Another 3.7 mile hike, this time with Elliott, to finish the year, before we ended the day in front of a blazing fire pit. 

Elliott playing on one of the pinball machines at the Pinball Museum in Roanoke. We both had a lot of fun in here and enjoyed it a lot more than we thought we would. Loved the colors and noise!

The unusual outline of the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, VA, where Elliott and I are spending the night.

A favorite tree decoration, a glass of red wine. We accompanied it with the real thing tonight while watching Star Trek Voyager.

27 Dec 2021

I climbed Mary’s Rock, an all round hike of 3.7 miles with 1210’ elevation gain. Looking forward to the next hike very soon.

Rosie Liscious Lee posing with her Christmas scarf, a present from Auntie Carmen.

Enjoying a glass of sherry before Carmen arrived for Christmas dinner. A wonderful and fun meal.

Colors sparkling from a beautiful chandelier at Elliott’s parent’s house, hanging above us while we feasted on a superb fried fish dinner.

I had to pass this cheery snowman in Marshall again, early this morning, just because I was curious to see if he’d be illuminated at night. I wasn’t disappointed, you just have to smile when you see this guy! He’s at least 20ft tall.

This is the kind of guy I don’t want to be around. He was tailgating cars on 66 and then driving into town I could read all his pro gun stickers, along with owning a pit bull and ‘don’t tread on me’ plates, he comes across as a short fuse.

Reflections and lights, passing and static, as I sit at traffic lights on my way to work.

When I bought this house, these switch plates were everywhere. I’ve replaced many with other ‘art’ plates, but I’ve kept a couple of these as I like the message.

Elliott and I helped lay out wreaths on veteran’s graves today in the cemetery. There was a ceremony beforehand with prayers, followed by gun salutes and Taps played on a trumpet. It was a moving experience.

I love this vintage Christmas display outside the funeral home. They were a bit late putting them up, worrying me that I wouldn’t see them this year, but a couple of days ago they appeared, and I was happy to see them. 

The largest snowman I’ve ever seen, parked outside Johnny Monarch’s in Marshall. This place serves up exceptionally good food.

This little guy has been around lately and tonight we put down a couple of bowls of food which he devoured. We’ll keep an eye on him during the colder nights in case he needs to be rescued.

Another hike on the AT, this time double what I did on Monday, 2 miles with a 463ft elevation gain. I got to the top of the mountain and then came back down as the sun was setting.

Another walk tonight, this time with Elliott at the new hiking trails behind the new hospital. We only covered about half of them before the light faded, and they were better than I expected. This is looking towards town from the overlook.

Back on the AT after work for a knee workout. It felt swollen but no pain. A late start meant I couldn’t go as far as I wanted, but it felt great to be on a trail.

Today, for the first time ever, Tricksie Treat allowed me to wrap her in the covers. She never usually allows this, and did so with no grumbling. Small steps!

We went up on to the Skyline Drive to pass through the clouds that clung to the mountain tops. Always a fun experience, driving through dense fog and seeing the clouds blow right past you.

10 Dec 2021

Rosie Lee helping me work from home. She’s doing the order entry while I’m setting up the art proof.

This pretty building in Markham, along Rte 55, was run down for years. It was restored and became a farm shop, but closed down again, thanks to COVID. Hoping it’s going to be used in the spring, I’d hate to see it fall apart again.

This house in town must have bought the whole of Walmart’s blow up Christmas decorations, the motors hummed like an industrial machine as I passed by.

Shot glass shadow explosion on the front porch tonight. With Jameson IPA whiskey making an appearance.

Waiting for Joe from work to pick me up. I dropped off Stanley at 6:30 for a recall and inspection, planning to cycle to work. But after pumping up my tires last night, the front tire on my bike was completely flat. I only noticed this after I’d locked the car and dropped the keys in the mail slot. But I managed to walk a mile around the car park before Joe arrived, so at least got some exercise in.

Christmas decorations are up! And Tricksie Treat approves!

Rosie Liscious Lee checking out the Christmas tree, the first real Christmas tree she’s seen. So far, both her and Tricksie Treat have left it alone. We’ll see how this transpires…

Houses and shops have been invited to join the Light Fight in FroRo. I love this window in the pawn shop because looks so rustically traditional and will get my vote if the locals are allowed to vote.

I always get a thrill when these big old trucks thunder towards me. This was on South St, FroRo this evening.

The woodlands have lost the yellows, reds and purples now. Only the orange remains before the leaves finally let go and become a brown carpet on the ground. 

The FroRo visitor center has a new Christmas sign. I love it!

Tricksie Treat continued napping while I took a photo. Not long ago, she would have jumped up and run off as I approached her, but now, her trust is increasing.

Loved the bright reds against the pale grasses in the sunlight on my walk this morning.

At a party of a work client, and not really gelling with the younger NoVA sect. But a couple from work were there and Jeff, the host’s brother, was a nuclear scientist, with a sense of humor, so we managed to last a few hours before making our escape.

Down the ‘rabbit hole’ effect on the cemetery on a cold and very windy afternoon.

A perfect Thanksgiving Day, spent with family and friends. Here, with a longtime friend, Bill, in the afternoon. Lunch with Elliott’s parents and then dinner with Bill and Jen. We ate and laughed a lot throughout the day. My best Thanksgiving Day ever. 

The 18ft monument for the unknown confederate soldiers in the Soldier’s Circle and a bare maple tree silhouetted against the sun setting in the cemetery.

Seeing this, while looking for miniature Christmas tree ornaments for my mother, made me chuckle. Tom Baker, the 4th Dr Who, used to live in my village, and often drank in the pub with us. His booming voice could be heard as soon as you entered. “Debby, have a drink!” assailed my ears one night, when I needed a beer to sooth my parched throat after a long fire shout with the Lenham Fire Brigade. He was always very generous. And all my friends wanted a scarf the same as his.

Concentric fern leaves.

Loved seeing so many very happy rescued characters at an animal rescue sanctuary in Winchester. This chicken was very pleased to get some face time, and some feather ruffles.

For quite a few years I’ve wanted a microscope, and today we found this beauty for way less than it’s worth. We only paid $50 for it. Just need to get some slides and stain and soon we’ll be seeing our garden from a different perspective.

I passed a garden today, everything in it died down for the winter, except for one defiant rose, splendidly pink and bright.

An arty play with a photo I took today of a blighted house near home. A shame it’s been left to decay, it has such a pretty porch.

Saw on my walk today that a nearby neighbor had a cord of wood delivered. I miss having those deliveries. I was sorely tempted to start stacking the pile for them, a job I used to love.

Had to stop to admire my favorite view as I drove around the cemetery. The maples up here have had gorgeous color, more so than anywhere else in town,

Working from home this week to help my back. No 2.5 hours of commute and a bed to lay flat on periodically helps. I’ll be good by the weekend. 

We stopped off at a brewery for some sample beers and a pizza after picking up a second door for our replacement fence at the side of the house. Good results all round!

This beautiful Gretsch guitar caught my eye at the Strasburg Emporium today. Extremely overpriced though at $1800, should be around $700. I’d certainly consider having a few lessons if it were mine. 

Kind of morbid, but I always like looking at this vault as I drive around the cemetery, making sure nobody’s left behind when Elliott locks the gates. I’d hate to be stuffed inside a cold dark cage, but I love those green gates. They’d look great somewhere in the garden.