The Pond

Greensprings

Linking on this Friday the 13th (!) to Skywatch Friday.

Cook's Garden

 

 

One of the outbuildings (cook's house?) associated with the Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg located just above a multi-tiered vegetable garden.

Thanksgiving Day

Funny how yesterday, Thanksgiving Day, started--cold, wet and windy. It was the kind of day that drove me to climb the stairs in my house for a mile rather than to do my more normal morning walk. But by the afternoon . . . well, as you can see, it was mostly sunny with temperatures in the low 60s. Very comfortable.

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

Field of Leaves

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

Plumegrass

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Capitol Trail

The Virginia Capitol Trail, as its name suggests, is a multi-use trail connecting the former capitol of Virginia, Williamsburg, with the current capitol, Richmond, a distance of some 50 miles one-way.

Falling Leaves

Seems like there's always a difference between what we call meteorological fall and, well, let's just say when it actually begins to look and feel like fall. This week . . . it's definitely beginning to look and feel like fall. 

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.

The Swamp

As I recall, it was DJT who promised to "drain the swamp" some eight years ago when he ran for president the first time. Now, as the Washington Post put it this past October, "he swims in it." According to the article, the Duck said, “I had no idea the swamp was that dirty, that disgusting and that deep.” 

Well, Donald, now you know. 

Sic Semper Tyrannis!

All may appear calm in Williamsburg on the outside, but on the inside, believe me, this town where the American Revolution was born is nothing less than a seething cauldron of anger and resentment over the results of this past presidential election. Everywhere, people are discussing it, even on their seemingly leisurely walks through town.

Yes, there is shock and grief. But, unless I am greatly mistaken, there also is a rising tide of anger that will soon enough be turned against Trump and his administration. A movement of resistance is gathering. I can hear the sounds. SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS, indeed!

Calm

Greensprings Interpretive Trail

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday

Randolph House

Every fall, I enjoy capturing on camera this oak at the corner of the Peyton Randolph House (built around 1715). Some years it turns brilliant yellow. Other years, like this one, it appears just a little bit more subdued. Still, it's lovely, and provides lots of welcome shade in an otherwise exposed space across from the courthouse commons.

The photo I wish I could show you today, though, is one I didn't think about until too late! That was when I spotted a man yesterday driving through town waving a red Trump hat and shouting how the messiah had come. I kid you not. I flipped him the bird when what I should have done, had I had the presence of mind to do so, was to snap a picture. Next time you can be sure that I'll be ready! 

Reminded me of the time just days after Trump's first successful election when I was in D.C. and witnessed members of an ultra-right wing nationalist party pouring out onto the streets after attending a celebratory luncheon and beating up members of an ultra-left wing demonstrators until D.C. police intervened. I'm afraid this election will almost certainly presage other such acts of violence. 

• "Don't agonize, organize." -- Nancy Pelosi

My Apologies!

I have to apologize for the outcome of yesterday's election. I don't know what has become of the American people to return a convicted felon and adjudicated sexual predator to the highest office in the land. It's inexplicable! It's like there is a madness that has overtaken a significant portion of our population. The coming years are going to be tough. So we are all going to have to be extremely brave and fight every day for what we know is right, and good, and true. 

Hikers

Takinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

 

The Path Ahead

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Overlook

Bald Eagle Overlook

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

POV

 

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Waters Edge

Taskinas Creek Trail

York River State Park

Taskinas Creek Trail

Returned yesterday to the Taskinas Creek Trail in York River State Park, a wonderful place to observe wildlife. Just in the time it took the Washington Commanders to score about 20-points in their Sunday afternoon game with the Carolina Panthers, I heard and/or saw Great Blue Herons, Pileated Woodpeckers, White-tailed Deer, Barred Owls, Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, not to mention the leaves of various deciduous trees just now beginning to show their fall colors. 

Memo

Always, ALWAYS, it's the maple trees that get the memo early. :-)

Burg Ehrenfels

Resurrected this photo recently from a visit I paid to Bingen-am-Rhein. Taken just after sunset. 

Linking again today with Skywatch Friday.