The Seasons of Wednesday

We spent much of the day in the car on Wednesday. I drove an hour to Harrisonburg, went to my appointment, stopped at JMU's arboretum to see the signs of spring, and took a scenic route home along Skyline Drive.

Saturday Critters / I'd Rather Be Birdin'

At the arboretum, we walked around the duck pond. The weather was sunny and fairly warm. 

A sign warns not to feed the ducks due to overcrowding. The ducks still looked at us hopefully.

Early spring flowers were blooming, including crocus and snowdrops.

As we drove toward the Blue Ridge Mountains, we could see clouds obscuring some of the peaks. I shared a photo of a view yesterday and here are a few more.

We entered Skyline Drive from Route 33 and drove north. In some places we found ourselves in thick fog from the clouds. I kept my camera around my neck in case we should see a bear, like one that appeared on a similar day a few years ago. It was walking along a wall in the fog, and I dared not stop to take a photo because visibility was only about 15 feet so another car could have run into me. But it would have made a great bear photo! 

Temperatures in the mountains were colder than in the valley. We didn't see signs of spring, and there were a few small patches of snow. 

Although we did not see a bear, we did see deer. I watch for them because they can appear rather suddenly, like this young one crossing the road. Since their color provides natural camouflage, you might miss seeing them if you drive too fast. 

It seemed to get colder as we drove on. Here I was a little chilly, but by the time we reached the rest stop at Panorama, a cold wind was blowing and we had to put our jackets on. 

Skies, Trees, Stores.

Willy Nilly Friday

1. On Wednesday afternoon, we went up on Skyline Drive and for a while we drove through heavy mist because we were in the clouds. Then we came out on top of the clouds and saw this view.

Black and White Weekend

2. Skywatch: If you keep your phone or camera ready, you can grab a picture at a stop light. 

3. This tree at Blandy was as yellow as a blooming forsythia, but it is a type of dogwood called a Japanese Cornelian Cherry. 

Friday Bliss / Garden Affair / Floral Friday

4. Reflection: This mirror was on a display of sunglasses in a supermarket.

5. This scene is in smaller store. A young lady is staying the recommended six feet from the woman in front, who is not wearing a mask. 

The people who refuse to wear masks are a reason our country has suffered over 536,000 deaths from Covid 19. All too many people have died, but too many people only care about themselves. Or they prefer their ignorance to science, and deal with fear by denying it instead of handling it with intelligent planning. 

I get angry at these people. Honestly I want to slap them! But they may be carrying disease so it is best to stay as far from them as possible. 

Little Things Thursday: Some Things that I Like

It was the green flag that convinced me to stop and take a picture of this house in Strasburg, but I must say, it is architecturally interesting. 

Finally! I saw Lynn again on Saturday after a four month separation although she only lives 90 minutes away. In November she fell ill with Covid-19 and remained sick for two months. Then we waited until I had my vaccinations before finally getting together to exchange Christmas gifts in March.

My other daughter lives on the West Coast so I have not seen her in well over a year.  I hope she is able to get vaccinated so we can get together. 

The third photo is a LOVE sign at the New Market Battlefield. Symbols of a Civil War battle make up the letters, which seem like an anomaly, but this is Virginia and the tourism slogan is "Virginia is for Lovers." 


 

I like purple and I spied this window while waiting for a red light in Luray. 

Today's final photo shows the post office in Gainesville, VA. Many buildings in Virginia are made of brick because we have plenty of good clay.

A Little Celebration.

Wild Bird Wednesday
in 
My Corner of the World.

The altered pictures show a starling and a male cardinal. 

Next we see a goldfinch and a female cardinal. I have no idea what she's saying. ;-)

Old Railroad Depot, Town of Shenandoah

Page County, Virginia
 

Built in 1883. No longer a passenger station.

 

Boxcar with Graffiti. 

Love, Elkton.

Rockingham County, VA
 

Monday Murals

I found a LOVE mural in Elkton and then found a LOVE sign decorated for St. Patrick's Day.

I don't know if you can see this detail in the first photo but I noticed this dog picture when I had the photo enlarged in Photoshop. 

While I was in Elkton, I located the post office using my car's NAV system (by searching Points of Interest, By Name, P-O-S-T, List). 

I've posted photos of Elkton in the past, including a couple of murals. 

Mosaic Monday

The View from Newport, VA.

Newport is a small town in Page County along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River.  I remember Kite's Store as a landmark along Route 340 in the years ago before I-81 opened to traffic and became the main route south toward Staunton.

There's a boat landing there where people launch kayaks and fishing boats. 

I pulled off there and also at the Redeeming Love Fellowship Church to take a few pictures.

Fur and Feathers.

Saturday's Critters
 

Caturday (Digital Art)

Isn't this little piggy cute? I saw him and the cat at a farm market in Page County.

The squirrel was on the back of a chair just outside my window.

These ducks visited my yard after playing in the mud!

The ducks and geese have learned that I put out seed for the birds. Now they come to investigate every time they see me in the yard. 

This sweet dog was walking with his family in Woodstock. They saw I wanted to take his picture so they told him to sit.

I'd Rather Be Birdin' 

 
The red-winged blackbird has discovered my feeders. Before this week, I often saw him in the yard or in a tree but venturing this close to the house is new for him. 

Spring is Coming!

Here it is Friday again! Allow me to catch up on some recent pictures. 

Yesterday I went to the chiropractor in Woodstock and too my lunch to W. O. Riley Park. From here you can see the Massanutten Range in the distance.

Black and White / Willy Nilly Friday.

Friday Bliss / Garden Affair / Floral Friday

 

 Suddenly we are seeing flowers, especially daffodils. It's funny how the first signs of a new season excite me. 

Our trees aren't green yet, though. I took the picture of the community lake a few days ago from a boat launch spot by the dam.

Skywatch / Weekend Reflection

Last week I went to the dermatologist and she called on Tuesday with biopsy results: I have a basal cell carcinoma on my back. They'll remove the rest of the spot and prognosis is good. It may have been caused by sunburn many years ago.

I first went to the dermatologist in December but this spot was discovered on a recent follow-up visit. Do see a dermatologist if you have concerns about your skin, regardless of the pandemic. This office was very careful and I did not run into any other patients.

By the way, the photo was modified using an app called Illus. I did not keep it after the trial period because it was not as versatile as I hoped.

Next we see a tree along Skyline Drive that my friend Dawn calls the "pig tree." I modified this image in Photoshop to bring out the pig face. 

 

  Today I participated in a virtual meeting with the Friends of Seven Bends State Park Committee. 

For now, our weather has been very nice. This man was kayaking in Strasburg yesterday. Enjoy it; it won't last. Winter is not quite done with us.