Day 23

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, next Thursday, 28th,  the shops are busy selling cards as above and the key items for the thanksgiving meal (turkey, cranberries, squash, green beans, pecan or pumpkin pie etc).

Christmas trees and garlands for indoors and out are now on sale, as are huge standard poinsettia plants:

For those who like to light up their front lawn/street, the following large illuminated decorations are also available in Home Depot:

Eiffel tower?  No, I don't know why either!

Day 22

A large blue jay visited the garden this afternoon - not a very clear photo I am afraid.

The male cardinal is always a treat to see  and this one posed obligingly long enough for me to get several photos of him although unfortunately his crest was not in evidence.

Yes I know, I need to get out more..

Leaves and more leaves

No pilates as yet, but plenty of exercise is involved in clearing up leaves that are now falling fast.  It is lovely to be surrounded by trees and to enjoy the 'Fall' colours but the leaves of the American oak are about six inches long and quickly mount up ..

There would have been more triumph in having filled these bags up if there wasn't still at least one further tree full of leaves to drop!

Day 20

Rather a slow news day today so here is a picture to remind those of you who are thinking of visiting us at some point that a warm welcome awaits you at our door ..  (although no cats, unfortunately)

Day 19

The suet block is proving to be a great attraction to a number of different birds - including this Downy Woodpecker, which is quite small - just 5 or 6 inches long.  Other woodpeckers as well as Blue Jays have visited but have yet to be photographed.

However, not all of the squirrels are being put off by the chilli in the suet mix..

Although he hasn't been back since..

Day 18

David was on leave today and so, after an early morning trip and queue at the Social Security Administration in Fairfax to obtain my Social Security card (essential for many processes here), we went to the neighbouring town of Vienna.

The above picture shows the town's original library which ceased to be in use in 1970 or so (we visited and signed up to the new one).

Modern Vienna is a series of 'strip malls' along the main road but running parallel is Church Street which, in Virginia terms, contains a number of historic buildings, including as you may imagine, a church.  

It was built in the late 19th century..

The church has grown and prospered since then and is now significantly larger..

This picture still only shows a small part of it, there is another very large church building behind.

We also saw the former Vienna general store which is now open from time to time as a museum.

And finally the route of the Old Dominion railroad, now a cycle path which crosses Northern Virginia.

Our last stop in Vienna was (another) pasty shop - this one had a picture of 'The Chough' in Padstow on the wall, which made us feel a little nostalgic for home.

The shop also had an interesting range of English grocery items, amongst which the following;

We managed to resist these (even the Bisto cheese sauce granules) although it was harder to walk away from the Branston pickle and the Fry's Chocolate Cream!

Day 17

We visited a shop dedicated to everything that you need for feeding the birds and added a suet block to the bird feeder - treated with chilli pepper to deter the squirrels.  Apparently birds can't taste the heat and certainly they seem to be tucking in with enthusiasm.

Today's visitors included a Carolina wren..

Also a Cardinal..

The very friendly Tufted Titmouse..

The squirrels settled for nibbling some apple cores..

(All pics were taken by David)