30 Sept 2023

Having a private tour of a local arboretum in our tree steward class. A beautiful bald cypress tree overlooking us.

Our local farm shop has geared up for the fall season.

I rescued this baby garter snake from Malcolm, and it had no injuries, just curled up in self defense. I carried it to the hedge where there’s piles of rocks, logs and tall grass, where it slithered off to overcome its ordeal. My shoe in the photo for scale.

Our local prophet was parading again along South St this afternoon.

A spider’s web, jeweled with raindrops, in the forsythia bush.

A restaurant in Marshall getting decorated for autumn.

The grasses by the pond,  weighed down after 3 days of rain, which was badly needed.

Looking at pines growing at Blandy, during our Conifer ID class. A rainy day meant we didn’t walk around much. The tall feathery tree on the left is a bald Cyprus, which will shed some of its needles and put on a spectacular color show to rival the maples. The tall dark green tree to the left of it is a scented cypress, used in making pencils. The firs on the right are Asian.

Great Friday night fun with new friends Jen and Chris, sitting by the firepit, then playing Joker Hazard. So much laughter!

The back end of the camper, with the smoke tree in the old feed trough, doing OK through the drought, and the loofah vines going nuts behind it.

It’s always so hard to get a photo of Tricksie Treat, because she’s black, and because she doesn’t like her photo being taken, but she posed here, in the afternoon sunshine, and look’s glorious. 

Thai dinner for Elliot’s Birthday. It was a lot of food, so we both took some home for lunch tomorrow.

The penultimate bunch of carrots. Some for me, and the rest for Dewey and Ray, the two rabbits.

On a rainy day, all the cats are happy to share the bed without argument.

At a local craft fair, Carmen tried this butterfly pea drink, made from a vine flower. She loved it but it was too sweet for me.

The iron headboards are finally covered in purple hyacinth vine, native honeysuckle, cross vine and cardinal vine. The deers have been munching on the purple hyacinth, but since it isn’t native, I don’t mind, and food for them became scarce with the drought.

The first time I’ve ever seen a loofah, or towelsponge, flower. These are starting to appear on the trellis, where the vines are growing like crazy. 

Not complaining about the rain, but we had a double rainbow afterwards, and our ladies team came second in the trivia quiz at Pavement Bar & Grill tonight.

The damn groundhog is still finding ways under the back deck, and he’s trying to burrow into my veggie garden. He is fearless and shows no remorse. Time to seriously plan a trap, methinks.

Zooming along Rte 66, a foggy dawn this morning.

Love this little blue glass cat I found at a flea market today.

Day 1 of the tree steward course, learning about pruning from a local arborist.

We’ve printed shirts and these tote bags, which also have embroidery, for the new owner of a major local football team. He’s having a party tomorrow night.

Dawn rising as I enter Manassas on Rte 66 on the way to work.

5 Sept 2023

I was digging baby carrots, in the dark, before going to work. These were a present for Dewey and Ray, 2 bunnies belonging to a work colleague. They’ll likely have the rest of them if we don’t get rain soon.

The Shenandoah in Front Royal, where the water should be covering all the pebbles in the foreground. We’re going through an awful drought, and my poor garden is suffering. Fingers crossed for the possible rain on Friday, (which should have been Thursday). 

The blue-winged scoliosis wasp on the dill. These are fabulous pollinators who also hunt down beetle grub, especially the Japanese beetle. I also see a lot of these on the various mountain mint plants in the garden.

There’s an old building about 40 minutes from home that is loaded with old antiques. I’ve never seen the door open, but have wanted to get in for about 15 years. Today, the owner was outside and let me inside to look around. It was incredible, but everything was out of my price range; this plate was $185. But at least I’ve finally satisfied my curiosity.

Jimmy Buffett died today, which was a tragedy. Rich Follett performed at the Beer Museum tonight, singing Jimmy songs and setting a wonderful mood. David gave out free cheeseburgers and margaritas. It was a superb memorial evening.

We all chipped in at work with food and beer, and finished at lunchtime to get the grill going. Hector was a superb chef, cheered on by Tody.