RED SORT-OF-DAY...

In honor of the upcoming

RED HOLIDAY - VALENTINE'S DAY...

here's a collage of some RED items from my photo archives.

RED wooden airplane - Open House in SLO

RED bowl - White House tour 

(state service selected by Abraham Lincoln)

RED accordion - Winchester, VA

RED buttons - personal button collection

RED

:: is an emotionally intense color ::

RED evokes feelings of passion, desire, love

Brides in Nepal & India wear RED saris.

Japanese women wear RED kimonos for good luck & happiness.

RED is associated with war, energy, danger, power

Stop signs are RED to signify danger.

Countries include RED in their flags to signify power.

and, lastly...

Men love when women wear RED!

G.R.A.T.I.T.U.D.E.

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia ~ 10.24.15

Our Thanksgiving Week has been AMAZING!
It wasn't just the food,
{which is always tasty}
B.U.T.
JPE & I spent quality time with Mom!

Monday - Cambria, Splash Cafe clam chowder, & the Palm Theater to see "SPOTLIGHT" {a thought-provoking movie}.

Tuesday - Massage w/Patricia {mom}, began House of Cards-Season 3 Marathon, & watched a PBS Special about the Mayflower & first settlers.

Wednesday - Another episode of House of Cards, saw "BROOKLYN" {sweet, love story} at Fair Oaks Theater, early dinner at Old Juan's Cantina, Oceano & a few more episodes of House of Cards.

Thursday - Started our morning with House of Cards & oatmeal, Thanksgiving with Lars & Kathryn's family/friends in Solvang {incredible food, company & wine}, & a nightcap of House of Cards.

Friday - JPE put our turkey in the oven, watched an episode of House of Cards w/am coffee, turkey dinner w/Mom, JPE & Lars {sorry, you missed it}, the thirteenth & final episode of House of Cards, followed by evening news w/Gwen Ifil, & Andre Botcelli {both on PBS, our favorite channel}

We chatted on the phone with our girls, texted other family members... and just R.E.L.A.X.E.D.

Unfortunately, Mom insists it's time to board Amtrak to head home tomorrow. Bummer! But, it's only a month until Christmas, so time will pass quickly.

There's SOOO much to be thankful for!

F.O.O.D.

F.I.L.M.S.

F.A.M.I.L.Y.

How was your holiday?

THREE WEEKS AGO...

the daylight hours are getting shorter

flannel sheets are on the bed

sweaters & scarves are being pulled from storage

the birds were getting quiet

the water had stilled its movement

an hour before the sun dipped behind the hills

Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

snapping the final pictures

fingers pulling our coats closed

the chilly air swirled deep into our lungs

as we returned to the warm car

seems like yesterday

{instead of three weeks ago}

we stood on top of this stone wall

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V45

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

clever signage for the ladies bathroom!!
GOOD... GREAT...
not a question who should walk down this hall!

San Luis Obispo, CA

signs mark the Historic District in San Luis Obispo...

RANDOM utility boxes have been painted by local artists.

Sorry for the blurry pic - taken through my front car window.

Hands Gallery, San Luis Obispo, CA

holiday FUN is coming! getting excited to decorate!

give Tamar's blog a peek for her amazing "treat"

joining Tamar's GRF

LIGHTING THE DARK...

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

A question I've wondered about?

Do amateur photographers (such as myself) take black & white photos INTENTIONALLY? I'm one of those photographers who doesn't manipulate the camera setting to capture ONLY black & white pics. In most cases, I take photos in color & WHEN the color is fuzzy, or the object is blurry, I change the photo to B&W. I would imagine my photos would be crisper or might have more depth to them if I were INTENTIONAL about shooting in B&W. I'm going to give that a try!

Governor's Palace ~ Colonial Williamsburg

Intricate scrollwork. Incredibly detailed statue.
Entrance to the bricked compound.
(which we didn't get a reservation to tour)

The palace housed 7 royal governors, as well as

the first two elected governors in Virginia.

In addition to housing leaders of that time, it was built to project British wealth & the authority that money brought.

transported back in time

It's late September, 1781!

The general addressed the colonial townspeople, explaining a revolution is on the horizon.

The colonists have gathered around the troops to cheer them on

as they prepare for battle.

A canon is fired signifying they are ready for battle in Yorktown.

relief map of Colonial Williamsburg

I'm a MAP-LOVER! paper, digital & relief...

My traveling companions (Mom & JPE) discussing Colonial Williamsburg layout.  

sharing this post at

Black & White Wednesdays

& Wednesdays Around the World

Photographers!

what is your response to my QUESTION?

BRICKS GALORE!!!

Fredericksburg, VA

"Architecture starts when you carefully put two BRICKS together. There it begins."

~ Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Fredericksburg, VA

black iron fence, old BRICK & new BRICK 

Williamsburg, VA

BRICK path on the town center greenbelt

Williamsburg, VA

a canon-ball holds open the gate to an

original historic BRICK building

Jamestown, VA

the BRICK church that served the early settlers

Richmond, VA
Tredegar Ironworks, housed in a
historic BRICK building, was the munitions & canon supplier
during the Civil War

Richmond, VA
 BRICK furnace at Tredegar Ironworks

Arlington, VA
view from our AirBnB location - overlooking the BRICK condos & walkway to Virginia Square Metro

Washington DC
BRICK row houses along the street
leading to the White House
{if you walk straight ahead,
you'd be looking at the front lawn of the White House}

:: BRICKS ::
have played an important part in my life!

my dad was a skilled BRICK mason...

GOOD. RANDOM. FUN. V44

 ::  GOOD  ::

Oh yeah!

five of us shared a piece of "Peanut Butter Madness"

after dinner at Bonnie Blue Bakery & Market, Winchester, VA.

this was beyond GOOD... I'm sure Steph, Mazen, JPE & Mom will salivate remembering the creamy-ness of this treat!

::  RANDOM  ::

totally RANDOM!

A bit of fluffy whiteness standing T.A.L.L. &
holding S.T.R.O.N.G. in the COLOR competition on Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia.

::  FUN  ::

Mazen to Steph: "Is this too big for our dining room table?"

Sebastian, "guide-dog extraordinaire" has no opinion!

The five of us took a FUN drive out to

Marker-Miller Orchards & Farm, outside Winchester, VA.

In addition to pumpkins, we purchased apples, 

jams, & apple cider donuts. 

posting with Tamar @ Random-osity