Thursday travels in Shenandoah Valley

By Lynn R. Mitchell

Thursday I traveled to Lexington and Rockbridge and back to Augusta before heading to Waynesboro. The rural beauty of mountains and Shenandoah Valley never cease to amaze me in this part of Virginia. With dark clouds hanging low, I ran through several rain showers. This picture was in Rockbridge looking toward the Blue Ridge Mountains.

South of Staunton I stopped during a heavy deluge under a black, threatening cloud only to look across the Valley at the sun shining on the Blue Ridge.

Some trees are still showing their colors. This was west of Staunton.

Other trees have lost all their leaves, displaying their winter silhouettes.

A friend’s horse farm is surrounded by the color of autumn.

Smoke rises in the distance near Churchville.

A neighbor’s yard …

… and ours. The yard was raked yesterday but obviously it will need it again.

Our late-changing maple …

… and looking toward the Appalachians from the front porch.

Returning home from Waynesboro Thursday night, I lingered outside in the cool night air watching the full November moon over the Shenandoah Valley and Blue Ridge Mountains.

The lamp post caught my attention as it cast light across the leaf-covered ground and into the red bud tree. In winter, this is our Narnia lamp post.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
November 7, 2014