A Cinderblock Barn

Winchester, VA

 

 

Yesterday at Shenandoah River State Park

Bentonville, Virginia

Mosaic Monday and Good, Random, Fun.

After I ran a couple of quick errands in Front Royal, I went to Shenandoah River State Park to check out the pollinator meadow. It has been seeded with pollinator-friendly plants.

I also went down to the river to see if people were there enjoying the water. They were!

Morgan Chapel

Christ Church

300 yards west is one of the oldest Episcopal churches in West Virginia. Built in 1740 by Morgan Morgan. Five Revolutionary soldiers buried in church yard. Used as a barracks during War between the States.

Morgan Chapel and Christ Episcopal Church are both names for this church. The original church was built of logs; this brick structure was the third church constructed on the property. It is unclear to me whether the marker was moved or whether the original building was farther west, but the old sign is much less than 300 yards from the chapel.

Washington Heritage Trail

Morgan Chapel

At Bunker Hill in 1726, Colonel Morgan Morgan founded the first permanent settlement of record in what is now West Virginia. In commemoration of this event, the state of West Virginia has erected a monument in Bunker Hill State Park, and has placed a marker at the grave of Morgan Morgan, which is in a cemetery near the park. Morgan Morgan's descendants founded Morgantown.

Morgan's Chapel in Bunker Hill, one of the first places of worship in Berkeley County, was erected in 1740 by Colonel Morgan. The current building, constructed in 1852, is the third built on the site. Evidence indicates that the church was used as a makeshift fort during the Civil War, and areas of the walls sustained damage from artillery fire. The holes in the walls are still visible, and writings and drawings dating back to the Civil War are further proof of occupation by both Union and Confederate soldiers.

Morgan Morgan built his cabin between 1731 and 1734. Using many of its original logs, the cabin was restored as a Bicentennial project in 1976. Located along West Virginia Secondary Route 26 west of Bunker Hill, it is a historically furnished museum.

Small Wonders of Summer.

Yesterday I posted pictures of Shenandoah National Park and here's one more. I love seeing fawns; they are so cute! 

The brown thrasher and the dragonfly were both in my back yard by the lake.

Next we have some pollinators, a small butterfly and then some wasp-type insects on some flowers. 

The final photo shows a house sparrow perched on our deck.

Great American Outdoors

This week the Great American Outdoors Act was signed into law. It will permanently fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund and bring much need maintenance to our national parks. 

So let's visit Shenandoah National Park, since it is near to my home and close to my heart. 

Sharing with Friday Bliss and Black and White Weekend.

I love this park for its beautiful mountain scenery, the wonderfully engineered Skyline Drive, the wildlife, the trails, and the smiling people.

Weekend Reflections. Three young men were posing for a girl taking a picture. They are doing the classic "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" poses. I just discovered that the three monkeys meme dates back to a Shinto shrine in 17th century Japan!

Skywatch Friday. The views of the sky from the overlooks are often spectacular. I like driving up there on half-rainy days to watch the clouds change. 

A Little Inspiration.

When I saw Lynn last week, she not only modeled the cute mask I showed on Monday but she also wore this one: Stronger Everyday. It has the pink ribbon supporting the fight against breast cancer.

And her shirt says, "Not Today!" Rosa Parks, 1955. 

Next we see a fence with a hand-lettered sign on it: "Every next level of your life will demand a different you!!!" 

Here's a license plate that I liked. No doubt the owner is pleased to be out of debt. 

In closing, I hope that you're taking time for some recreation. This young man is fishing in a park near Stephens City.

I'm not a fishing enthusiast, but I certainly enjoy getting outdoors. 

A Bird in a Tree

Wild Bird Wednesday in My Corner of the World. 

I think the first two are blackbirds. The third is a crow and the last one is a cardinal.

Outdoor Sculpture in Leesburg.

Tuesday Treasures / Wordless.
 

Charm Random-osity

The Good, the Random, and the Fun.

The Good: We were in Leesburg yesterday so I searched out a mural. "Discover Charm" turned out to be facing a parking lot on Liberty Street. It was created by graphic design agency Sagetopia in 2017.

The Random: Some cute birds are nesting in a little house on our deck. They are shy little wrens but if I sit still I can get a picture.

Mosaic Monday.

The Fun: Lynn has a cute mask that made me laugh! We met for lunch on Friday, staying the recommended six feet apart.

It feels odd having to stay that far from my daughter but at least I got to see her. My other daughter is too far away right now, and so is my sister. I wonder when travel will feel safe again.

Providence Baptist Church

Orlean, Virginia

Inspired Sunday. This pretty white church is on Leeds Manor Road. I noticed some coneflowers by the entrance.

Theme: City People

Themes for the monthly City Daily Photo linkup are decided a long time in advance and “City People” did not seem like a difficult theme at the time. But then the pandemic hit and people are discouraged from gathering in groups. Businesses closed their doors.  We find ourselves in a different and  rather lonely world.

Since I didn't have any current photos on this topic,  I went into Front Royal to take some pictures. The main street is now blocked off on weekends so that restaurants can use the sidewalks as café space. Indoor seating is allowed but only at limited capacity. Unfortunately rain was approaching so only a few people were dining outdoors.

I took a number of pictures using my cell phone, having left my camera in the car because it might make people uncomfortable. I decided to use the image of the woman on a bench as my theme picture because is represents the behavior of many of us during this time of social distancing: she is using her phone to stay connected and her pet is her companion.

Barricade keeps traffic off Main Street.

A band attracted a small audience.

On another street, I stopped behind a cyclist at a traffic light. His vest reads "Lone Wolf. No Club."