Shenandoah Valley greenery in Nashville

 We visited SWAC Daughter and SWAC Son-in-Law last week in Franklin, their new home outside Nashville. She had asked for greenery from our Shenandoah Valley yard for use in her Christmas decorating so we took a variety of what was available including magnolia and nandina berries. This was the result of her decorative side. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ... fa-la-la-la-la!

 

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
December 2013

Valley clouds

 Storms clouds over the Blue Ridge Mountains ...

 ... and the Appalachians.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
June 23, 2013

Hiking California canyons

Dr. Douglas is on the move on his side of the country, hiking the California outback and taking along his camera to share photos at American Power.

It's a different type of scenery than we have here in the Shenandoah Valley ... including eucalyptus trees. Check out his photos of the hike in Peters Canyon Regional Park.

Fishburne Military Academy welcomes local student

Classes began this week at Fishburne Military Academy located in Waynesboro and, while most of the 120 students board at the school and are from as close as Virginia or as far away as states across the nation, some are local.

One local student who began classes on Tuesday is William Saxman, son of Del. Chris Saxman (R-20th House) and his wife, Michele. The school's newsletter made the announcement:

Another local Virginian with us this fall is William Saxman, son of Delegate Christopher B. Saxman and his wife Michele of Staunton, VA. Cadet Saxman was also with us for Summer School and his parents have decided to enroll William for the school year. He will be in formation for the first time on Tuesday morning. Delegate Saxman delivered the Summer School Commencement Address for a crowd of two-hundred parents, family members and FMS staff.

Del. Saxman, a former school teacher, has been a leading voice in school choice throughout the years.

Back from 1864 ... the Battle of New Market

Battle of New Market ... May 15, 1865

Reenactment of famous battle an hour north of Staunton that featured the cadets of Virginia Military Institute.

My daughter and I spent today in 1864....
We had been on field trips to New Market Battlefield in the past. Today, however, showed it more as it would have been on May 15, 1864, when the blue and the grey went after each other. The grey won, the blue retreated ... and the War Between the States lived to see another day.

Cannon stand ready for battle....
Bushong house stands in background....
The Confederate Army....
The first sensation upon approaching the battlefield this morning was the smell of wood smoke from the camp fires burning outside white pup tents lined up in rows all over the area. The southern end of the battlefield had the Confederate Army; the northern end had the Union Army.
Union Army lines up for battle....
Today was glorious for such an event although the weather for the original battle was overcast and rainy. The sun was warm but there was a stiff breeze all day and, just before the 1:30 p.m. battle was to begin, clouds moved in and made the temps a little more comfortable for the hundreds of reenactors in wool pants, jackets, and vests.


Confederate Army backs up the retreating Union forces....
At the invitation of friends we visited the camp of the 5th Virginia Infantry Volunteer Regiment, Company E, of Longstreet's Corps ... the "Augusta Greys." Some were napping ... some were reading ... some were preparing for battle in one way or another. All were in period costume. All had been there for the weekend, sleeping in tents, cooking, reenacting everything about life in 1864.
After the battle, quiet returned to the Valley....

The battle reenactment will continue on Sunday, May 17, 2009, at 1:30 pm. Check website for more information on visiting troop camps, background history, and more.

Photos by SWAC Daughter & SWAC Girl
Originally published May 20, 2007