Science! Psuedo-science! Nature! Art! Nonsense!
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
April 10, 2019
farm, flowers, hiking, photography, river bluebells, nature, photography, river, shenadoah river, shenandoah, Spring Leave a comment
The bluebells are peaking in mid-April this year (a bit early), so we are outta here, headed to Norway for more winter. Because we, um, actually we think we’re nuts.
Here are some pictures from the daily walk.
Willie likes Spring
Bluebells by the river (this is our home loop)
The dogs have lost the trail!
The greening of the Blue Ridge has begun
This field smells like honey
Pollen leg is a thing
Footbridge on Wheat Spring Branch
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
December 18, 2016
fire, party, photography flag burning, nature, photography, shenandoah, shenandoah river, solstice, solstice fire, solstice party 1 Comment
Cold and rainy weather was a real possibility during the winter solstice party. But a day that started with a coating of ice everywhere turned warmer and beautiful before the party started. The next day was rainy. So boy are we lucky!
Before (a fat one)
The sunset was outstanding.
Impressionist evening
Impressionist Shenandoah
Party prep complete! Ready for the hard core solstice revelers. It’s way easier to come to the summer solstice!
Newly resurfaced footbridge
Tiki trail across the creek
Get lit: Winter Solstice fire 2016
After lighting, it was time for music. The music lasted all night, right up to 5am when the weather shifted and it started to sprinkle.
Music at the solstice
We decided that due to rampant political disgust we would burn some flags. Real ones. This is a new thing. Thanks Trump.
Flag burning time
Into the fire with you nazis!
Burn baby burn
And we’ve had it with racism too.
Flag two for the flames
Down with racism
Burn baby burn
Warning: exuberant potty mouth host on a mission (with a nice buzz) in this video!
Then it was back to the keg of dogfish head 90 and the fantastic potluck dinner in the barn. Super fantastic.
TURN SUN TURN.
Thanks to all who came.
After
November 6, 2016
birds, nature, river blue heron, fall, great blue heron, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river Leave a comment
Posted without commentary.
October 29, 2016
farm, nature, photography fall, fall color, gem, helicopter, hollis, home, nature, photography, river, shenandoah, shenandoah river 3 Comments
Today was a good day for a helicopter ride.
Morning field with amy
It was all Hollis’s idea. His helicopter too.
Control console
Sycamore Ghost
Beautiful day for flying
Visibility high
Shenandoah River
Fall colors from the sky
Incredibly fun. Now we want a helicopter again for the first time since 1993. Thanks Hollis!
