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LoudounLandscapes.com/Blog. Feel free to also visit the main Loudoun Landscapes website where you'll find more photography, stories and background information.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Old Beaut























This old house must have been a real beauty at one time. All hand build down the handcut boards that covered the stone foundation. Perched just outside of a new neighborhood where all building has stopped (due to market conditions). Everything in cycles.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

My own gallery! Virtually...


















I've slacked on the posting lately because I have been spending time building my virtual gallery. Second Life is a 3D online community of thousands of folks. I decided to open shop here as an experiment. Check it out if you haven't already, it's free to join.

See my location from the web instead: SLurl
Already a user? Click here for a teleport: SL Teleport to gallery

Friday, August 18, 2006

Free Birds


















What a life large birds must lead. You surf the currents for a while, rest, surf, eat, surf and then sleep. I suppose I lead a similar life, just replace those tasks with drive and work. The game these birds seem to play involves soaring for as long as possible without moving a muscle. They are quite good at it.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Clarke County Fair
















Opening day at the Clarke County Fair.






Not much going on except setup.


















You gotta love the real thing.

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Loudoun Emancipation Association



















While conducting Loudoun research this weekend I learned something about black history of the area. Loudoun's first county-wide organization was the Emancipation Association that formed in 1890. The group incorporated and bought 10 acres of land in Purcellville at the corner of 20th and A streets. The sign in this photo marks the former site. Elaine Thompson's book, In The Watchfires, provides a detailed history of these grounds which served the black community for more than 75 years.















After purchasing the book, I drove to the location to see it for myself. A church now occupies this place but remaining is a refurbished stone wall that once served at the gate to this property. While comparing photos in the book to the current site, I noticed debris next to a large tree (same tree but smaller is in the book). After a bit of digging I pulled out remnants of gatherings gone by. These Coca-Cola Soda Water bottles had markings from Frederick and Alexandria. A bottle cap shows a 2 cent tax stamp. After reading about the rich history of this place, it was thrilling to find actual artifacts used by former participants.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

Rebel Farmer















Who says a barn has to be red? Steel grain silo? Bah! This Bluemont farmer was cut from a different set of overalls. The barn is green and the silo made of brick. I haven't seen either anywhere in Loudoun County. Be like, different.

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Ice Diver























Looking at this photo will make you feel cooler, triple digit temperatures call for such photography. It was taken on freezing morning that called for gloves to be worn. An early morning AT hike last winter provided ribbons of frozen creeks running through bare forests along the Blue Ridge. This photo contains Daliesque qualities including an icy figure diving into the chilly water.