Shops are all ready displaying Christmas merchandise here in the UK. Do you think this is too early? Here in the US as well. I don't go into the stores much, but it does seem to be earlier and earlier. What is your favourite traditional holiday in your country? Thanksgiving. It is a day we all come together over a wonderful meal and recognize all we have to be thankful for.

This image is from last year. to see my current autumn images, check out my Festival of Leaves Challenge that posts on Thursdays 8 am EST. Which Way: With Autumn Leaves

A recent visit to Big Meadows in The Shenandoah National Park gave me this image. #TheFlowerHour

I'm too old or just not agile enough, however you want to say it, to be getting down low, climbing, jumping, straddling, and all those things I used to do to get the shot in my mind's eye. Fortunately, since I have switched to primarily cell phone images, I don't have to. I didn't even have to go far for this, it was growing in my yard recently. Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Move your body

For this first day of October instead of cleaning my house, washing clothes, or even the dishes, I made a "Spooky" playlist. I have over 75 songs on it. There are the expected choices like Monster Mash and Thriller, but also some more interesting ones like Don't Fear the Reaper and Psycho Killer and these fun additions. Thanks to my facebook friend MG for the bingo card.

Welcome to Week #1 of The 2026 Festival of Leaves. This week's image shows early autumn reflecting on the creek. A few weeks ago this was a lush green, now we seem to be fading to yellow. The spiel: I love autumn so I am hosting The 2026 Festival of Leaves. I will post every Thursday and invite anyone and everyone to join in at any time through the week.

Eating (Out): An after work dinner with a bestie at the local Mexican. Yes we do eat there a lot. It's convenient, reasonable, and the food is good. I just had a quesadilla, as I had food at home to eat and didn't want to take home any leftovers. My friend who is a MUCH more adventurous eater than I, had beef tongue.

#TheChangingSeasons

Last week's Monochrome Madness was hosted by Margaret from From Pyrenees to Pennines and her theme, "Buying and Selling". Only problem I got my dates totally mixed up, so I am a week late for this. Sorry Margaret. I did some local shopping over the weekend at the Farm Market, the Thrift Store, and The Emporium, all in Strasburg, all full of people buying and selling. For more info about Monochrome Madness visit Leanne's blog. See more images of my Life in Black and White.

I work at Winchester Medical Center in Winchester Virginia. WMC is a relatively small hospital that covers a large area. We have 495 beds, and serve 400,000 people, in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, extending to the Eastern Panhandle and Potomac Highlands of West Virginia. WMC is recognized as a Level II trauma center, providing critical services to a combined total of 13 counties across both Virginia and West Virginia.

I recently noticed on a 90 degree very early autumn day, some folks getting super excited for the upcoming holiday. Not my thing, but I do like taking pictures of them. THAT is my thing. 🙂 Sunday Stills: Your Home Town

See my facebook page to view all the posters I have created from quotes.

Last year our wine club was invited to one member's home for a few sips. I got a phone call and stepped outside, then got distracted by their beautiful grounds... Cosmic Photo: An Autumn Walk

One Word Sunday: Power

What’s your favorite pizza topping? I like my pizza with sausage, green peppers, onions and black olives, or just plain cheese. What is/was your favorite soda (fizzy drink)? I can't drink anything fizzy (for medical reasons), so may favorite soft drink is Snapple Peach Tea. When out for a meal, have you ever sent yours back to the kitchen? I don't think so.

Which Way: On a Rainy Evening

I do feel bad for those folks who are allergic to this stuff, my dad was seriously allergic. This time of year he had constant runny eyes and nose and was sneezing all the time. "Damn goldenrod". I'm not allergic (at least not yet) and I find it beautiful. Honestly the pictures do not do it justice. A field of goldenrod is something to behold. The #Flower Hour: Autumn Colors

I love the big fluffy clouds!

I don't take many vacations any more, I mean I only work a couple days a week, I live alone and for the most part I do what I want, so what do I need to take a vacation from? I do wish I could travel more but health and financial reasons prohibit that option right now (I always hold put hope that will change).

Watch this time slot for The 2026 Festival of Leaves. to begin next week, October 2. Now is the time to get out there and capture autumn at the beginning, or go to your archives and find images you want to share for the next 10-12 weeks.  I'm excited! See you next week! This series usually runs about 10-12 weeks, with the last week being a wrap up.

