PhotoHunt - Dark creature by the door

Seen in Frederick earlier this month

Sky Watch - Thursday skies

Last Thursday started with clouds (above) and a clearing sky. In the afternoon we took a ride to Greenbrier Lake on South Mountain to check out the tree colors. The trees were disappointing, but the skies were not. On the way home we took a side road looking for a place called "Ostertag Vistas" (images next week on My World). And at sunset there were just a few clouds left glowing in the evening sky.

Window Views - Halloween windows

Jack-o-Lantern and friends

Jackie-o-Lantern with a message

Skeleton and spiders

Rocks with a message

The witch in our garage

My World - Sightings of fall

After an abnormally hot start to fall, we have had a few cool days and it's beginning to look (and feel) like fall. Some trees have donned their fall finery, some kept their summer green, and others went straight to brown. We got out some fall decorations, bought a few new ones, and got some pumpkins and mums to add to the display. Marianne also posted some fall pics.

Decorations on our mantel

Sad dog, sadder cat (spotted in Frederick)

Decorations on our patio

Lamp post greetings

Decorations by our front door

PhotoHunt - Orange pumpkins

Orange is a common fall color around here, but this year the trees have not cooperated. However, the pumpkin patch at one of the nearby orchards did.

Sky Watch - Into the sky

Starting engines

Last Friday I returned to the Frederick airport as the Collins Foundation Wings of Freedom tour departed for its next stop in Westminster, MD (about 30 miles east). Here are some shots as the B-17 took to the skies.

Taxiing

Airborne

Climbing

Wheels up

And into the wild blue yonder

Window Views - WW II windows

B-17 Pilot's window

Last Wednesday I saw a B-17 Super Fortress heading for the Frederick airport, and I soon followed (by ground transportation). The Collins Foundation Wings of Freedom Tour had stopped here for a 48-hour visit. The tour also includes a B-24 Liberator and a P-51 Mustang. For a small donation, one could get close to the planes and inside the bombers. For a larger donation, one could take a short flight. (I opted for the small fee tour.) Of course I took lots of pictures, including the windows that are a little different my previous Window Views posts. I posted more shots of the planes on Lew's Pics and Lew's Favorite Pics.

B-17 nose window

B-17 Top turret window

Looking out B-24 side gunner's window

B-24 Nose gunner's, bombadier's and pilot's windows

B-24 tail gunner's window

My World - Horse and buggy day

Actually these horse-drawn carriages and wagons on the fall Rose Hill Carriage and Maryland Draft Horse and Mule Association drive through historic Frederick. The drive begins at Rose Hill Manor on the north end of Market Street. The procession went west through Baker Park, across Market Street, down East Street, along Patrick Street and back north on Market Street to Rose Hill Manor.

PhotoHunt - Miniature hay baler

At the Rose Hill Fall Festival, I found this display of a miniature hay baler. The bales (in this case straw) are 10x8x5 inches. Powered was supplied by an old single cylinder gas engine (just out of the picture), rather than the electric motor mounted on the baler. I bought one bale to add to our collection of fall decorative items.

Sky Watch - Sunset October 9

Window Views - Thurmont doors

Last Saturday Marianne and I walked through Thurmont, MD for the Catoctin Colorfest. Here are a few of the doors along the way.

My World - Catoctin Colorfest

On Saturday we visited Catoctin Colorfest in Thurmont. This town of about 6,000 has hosted the festival for 47 years. About 350 craftsmen and artists participated in the two-day festival. Jewelers, painters, wood workers, photographers had all sorts of crafts for sale. Many items were oriented towards fall and Halloween with Christmas also covered. We bought a few Halloween items which now decorate our porch and a couple of small Christmas gifts. Lots of food was available, local restaurants and churches were serving, in addition to vendors who came only for the festival. Marianne also posted some photos of Colorfest.

Just a few of the vendors and crowd

Crafts from far away places

This one was in a yard

Carved gnomes, ghosts and jack-o-lanterns

Just two of the many places to satisfy your hunger