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.

Rosie Lee enjoying the afternoon sunshine.

Autumn maple trees in the cemetery as I wait at the gates for Elliott to finish the drive through to ensure no one is left inside before we lock the cemetery up for the night.

I took a back road through The Plains on the way home as I like to see how this little building is fairing. Happily, it’s still standing, yet I wish someone would restore it.

I get home from work, grab an ice pack for my back, and within a minute of being horizontal, there’s a Rosie Lee perched on top of me. I don’t know whether to be annoyed or honored, but regardless, I have no choice. Hello Rosie Liscious Lee.

Up on the windy Skyline Drive, where the Blue Ridge Mountains seemed to roll on forever into the distance.

After leaving Target today I spotted a huge black plume of smoke curling up into the sky. Driving closer to get a better view, along with many other Nosey Parkers in their vehicles, huge flames were consuming what I guessed was an old barn, likely filled with old tires to cause that black smoke. FroRo Fire Brigade were on the scene, dousing the fire, and the smoke was less intense as I did a U-turn to head back home. 

And we’re eating out again. This time, at The Melting Pot, a mile or so from home, which was voted as producing the best pizza in VA. It is phenomenally delicious. 

4 Nov 2021

Dinner was at a superb little Asian restaurant in FroRo. Elliott loved his Pad Thai from there so it seems we’ll return. I had the Korean Japchae which was delicious.

We had our first frost this morning. I love the intricate patterns created by Mother Nature.

Beautiful carnations and chrysanthemums from Elliott in rustic autumnal colors. I love getting flowers.

Front Royal Electric putting new cable across the road. As long as it’s replacing old cable and not adding additional cable, I’m OK with it. Just hoping there won’t be new housing built near here…