To Bare or Not To Bare

December 14, 2012 by LB

I drive past this field most mornings on the way to work.

I’ve been watching and waiting for the day when 1) I had the time and 2) when the sun was shining, in order to catch the one tree, of the many that ring that field, that has held on to it’s leaves. The orange leaves catch the light beautifully. I love the shadow being thrown from the hay bale and the barely visible moisture steaming from it.

It wasn’t until today though that I noticed the dramatic difference between that tree and another nearby.

One bare … one still leaf covered.

Foggy Morning in Radford

December 8, 2012 by LB

You may remember me saying that I often head out the door in the morning without a clue as to the weather or the temperature. This morning, when driving to accomplish the mundane task of getting the oil changed in the truck, I was fortunate to witness the beauty of a foggy morning. By the time I got home an hour later, I had stopped twice to shoot the silhouette of trees and once, the beautiful view shed that Radford offers.

Remembering Summer and Old Bridges

December 5, 2012 by LB

I truly am a four season fan. Just when I tire of heat, it grows cooler. When I think I’ve had enough of the cold, the warm air returns. I truly do try to embrace whatever mother nature serves up each day, and I often walk out the door without having a clue as to what the temperature is.

So why the remembrance of a hot August day at the beginning of a mild winter? I came across these pictures when looking for a particular photo that I took over the summer. The lush, green hues against the old crumbling bridge took me back to a fun day on Big Walker Creek in Giles County, Virginia. What a contrast to the colors of early December.

Grayson County: A Weekend Without Technology

November 19, 2012 by LB

I’m always grateful for time with friends … even more so when that time is spent in an early 20th Century farmhouse in Elk Creek, Virginia. Seven women, the cares of family, work and life left at home, gathered for a weekend in Grayson County.

Grayson County is in far Southwest Virginia and is the home to the Mt Rogers Recreation Area and the highest point in Virginia (5728 ft). The twisty, hilly road to our weekend getaway took us through the mountains and by thousands of acres of Christmas Tree Farms and pumpkin patches.

Our farmhouse (Shepherd’s Retreat ) was actually a Sears Home, built in 1909. Sears was one of the largest companies to sell mail order homes. “Entire homes would arrive by railroad, from pre-cut lumber, to carved staircases, down to the nails and varnish. Families picked out their houses according to their needs, tastes, and pocketbooks. Sears provided all the materials and instructions, and for many years the financing, for homeowners to build their own houses. Sears’s Modern Homes stand today as living monuments to the fine, enduring, and solid quality of Sears craftsmanship” (http://www.searsarchives.com/homes/history.htm).

While only an hour and a half from home, and 12 miles from the nearest gas station / small store, it was almost a step back in time. No cell phone, no internet, essentially no TV and definitely no college football!

The lack of technology was not a problem for this group of women. With no restaurants any where near by, delicious meals were prepared in a kitchen filled with light and the sounds of friendship.

Card games were played, and songs were sung. At times, the house echoed with laughter, talk and dancing; at other times, peace and quiet reigned as books were read, walks were taken and naps were indulged in.

The beauty of our surroundings had me reaching for my camera time and again.

(Ruth Babylon, the real photographer, took the last picture)

Frosty mornings ….

… led to gentle, warm sunny afternoons ….

… and gorgeous sunsets.

As the weekend came to an end, we felt grateful to share such treasured friendships. We were recharged and ready to get back to life outside the farmhouse. And isn’t that what friendship and freedom from the distractions of technology should do?

The Umstead: Hotel as Art Gallery

November 12, 2012 by LB

While celebrating the 50th Birthday of two dear friends, I had the very good fortune to spend time at The Umstead Hotel and Spa in Cary (near Raleigh) North Carolina. While not an overnight guest, I had the opportunity to enjoy the natural landscape, a delicious brunch and to realize the peace, serenity and absolute luxury that guests enjoy.

According to Our State: North Carolina Magazine, the Umstead was built on land that used to be part of the William B. Umstead State Park. “The hotel is a reflection of the surrounding serenity with a limestone exterior that rises up from naturally landscaped earth. Off the terrace, a shaded boardwalk invites visitors to linger around a pond fringed with blue flag iris and a grove of young cypress. Inside, sleek wood paneling, stone floors, and walls of windows pull nature indoors” (http://www.ourstate.com/brilliant-oasis-the-umstead/).

