My friendly deer walked over to say hello before joining her friend and their two babies in the cemetery.

I found the frozen unblinking stares of these finger puppets in an antique mall very unnerving. I didn’t even bother checking the price.

Finally a huge clump of grasses have been removed from the front garden. A couple of friends dug them up and left a bunch of sunflowers. An excellent trade, and now I can plant a native tree there.

Dropped Stanley off at Hyundai for new tires and cycling to work was heaven. Less traffic meant no fumes and it was cool at 7am. I came close to passing by work and just continuing my ride but responsibility kicked in.

A terrible photo because I had to zoom in with my phone, but I was amazed to see this woodpecker in a heavily populated and high traffic area near work. I sat in my car until he was done with this tree and had flown off, my tummy rumbling since I was picking up my lunch.

Dawn rising by Henry House at Manassas Battlefields.

25 Aug 2020

Driving home from the library, a storm approached, dark clouds draped heavily over the town.

Michigan’s Governor Gretchen Whitney wearing a shirt printed by Emblemax

Through the rain a young lad is painting a sign in Front Royal. Great to see these skills are still being taught, this isn’t something you see too often.

21 Aug 2020

How I left my monitors at work. It will make me smile on Monday morning.

A pretty covered arch and hibiscus in Winchester.

And fermentation has begun. Because I cobbled the recipe at the beginning, due to lack of equipment/ingredients, I’m not holding my breath on this batch. But, my love of winemaking has been reignited and I’m planning my next batch already.

Haven’t made any wine for about 25 years but when I saw English elderberries for sale I had to snap them up. A mad dash to check I had all the necessary ingredients and sterilized equipment and then I was off. This must will make a gallon of wine. Now I’ve got back into it, I’m thinking more will be made very soon.

Pretty much what most people do nowadays. Conversation doesn’t much feature in today’s world.

This gravestone near my house is always lovingly tended, and seeing these beautiful bare naked ladies makes me smile. 

Some unusual roof features on my walk around town. Not sure if they serve a purpose or if they’re ornamental.

I love this heavy tile, 12” wide, displayed on my kitchen counter top, sent to me for my birthday by a very dear friend. Especially the bee with the bluebells, top right. I look at this every day, and think of my friend.

And today’s test print worked really well. I just need to adjust one film to intensify the highlights on the truck cab and we’ll be ready to roll in over 3000 shirts on Monday.

Cleaning up a piece of dim before it’s transferred to a screen.

12 Aug 2020

My breakfast, layers of fruit and veg, a dollop of peanut butter, blended to a smoothie with added spices and fat free milk. Yum!

A lonesome tree atop a hill near Flint Hill.

I stopped to get a better look at these long horn beauties in Hume on the way home. To encourage them to come closer I sang them a song. It worked!

The yearly tradition with Emily and Margie, kayaking at Pohick Bay. Lots of weed, and then some more.

I stopped at a favorite antique store near home today, and the few people inside were all wearing masks. Excellent, but still came away empty handed.

A lovely day off work for my birthday. I weeded the whole garden, had immense fun opening all the gifts inside this box from a very dear English friend, a few hours on the phone to English peeps and then finished up with dinner on a restaurant patio in town with another wonderful friend. Bollocks to COVID, I had a great day!

The first leaf this year with fall colors that I’ve seen. I hate this burning sun but I don’t want autumn to come too early.

Made a spicy Indian dish with chicken, spinach, mushrooms and mixed veggies. Very tasty!

Driving down Rte 66 through tropical storm Isaias. I hydroplaned a few times but thankfully the traffic was light.

Adding a handful of straw to my little pond has left the water crystal clear, and seems to have abated the growth of the green weed. My water hyacinths seem to be happy about that.

Enjoying a glass of red while watching the sunset colors fade in the sky.

A beautiful pump house that we explored today with DCUE.