A group of us cycled the abandoned Pensylvania Turnpike and tunnels today. 

My arm brace arrived from England today. Hand tooled leather with a Tudor rose. Now all I need is a quiver and my archery equipment will be complete!

There's an abundance of these pretty flowers by the mail boxes.

A frosty glass of ginger ale.

The last rays of the afternoon sun glinting on my arrows. 

Mushroom, tomato and cheese omelette for dinner. Yum!

Got a laugh out of this on my bike ride today.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

I found 11 golf balls while helping the clean up the banks of the Anacostia River.

After a hefty dinner of sliced beef and fresh salmon, Kota embarked on a cleaning frenzy while Rosie licked all of their dishes clean.

The beautiful colors of a leaf on my patio. Soon it will be reds and yellows, and oranges and browns.

A few of us met down in Warrenton for dinner to support a local cause. Chipotle was jam packed the whole time we were there and folks were still lining up out of both doors when we left. Good to see such a great community spirit.

A wrecked barn on the way home from work.

Heavy mists hanging in the mountains and over the road on the way to work.

But in 1845 this was a country store. Once owned by a cavalryman under Colonel Mosby, it was then sold to Edgar Heflin in 1899 and remained in operation until the 1970's. This is near Broad Run, just off 55; I've driven past it so many times, not knowing it sat just a few feet off the road. I found out about this from literature at the Warrenton Old Jail.

Had an amazing day on the Shenandoah, one of those days when you stop for a moment and reflect on how good it is to be alive. Here's a few of the gang hurtling through one of the rapids.

The morning shine shining on the prickles of my cactus and illuminating a Kota hair. So now I know he's on my kitchen window ledge as soon as I'm out of the door. And where else I wonder? Maybe it's best not to know.

This was parked outside work, waiting for an oil change at our neighbor mechanics.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

I came home today after hunting fruitlessly through a neighbor's overgrown field looking for some peaches for Maggi and I. There on my doorstep was a bag with a pancake mix and peaches from Maggi. The peaches came from our trees. I hadn't even realized that they were ready! Talk about great minds think alike!

Today I got the coolest card ever from Debbie, Jim and the boys. It's the spitting image of Kota! Of course I knew it couldn't be him as he hates dressing up or posing for photos, the evidence here speaking for itself! 

So my dear old trusty messenger bag which has come to work with me every day for at least 6 years had to be replaced. So I rummaged around work and found this one, k Ickes up a cool glitter Canon logo and ta da! I bet this would retail for at least $75! And it's an original!

Slowly bobbing down the Shenandoah in a tube.

Got a new bow today and some arrows. That's my new recurve sitting on the rest.

Mum had already sent me the beautiful bling card on the left for my Birthday, and then today another one turned up. She saw it in a card shop and had to send it. What a cool card, camera and bling!

Alam looked pretty cool at work this morning having just come from prayers to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Kota looks rather out of breath after blowing up my birthday balloons.

I love these farm buildings that I pass on the way home. I'm not sure if it's the color scheme that appeals to me or the fact that it looks like a little toy farm with all the buildings matching each other.

Had a hero driving in front of me on the way home tonight.

Keeping cool in the shade today and very willing to pose for a photo.

The dome of The Capitol which I toured today.

Amusing mail boxes in Aldie.

Really really bad outfit bin Project Runway with an equally weird couple. They need to go home!