In honor of Halloween

One black cat picture and one jack o'lantern.

Just in time for Halloween

A classmate took this picture of me some years back at the Turner Ashby Monument near Harrisonburg. Now I read that the place is haunted! See the Shadowlands list for Virginia.

A Halloween House

Along Woods Chapel Road outside Mt. Jackson

A Walk in the Park

Yesterday we took Ben down to a park below the Lake Laura dam for a walk in the sunshine. He actually rode in the car without his plastic kennel and he didn't get scared like he used to.

A few more Glen Burnie Garden Views

Glen Burnie House and Gardens in Winchester are next to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley. The Museum is definitely worth a visit but if I had time to see just one of the attractions, it would be the gardens (weather permitting). The manor house is nice but it was added on to so much in the 20th century that one doesn't really get the feel of its origins and there's not even much trace of its role in the Civil War. It does contain antiques and art that were collected and put there (again during the 20th century).

Back to the Gardens of Glen Burnie

On October 16, we took Frank's sister to see the gardens at Glen Burnie in Winchester, VA. (I posted photos from our previous visit there in September.)

A Grey Squirrel in Winchester

Sciurus carolinensis

I just read that Sciurus carolinensis is the Latin name for Eastern Grey Squirrel. So maybe I should start calling female squirrels Caroline. I'll probably continue to call the guy squirrels Charlie.

The Golf Course at Bryce

Bryce Resort, Basye, VA

A Garden at Shrine Mont

I took this at Shrine Mont last month. Shrine Mont is the complex in Orkney Springs that is owned by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.

Inside Virginia House at Orkney Springs

The Porches of Orkney Springs Hotel

The Virginia House, 10/15/07

Autumn at our Driveway

Our View Yesterday

I took these two pictures from our deck yesterday evening. It rained a good bit yesterday and again today. Thus the foliage colors are darkened, but you can still see the bright red leaves among the green ones.

Joan's Pond Revisted

When Frank's sister was here, one of the places we visited was the town of New Market. I took these pond photos but not exactly as they appear here. I've been playing with Photoshop again.


Postscript about New Market: we had lunch at the Southern Kitchen and my companions were very impressed with the pies.

All Dressed up for 1864

Here are a few more photos from the re-enactment at Cedar Creek Battlefield. Actually, this part of the event depicted the Battle of Guard Hill which took place not far away. The Battle of Cedar Creek was enacted on Saturday and I did not attend.

Here we see some of the period costumes worn by participants.


Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz tells an entertaining story about re-enacting and then goes on to explore other aspects of our attitudes on the American Civil War. (The link will take you to the book on Amazon.com. Buy it there and earn me a few cents towards a new book!)

Lecture on Orkney Springs

We are hosting the library program on Saturday at the Rescue Squad Building. John Moomaw of Shrine Mont will present a program on the History of Orkney Springs, including the Shrine Mont Retreat and Hotel.

Saturday, October 27th, at 10:00 AM

Civil War Infantry

These re-enactors appear to be having a good time. However, they must have great endurance to participate in these events in all kinds of weather.

See also my page Encampment at Belle Grove.

Noble Steeds

I've never thought of myself as a horse enthusiast, but I really enjoyed seeing the beautiful horses at the re-enactment yesterday. They were so graceful and well-trained!

However, after the cavalry charge, I thought about all the poor animals who died in Civil War battles and I felt very sad for them. They knew nothing about the politics behind the war and had no choice but to do what they had been trained to do.

Article on Civil War Horses

Re-enactment at Middletown

Yesterday I went to a Civil War re-enactment at Cedar Creek Battlefield (north of Strasburg, VA). Here's a couple of spectator photos and a very brief film of a cavalry engagement. These members of the audience were in costume. No doubt they had participated in living history demonstrations earlier in the day.

Do you see a heart-shaped space in the middle of the photo on the left? I wasn't aware of it until I pulled up the image on my laptop.