I hope there aren't many power outages. People who live in normally mild climates are often not prepared to live without electricity. A home with no fireplace can get awfully cold without power! We do have a wood stove, but that won't keep our pipes from freezing.

I hope all the wild creatures will be okay in this unusual weather. The geese and ducks seem pretty well adapted to it.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday, Seasons, Not So Wordless Wednesday, and Through My Lens.

Stonewall Jackson at Manassas Battlefield

Sharing with Tuesday Treasures and Wordless Wed. on Tuesday

Link: Manassas National Battlefield Park 

Pictures and Quotes: 2018 Begins

Right now I feel annoyed at Blogger because an accidental keystroke deleted a long post and I can no longer retrieve it the way we used to be able to! So I have to start over, and the good news is, this is going to be shorter. The bad news is it won't be as gentle or detailed because I am feeling stressed over the loss of almost an hour's work. Onward...

I'm linking to Random-osity, City Daily Photo, and Monday Murals.

The Good: The January Theme for City Daily Photo is Photo of the Year 2017. I selected this one from almost a year ago because it stands out in my mind as representing the year 2017. A woman at a peaceful demonstration in front of the historic Shenandoah County Courthouse holds a sign saying "Hate does not make America great."

I'm grateful that we have the freedom to express ourselves.

The Random: I read today's Daily Word in search of inspiration for the new year. The topic was "New Beginning." The essay moved into a meditative exercise: "I move my attention gently and purposefully into my heart space. I become fully present in this moment, taking a deep, conscious breath. I ask myself, What is mine to begin?"

I made an illustration of the idea using a photo of Front Royal at night.

The Fun: Back in Woodstock, the town has encouraged artists to decorate utility boxes. This one has a famous quote from J. R. R. Tolkien: "Not all those who wander are lost."

For the New Year: I wish you freedom of expression, a vision of your life's path, and the ability to wander as you desire.