Torrential rain and high winds are preventing the kids from enjoying this trick or treat evening. Some brave souls have made it to my front door but the visits have been few. So sad...

30 Oct 2019

A drizzly evening on the way home from work but this little abandoned building looked vibrant surrounded by waning fall colors.

Ben Glenn II lubricating his vocal chords before presenting his talk on Degenerate Art before a packed house. It was riveting and he kindly donated his copy of the book to the library which I’m first in line to borrow. A great link about these arts here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24819441

I took the day off work to hike through the beautiful autumnal colors. It was a wonderful day.

Replenishing my apple supply. Fresh from the orchard are so much better than store apples. I have 2 a day while I can get these. This farm said they would have them until Christmas, so very happy about that. 

26 Oct 2019

I have a very soft spot for knights and found this dashing specimen at a Renaissance festival in Winchester.

My latest house plant. I’ve always wanted an aloe vera, and plan to use the leaves for various health benefits.

And another one. It’s strange that with the thousands of printed t-shirts that leave our shop each week, a sighting of one is rare. Spotted this one for CarMax in Trader Joe’s. 

Seasonal reading.

Looking down from my perch up on the hill. I love it that I can look out but people can’t see up into my home. 

It’s very difficult to photograph a black cat but Tricksie Treat finally posed for this one. 

Union soldiers discussing strategy before the Battle of Cedar Creek re-enactment.

18 Oct 2019

An fun evening at the Beer Museum with Brian and Carmen, where these 2 nutters decided to strike a pose on the stairs.

Well, I followed the board’s advice and ended up with a bargain purchase, which I will post at a later date. A picture frame. 

Saw this tonight on the side of a car workshop. Not sure what being ‘frogerized’ means but I’m sure it’s good!

The mountains after the rain as I drive towards home. The first chill in the air of the fall, and it got dark early.

15 Oct 2019

It’s taken a few months but it suddenly dawned on me why I liked the room we take our spin classes in. See below. My office on the left and the spin class room on the right.

Used my slow cooker for my first seasonal stew. Pork with brussels, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, black beans and Paxo sage stuffing mix, and left it cooking slowly all day, adding Bisto gravy for the last hour. Washed down with a glass of red. Damn, it was delicious!

Rural fall decorations with hints of autumnal colors beginning in the trees behind.

12 Oct 2019

Volunteers in blue shirts starting to set up the huge beer festival, Snallygaster, in DC.

I managed to throw up some Halloween decorations this evening, first time in years that I’ve decorated outside. Feeling festive.

Dear Mum sent me more goodies from England. Sherbert Dips, Flying Saucers, Aniseed Balls and sticks of rock. Yum! That sugar will help through the last tiring day of work tomorrow before the weekend.

This gave me a laugh at work. One of the sales guys had started an order, overcharging a little bit for some shirts. Hope he edited that before finishing!

More goodies from Mum arrived today. Loved the black cats on her card.

A scene from E.T. In The Plains, part of the village’s Halloween decorations.

Clouds hanging low on the Skyline Drive.

Had a quick look around an estate sale here in FroRo. Nothing worth buying but loved the cat painting on the garden shed.

Practicing my digitizing skills. Simple designs to start but I’m already saving our company money!

I picked up this 1899 print for free today! I had been 3rd in line and was delighted to get a message from the owner saying it was mine. Love Facebook marketplace!

In the car wash!

My fall decorations are up, even though it’s still in the 80’s and humid as Hell.