Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
May 25, 2023
farm, nature black racer snake, black snake, rat snake, red shed, shenandoah river, snakes, Virginia Leave a comment
Three different days. Three different snakes. This eastern black snake was on the trail by the river.
This long black racer lives under the red shed. We see him pretty often.
This rat snake was also on the trail by the river.
It’s funny how non-poisonous snakes act all dangerous and really dangerous snakes just disappear.
May 9, 2023
farm, flowers, hiking, photography, river dames rocket, dog, flower, golden retreiver, moonshine, rocket, shenandoah, shenandoah river, wildflower Leave a comment
What’s the difference between Dame’s Rocket and Prairie Phlox? Why the difference between four and five (and alternate toothed leaves). This is rocket on the trail by the river that we walk every day.
Moonshine
And some black locust to perfume the air.
Final Moonshine
September 5, 2022
nature, river, who knows gem, kayak, nature, photography, river, romey, shenandoah, shenandoah river, skaggs, video Leave a comment
We are way too busy. During COVID the river was a key respite for us. Time to get back to our roots.
A run in September is just what the doctor ordered.
Honestly, they did answer…
Boyle’s boat looking grand.
A run of the class 0 rapids (with one hand).
Here’s to more Fall runs during 2022.
October 29, 2021
farm, nature, river Allen Kitselman, bald eagles, bindi, ceremony, cheeto, consecration, food, ganesh, Ganesh Chaturti, gem, hinduism, immersion, indian food, karthik, nature, river, river run, romey, shenandoah, shenandoah river, skaggs, the shrine Leave a comment
Sometime last summer (during the height of the pandemic), “the shrine” on my property was designed by Allen Kitselman and implemented by Claudio and his brother. On 9/12 it was properly initiated with a Ganesh Chaturi ceremony led by Karthik.
Here’s how that went down.
First, Karthik shared the significance of Ganesh Chaturti, read some ancient text, and made an offering.
Ready for the ceremony
Karthik leads the reading
Incense
Ganesh at the shrine (and everywhere else in the universe too)
In the verdant woods of Virginia
A gift for the mantle
Then it was off to the river for part two of the ceremony, a small prayer with an earthen Ganesha moorti which Jackie immersed in the Shenandoah river in a traditional way (plus kayaks).
We kayaked several miles together. Had lunch. Saw eagles. Reveled in nature. There was a cheeto sighting.
When we were getting ready to depart, the truck failed to start. But we persevered (with some help from Skaggs and a trusty hammer).
And then some fabulous food and conversation.
All in all, an excellent day. The shrine is consecrated and new friendships blossom.
Bindi people
January 2, 2020
dogs, farm, hiking, mountain, photography blue ridge, dogs, gem, hiking, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river Leave a comment
Three views from the corner.
Trio one
Trio two
Trio three
The walk.
Mogli blends
Shenandoah
Light
Tree fire
July 16, 2018
cute, humor, river, who knows canoe, crash, deal, discerning, environment, flood, funny, humor, sale, shenandoah river, sold Leave a comment
Prospective Buyers approach the Home..
Discerning Client…discerns.
Wait! Wait! I need to see it, I saw it online FIRST!
Dissed by the discerner…
But, yes! The non-discerning client doesn’t give a hoot about tires and stuff.
Sold!
July 15, 2018
cute, humor, river, who knows camper, crash, entertainment, flood damage, for sale, humor, model, shenandoah river, video Leave a comment
Looking for a river property? Offering a sweet little abode IN the Shenandoah River! Airy and convenient, amaze your friends as they wade into the dining room for a fresh-caught fish dinner! Info: 86-FLOAT
You, too could look this good.
A High Impact Home!
See How Airy?!
July 15, 2018
party, river eagle, eagle eats, eagles, fish, heron, shenandoah, shenandoah river Leave a comment
Amy approaches the eagle who just caught a fish, then landed to eat it
Getting closer
Watching lunch
Lunchtime for eagle
Closeup
Gack!
The peoples are so far away
Surveillance
Spot the baby
Adolescent pretty close to home
Home
LANDSHARK
heron
heron in flight
Shenandoah (with floaters)
other way
the peeps
Last eagle
July 9, 2018
nature, river eagles, econoline, econoline 360, kayak, nature, river, river float, shenandoah, shenandoah river, tc boyle, video 1 Comment
Back in May we paid a visit to the eagles lining the Shenandoah just north of our house. They’ve all grown up and are now flying around. On our latest trip down the river (it flows north, so just how to put that is kinda tricky), we saw 7 eagles. A few of them were captured on film.
The day itself was majestic and crystal clear.
The Shenandoah River
All of the eagles’ nests we know how to find along the route (three) were empty this trip, but there were lots of eagles flying around up and down the river.
spot the eagle
the view
spot the eagle
Oh and we ran across an Econoline 360 too. No doubt left by the big 2018 flood. This is perfect for our friend TC Boyle.
Econoline in the river
Amy paddled over to check it out
But really, the eagles.
turns out there were two in this tree
fly away
June 4, 2018
nature, photography, river cars, environment, flood, garden, kayak, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river, video 5 Comments
Puck senses danger. Tail up!
We started flood preparation in earnest the day before the flood crested (assuming that it crests today, that is). Fortunately, the great people at NOAA have a hydrograph that is extremely helpful for flood preparation. Here is the sensor nearest us at Millville.
The Millville hydrograph was wrong this time
Predictions said that the river would crest at 7am on June 4th at 15.6 feet. The prediction was off by 2 feet so far, but as far as we can tell from observation, the crest will happen soon.
We moved the boats up and rescued the submerged tables.
prep time minor flooding
the garden still above water
river peninsula already under water
truck full of table
Amy took out her kayak. The dogs followed.
Then it was time for a cocktail. The Last Word…hmm.
Last Word, hopefully not appropriately named
mogli got a workout in the flood
The flood in earnest started overnight. First major indication of prediction error was that the car bridge submerged around 10pm. Jack and Eli arrived from DC (Jack came down from NY) around 11. We ignored the road closed signs, drove in the back way to our car bridge and forded the now lake-like creek in the dark.
In the morning, we woke up to discover that the crest had not yet happened. Time to move the cars!
getting close to the cars
The river is getting very close to the house now. About 2-3 feet of vertical elevation left before the basement floods. This calls for some kayaking.
the new lake house
garden down
solstice fire spared
driveway or boat ramp?
road sign
visiting the neighbors by kayak
solstice fire, from the new lake
checking the fence line
garden swampland
the house
the new driveway
