Year Old and New

I've seen better years, but 2016 is about to end. I'm not terribly optimistic about 2017. Perhaps I can get to some more of our beautiful natural areas ... while they're still there! Guess I should start with the lowlands like our barrier islands; they'll be the first to flood! We've been to Tangier Island and the residents are well aware that their homes are at risk. And of course we've been to Chincoteague many times and neighboring Assateague.  Wonderful places! 

Oh well, there is beauty to see and I am fortunate to be surrounded by it.  

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
~ Matthew 6:26

I hope that you, dear readers, have many opportunities to enjoy our natural world in this coming year.

And may we all get along with our neighbors! 

And have fun! 

Best wishes for a peaceful and satisfying year.

Five for a Post-Christmas Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

1. New Year's Eve is tomorrow! It's just about time to take the tree down.  I wish you all a peaceful and rewarding new year!

Friday Greens

2.  My post that got the most hits for 2016 was George Washington National Forest.  It starts off with this picture but I don't think that has anything to do with it's popularity. The post just happens to get hits from people who were searching the web for information about the national forest.

3.  Skywatch Friday: Yesterday started off rainy but the sun came out. I caught the bright sky at Rapid Rehabilitation in Front Royal, where I had just received advice on avoiding further foot injuries. Since there isn't a cure for hyper-flexible ankles, I'm working on better balance.

4. Yoga anyone?

We've had ice on the lake. We had snow flurries today but no accumulation.

Sharing with Weekend Reflections and Orange You Glad It's Friday

5. Flash likes his crate. Sometimes he just goes in there to rest.

Pet Parade

December Fences, Shenandoah

At Cool Spring Battlefield

Near the South Fork of the Shenandoah

Sharing with Fences Around the World

A Pond at Cool Spring

Skyline Drive on a Nice December Day

On the day before Christmas, we took Marie to Woodstock, Edinburg, New Market, and Shenandoah National Park. We didn't have much time in the park before dark but I stopped at Range View Overlook, one of my favorites. Marie and I both took some pictures of the clouds hanging in the mountains.

Here's a view from another overlook taken on a different trip. This is around milepost 7,  looking west here toward the Gooney Manor area.  

Back in October I drove through that area to see the scenery up close. I think I found the same barn! It's on Poor House Road near Browntown. 

I'm sharing that with Tom's barn linkup. And for his Tuesday Treasures, here's the visitor center on Dickey Ridge in Shenandoah National Park. Right now it's closed for the winter.

Before I leave Dickey Ridge, let me introduce one of the permanent residents.

Christmas Collage

Christmas is over and I have quite a few pictures, so I combined a bunch of them into a collage.  Click on it to see a larger version.

Marie, Lynn, Me, Allison and Various Decorations 

 Sharing with Seasons

We Saw Santa!

Last night we saw Santa at the shopping center! Later he came through our neighborhood, still riding on a fire truck followed by an ambulance. I watched the vehicles go past, reflected in the lake.

Sharing with Weekend Reflections

This morning Allison and Dave joined us. Marie was already here. Lynn arrived after lunch.

Lynn has a running joke that she wants "a hippopotamus for Christmas." Marie and I both took her up on it.

Lynn gave her sister some kitchen items and also a cute toy dog.

I hope everyone enjoyed contact with their family today!

Ready for Christmas

Looks like the cardinals are ready! They are wearing red and green.

The horses are dressed brightly for the holiday.

I guess the deer are ready. As long as this one isn't called to pull a sleigh, he doesn't need to worry.

The cute little dog has his Christmas sweater, like the woman holding him does.

The male mallards have Christmas-green colors brightening their heads.

Flash is ready to sleep until Santa arrives.

I'm almost ready. Marie arrived yesterday and we had a nice day today. Here she's enjoying peanut soup at the Southern Kitchen in New Market.

Happy holidays to you and yours!

Five for Friday Before Christmas

Willy Nilly Friday

Sharing with Skywatch Friday

1. Lights in New Market, VA.

2. This holiday couple greeted us at the Wayside Inn in Middletown.

3. Holiday lights in our neighborhood.

Sharing with My Town Shoot Out
and Orange You Glad It's Friday

4. Frank purchased this house in Woodstock, Virginia to replace the investment property he sold in Dale City. This one is closer to us and it's almost new. It was a model home. It's now available for lease.

5. I spotted a new sign at Dickey Ridge in Shenandoah National Park. It's aimed at youngsters and features a a dog named Track and a dragonfly named Kip.

Sharing with Signs, Signs

Fences for a New Linkup

"Looking for Identity" is now hosting the Good Fences blog linkup. I am grateful to Gosla for continuing this feature which was previously hosted by TexWisGirl. 

There are many pretty scenes in the Shenandoah Valley that have fences and this link party encourages me to share them.

Woodstock, VA

Near Middletown, VA

Dusk on the Winter Solstice