Side & Back Yard on Park

A weekend of grooming and losing loppers in the branches three times!!! Plus lighting fires, shifting the club house around and back then mowing the crazy green grass one last time...

In Light 2015

Another year and this time much closer to home. It was super crowded and the flaggers were there to defend the Confederate Chapel from an unwanted light installation and the 'not our flag'gers guys offered at an amusing counter point. We loved this Brooke Inman in a tent and Alex Pixley round the back and Eva Rocha won.

Veterans Day at Maymont

One parent was off to honor the Veterans and the rest of us got a half day of Maymont magic... and gnome-home building.

Stump at Texas Beach

You might get stuck... or bitten by a bug but none did.

Plate Stand on Park

Business was so slow that she closed the store briefly but then two neighbors strolled over and bought some plates and on her return to Floyd the remainder were purchased. So Animals Asia are to get the funds stashed, though first she wants to finish another 100 plates...

She hasn't spotted the demand/supply issue in that yet, even with the charitable cause on her side.

Birthday Meals...

Breakfast of scrambled eggs, bakes beans and Billy bread; Elevenses of Krispy Kreme classic ring donuts; Supper of bean burgers, fries & Hardywood beer, followed by pudding of homemade oatmeal & raisin cookies with candles stuck in with bluetac and lighter from bar.

Afternoons on Park

... browsing possible gift-making ideas in the autumn sunshine with the best babysitter in the world.

Carter Mountain, C'ville

Back on the mountain and it smelt of fermenting apples and was warm! Lots of fujis, a tractor ride and picnic with view - no Bold Rock cider as solo carer but was tempted by M.

Shame the elections didn't swing things far enough to the left in VA whilst we picked and spotted, 'I voted' stickers.

Fall on Park

The leaves are back.... despite this pile.

Halloween on Park

J was the ghost of a casualty of war, adult J was a rainbow dragon, M was a rock star dolphin (notice dorsal fin) diver with pet orca. It was a mellow evening in our new neighborhood. Scary highlight was a sleeping gorilla man who grabbed people's arms when reaching for candy. Comedy scary was J leaping out of coffin, albeit slightly premature of victim's actual approach.

Fall Festival at Fox

Replenished hearts and some dancing and fab costumes and face painting... dolphins of course!

The International Conservation Club, RVA

'It's not impossible to save the world!' is the slogan.

So some local fundraising action with J's art pates at 25c or 10c depending on quality and level of pictorial detail. A family we knew drove by and stopped as did a sweet student walking home. Business was slow though. J is pondering alternative sites.

Posters have been made and displayed... Next stop?

Beaver Lake, Pocahontas State Park

Rain and autumn leaves made for a mild stroll... The Conservation Club for Going-Extinct-Animals was started here. See next post for their first fundraiser...

Dolphin Rescue Crew, RVA

Just in training on dry land until the call comes from Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Stretcher designed and constructed by M and dolphin thanks to Dave and Busters.

Sunset, High Bridge Trail

The view and then the bike ride home in the chilly setting sun with a  packet of crisps for motivation and some Christian rock (!!!) with dinner.

High Bridge Trail, Farmville, Prince Edward County

Yup it's a high bridge and a long bridge with not quite autumn leaves below. Quite far south west of Richmond in a dorp famed for its furniture warehouses and racial segregation long after the rest of America had pulled it together.

Friday Football at Fox

After school for the Green Eagles - a winning team not least because of the coach and one sharp goal multiple scorer from our family.

Kittens in RVA

Kit Kats... one settling in at a friends, maybe forever and the other on the school playground and super fluffy.

Chalk Walk

I think there's a connecting concept somewhere in this but the kids just like getting out of the classroom (all 551 of them) and getting messy and colorful with chalk and a bit of a Mandala vibe.

Wiring on Park

Repurposing junction boxes whilst your Dad's on electrics and things are going live/hot (everywhere!)...

The lead pipe conduit and wooden bar at the bottom of the stairs are now no more. You can smoothly transition in bare feet across the hall...

RVA Folk Festival 2015

The star of the show was Ensemble Shanbehzadeh from Iran. Goat skin bagpipes, drums and dancing. These guys came to school first and then we met them at the CD signing. We now know M's name in Farsi.

Curly fries for sustenance and then some dancing on a concrete helipad to Dominican salsa in the sunshine whilst the kids played frisbee. It may have been packed but we had such a  good time.

Birthday season...

Saturday morning creative shoot for not too belated birthday card... the pens are sparkly.

Home Improvement

Pegboard order comes to the kitchen...

Maggie Walker Historic Site, Jackson Ward, RVA

An historic house where 98% of the contents are original. Maggie Walker was remarkable and spending time inside her home on a grey rainy day was like stepping back in time...