A Trip to Harper's Ferry

Early fall and mid-week was a perfect time for a visit to historical Harper's Ferry, WV. The crowds are slim on the weekdays and the weather is perfect for walking around the town. Harper's Ferry is situated at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers. It was an important industrial town in the early 1800s and the site of John Brown's Raid, said to be one of the impetuses for the Civil War. The historical town is now a National Park. Kevin and I stayed overnight at Highacre House, a beautiful Victorian Age home, currently owned and maintained by the PATC (Potomac Appalachian Trail Club) of which we are members. We had a lovely stay!

Town greeting for visitors

Cobblestone street & old-time Dry Goods store

Gothic Church

Footbridge paralleling railroad bridge with tunnel

Kevin surveys the Shenandoah River

Oldtown hardware store

Overlooking the Potomac River

Highacre House

Berry bush to the side of the house

View from Highacre House with old church ruins in foreground

Vegetation all lit up in the sunshine

Dining room fireplace mantle in Highacre House

Fall Tradition

The coming of fall is heralded by our county fair. Kevin and I paid a visit to the fair earlier this week and enjoyed our traditional activities and fair foods. We toured the craft buildings and visited the animal barns, and finished our visit with a ride on the Ferris Wheel at sunset.

Pair of miniature donkeys enjoy their dinner

Prize winning egg display in the poultry barn

Mamma pig and her hungry piglets

Ferris wheel and concession stands

View from the Ferris wheel at sunset

Autumnal Equinox

Today is officially the first day of fall. Many of the summer birds have already flown south, and the vegetation in our yard is showing signs of even more colorful days to come.

Goldenrod, bright yellow in the morning sun

Blackberry bush wearing its autumn colors

 Sassafras tree leaves are beginning to show color change

Kitty keeps court over the still colorful geraniums

Sign of September

Every September, without fail, we see stick bugs … curious and cute insects with a fitting and descriptive name. As the days start to grow shorter and the temps begin to cool off, we'll see more and more color change. So far, our black gum and sassafras trees have some leaves starting to turn shades of crimson and burnt orange, but most of the trees' leaves are still green. Our flowers are fading fast, so our next big show of color will come in October when the leaves are at their peak autumn color, always a beautiful time of year.

Stick Bug

Latest Painting

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