Grouped Collages

Many of these images have appeared here individually, although not recently. They’re all fairly simple in the sense of being uncrowded. The water scenes appeared on this blog in years past.

Stairwell, mountains, bird on snow, beret.

Mosaic Monday

The trees in the fog are from early yesterday morning, and the river image is from this afternoon. In the final collage, the hot air balloon was yesterday, and the oak leaves picture is from a few days ago. The other pictures are from previous posts.

Dog, Cat, Sheep, Deer

Charlie likes it when his friend Tripod shows up.

Tripod is a sweet cat with one front leg instead of two. He walks with a sort of limp and hop.

Caturday/ Saturday Critters

These sheep are on a small farm between Woodstock and Edinburg.

When I visited Shenandoah National Park on Monday, I saw deer at Big Meadows.  You can usually see some there, except when there are too many tourists for them to feel safe.

I stopped for some who looked like they were about to cross the road, but this happened just as I raised my camera. 

Then they did cross the road.

My final picture shows a statue in front of the visitors center. No doubt I’ve shown it before. This represents the CCC workers who did so much of the original work on the park in the 1930s. I am grateful for their fine work. They built a beautiful park.

The Indian Attack of 1766

Since today's CDP theme is "Local history," I drove over to Narrow Passage Creek to expand upon the story that is told on this sign.

A series of conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, including the French and Indian War, the Cherokee War, and Pontiac’s War, occurred along the western frontier of the colonies. The last documented clash in the Shenandoah Valley took place nearby in 1766. A small band of Indians attacked the Sheetz and Taylor families as they fled for safety to the fort of Woodstock. Mathias Sheetz and Taylor were both killed, but their wives used axes to fight off the Indians and escape with the children. 

This historical marker stands beside US 11, the Valley Pike, which followed a major Indian trail. In the early 1700’s, "Colonial governors wanted a buffer between the French and their Indian allies in the Ohio River Valley, and the primarily English settlers in eastern Virginia." [Source: NPS] German and Scotch-Irish Immigrants were encouraged to settle in the Shenandoah Valley to farm and build communities in this buffer zone. 

The attack described on the sign occurred after the French and Indian war ended. The French had left the Ohio Valley, but the native peoples were not ready to give up their ancestral territory.

The Sheetz family had settled here next to Narrow Passage Creek where it joins the Shenandoah River. Mathias Sheetz and his wife were both born in Germany and came to Pennsylvania as children. They met and married in Philadelphia, and eventually settled here in Virginia. Mathias built a mill on Narrow Passage Creek. After he was killed, his wife ran the mill. You can read more of the dramatic story on the FindaGrave website. (There’s an interesting old article in the illustrations.)

Reflection, Black and White 

This afternoon I drove down to the boat landing where the creek joins the river. The rain had just stopped so the light was not very bright. But I wanted to show you Narrow Passage Creek. The mill is long gone now, although it operated until the 1920s.

The creek (left) joins the North Fork of the Shenandoah 

I actually posted a picture  of this historical marker before, but it was in 2009. And that post, I chose to give a little background of the marker and how it happened to get changed.

Note about CDP: City Daily Photo is a group for photo bloggers. Participation has been declining, so if you post photos daily, or several times a week, please consider joining. I have really enjoyed seeing the excellent photos there. Theme Day is just once a month, so you are free to post on a variety of topics.

County Line at Swift Run Gap

This sign stands next to U.S. 33 near the crest of the Blue Ridge. Skyline Drive crosses on the overpass,

On one side of the historical marker is an introduction to Rockingham County, formed in 1778 and named for the Marquis of Rockingham, British statesman. The other side of the marker is at the entrance to Greene County, "named for General Nathanael Greene, commander of the Army of the South in the Revolutionary War."

At the nearby entrance to Skyline Drive, there is still a sign warning you that fires are prohibited and to report any fires. Recent rains helped crews to get nearby fires under control, but there remains a danger of wildfires. We are in a drought, and the forests are very dry.

Here is a view from a nearby overlook on Skyline Drive.

Dove and Chickadee on a Rail

November Birds

Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee

Wild Bird Wednesday

 

The Stage at Washington School

Rappahannock County, VA

Wordless / Tuesday  Treasures 

 

A Beautiful Little Library

This book-sharing box is a new addition to the children's area at Seven Bends State Park.

This was built by Eagle Scout Joseph Kohrs. The lovely artwork was done by local artist August Hoerr.

Monday Murals / Mosaic / BlueMonday

Eagle Scouts have done a number of projects for our local parks.

It wouldn’t be right to do a post about the park without showing pictures of the Shenandoah River, would it? 

A few bonus scenes.

Heritage Festival at Trinity Brethren Church

It’s been a month since I went to the heritage and craft show in Fort Valley and I just realized I never shared my pictures. I didn’t take many because Charlie was with me and tugged on the leash in excitement.

The location was a charming church near Fort Valley Museum. It is in a long but narrow valley, still rural in character. Fort Valley is walled off from the rest of Shenandoah County by the Massanutten Mountains.

On display was an old buggy that belonged to a man named Jacob Munch, who sadly was killed in an accident while driving the buggy in 1928. The buggy was taken to his barn and not driven again.

If you have never been to Fort Valley, and find yourself near Strasburg or Edinburg, I recommend taking a side trip to drive through it. The scenery is delightful!

Charlie’s Thanksgiving

Charlie here. I just had my second Thanksgiving. It has something to do with Marie and Lynn coming to our house. They eat and laugh and play with me. I get some extra food.

Marie went to the state park with us. She took a picture of me with my mom.

When we were home, I heard a cat outside. I told Mom I wanted to go out, and she was a little surprised to see the cat waiting for me. Tripod came right up to me.

Yesterday we went in the car, and Marie sat next to me, so I kept my harness on for her. We went to the dog park at Bryce Resort and played ball. That was fun.

Monochrome #684

Street Scene