An intense, burning sunrise this morning, that made the commute a little more bearable.

I cleaned up this cute logo that I found on a sample card in an abandoned rayon factory. It may end up on a t-shirt.

A fun example of the rubbish files I have to deal with at work. What they want is on the left, and the file I opened is on the right. A classic example of ‘wanna be’ designers. It took me an hour to produce a printable file. 

The Shenandoah, on my drive home, tonight.

Saw this display today in a gift shop. Really don’t understand why books have to be banned; there’s some excellent reading here.

The Wilson’s Motor Court, from the 50’s, was abandoned for years, but has now been renovated. Shelly, the new owner held an open day today for us nosey town residents, and it was packed. This is one of the 5 remaining chalets of what’s now known as The Trellis.

A photo, taken by someone walking up in the cemetery early this morning, while I was asleep in my house, the one with the blue roof. No information has been given yet, but, it’s been suggested that no-one was hurt.

23 Nov 2023

Another superb Thanksgiving feast with my friends, Bill, Jen and their family. Bill, holding a sign here, since some guests had gone to bed, meaning the downstairs bathroom was now off limits, any pit stops were to be made upstairs.

I had rescued a small bug in my office, and was releasing it outside by some trees, when I spotted these cones on the ground. They’re cedar rose cones, from a pine tree native to India. I’ve never seen them before, but picked up all the ones I saw. They’re so pretty! 

21 Nov 2023

Raining hard on the way home. It rained all day and night to give us a badly needed 2” of rain.

We cleared out a warehouse at work that we’re taking over, and I found this painting that I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to keep or not. When I left for home this afternoon, I saw it up in the tree outside our shipping warehouse. Made me laugh out loud!

Brunch with a friend at Strasburg. A delicious quesadilla with a Bloody Mary. 

I went to a superb presentation with Archeologist, Mr. Mike Johnson, about the jasper ridge area in Front Royal, where paleo settlements have been discovered and unearthed by archaeologists.

Hanging out with friends, town councilors and local business owners, a regular Friday event. I tried boiled peanuts for the first time, and was surprised that they tasted a bit like boiled potatoes. Not bad, but I wouldn’t seek them out!

16 Nov 2023

While clearing out a warehouse that our company is taking over, I found a carrier filled with these metal miniature battle figurines. Many have been painted in great detail. I’ve pulled out some to keep, but not sure what to do with the rest yet.

There’s a big, life-size plastic horse in our local farm store and, every time I go in, I want to get on it.

My office looks like a war zone, having a new extractor fan put in.

Tricksie Treat making a statement, I am the Queen of Blackness, the Dark Daughter, the Excellence of Ebony.

The first of the loofahs to be processed. This was one, about 18”, that I cut in half. I stripped the thick green skin off it, washed out the seeds and gunk inside, rinsed and wrung it out many times before hanging in the basement to dry out. Quite a few people have reported theirs going moldy, so we’ll see how mine turn out. I’m hoping they’ll be OK next to the oil furnace.

On Veterans Day, our tree warden group gave away 350 native trees to locals. Here, a veteran has chosen 2 loblolly pines, with Melody, our president, laughing in the background. The event was a huge success, with only 7 swamp oaks left over, which will be planted along Happy Creek.

With friends at an underground bar in town, listening to Marshall Tucker and America, with the owner on harmonica. This night will go down as a special memory, good FroRo friends, superb music and a wonderful host.

Working from home today, and came downstairs to see the girls perched here, enjoying the sunshine. I wonder if this is a daily habit.

My weeping cherry is still hanging on to its orange and brown leaves. 

Ox-eye sunflower seed heads outside the kitchen door provide welcome food to birds in the winter months.

A couple of handsome chaps I met on my travels today in Rappahannock county.

A beautiful, warm autumn day, to get the roof repair done. Ready for the snow that will hopefully come this winter. A lovely view from up here of the cemetery and the neighbors.

This wide load trucks are becoming more frequent on Rte 66. I wish I had the time to follow one of them to see where it ends up.

From the top of the cemetery, where the confederate and unknown soldiers lie, looking across to the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Very busy at work, with this press printing a huge order, ready for pick up this afternoon.