The October Light

 This is the October sunset  as it circled the house and bathed the colorful leaves in it's sunlight

I would take a million of these sunsets!

Another Perfect One

Although this month of July has been one of the most uncomfortable July I can recall in the ten years we have lived in Virginia, especially when you consider the fact that we live in the mountains, it has also been one of the best Julys I can recall for beautiful sunsets.  

Take a gander at these beauties taken at our home from the back porch, the driveway, and the front of the house.

Other than there being no ocean here, we really do have a lot of beauty surrounding us.

Most towns receive a local, what my father would have referred to as a "shit sheet", usually a four to six page paper with news of entertainment in the surrounding rural area, and our town is no different.  We have one put out by The Roanoke Times knows as the Extra Plus, and this week's edition had an article written by Liza Field that captured my interest, an article about the beauty of the nighttime hours when spent outdoors.

It touched on how magical and enchanting the outdoors can be, and how so many people spend those hours indoors cooled by air conditioning, and of how much beauty they miss by not spending time outdoors.

She spoke of slow, soft, red sunsets; the stars in the Milky Way, mostly visible only to those of us who live in rural areas unencumbered by the city lights that can wash their view away; and also nighttime hikes.  Just the thought, however, of running into a black bear or a snake doing it's nighttime hunting kind of creeps me out.... but for those a bit more adventurous than I, it's something they should attempt in a group that specializes in these events.

 These hot summer days keep me indoors, but at sunset I live a bit dangerously, knowing that I will perspire a bit, or have a chunk taken from my arm by the bite of a mosquito, or breathe in a nasty gnat zipping about, and I venture out and breathe in the beauty.

The end of the day brings on a sigh for me and it's sunsets ice the cake before I tuck myself into bed.

 nite nite

sleep tight

may your dreams be colorful and bright.

*here's a pretty sunset we had in May*

Seize The Moment

 We had finished our evening meal and sat down to watch a little Netflix, as is our typical routine at the end of the day, and a bit later I needed to head off into the kitchen for a drink of water.

The sunset caught my eye as I glanced out onto the porch, and the view required that I grab my Canon Rebel and snap a few before the scene was gone.

Sunsets are like that.... kind of like life....

Seize the moment or it's gone forever.

It's been a rainy few days, so the photos happen between the bands of rain.

Have a beautiful Tuesday!

The 4th On The 5th

 Yes, it's now the 6th.

Our 4th of July weather was cloudy, rainy, a no-hitter.

 I didn't snap any photos of the flag or our sky on the 4th.

 But on the 5th we had a sunset worth photographing, and I am sharing those photos with you today...

the 6th of July.

Long may She wave.... no matter the weather.

Odds And Ends Photos

Here are my odds and ends photos taken over the past week.

Enjoy!

Thoughts At Sunset

 There is a hummingbird hovering at the feeder just outside my window as I type this tonite;

I think he is the only one here this week, since there are no tiny birdy wars going on.

We had quite a few buzzing across our property the first summer we were here,

two last year, and now only one.

 I hope it's not a sign that these tiny creatures are somehow being harmed by human stupidity.

We have certainly had enough blossoms this year to attract them and the feeder is always filled with fresh, sweet liquid for their tiny beaks to sip away at.

 I worry about these things as the sun sets each evening and my fingers tap at the keys.

I chose this room for my office to be able to observe nature and it is why my desk is positioned at an angle in the room which allows me the view.

oooh, there he is again with his tiny wings fluttering faster than lightning.

Please stay a while tiny creature.

A Sky For Lovers

 My husband and I went out for an early dinner today.  It was our Valentine's dinner since he will be somewhere else on Valentine's Day.

We missed spending Christmas together and were not about to give up another special holiday, especially a holiday meant for lovers.

 He had beef medallions, and some superb red mashed potatoes, all with gravy on top and a light salad on the side,

followed up with a cake for dessert called Death By Chocolate. 

The man cannot have enough chocolate to sate his appetite for it.

 I chose crab cakes and french fries, also with a light salad. and a cup of green tea to warm me from today's weather of non-stop flurries and accompanied by dropping temeperatures.

Carrot cake found it's way in front of me as my dessert.

Now how did that happen?

Who ordered cake??

 As we drove towards home I noticed a ball of fire... FIRE FIRE FIRE in the western sky, otherwise known as the setting sun, but I had not taken my camera with me to the restaurant, so I had to wait until we were home to catch the last glimpses of it. 

There it goes... downward on the far side of the Shenandoah Mountains.

Kicking myself for not taking my camera with me since the sky had obviously been aglow in red for all of we Valentine Lovers.

Hope your day on Saturday will be filled with love.