Tag Archives: Roanoke

Warmest regards.

I know this is perfectly strange (look who you’re talking to), but I have never once checked a day’s temperature in my life. I’ll check whether it’s going to rain, sure. But when it comes to the temperature, I’ve always relied on just sticking my head outside to “see what it’s like out.”

Anyway … the past few months have been bizarrely warm. A warm September doesn’t faze me much, because sometimes Septembers are like that.

But it was warm enough to wear a t-shirt out this past Halloween, wasn’t it? And maybe even shorts, depending on what you find comfortable?

Throughout December, my fellow Roanokers occasionally commented that it was like spring out. And I absolutely cannot remember a Christmas that was more unseasonably warm.

It is the evening of January 11, and it was too warm after nightfall tonight to wear a winter jacket. Even a heavy sweatshirt might have been pushing it. A light rain has cooled this evening somewhat as we are arriving now at 7 PM, which makes a jacket okay, I guess.

This post isn’t intended as a commentary on climate change or anything. I’m just saying the situation is pretty damn weird, that’s all.

 

 

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I’m making a grave statement here.

(Nah, just having a little more fun with photo filters.  These are edited shots of Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke, December 2019.)

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FAIR VIEW CEMETERY, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA (4)

December 2019.

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FAIR VIEW CEMETERY, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA (3)

December 2019.

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FAIR VIEW CEMETERY, ROANOKE, VIRGINIA (2)

December 2019.

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Fair View Cemetery, Roanoke, Virginia

December 2019.

I toured Fair View Cemetery by my friend’s house in northwest Roanoke just around twilight, which made for a couple of interesting shots.  The cemetery occupies a sweeping, broad hill.  It was established in 1890 and actually includes the grave of Confederate States of America Congressman (Waller Redd Staples).

 

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A new Thanksgiving friend.

He goes by the name of Jasper, and he’s one mellow rabbit. He was one of my (quite gracious) hosts for Thanksgiving dinner today in the vicinity of Roanoke. Seriously, this guy is chill. He lets all sorts of visitors pick him up and pet him. He has two siblings — one cat and one dog — and I’m told he chases them around the house.

 

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“A Roanoke Thanksgiving”

I am thankful for

fine friends, gracious neighbors, and presently forgotten adversaries,

the smell of smoke outside, its rich and deep and ageless burning notes that sound upon the palette,

the hills under all my days, which pluck up my breath,

all the countless “hellos” their slopes will yield,

the mountains’ incandescence in this cooling season,

the colors now igniting their high and wooded perches,

this new home, this Old South,

this ranging, easy vale of firming winds and firm tradition,

its gentle people, and their surprising hearts —

this fair, far Star City.

~ Eric Robert Nolan, Thanksgiving 2019

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LEAF BRITNEY ALONE.

Dudes, this might be the biggest leaf I’ve ever seen.  That is indeed my foot next to it.  And I don’t have small feet; I wear a size 11 and 1/2.  (Now, now … this is a family blog, people.)

I found these tarp-sized leaves in the exact same place where I encountered that giant spider — the one the size of a housecat.  This makes me think there’s some sort of “Food of the Gods” -type sci-fi shenanigans going on in the vicinity.

Will investigate and report back.

 

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