Category: Photography

Summer Walkabouts : Arlington Cemetary

Summer has been busy here. We’ve had family visiting from other places, gone to visit family ourselves, and had a wedding reception. Most of that was within one month! It’s been a great summer!

We took an opportunity when family was visiting to go with them to some of the sights nearby. One place we visited was Arlington Cemetary.

The view of Washington, DC from Kennedy’s tomb is spectacular.

We also went to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

And saw the changing of the guard. It was 95 degrees that day. Not including the heat index.

There is someone guarding the tomb 24 hours a day / 7 days a week, rain, sleet, snow or sun. The qualifications for the assignment are intense and those that receive it, take it very seriously.

We didn’t complain about the heat.

September 6, 2015
Street Art : Via Colori

Via Colori is of my favorite events each year in Downtown Fredericksburg. They block off Sophia and Charlotte Streets and artists from around the area are given a section for a fee to draw with pastels on the pavement. The fees go to benefit The Grace Oughton Cancer Foundation. They have some excellent programs for families of pediatric cancer patients in the Fredericksburg area.

I LOVE this event! I think the process is fascinating and the colors simply leap off the pavement.

There are artists of every age.

On of the featured artists, Iryna Hamill. The attention to detail is amazing.

She was rather gleeful that her character looked “slightly off his rocker”.

Art with a message.

You can see some of the finished art on the Via Colori-Fredericksburg Facebook Page.

With all of that creativity I didn’t even care that it was hot.

June 1, 2015
Photochallenge : Early

I don’t know about you, but one of our family’s all time favorite foods is the strawberry.

I have waxed poetic about them before. Every year we start a countdown as we watch and wait for our local farms to open their pick your own fields. Last year we added a few little plants of our own and overwintered them. I wasn’t sure how they would do, but early indications are we will have quite a few this year.

If we can keep the dogs from eating them, that is.

And the countdown is over. Pick your own fields are opening up. Whoo hoo!! Time to go strawberry picking!

May 10, 2015
Photochallenge : Books

We’re in week 11 of the 52 week Photochallenge from Tabitha. The prompt this week was “Books”. I had a few ideas and knew where I wanted to go for the challenge right away. However, as is typcally the case, it was the unexpected opportunity, that turned out to be my favorite photo.

There are a lot of great book shops in downtown Fredericksburg. Funky places and each has a distinct vibe of their own.

The Griffin is one of them. A neat place with a side patio. I did learn that the owner is retiring. So The Griffin may be going away. I’m hoping not.

Down the road is another one of my favorites. Riverby Books. I love to wonder in and look at their used sheet music to see what’s there. The decor is inviting and makes me smile. In fact, it was as I was leaving Riverby that I turned and spotted this guy (I didn’t put him there.).

He was just hangin’ out. Relaxin’ in the tree. Thinkin’ about his garden. You just never know who you’ll run into Downtown. Everyone needs books.

Feel free to join in on the Photochallenge. We’d love to see how you would interpret the prompts.

May 2, 2015
Monday Walkabout: Fredericksburg Street Art

Drive over the Chatham Bridge towards Fredericksburg and you will see another fantastic feature of Old Town. It’s Murals.

This was painted by Mirinda Reynolds, Carol Coffman and a small group of high school students.

This is one part of 5 panels. It’s titled “The Warmth of Fredericksburg” and was painted by Jay D. Anderson.

There are so many things I love about both of these. The details, the tone, the sentiments. They’re amazing.

April 29, 2015
Monday Walkabout : Black and White Edition

Downtown Fredericksburg is an eclectic town filled with historic architecture, tatoo parlors, beautiful murals, antique shops and seriously fantastic food. And yet, you can still find a place a to park. Even better!

I started out this day with a view of the steeple from St. George’s Episcopal Church. The current structure dates back to 1849 and George Washington attended the congregation in the orginal wooden structure that was on the site on 1738.

There are plenty of details that add to the charm of oldtown as well.

Sconces outside shops

And patios down alleyways.

And ironwork steps

There is just so much to explore.

April 22, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge: Catching Up

A couple of months ago a friend of mine, Tabitha, ( who also happens to be a fantastic photographer) started a weekly photography challenge. I was already on the hunt for one as a way to give me a way to focus on my own photography more, so I jumped on board.

Some weeks I rack my brain over the prompt.

Like when the prompt was “Pop of Color”

Or “Bokeh”

This one really did occur to me as I was falling asleep. Since the prompt was “Sleepy” and I tend to have a lot of these moments, the photo means all sorts of things to me.

Some of the photos involve the dogs. I didn’t tell Annie that the photo I took of her was because of her grey hair for “Straight Lines”

And Maggie simply likes to be nearby so when I was taking my photo for “Laundry” and she stopped to look out the window, I took advantage of the moment.

Now to figure what I’m going to do for this week’s prompt.

April 21, 2015
Monday Walkabout – Old Town Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg, Virginia sits right on the Rappahannock River. George Washington, Mary Washington, James Monroe lived in the area just to name a few. Then there are the civil war sites. More than you can shake a stick at, that’s for sure. Several pivotal battles occured in the area. At some point, I’ll have to tell you the story of The Sunken Road and the man who crossed enemy lines. It’s an amazing story.

My walk began at the Confederate Cemetary. The Civil War is one I hope to never see repeated in the United States again. I’m always a little quieter when I walk near places like this.

From there I went downtown. I turned a corner as I was walking and this bright blue door practically begged to have it’s picture taken. I only needed to dodge a few cars to get it, too.

Down the road a bit is the Fredericksburg Baptist Church. It is a beautiful building. I have a lot of respect for their history and the work they are trying to do. Part of that history is that the building sustained considerable damage during the Battle of Fredericksburg and while it was used as an army field hospital during the Civil War.

Today they are a thriving congregation. These purple ribbons represent those who made a commitment to read the Bible with intent. I LOVE this!

Fredericksburg is a fantastic place and I can’t wait to share bits and pieces of it with you.

April 16, 2015
The Sparkle of Simple Things

Sometimes, it just the simple things that matter. Hamburgers, hotdogs, grilled corn-on-the-cob with watermelon to top it off. The whole family home for dinner. And Fireworks to top off the day.

How did your Independence Day Sparkle?

July 5, 2009
First Strike

The sun had set and our weather radio went off. I suppose if your smart and have a severe thunderstorm warning you head inside. Naaaaahhh! Kevin and I like to watch the light show. It was quite a show.

I even managed to get lucky.

My very first lightening strike. YES!!

May 7, 2009