fall festivity

Taylor's family hosted an Apple Butter making party at their home near Richmond. Taylor's aunts, uncles, siblings, cousins, and Grandma chopped apples, made chili, smoked the barbecue, baked cookies, and stirred the apple butter over the course of two days. Somehow we were exempted from the heavy-lifting and instead greeted friends, walked the schnauzers, snapped photos, and enjoyed eating.

textured light

The old glass windows in the house where I am staying (built in the 1890s) were recently replaced. Before the energy-efficient windows arrived, I took some photos of the amazing textured reflections from the old glass.

country brunch

I invited friends over for brunch last weekend and we had a glorious fall afternoon. We played a little bocce and a little music too-- favorites were "Ol' Joe Clark," "The Crawdad Song," and "O Shenandoah."

The side lawn / bocce court


Gathering around the Casio


Maria and Rachel laughing


Rachel's itchy nose

au revoir, Salubria

Last weekend Taylor and I drove to Salubria to return my keys and borrowed documents and for a picnic and stroll. It was a beautiful early fall day, as warm as summer.

Living in the country

Perhaps when you live in Virginia, you have to spend some time living "in the country." This is my time, and this is the view out our back door.



This horse just appears sometimes, it surprises me when I look out the kitchen window and see him out there.

It is fairly open to the east and west, so the sunrises and sunsets out here are more of an event. And, I am usually driving east into town in the morning, and west toward home in the evening.

driving through Virginia

On my way home from the beach, I stopped by a farm in northern Virginia to drop off some papers I had borrowed for work. It was a lovely morning drive through the late summer landscape of rolling green fields.

beach days

I had a great time joining Aaron, Amy, Camille and Luca for a late-summer beach trip. The weather was beautiful and we played day and night. Thank you all for sharing your vacation with me!

C + L snoozing on the beach:



Even when you lose, sometimes you win a stuffed animal...


Funland!