Living Near the Blue Ridge Random-osity

Good, Random, Fun.

The Good: I read that there's a new mural in Elkton and I found it. This shows a mama bear and her cubs and it's on the side of an outdoors shop. 

Monday Murals. 

The artists still have supplies there so I'll have to check back to see if they do more to it. 

The Random: I keep an eye out for informal artwork. This piece is on the inside of a shed door and it just happened to be open.

The Fun: I happened to find a small recreation area that opened last year. Riverside Preserve is on Leeds Manor Road not far from Route 211. It is open on weekends and at other times by permit.

When I went by on Saturday, I got the last parking spot and walked down the trail to the Rappahannock River. Families were cooling off in the water, which is shallow but rocky. The banks are steep. I imagine the fishing is good when the place is not full of laughing children.

Mosaic Monday.

Views near Little Washington

Rappahannock County

This first view is from my archives. It's a nice barn so I didn't want to waste it.

The rest of today's pictures are current scenes, starting with a building in the town of Washington. The town was the first one to be named after George Washington, who surveyed it as a young man in 1749.

Fellowship Assembly of God Church stands high on a hill outside of the town. I drove up there when we were in that area late Wednesday afternoon. I was curious about the view and wanted to capture the darkening sky.  

InSpired Sunday and The Barn Collective.

There is a great view from that hill but the late hour meant my pictures would look dark.

I don't need to apologize for this last shot though. 

Hot Weather, Fewer Birds

Lately I haven't seen as many birds as I did when I was feeding them. All I'm feeding now is a hummingbird, and his visits are fleeting. If I sit outside with a camera, a bird will sometimes show up in the yard, especially a catbird or robin, but others too, like this blue jay.

The squirrels still come through looking for food. It's been a few weeks since I saw a goldfinch, though.

The deer in the final picture was in Shenandoah National Park. It's standing in a patch of milkweed.

Saturday's Critters /

I'd Rather Be Birdin'

Mid-July Miscellany

Willy Nilly Friday.
 

1. Skywatch: A plane flies near the Winchester Airport. 

2. This tall white flower stood in front of a dark wall at Big Meadows so it was an easy choice for Black and White Weekend.

Friday Bliss /  Floral Friday

3. I used PhotoCollage online plus Photoshop on my laptop to make this floral collage.

4. Weekend Reflections: The sun was ready to set when I caught it in a church entrance at Fishnet Boulevard.

5. Here are some handmade bags for carrying hand sanitizer that I saw at Lost River Artisans.

6. The final picture is at Big Meadows Visitors Center like the flower in the second picture. The statue of a CCC worker is wearing a mask to keep him safe from the virus. The thing that struck me is how real the eyes look!

Shopping at Harper's

Harrisonburg, VA.

Yesterday we went to Harper's Lawn Ornaments to get a new bird bath. My old one has a cracked finish and water actually leaks out. The new one is plain white but graceful.

There's always a lot to see at Harper's so here are some sights.

Sharing with Signs 2 and Fences.

Note: This is my first post using the new Blogger interface. I found it clumsy so I hope I get used to it. I'll probably go back to the old interface until they get rid of it. 

Ducks in Winchester

Wild Bird Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday.

The Old Inn at Cacapon.

This is the oldest lodge in West Virginia's State Park System. It was constructed by the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in 1934.

A larger and more modern lodge was built in the 1950's, but this old one is still rented out to large families or groups.

The Old Inn is next to a small creek.

Read about the CCC on History.

Sharing with Tuesday Treasures.

Blog Post 7200

Masked and Unmasked

Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday.

Berkeley Springs Random-osity

Good, Random, Fun.

The Good: This colorful mural in Berkeley Springs is completed. It has been a while since I saw it under construction. 

Monday Murals.

The Random: Nearby Cacapon Resort State Park offers a variety of things to enjoy.

Some of the log structures date back to the CCC days. I remember they were there when I was a child.

Mosaic Monday.

The Fun: These folks were enjoying some time on the main lake.

A note about the name Cacapon: It is a river in West Virginia that takes its name from a Native American word said to mean "medicine waters."  The town of Berkeley Springs is known for its warm springs and mineral water.

See last summer's post on Cacapon Overlook. 

On Turkey Knob

In Shenandoah County.

Turkey Knob is a rounded hill near Quicksburg, Virginia. It's in a rural area west of I-81.

Liberty Brethren Church is on Turkey Knob Road.

Sharing with InSpired Sunday

and The Barn Collective.