Geese and Grackles.

Weekend Reflection, Saturday's Critters, I'd Rather Be Birdin'. 

Today was Saturday and we stayed home. Usually we go somewhere on Saturday, but we had to cancel our plans this weekend. I want to stay healthy as long as possible.

The farthest I ventured out was into the yard to feed the birds. I'm fortunate to have a yard, and as for the view of the lake, that's the reason we bought this house.

I did a little work on my taxes this afternoon. I'm feeling a bit of cabin fever because I am accustomed to getting out into the world. I think most folks are feeling restless.

Do you see the red winged blackbird on the feeder with the grackle? I wonder what they are thinking.

Grackles have bright eyes that make them look cross.

Oops, look who sneaked up to the finch feeder! Squirrels are not supposed to like thistle seeds, but I think the females will eat the less tasty seeds if they have babies to feed.

Around Warren Willy Nilly

It's Willy Nilly Friday and we find many places closed, but I have plenty of pictures from the past week to share.
   

1. Here I'm showing another municipal building. This is the Warren County Government Center located in Front Royal.

Black and White Weekend.

2. A new Warren County Hospital is going up on the new Leach Run Parkway.

3. We are being urged to stay home, so we cancelled a trip we had planned to Montross to meet with our tenant. I'm also trying to cut down on trips to grocery stores, but it is difficult because they are out of many things, so then I have to go back another day or go to a different store.

Several stores are making an early morning hour available to senior citizens to shop. I am not likely to get up before dawn to shop at 6 am!

Today we found enough items to fill out what we didn't find when we shopped a few days ago, so we should be able to avoid shopping this weekend. I've ordered some items from Amazon and Vitacost too. There are a number of things I just can't find in the stores close to home.

4. Skywatch: There's a spot near home where I get a nice view of the evening sky.

5. Do you see the mailbox up in the tree? I'm pretty sure it is being used as a bird house.

6. Floral Friday, Friday Bliss: This tree in our yard in blooming.

I'm glad we have a yard so I can go outside and look for signs of spring! We aren't under the strict rules that have been imposed in California and New York, but it seems prudent to avoid crowds, even small ones. I really miss going to museums and restaurants, but what can you do? Most of them are closed.

Stay well!

Another Normal Not-Normal Afternoon

We're not quite on lockdown here but schools and many businesses are closed. Frank got a call that his prescriptions were ready at the drugstore so we drove there and then went to pick up some burgers to eat. It was my second choice; I was going to order carryout lunches from Cracker Barrel but they were so busy I gave up holding on the phone and drove to Roy Rogers (in Front Royal).

Most restaurants are offering carry-out meals only in order to comply with emergency rules to avoid crowding. Not everyone agrees, but most of us are trying hard to avoid contagious situations. We were able to wash our hands and get carryout burgers. We drove down to the river and ate them in the car.

 Fences, Little Things and Thankful Thursday.

If you drive down Country Club Road and under the railroad, there's a riverfront trail below the golf course. It was a warm afternoon and some young men were fishing. I saw a jet ski and a motor boat go by.  

We only took a very short walk, reaching a spot where Crooked Run meets the Shenandoah River.

I'm glad to be able to do some normal and pleasant things, even though so many things are not available right now.

How We're Coping

With Social Distancing.

We're staying home most of the time. I've been spending time on the internet, pulling my tax information together, feeding the birds...

Here the trail cam took my picture after I put the card back in it and was watching to see if it worked. It did, but only for about six pictures. I don't know why. I reset it today to try again.

I feed the birds and in return they pose for me. I have a zoom lens and Photoshop, so I can make the subjects look closer than they really are.

Here we see a gold finch and a Carolina Wren, followed by a pair of cardinals. I'm also showing some blossoms from a tree in our yard.

Sharing with Wild Bird Wednesday and Wild Wednesday. 

We do venture out to buy food and other necessities. It's impossible to get everything at one store because they are sold out of some items. 

Signs, Signs: I noticed these signs at 7-Eleven. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they recommend using a napkin to touch screens and nozzles, and you cannot bring in your own cup to fill.

I'm washing my hands frequently and I keep a pack of pre-moistened wipes handy for between wash-ups.

