I wore these spider earrings today for Halloween. I've had them for at least 25 years. They cost me a lot of money, about £30 as they were so unique. Looking a little worn but I still love them.

A witch for sale at a flea market in Edinburgh, VA. Only $225!

Helping Habitat with Humanity build a house this weekend.

A purple hyacinth bean pod hanging in the night sky like something from Halloween.

I only just spotted this hanging down from above my front door. A snake skin. I saw one a few months ago hanging down by my patio doors. I guess they're living under the roof. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

One of my favorite trees on the way home, stripped of its leaves over the weekend. This autumnal business is happening too fast...

Printing these boring shirts again. For an art exhibition you'd think they'd have a more imaginative logo.

Rosie Lee waiting for the treadmill to start. Poor thing hasn't worked out that she's facing the wrong way.

It's been a snoozy kind of Sunday.

A beautiful but blustery day for a hike on the Skyline Drive.

Amazing sky on the way home from work. The cooler weather is coming, it will soon be time for wood stove fires.

I tried a Kretek cigarette from Bolivia today, made from tobacco and cloves. I kept licking my lips from the clove flavor, which I love.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The boys in production are sorting out ever growing collection of inks. I have a real problem with us having so many since over 50% are a 1 time use, but my complaints fall on deaf ears...

I always look forward to Salamander Farm's Halloween display, and this year didn't disappoint.

That's my boy! Kota Kat Supreme keeping a neighbor's cat off the patio to its obvious annoyance. Rosie Lee provided the vocals with some excellent growling. I gave encouraging words to both who practically strutted back into the house for treats once it had run off. 

Got tickets from the Bossman for the Tedskins v Eagles game. Superb game enjoyed with Steve, Marl and Nick culminating in an excellent win 27-20 with more beers and pizza afterwards.

A beautiful orchid from Al's Orchid Greenhouse near Leesburg, part of the Loudoun Farm Tour this weekend.

I treated myself to an Ox Box from our local farm butchers. You never know what you're getting until you pick it up. I got a boneless chicken breast, a chicken quarter, short ribs, tenderloin pork and merlot steak, all for $30. I had the breast tonight, sautéed with onions and home grown green tomatoes with white wine and a jacket potato. Yum!

Bill and I met at the garden to pick tomatoes and peppers while checking on the sweet potatoes which aren't yet ready. Then he showed me a secret grove of paw paw trees which after much scouring finally yielded one fruit. I ate my first paw paw this evening, it was delicious, a creamy vanilla banana custard soft dessert. Delicious!

Kota refusing to look at the camera for his photo. He looked left and then right, and then left, and then right, and then started all over again, any direction except forward...

Matching in greens today.

I couldn't believe my eyes when this passed be on Rte 66, a modern Herbie!

Sunset on a very windy Skyline Drive.

A successful eagle release near Marshall today. 

A lovely yummy tray of veggies to roast in the oven. Delicious!

My new toy, which will hopefully get me fitter while watching TV instead of sitting. Nearly broke my back putting it together which was a major workout in itself as it should have been a 2 person job. I need to buy a surge protector for it then I'm all go, go, go tomorrow. Tonight I sit on the sofa to rest my aching back.

Snuggling down for the evening and it looks like Rosie Lee is ready for the wood stove to be lit. Won't be long now.

Time for our camera club meeting at Blandy, focusing on fall photography ideas.

The boys in production have devised a new method of drying the screens quicker, lining them up each side of the gas dryer. Innovative, I wonder why they never thought of this sooner.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

These girls just made it across but we gave up in our attempts so had to hike from the top of the trail. We were all self confessed wusses!

This sign popped up outside a house down the road. I wonder what prompted the name, kind of curious...