A few Audio Books for Presidents' Day

These are good audio books on Washington and Lincoln. Usually Amazon has used copies of these at a bargain price.

Here's another one - no picture was available: Lincoln at Gettysburg: The Words That Remade America

The more I read about Washington and Lincoln, the more I realize that they were truly remarkable men.

The Garden Angel

Frank purchased this angel at a hardware store a few years ago because, he said, she looked like me!

I don't get compared to an angel very often, so I remembered the compliment. I posed my valentine flowers with her for a photo.

Civil War Book Lists

I'm working on an Amazon Associate's Store for my Civil War Website. Right now the books are coming up according to keywords but to make the selection accurate I need to go back and select them manually or create a "Listmania" list of books.

There are pages of books to choose from. If you want to buy a book or audiotape on the American Civil War, visit my Civil War Reading Room.

CPR Course

Yesterday we attended a CPR-AED course sponsored by the Basye Lions Club. Our teacher was neighbor Norm Butman, a Red Cross instructor. It's been decades since I took a CPR course, and back then there were no AED's (portable defibrillators).

The AED is a remarkable machine. It is computerized and once you turn it on, it talks you through the entire process. It can analyze the victim's heartbeat and decide what kind of a shock to administer, if any. Many public places have AED's available in case someone has a heart attack.

You can actually purchase an AED from Amazon.com.

Blue Jay Visits

The blue jays have been fairly shy so I was delighted when this one landed on the rail of the deck and visited our feeder.

Colen Javens

Colin Javens traveled overland from the UK to Cape Town despite a spinal injury that left him paralyzed. I couldn't help thinking he must be a distant cousin of Marie Javins who traversed around the world using surface travel in 2001.

Of course, they spell their surnames differently, but not too many generations ago, name spelling was not standard. They share courage and determination along with a love of travel.

See Marie's book about exploring Africa.

Red Cardinal

Gray Squirrel Cafe

Fringed Cyclamen

Sometimes a dream comes true

I may be jaded about some things, but I've got to admit: I just love the view from our house!

My parents instilled in me an appreciation of mountain views, and I remember longing for trips to Skyline Drive or the Blue Ridge Parkway, places that seemed to satisfy some spiritual longing. How nice it would be to live in the mountains, I thought.

So now we do. And the view is a source of joy and surprise. It changes every time the clouds roll by.

Ice at Bryce

After staying home yesterday to avoid the sleet, we drove out to the post office this afternoon. We took Frank's car which he had left parked on the road - our long steep driveway was still covered in a couple of inches of ice over a couple inches of snow. However, when we returned home, the good folks from Macanie Trucking were clearing our driveway. We have a snow-clearing contract with them, and well worth it. Even walking the dogs is easier after the driveway has been cleared.

I took these photographs along Resort Drive today.

Happy Valentine's Day

Birds on the a Snowy Day

Birds flocked to our feeders today. Snow seems to make them go food shopping like it does to us.

When Lynn saw my bird feeders, she said I was getting to be like my parents. There is some truth to that.

Wintry Mix

About an inch an a half of snow fell this morning, followed by sleet this afternoon. It was pretty to look at, slippery to walk on.

Photo: Ice on the windshield.

It's a hat, not hair!

Frank says this blue hat makes me look like Marge Simpson!

Picture of Lynn

Lynn picked up some furniture today. We also had lunch down at Braxton's.

The Cutest Squirrel

Look at his little pink mouth!

This little guy was so excited to find a pine cone smeared with peanut butter and seed that he ventured within a few inches of our sliding glass door - and my camera.

I love having a flip-out LCD screen because I can hold the camera away from me and either down or up and still preview the image. I'm sure little Charlie would not have let my head get that close to him!

Allergy links

Someone emailed me suggesting a link to Healthopedia.com/allergies. From there I found a link to the Food Allergy Initiative, a non-profit organization that raises funds toward the effective treatment and cure for food allergies.

Also, I ran across a site for Ecochem "An earth friendly company... Nature Friendly Agro Nutrition." Their page on pesticide news summarizes a number of interesting articles: http://ecochem.com/t_news.html.

Talk on Shenandoah Life during Civil War

Mr. Troy D. Marshall will present an illustrated lecture on "Valley Citizenry and the Civil War". Many people are aware of the battles that occurred in the Shenandoah Valley, but may not know much about what the citizens of the area went through at that time. The program will include information gleaned from citizens' diaries, letters, and other documents.

Mr. Marshall is the Supervisor of Historical Interpretation at the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and a long-time Civil War Historian.

This library-sponsored talk will take place on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24th at 10: AM at the Orkney Rescue Squad Building on Route 263 (Orkney Grade Road) between Bryce resort and Orkney Springs - across from Blue Ridge Truss Company


Frank Walcroft is the organizer of the monthly lecture series sponsored by the Basye Orkney Community Library.

February Snow

Yesterday we woke up to find about 4 inches of snow on the ground. The sun was out and the snow glistened.

By afternoon the roads were passable so we drove to the post office and had lunch at the 263 Diner. We also made a drive through Orkney Springs and stopped at the pond to take a few pictures.