The final picture shows a decorative sign that I spotted on a corner in Front Royal. I love it when I come across something delightful!

Historic Garden Week is Cancelled.

Garden Week Tours have been cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. These photos are from a previous tour that I never got around to posting.

Quiet Times, Nice Scenery.

Random-osity

The Good: I like seeing a mural decorating a construction zone! This one is in Winchester. The quote is from John F. Kennedy: "We choose to go to the moon not because it is easy but because it is hard."

The Random: Here are two pictures of barns in Fauquier County.

The Fun: I'm spending most of my time at home, so fun is a quiet thing right now. We are avoiding crowds and really any unnecessary contact with people. After all, there's a public health emergency and we don't want to contribute to it!

I do enjoy seeing the birds that visit our yard. I've been feeding them all winter so they are regular visitors.

Birds seen from my window.

Mosaic Monday and Blue Monday.

Today in Linden

Although we aren't quarantined, we are spending more time at home and avoiding crowds. No one wants to join a pandemic!

Today I drove out to Linden. The farmers market had their first day of the season yesterday and beef was on sale. Since our local grocery supermarket had very little beef yesterday, I decided to go to The Giving Tree, support their market, and get a steak. I wound up also buying a painting from their art gallery.

The painting is Mother and Child by Isabel Brock Caudill. There was also a painting of deer that I liked by the same artist.

There's a historical marker near the store. This is across from the Post Office.

I drove just a little farther on Route 55 and found a cute church to photograph. This is the Linden United Methodist Church. It was built in 1955 to replace the original church after a fire.

Sharing with Inspired Sunday.

Healthy March Critters

Blog Post #7090, Bird Post #802.

Here we are in a health crisis, with a severe virus breathing down our necks. We've been urged to avoid crowds and even avoid socializing in order to slow the spread of Covid-19.

Fortunately we can still enjoy nature. And it's probably helpful to get outdoors where the sun can boost your immunity and bake those viruses right off your skin!

The turtle was the first one I've seen this season. He must believe it's spring! I hope he has a plan for cold weather because we are getting some sleet tonight.

Th man walking his dog is multi-tasking, but the cute pup doesn't seem to mind.

Ducks do not observe a "social distance" of six feet. They look serene and unruffled.

Linkups: Weekend Reflection, I'd Rather Be Birdin' and Saturday Critters.

The deer looks serene too. Shenandoah National Park is still uncrowded, and temperatures are cooler than in the valley so it looks like winter there. Buildings are starting to reopen, with Byrd Visitor Center now open on weekends again.

Mr. Squirrel is both a hoarder and a greedy customer. If he were a person, he'd not only have a full cart, he'd cut in front of you in the grocery store!

It's rare that I see a mourning dove on a feeder, but I guess it's a matter of finding a place to balance.

The junco posed on a log. It's actually an old piece of firewood that I brought over from the woodpile to use as a prop. It is easily visible from the window so I can take pictures of birds on it.

And for a grand finale: a cat picture that I filtered in Photoshop! I haven't participated in Caturday in a while and it is fun to do something creative and a bit wild. 

Friday Randoms include a Photo Show.

Willy Nilly Friday.

1. Black and White Weekend: Oak leaves in a chain link fence.

2. Skywatch: Yesterday's sunset.

3. Purple pansies for Floral Friday and Friday Bliss.

We seem to be having an early spring. I don't recall one coming this early. Well, our weather could still go back to winter. I've seen snow in April here in Virginia.

4. Here's a quote from famous writer Earl Nightingale:

"Success is not the result of making money."

5. I know I've posted a picture of Strasburg's Town Hall before. This one is to introduce a photography show that's there right now. The rest of today's pictures are from the reception this week for the show's opening. 

I have three photos in the show. Here I'm posing with two of them. On the left is the ice cream shop.  On the right is a railroad bridge over the Shenandoah River. I'm posting the third one below.

Several candidates for Mayor of Strasburg dropped by the show. The young lady in today's final picture is candidate Brandy Bois.

The current mayor became controversial when he had an accident while driving under the influence. I'm not going to recount the story except that when I say that I'm going to run into the library, I don't mean it literally!

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Have a good weekend and stay well!