Sunday Bridges - Buchanan Swinging Bridge

The Buchanan Swinging Bridge is 366 feet long, 57.5 feet tall and the only one of its type to cross the James River. Portions of the bridge date back to 1851 as the Buchanan Turnpike Company Toll Bridge. On June 13, 1864, Confederate General McCausland burned the covered bridge to prevent Federal Troops under General Hunter’s command from crossing the James River. Following a series of replacement bridges, the Buchanan Swinging bridge was constructed on the earlier piers in 1939.

(that's one of my little boys Braden to the right, about to cross the bridge!)

More bridges from all over the world can be found at Louis La Vache's blog!

SkyWatch Friday

Football season has started! Braden and Dalton attended football camp at Lord Botetourt High School this week. Botetourt Parks and Rec puts this on each year and the little kids, ages 6-12 are instructed by the high school players and coaches.

Here they are preparing to warm up under a toasty, blue summer sky. Temps were in the upper 90's this week but they kept the boys hydrated!
(Braden and Dalton are in the last row, Braden in orange shorts, green hat and Dalton in black shorts, red hat)

To see more skies from all over, or to play along, visit SKYLEY!

Happy SkyWatching!!

Pick Your Seat

(Front porch in Buchanan)


After she'd eaten the three bears' breakfasts she decided she was feeling a little tired. So, she walked into the living room where she saw three chairs. Goldilocks sat in the first chair to rest her feet.

"This chair is too big!" she exclaimed.

So she sat in the second chair.

"This chair is too big, too!" she whined.

So she tried the last and smallest chair.

"Ahhh, this chair is just right," she sighed. But just as she settled down into the chair to rest, it broke into pieces!

Watery Wednesday

This is one of our favorite spots on a summer day!
Craig Creek, Craig County

Today is my first day to participate in the Watery Wednesday meme, to join or to see more watery scenes, visit Watery Wednesday of course!

Barn Charm Tuesday

The Joseph Sherfy Barn is located on the battlefield at Gettysburg. On July 2, 1863, during the Battle of Gettysburg, the 18th Mississippi Regiment of Barksdale’s Brigade swept around the the original barn toward the 114th Pennsylvania and the 57th Pennsylvania. The original barn burned to its stone foundation during the battle, killing Union soldiers of the 114th Pennsylvania who had sought refuge in the barn earlier.

To see more barns from all over, or to participate in Barn Charm, visit Tricia @ Bluff Area Daily Photo!

Whiskey Still - Mabry Mill

One of the many displays at Mabry Mill is a whiskey still. While my husband was looking at the still and reading about it, this man asked him if he wanted to know how a still works. Nick of course said "yes, I would"! The elderly gentleman in the above photo is Franklin Delano Williams. He was there visiting Mabry Mill with a friend of his but gave us a great history on stills and running moonshine in Franklin County (which by the way is The Moonshine Capital of the World and recalled his own earlier days when he was making and running moonshine, spent some time in jail and even escaped a chain gang!! He really had some stories to tell and we were so lucky to run into Mr. Williams!

Sunday Bridges - Mason Dixon Line

Heading back home from Gettysburg on a dreary, rainy afternoon, getting ready to cross under the Mason Dixon Line bridge.

To see more bridges, or to participate, head on over to Louis La Vache's Sunday Bridges