31 Dec 2023

I saw in the New Year with old and new friends. This is Dewey singing with his band Off The Cuff, superb music. We spent time between 2 venues in town, a memorable evening.

Malcolm was allowed out today, for the first time in about 6 weeks, as he seems to finally be free of seizures. Here, he’s saying, “About bloody time too!”

I went for a nice hike today. There were very few people on the trails, or the outlooks. They were missing beautiful vistas.

I’ve never been a fan of this old lampshade in the dining room, so I’m recovering it, using vintage buttons that I’ve had for years.

The library had very pretty Christmas decorations, and a lovely collection of reindeers.

Saw these horrendous boots in Target. Either fashion’s taking a turn for the worst, or I’m getting old!

A nice, lazy and peaceful Christmas this year, with phone chats to friends and family. Just a little tree on the dining room table was my grand effort this year.

23 Dec 2023

Saw these dudes hanging out at an antique mall in WV.

Our beautiful gazebo in town.

I saw this photo at work today of the Christmas party, with me bundled up, because I was still ill, but enjoying how to play a roulette table. 

A phenomenal sky this evening in the cemetery.

Malcolm’s keeping a keen eye on the squirrel enjoying his breakfast.

I often pass this little lane on my way home from work, and think how lucky the owners are, to have this as their driveway to their home.

I turned down a night out with friends, trying to throw off this persistent flu. So watching TV m, then an early night. 

A rainy, foggy day, the Shenandoah disappearing into the mist.

A fun evening spent with the Captain George Mercer Company at their Christmas party at the Beer Museum.

Work Christmas party this afternoon, with a casino theme. I’m no gambler but I lasted 3 hours on the roulette table with my fake $2000 and 1 beer. Left early to get home, leaving the crew to play into the night.

The huge building my dermatologist is in has so many empty office suites. This one intrigues me, always lit up, but never anyone there.

Just before the sun dropped below the horizon.

A day in bed where I slept right through. Not COVID, thankfully, but some kind of flu.

The first sprinkling of snow this winter. May there be many inches more.

10 Dec 2023

Brunch and a couple of hours antique browsing with Bill started off with a mighty fine Bloody Mary.

Working all morning with a top notch arborist in town and then an afternoon party with friends in a restored barn. This was before everyone arrived.

A superb musical evening with a choir at a local church, followed by music at our local underground tavern.

7 Dec 2023

Another unique sky in Front Royal as I came home from work.

My view this afternoon, while giving blood. Not exactly uplifting, but we saw the funny side of it!

A cool roll cloud as I approach work. I saw one of these in the same place, about the same time, a few years ago.

Seen in town. I guess this chap’s had enough of Thanksgiving!

An interesting wall on a barn, seen on my travels today.

We had a unique experience at Elliott’s work’s Christmas dinner, the mashed potato was served in a martini glass with gravy and other toppings if desired.

A fun filled, getting to know each other, evening with friends from the town. We had a blast,. Ladies of Front Royal rock!

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.