Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Friday, April 25, 2014

More from the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia---and a Surprise from Right Here at Home!

In the beautiful Shenandoah Valley --with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
If you read the April 11th post (click HERE),  you will know that we took a trip to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia from April 6-9, 2014.   There are many highlights from that trip --but today,  I'm going to share more from April 8 as we drove through the Shenandoah Valley on the backroads (between the Shenandoah National Park/Skyline Drive and our 'home' that week at Strasburg,  VA) late that afternoon. 

We had had a picture-perfect day that day ---and driving through this lovely valley as the sun was setting in the west gave us another opportunity for some great photography.  Hope you enjoy today's set---and if you ever have a chance to visit this area,  GO and DO IT... It's fabulous!!!!  Be sure to click on the photos for enlargements.



One of the beautiful old homes along our route




The Shenandoah Valley




Another one of the fabulous old homes in the valley




Oh the Beautiful Shenandoahs!




And one more home/farm in the valley




Cattle are grazing;  Isn't the late afternoon sun just marvelous?




There are many farms in the Shenandoah Valley.




The sunset in the distance was showing off some pretty skies for us as we drove.




I put on the long lens to capture this sky picture as the sun fell behind that mountain range.



+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now ---to change gears a little,  we are back at home following that trip.  Here are a few photos of some of my Backyard Birds ---who are ALWAYS happy when Mama comes home to feed them!!!



A Gorgeous Pileated Woodpecker Visits my Bird Kitchen!  (photo taken on April 12, 2014)




The Blue Jays are back --and they love the Peanuts (shelled and unshelled) which I put out for them.  I miss these little guys in the winter--so am always happy to see them return.  (photo taken on April 13, 2014)




The Brown Thrashers are also back.  I love these little guys ---but they are gone during the winter also.  (photo taken on April 17, 2014)
 I didn't want you to think I had been neglecting my little birds.  They are always important to me even though I don't take as many photos of them as I once did.  I think I told you this also---but we have some Baby Bluebirds on the way!!!!!  Mom and Dad are working hard ---so hopefully there will be four little fledglings in the near future.  YEAH!!!  Gotta love my Bluebirds!

Hope you enjoyed all of my photos today.  Have a wonderful weekend.

Hugs,