Shop Window

 

Main Street shop window in Charlottesville, Virginia

Hamiltons'

 

Blue

 

 

Methinks the owners of Hamiltons' have a strong affinity for the color blue. I have to admit that I do too. 

Painting

 

Hamiltons' not only serves good food, it also has an interesting collection of art. I spotted this oil on canvas painting in--of all places--the men's bathroom. :-)

Blue Plate

 

Had lunch yesterday at Hamilton's in Charlottesville and ordered the Vegetarian "Blue Plate" Special. As far as I could figure it was made up of a couple of different kinds of squash pickled radishes, cabbage, carrots, arugula (?), and some things fried (?). Very good. Just right, as Goldilocks would have put it.

How about you? Eat anything new and or different over the Thanksgiving holiday?

To Arms!

 

 

 

So, since living in Williamsburg, I've pretty much come to the conclusion that the American Revolution was based upon a terrible misunderstanding and that what Patrick Henry, George Washington, George Mason, George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, and Thomas Jefferson really meant when they cried, "To Arms! To Arms!" was that everybody should all just go down the street to the King's Arms Tavern for rounds. :-)

 

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Snow! (Well, Sort of)

 

We're still a LONG way from having any snow around these parts, I think. Still, it's nice to see these representations of the stuff in shop windows. 

Trail's End

 

 

Surprising end to my hiking adventure. Near the end, a hiker stumbled and fell on the trail's loose rocks (probably worn out by her earlier ascent), suffering a contusion to her face, although no one could be certain that her injuries weren't any worse. Fortunately, I had a first aid kit with me, something I now always carry with me whenever I'm hiking in the backcountry after having witnessed a number of other such mishaps. 

Anyway, with the help of another hiker or two, we soon got the injured hiker back on her feet and accompanied her to the trail's end. Always good to hike these trails with others when you can because one never ever knows what might lurk just around the next turn.

Trail Sculpture

 

 

As wonderful as the view from Humpback Rocks was and is, I was equally fascinated by what I call "trail sculpture" or, in other words, nature's art as crafted by--who knows how many years-- of exposure to the elements here at around 3,080 feet (938.784 meters).

 

 

Humpback Rocks

 

Crossing

 

The Humpback Rocks Loop Trail meets the Appalachian Trail at just about this point where a spur leads to the rocks, so quite often you'll meet folks like this fellow who looks like he's making a longer trek of it.

Stairs

 

The ascent along the Humpback Rocks Loop Trail is sometimes so steep that the National Park Service has chosen to install stairs to help prevent further erosion and, one would think, to help keep hikers from injuring themselves as the result of bad falls.

Loop Trail

 

It's been several weeks now since I climbed Humpback Rocks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a favorite of many in this region. Still, as I will soon show, there was just a bit of fall color beginning to appear.

Coppertone

 

Or how would you describe these colors?

Vine

Seems very late in the season for morning glory, although I don't think we've had a killing frost yet. So I suppose that explains why this vine still appears to be thriving even when nighttime temperatures have sometimes hovered just above the freezing mark.

Matoaka Trail

 

The Matoaka Trail runs through some 300 acres of woods now designated by the College of William & Mary as a nature preserve.

Autumn Leaves

 

 A classic: Nat King Cole - Autumn Leaves (Capitol Records 1955)

A slightly snappier version :-) Oscar Peterson Autumn Leaves 1974

And still another: Oscar Peterson & Stephane Grappelli Quartet [Paris, 1973]

TS Nicole

 

Tropical storm Nicole passed through here yesterday, although most of its impact was felt farther west toward the Blue Ridge where I heard that up to 8 inches of rain may have fallen. Not so much here where most of the rain fell during the morning. By afternoon, the sun even put in an appearance even if only for a short while before a few more stray showers passed by. 

Of greater impact will be this week's falling temperatures. Time to rummage around the house to see if I can find some warmer clothes.

Ginkgo

 

Linking today with Skywatch Friday

Bank

A bank building that has been left vacant for at least the past year or two is now suddenly getting a complete makeover both inside and out. Yesterday's cooler temperatures made for a nearly perfect day for a little exterior painting.

Kilwins

 

Finally caught a couple of the bakers at Kilns at work along with some of their creations. The aromas often greeting passersby are worth enjoying even if they don't actually go inside and indulge themselves. :-)

Tourism

 

I've read reports that tourism here in Williamsburg has returned to pre-pandemic levels. Judging just from the number of buses arriving like the one shown above, I can believe it. 

DST

 

Daylight Saving Time came to an end yesterday and it showed as the shadows began to fall upon the colonial capital city as early as 4:30 p.m. 

Calendula

 

Our Colonial Williamsburg gardeners have been working hard all fall to keep something of interest blooming in the garden. This time they've planted Calendula.