Birding Beats Boring

This afternoon I spent over three hours in the dentist’s office. It was rough because I had two large cavities and both were under crowns. That’s how they got to be so large: they were hidden by the crowns and did not show up in x-rays for a long time. Both crowns had to be removed and replaced, which is why it took so long. (And also cost so much.)

My dentist now makes crowns while you wait, so I spent some time waiting in the small treatment room. Fortunately, there was a window with a squirrel feeder in view. There’s also a birdfeeder nearby, but I could not see it from my chair. I took out my cell phone when I saw a bluejay, but I never did get his picture because he flew away. Other birds were more cooperative, including this mourning dove.

A starling came by a few times, and of course a squirrel visited.

It was nice to see a downy woodpecker at the feeder. There were also quite a few house sparrows hopping around.

Wild Bird Wednesday

A Walk Through Hillsboro

Loudoun County, VA

Population 114

See Yesterday’s Post: Hope’s Garden.

Also: Wordless / Tuesday Treasures

Virginia Garden Week

Hope’s Garden in “The Gap”

Hillsboro, VA

Historic Garden Week has begun. Today I went to Hillsboro for a walking tour of homes and gardens. This mural greeted me at the old school that served as to headquarters. I regret that a vendor’s booth is blocking the word Hillsboro.

“The Gap” was the original name of the village, which sits at the southern gap in Short Hill. It was established in 1752. 

Since I am tired from walking up and down hills and stairs all afternoon, I’m not going to write up the whole tour yet, but instead I am showing the first stop, a brand new little park called Hope’s Garden. 
 

The garden features native plants, although the growing season is just beginning right now. We actually had a frost last night and there may be another one tonight. Phlox are blooming though.

Sharing with Monday Murals and Garden Affair

Near Chantilly

Rajdhani Mandir

This temple was built in 2000 to serve the Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist communities in Northern Virginia. 

I stopped there to take a picture last month when I made a short side trip on my way to Herndon. I had turned off Route 50 to take a look at a community near South Riding. I was curious because the neighborhood was built on a farm once owned by Charles and Becky Poland. I went on many Civil War field trips with them some years back.

When they sold the land in order to move away because Chantilly was choked with traffic, they envisioned that a senior community might be built there due to the fact that the school system was already up to capacity. The developer had other ideas and the housing there is closely packed. I was shocked at how dense it is.

I noticed that streets and a pond were named after members of their family. The farm is gone, and I didn’t recognize anything except for a few turns on the road leading there. I have many fond memories of summer cookouts in their yard at the end of each season of field trips. I took those trips every summer for 20 years. Great people.

Woofstock 2023

This afternoon I took Charlie to a dog festival. 

I wasn’t too sure what to expect or how Charlie would take it, but once he got over the initial excitement of seeing a bunch of dogs in the crowd, he calmed down and behaved beautifully. “Woofstock” is a play on the name of the famous 1969 music festival, but I didn’t see any hippies today.

Created with StarryAI for Caturday Art.

There was some music playing for a demonstration of freestyle dancing with dogs.

Mosaic / Critters

We saw a couple of neighbors and also Jaime, my real estate agent. We entered the cute dog contest, but none of us won. A small red heeler was the winner, but everyone had fun. 

Charlie even allowed a nail trim!

We stayed for a presentation on search and rescue dogs. This lab is Reese, who works with conservation police. It is amazing what they can do after many days of training.

Angles Through a Window

Monochrome #705 (Black and White Weekend)

This shows the frame of a patio umbrella outside a restaurant.

Progress at the Fish Hatchery

Front Royal, VA

The fish hatchery is actually in Waterlick. For a while, it was closed for renovations. Now it has reopened with improved ponds for raising fish to stock creeks and rivers.

I have reported on this hatchery before and described how a pollution case paid for repairs. 

I was glad that I stopped here today to take a few pictures because after I walked up to the sign, I turned and saw some fancy clouds and their reflection.

Skywatch / H2O / Reflections

 

A Sign of Spring?

This American Robin was perched on a signpost outside the veterinary yesterday. I saw it after picking up Charlie from day boarding. The dogs don't play together there like they do in doggy daycare centers, but the attendants play with him and he gets to run in their play area. He loves the girls who work there. 

Although robins are considered a sign of spring, we see them year-round in Virginia. They seem more active in springtime, probably because it's the season to start a family. 
 

Robin on a fence for Wild Bird Wednesday

The Storybook Trail is Closed

George Washington National Forest

 Crisman Hollow Road has finally reopened and I drove down it on Saturday. Along most of the length of the road, the forest floor is blackened from last month’s wildfire. Many trees were scorched, but enough survived so it still looks like a forest. Crews have cut and removed countless trees that fell over the road or were about to fall. 

The Storybook Trail was damaged and is still closed. It is an easy trail to a scenic overlook and very popular.

Whew! Finished My Taxes at the Last Minute!

I finished my taxes today, so I’m running behind on my posts. Here are a few collages of scenes from the recent past.

Mosaic Monday