The Umstead also boasts an extensive art collection. I wandered the interior of the hotel, stopping time and time again to enjoy the paintings, sculptures and photographs, all a reflection of the natural world. I had not thought of writing about the experience from the perspective of art (hey – I was here for a party!), but I wish I’d taken more time with the camera. As I stopped to photograph some of the pieces, I thought about how I don’t know much about art but I do know what catches my eye.

The flower arrangements were stunning!

And even the presentation of the table and food were beautiful to see.

A stroll along the walking paths took us through the trees and alongside a pond. The hotel boasts it’s sustainability and I loved that over 50% of the food products for Herons, the in hotel restaurant, and over 30% of the food products for the entire property come from local North Carolina purveyors (http://www.theumstead.com/ourHotel/sustainability-en.html). We watched as one of the chefs selected herbs for the days meals.

What an absolute treat it was to spend a few hours at The Umstead. I kept joking with my friends that I understood why people wanted to be rich … I would have loved to spend a few days, rather than just a few hours, here.

Even the trees put on a show for us.

First Frost

November 6, 2012 by LB

It truly is a wonder that I get to work on time … but I do … really! As I drive the short route to work each morning, I often have to force myself to keep the truck moving toward the office.

As one who loves all seasons and most types of weather, I thought the morning was wonderfully cold at 29 degrees. The little bit of sun that was shining through caused the frost on the leaves to sparkle. I pulled over and ran along the side of the road (in my skirt and heels) snapping a few pictures. The girls in the field were curious as to what I was up to, and followed my movements.

It was lovely to connect with the out of doors before getting back in the truck, finishing the ride to work and spending the day closed up inside a building.

Reminders of Summer in the Middle of Fall

October 27, 2012 by LB

I have loved seeing this begonia continue to bloom well into fall … bright colors that surely fit into the oranges, reds and yellows of the changing leaves.

The blue, while not a fall color, is a lovely contrast against the brown leaves.

The afternoon sun brightens the yellow leaves that have fallen into the juniper.

Southwest Virginia – My neck of the woods

October 21, 2012 by LB

Southwest Virginia … home of the Blue Ridge Mountains, a part of the larger Appalachian mountain range, and also of the New River, considered to be the oldest river on the North American continent. My current home in the City of Radford (http://www.radford.va.us/) is located in the New River Valley.

On any given day, I travel down roads that, especially during this time of year, are arguably some of the prettiest around.

In the summer, my friends and I kayak along this stretch of the New. During this time of year, I scramble down the river bank to shoot the old train trestle against the backdrop of the evening light and the changing leaves.

While visiting friends to drop off fresh baked bread or cookies, I’m rewarded by the beauty that I see outside their homes.

The ride to work takes longer than it should during the fall as I stop multiple times to capture the scenery. The first picture was taken from my office parking lot, while the next is the view over the houses near Radford University (http://www.radford.edu/).

The taste of a microbrew at The River Company (http://www.therivercompanyrestaurant.com/) across the New River is even better when this is what I see from the deck.

This gorgeous oak stops me on my way down to Main Street …

… while this is the view that greets me as I drive home from work in the evening.

Sure, there are things that I miss by living in the rural part of Virginia (restaurant diversity for example), but views like this one taken from Attimo Winery (http://www.attimowinery.com/) sure help to make up for it!

Fall in love with Fall … all day long

October 9, 2012 by LB

I am always surprised when someone tells me that they don’t like fall.

The fresh air, the cooler temps, the energy … but mostly the colors!

I want to take my camera with me everywhere I go. And when I do leave it at home, I regret it. The beauty of fall surrounds us at all times of the day.

Morning sun…

Mid-morning Color …

Late afternoon light …

Evening Sunset …

Don’t mourn the passing of summer and end up missing all that is fall!!

Let yourself enjoy!!

The Road Home … Riding Solo

October 5, 2012 by LB

Without a doubt, I love to ride with friends. Some of my favorite and most fun times are when I am spending the day with friends on our bikes. But one of the advantages of riding solo, is that I can stop at any time to take pictures … and the ride from Mt Airy, NC to SWVA is perfect for doing just that!