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Vintage in the Garden

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This past February, I posted photos of glass vintage airport runway lights found atop the posts of a garden fence. The cobalt blue lights offered a stunning contrast against the bright white snow.  During a recent visit, I found another of these lights, this time in teal, gracing the railing of the front porch.  In the post linked above, I labeled them Insulators, but was corrected and told they were runway lights.  My Facebook friends are confident that this one is indeed an insulator.

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Liz and Wilson have the most beautiful spaces within their garden.  In addition to a variety of flowers, vegetables, and fruits, the garden is decorated with intriguing pieces of art and vintage items.

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This last piece adornes the deer fencing that surrounds the blueberry bushes.

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Liz and Wilson raise the concept of  “yard art” to a whole new level.

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Tibetan Prayer Flags

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While visiting a friend one evening last week, I admired the prayer flags that graced her already beautiful outdoor space.

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“Traditionally, prayer flags are used to promote peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom. The flags do not carry prayers to gods, which is a common misconception; rather, the Tibetans believe that the prayers and mantras will be blown by the wind to spread good will and compassion into all pervading space. Therefore, prayer flags are thought to bring benefit to all”.

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My friend’s husband had recently had surgery and the prayer flags were hanging to promote healing and peace during recovery.

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Prayer flags come in sets of five colors.  These colors, arranged from left to right in a specific order, represent the five elements.  Blue symbolizes the sky and space, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water, and yellow symbolizes earth.

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By hanging flags in high places, the blessings depicted on the flags are carried to all beings.  As the wind passes over the surface of the flags, the air is purified and sanctified by the mantras depicted on the flags.

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While I was familiar with these flags, I did not realize the meaning of them.  The information in this post was gleaned from Wikipedia.  I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with these flags

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Basil

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Two years ago, I called it a love affair … but I think it’s time to be honest … I don’t want to go a day without basil.  In fact, it makes me happy just to see these plants outside my kitchen door.

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The combination of basil, mozzarella, tomato, and olive oil just can not be beat and it serves as my lunch or dinner almost every day during the summer months.  Of course, basil elevates almost any food, at least in my opinion.

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Unlike many of the garderners whose blogs I follow, I did not raise these plants from seeds.  Perhaps I’ll try that next year.

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The aroma of fresh basil is heavenly!  I’ve even been known to swab a leaf across my pulse points in the same way that another woman might use perfume.

Would you say that I have a problem?

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Let me know if you do … you can find me near the basil plants.

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A Golden Stop

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At the end of a day of travel, I was prompted to pull the truck over to capture this golden scene.

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Just think! Soon I’ll be pulling over on the bike because Yes!  The new bike is in the driveway!

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Peonies: Buds to Blooms

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Unlike last year, when barely a bud was to be found, this year’s Peony bushes have been full!  As each day passed, the buds opened and the most beautiful blooms emerged. I just could not stop shooting and before I knew it, the file had grown to over 60 images.

Have no fear!  I’m only sharing some of the images, most in color, some in B&W.

The images progess from buds

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and the ants that help the buds to open.

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Then the blooms began to open

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Even the leaves are captivating

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I only wish I could somehow share the aroma of these gorgeous flowers!

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Petal Love

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My peony plants are incredible this year!  Each bush is full of gorgeous blooms.  I’ll soon share a series of photos, revealing the peony from bud to flower, but for today … just a little petal love.

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By the way, how do you pronounce Peony?

My friend Rick and I say pee-OH-knee.  Others say PEE-ah-knee.

What do YOU think?

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21 Gun Salute

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Participation on Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service committee is one of my most favorite volunteer duties.  Working with veterans and other civic minded folks is a great reminder that Memorial Day is more than cookouts and blockbuster sales.

Don’t get me wrong … I do love a cook out!  Volunteer service on this committee however assures me that each year, I spend a few hours on the last Monday in May remembering the men and women who have died in military service.

Towards the end of the program, a 21 Gun Salute is provided by the Veterans of VFW Post 776.

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In this next image, you can see the spent shells in the air after being fired.

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More to come from Radford’s Annual Memorial Day Service.

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Here She Comes!

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The day was beautiful so while on the way home after a lovely visit with friends, I pulled the truck over along the New River.  It was the middle of the day and the sun was bright.

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Only a couple minutes had gone by before I heard the familiar whistle of an approaching train.

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We love our trains here in the New River Valley (you may remember a post about the steam engines that recently came through).

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Once the train had passed over the trestle, I reflected (pardon the pun) on the fact that from this view the new Memorial Bridge can be seen in the distance, and the remains of the old, original train trestle as well.

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The beauty of the river, the architecture of the trestle, and the romance of a train … not a bad way to spend a few moments.

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Ride of Silence 2014

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The 7th Ride of Silence in the New River Valley (NRV) of Virginia was a great success.  We had over 100 participants in this annual event to honor and remember those injured or killed while riding on public roadways.  I’ve not seen the total numbers from around the globe, but I do know that there were 313 rides held in the United States alone.  It is incredibly powerful to know that you are riding with people from all over the world … on the same date, at the same time.  It is also incredibly sad to think that these events have to be held.

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The Ride of Silence – NRV began, as always, with a very brief program.  Advocacy news and updates, and then instructions about the ride are given.  I’m proud to serve as one of the event organizers (of all my volunteer interests, this is one of my favorites) and amateur photographer (clearIy need to work on the photography of moving bikes)

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Cyclists of all ages and riding ability are escorted by local police officers in a slow procession through the city, sending a message that we will not be silent about those injured or killed on the road.

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We do ride in silence and it’s an incredible moment.  One of the riders wrote about the event in her blog The Chronicles of Cort the Sport.  I encourage you to check out her account.  Cortney commented that “Cycling is therapy, it’s transportation, it’s freedom, it’s happiness. But sometimes it’s also tragic. This ride, with the ghost bike of killed cyclist Fess Green, was both a reminder of the dangers and a celebration of the community. I’d encourage others to take part in (or start one!) a Ride of Silence in their community next year”.

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We are incredibly fortunate to have the support of the City of Radford local government and the Radford City Police Department.

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and this next shot from the 2012 Ride.

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Thanks so all cyclists around the world for participating in the 2014 Ride of Silence.

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Please Remember!!

It is not just cars that use the road … pedestrians, runners, cyclists, and motorcyclists, too.

SHARE THE ROAD!

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We Will Not Be Quiet

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THE RIDE OF SILENCE WILL NOT BE QUIET

Tomorrow, May 21, 2014 at 7:00 PM, the 11th Annual Ride of Silence will begin in North America and will roll across the globe.

Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

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Here in the City of Radford, we’ll be hosting our 7th Annual Ride of Silence, an effort that was started when friend and fellow cycling advocate and enthusiast, Fess Green, was hit by a motorist and died from his injuries.  A Ghost Bike is placed at the site of the tragic accident each year a week or so before the ride.

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It’s a solemn, thought provoking event, and an incredibly powerful ride.

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In the next day or so, I’ll be posting a summary of this year’s ride.  Be sure to look for a Ride of Silence event in your area and check out this link to last year’s post for more information.

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