What's more harmonious then the river reflecting the sky during a pink sunset? Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Harmony

Welcome to the first day of Autumn! I hope it lasts until the first day of spring (wouldn't that be nice?) I love autumn so I am hosting The 2026 Festival of Leaves. I am starting a little later this year, beginning on October 1st. I will post every Thursday morning EST. I invite anyone and everyone to join in at any time through the week.

For more info about Monochrome Madness visit Leanne's blog. See more images of my Life in Black and White.

See my facebook page to view all the posters I have created from quotes.

Cosmic Photo: Seeds, fruits, and nuts.

Sunday Stills Animal of the Month: Antlers, Horns and Hooves

In our county seat of Woodstock Virginia, many of the traffic light boxes have these vinyl wrap arounds over them. The art was created by local artists, this one, a geometry inspired piece named "Discuss Ideas", was designed by Daniel Stover, a Strasburg native. One Word Sunday: Geometry

We are on the cusp of autumn. Two more days before the equinox and the excitement around here is palpable. The fields are full of goldenrod. Yes it is still summer but this is an autumn yellow. (Pay no attention tot he tree in the center , which is obviously dead). This time of year always makes me think of my dad.

As a child, how did you make extra pocket money? We didn't get an allowance as kids, so any money I made was outside the home. I started babysitting some when I was 11; probably too young, but all my youth,  I was always treated older than I was. At 15 a friend's aunt got us jobs as ushers at the Navy Football Field in Annapolis during home games.

Any Which Way

I don't go out to shop much. Most of my goods and groceries are delivered. If I do any in person shopping it is usually just for fun. I stopped at a Buc-Cees, just for fun. It's a fun place (are you noticing a theme?) but when I told some friends about my visit over dinner that evening,  they reminded me of…

I have lots of flower pictures but my eyes are on the trees. My favorite season is just over the horizon, but I am still enjoying the green above me. I try not to rush the seasons (well except for winter). The #Flower Hour

I love bridges and I was going to do something different for this post, but here we are at Thursday and this is all I have, not that it is not a good shot. I think it is pretty cool, but this is a fairly local bridge and I have lots of images of it. Oh well it is so gorgeous, I don't think you can have too many. You can find more by following the tag for Meems Bottom Covered Bridge below. Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Bridges

I love autumn so I am hosting The 2026 Festival of Leaves. I am starting a little later this year, beginning on October 1st I will post every Thursday. I invite anyone and everyone to join in at any time through the week. You can show images of autumn as is passes through your area or from your archives. I would like it if you identified when the picture was taken, whether it is current or from autumn past.

For more info about Monochrome Madness visit Leanne's blog. See more images of my Life in Black and White.

...highlighted by a lavender sky. Sunday Stills: Apricot Orange

See my facebook page to view all the posters I have created from quotes.

My friends and I were just commenting about how green it is for this time of year. Usually August going into September is dry, the grass crunchy, and the trees losing their color out of desperation more than in celebration of our favorite season. Speaking of which, beginning October 1st and every Thursday until the color has faded, I will be hosting my annual…

I just love the different degrees of ripeness in this cluster of grapes. Follow this link to see Summer in my world.

One Word Sunday: Blue

Today is September 12, 2026. Yesterday marked the anniversary of the attack more commonly known as 9-11. There seemed to be more discussion this year about that day. Maybe because it was the 25th anniversary. 25 years, sometimes it seems like it has been that long, mostly, I'm not sure where the time went. Everyone has a story for that day.

What breed of dog or cat do you prefer? Walter. Do you think some pets can look like their owners? I suppose it happens. I've never seen it with people I actually know. Do you think giving a child the responsibility of pet ownership is a good idea? No. I think giving a child the illusion of responsibility might be. But I think it takes a parent to guide them, and ultimately the responsibility goes to the adult.

Any Which Way with Paved Walkways

The #Flower Hour:Sunflower

Annapolis is the capital of my home state, Maryland. It sits on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Shaped by Water

This week Leanne leads Monochrome Madness with the theme of "Urban Landscapes". I don't live in much of an urban area, it is more rural here. I do work in a sort of urban area though. Winchester Virginia has a population of just over 28,000. Strasburg Virginia, where I live, has a population of just over 7,000. Compare those to Australia's Melbourne or Sydney, which both have numbers above 5 million.

What a great summer of outdoor concerts I have had. A gallery of images from my blog from  the summer of 2026. Fun Foto Challenge: Where/What/When We Listen