Pavilion at Blandy

At the State Arboretum near Boyce, Virginia

Sharing with: Weekend in Black and White

Basket-Maker at Work

This man was demonstrating his craft at a September festival. I'm posting his picture now for the current City Daily Photo theme: Worker.

Handwoven baskets are a popular gift item here in the Shenandoah Valley.  I did not ask the gentleman if this is a full-time occupation, but in my imaginary scenario he is semi-retired and supplements his income with selling these at craft shows and through shops specializing in Virginia-made products.

Sharing with: City Daily Photo

and Weekend No Rules Blog Hop

Chapel at Randolph-Macon Academy

Boggs Chapel at Randolph-Macon Academy

in Front Royal, Shenandoah Valley, VA

(Photographed Oct. 30, 2014)

Sharing with: InSPIREd Sunday

and Sundays in My City

How Now Brown Cow?

Or perhaps I should say sepia cow...

although actually she was a nice black and white cow!

Sharing with: Sepia Saturday

and Saturday's Critters

Sunset with Excavator

This caught my eye while I was stopped at a red light. A new bridge is being built in Front Royal to replace the old one over the South Fork of the Shenandoah. Here construction is underway to add lanes to Route 55 as it approaches the new bridge.

Let's look at a wider view of the scene.

Sharing with: Skywatch Friday

Trees by a Pond

Last week I went to the ophthalmologist in Winchester (Virginia) and while I was waiting for my dilated eyes to return to normal, I took some pictures. (I also ate lunch in my car and then drove a short distance to have the tires rotated. Then I went to the store before driving home.)

The pond did not look very promising from the parking lot but I once took some nice photos there in the winter and sure enough, when I walked up to it I found some pretty scenes.

Sharing with: Orange You Glad It's Friday

Fisher's Hill Fences, September

Sharing with: Thoughtless Thursday

and Good Fences

Our Thanksgiving 2014

Dave and Allison

Frank Shares Photos of Italy

My Sister and Me

From my Files: Patient Dog, Little Boy

Sharing with: Black and White Wednesday

and Wordless Wednesday Blog Paws

First Snowfall of the Winter

Today was our first real snow of the season. Predictions sounded a bit worrisome, because 5 to 8 inches of snow can cause traffic problems and power outages. While there were some of both, I was not affected very much. Our power only flickered, and although I did go out this afternoon, the traffic was not unbearable. Temperatures were above freezing so snow on the roads melted fairly quickly.

I had put out extra bird food yesterday so the little creatures showed up today to reward me by posing for pictures.

Sharing with: Reconnect with Nature

and Wild Bird Wednesday

Views from Strasburg on October 29

Sharing with: Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday

and Nature's Footsteps/ Catching the Light

Photo Op with Dinosaurs

On our way back from lunch in Rippon, we stopped at Dinosaur Land to take a few fun photos. We also did a little shopping in their gift shop.

I've posted images from Dinosaur Land before. It's not very far from home.

Sharing with: Our World Tuesday

Good, Random Fun, and Enjoyable

Sharing with: Good, Random, and Fun.

Good

Teach Children to Be Kind to Animals

Random

Trees near, Boyce, Virginia

Fun

Peggy, Marie, Lynn

It's always fun to get together with my daughters and my sister.  Here we are at John's Family Restaurant in Rippon, WV.  (Marie and Lynn refused to smile because they think I take too many pictures. It's kind of a family joke!)

Earth Allegiance Mural

In Sperryville, VA

This lovely mural can be seen from the parking lot at River District Arts. I was surprised to read that it was a school project!

Mural Design and Artwork Created by Students

From Belle Meade, Hearthstone, and R.C.E.S.

Rappahannock County, Virginia

"With this vision we unite all people of the world through a common pledge. This community art project created to honor Earth Day, was designed to emphasize the urgent need for continued environmental and wildlife conservation for all life forms, many of which are already endangered or on the verge of extinction. It is intended to recognize and support the National Park Service, as well as other countless organizations and individuals in our communities that dedicate efforts to preserving and protecting nature. Illustrated here are only several of the over 500 known or likely known species native to the Shenandoah National Park and surrounding areas which can be found listed in the Biota of Virginia Database as a “Concern for Conservation” by the Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service or vafwis.org. We encourage others around the globe to come together in celebration and commitment and use this mural as a template to illustrate the myriad of endangered species native to their own parks and backyards."

You can actually see photos of children working on the mural on the Living Sky website.

Sharing with: Monday Murals

Lynn in her Teens

In honor of Lynn's birthday, I'm posting a couple of old portraits of her. I took these photos back when I was taking a class in Studio Lighting at Northern Virginia Community College.  (I took many photo classes there.) 

Later I learned that she thought she was unattractive as a teenager! It seems sad that she did not realize she was pretty.

Sharing with: Weekend No Rules Blog Hop

Rose, Shadows

These roses have fallen victim to winter since I photographed them on November 11. Even then they were almost finished, but I liked the shadows on the wall.

Sharing with: Shadow Shot Sunday

and Today's Flowers

Waiting at the Veterinary Office

"Maybe if I hide, they won't know I'm here!"

Sharing with: Sepia Saturday

and Camera Critters

Yes, It's Cold!

It's been unusually cold for November. I spotted this frozen fountain in Strasburg, but got to wondering after I took the picture: "Is it real?" I mean, it could be some sort of holiday decoration!

I did not want to enter someone's yard to find out. What do you think?

Sharing with: Skywatch Friday

A Selfie from my Photo Class Days

Sharing with: Black and White Weekend

Beautiful Downtown Wardensville

Wardensville is in West Virginia but it's less than 30 miles from home. It's the first town we reach after we cross the mountain on Route 55.

This picture of the Visitor Center is unremarkable but I'm including it for two reasons.

1. It has a fence, qualifying it for the Good Fences blog hop.
2. It introduces the second photo! 

I love the weather vane that's on top of the Visitor Center.  I'm sharing this with Look Up, Look Down. 

Next door is a cute shop that sells coffee, crafts, and collectibles. 

Don't Take My Sunshine Away

Sharing with: Thoughtless Thursday

Duck on a Rock

I believe these are mallards. Did you notice the other duck on the grass?

Sharing with: Wild Bird Wednesday

and {Reconnect with Nature}

and Black and White Wednesday

Sign on an Old Building

Stephens City, VA

The ink, of course, refers to tattoos. I'm not a big fan of them or anything painful, but then, I don't even have pierced ears.  Both forms of body art have roots that go back into prehistory, so I suppose they have tradition on their side.

Sharing with: Signs, Signs

Last Month in Basye

Sharing with: Our World Tuesday

and Wordless Wednesday on Tuesday