Join us to explore Frederick County’s agricultural heritage (part 1)!
photo safari
Corning in the Morning
We were up early and checked out of our hotel well before the museums opened in Corning NY, so we decided to walk around this quaint little town and explore a little. Corning is a city in the New York Finger Lakes region that offers several worthwhile attractions — certainly enough to spend a whole […]
Discovering Dorchester’s Black History (and More!) Through Its Murals
You can discover a lot about a town by its murals. What do Cambridge’s murals tell us?
Dog Bloopers from the Waterfowl Festival
In the spirit of Thanksgiving… After spending an entire weekend exploring the Waterfowl Festival, I went home to write up the article and figure out which photos to include with the article. As I comb through photos, trying to decide which to pick, I look for quality of the photo itself, as well as whether […]
Unique Barns in the Laurel Highlands: “Just for Pretty”
This lovely old red barn, #4 on the Somerset Barn Tour, is adorned by a medallion star, serving as ventilation. I’m never not on a barn tour — as I’m out and about, if I see a picturesque barn, I’ll pull over and photograph it. A close up of the barn star medallion. Note the little […]
Northern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This Sunflower quilt block is “set on point” on a small bank barn that dates to the mid 1800s.The owner chose this pattern because volunteer sunflowers will occasionally appear on the property. I love barns — and if you’re reading this, I bet you do too! A good barn tour will carry you through rolling […]
Southern Carroll County Barn Quilt Driving Tour
This four patch quilt block on a bank barn in Westminster was popular in the early 1900s.This block was chosen by the farm owners to represent the soybeans and corn grown on their80 acre farm. Four generations of the Nelson family have farmed this land since the farm was established in 1868. If you love barns, […]
Frederick County (VA) Photo Safari
Stonewall Jackson made Winchester his winter headquarters between November 1861 and March 1862. He was much beloved by the townspeople. Winchester’s historic homes and churches offergorgeous details such as this door knob. Historic Victorian homes such as this one fill the neighborhoods adjacent the oldest part of Winchester. Mount Hebron Cemetery holds four cemeteries, church […]
Let the Autumn Colors Inspire You to Daytrip Too!
We would see amazing things if we could learn to be travelers in our own neighborhoods, Henry David Thoreau said. Fall is a great time to explore your own neighborhood and see it with new eyes. Grab a camera and take yourself out for a fun afternoon daytrip! One of my favorite things to do […]
Revisiting Brookside Gardens
We first visited Brookside Gardens Mothers Day weekend, a few years ago. Construction was just beginning on the series of reflection ponds, but there was much to see and enjoy. This year, we visited on Father’s Day morning. We went early, hoping to beat any crowds and wishing to go while it would still be […]
A Mural Surprise in Strasburg VA
More and more towns are creatively enlivening their outdoor spaces with murals — and what a wonderful trend! Strasburg VA, a sleepy but quaint town tucked into the Shenandoah Valley, about 75 miles west of Washington DC, offers eight lovely murals around town. Rich in beautiful views and history, Strasburg was founded in 1761 and was […]
Fredericksburg Murals
During a recent visit to the quaint city of Fredericksburg, VA, I noticed a number of murals. Since a visit to York PA and an exploration of that city’s murals, I’ve gained an appreciation for this art form, and now look for murals on all my travels! The American Canoe Association painted a mural of […]
Murals of York Photo Safari
One of the murals in the Royal Square District. I went up to York, PA recently to explore the city. I was surprised by the murals I kept encountering, seemingly around every corner. Sure, there are boutiques and antiques stores, art galleries, some really nice restaurants, and plenty of history — all this makes York […]
Williamsburg’s Christmas Wreaths
Colonial Williamsburg’s Christmas wreaths are famous, evoking the spirit of simpler times, colonial American can-do spirit, and a nostalgic and idealized view of Christmas that focuses less on plastic Santa Claus light-up figures and more on family traditions. Many visitors come to Williamsburg in December specifically to enjoy the Christmas decorations and wreaths. I recall […]
Eastern State Penitentiary Photo Safari
Refining the revolutionary system of separate incarceration first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail, Eastern State Penitentiary emphasized principles of reform rather than punishment and was operational from 1829 to 1971. Eastern State finally closed its doors in 1971, after 142 years in use, and has since been named a National Historic Landmark. The former […]