Happy Halloween From Williamsburg, Virginia

This pumpkin art from the Williamsburg Farmers Market At Merchants Square is the perfect way to say Happy Halloween. We loved the artwork!  Hope your day is all treats and no tricks.

Fall Foliage And Reflection At The Governors Palace, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The fall foliage reflects in the pond on the grounds of Governor's Palace in Colonial Williamsburg.

Smoking The Clay Pipe In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This militia member takes a break to enjoy a little tobacco in his clay pipe in Colonial Williamsburg. Tobacco was one of the primary crops successfully grown and exported to create the financial base of the new colony. Although pipes were made of many substances, clay was the most common with shards found in most excavations. Tavern pipes were very common in public establishments. To read more about pipes in colonial times, click here.

Von Trapp Children At Yankee Candle, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Von Trapp family of "Sound Of Music" fame continues to entertain as the Von Trapp Children performed at the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in Williamsburg. Their appearance is part of a publicity tour for the "My Favorite Things" line of items offered by Yankee Candle. The items have song/movie related names.

These children are the great-grandchildren of Captain and Maria Von Trapp and the grandchildren of Kurt, the child who said he was "incorrigible" in the movie. It was an enjoyable afternoon of familiar songs.

Pumpkin Art, Farmer's Market In Merchants Square, Williamsburg, Virginia

This beautiful rendition of a colonial street was drawn on a pumpkin and displayed at the Farmers' Market at Merchants Square in Williamsburg. It immediately caught our eye.

The Smoking Gun, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

One of the military displays at Colonial Williamsburg included this shooting demonstration. The regiment went through the very orderly process of marching into place, forming two lines, shooting at an imaginary enemy and quickly reloading. It was very loud and, obviously, very smoky.

Unique Patriot Tours, Yorktown, Virginia

Patriot Tours is a unique group based at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, Virginia.  They do very modern segway tours of the very historic colonial district of Historic Yorktown. They recently moved to larger accomodations and have a neat sign with the colonial man on a segway.

Bruton Parish Weather Vane, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The weather vane atop the Bruton Parish church spire in Colonial Williamsburg bears its initials.

Cherub In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This  cherubic child helped herself to a snack during the recent encampment program at Colonial Williamsburg.  She was quite happy in her colonial dress, bare feet and with her ability to raid the food tent at will.

Encampment On The Palace Green, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This encampment on the Palace Green in Colonial Williamsburg created a very unique photo opportunity. Each tent was used by a reanactor and contained time period bedding and supplies.

Harvest Tree, Williamsburg, Virginia

This potted "tree" celebrates the fall harvest with its decorated gourds and pumpkins. The black cats on the table are painted gourds. The large gourd to the left of the pot and those in the background are hollowed so a candle can be placed inside to make the leaves carved into its side glow.

Lady In The Garden, Colonial Wiliamsburg, Virginia

This colonial lady appears engulfed in the vines and plants she sells at the nursery in Colonial Williamsburg.

Williamsburg Farmers Market, Merchants Square, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The Williamsburg Farmers Market at Merchants Square in Colonial Williamsburg drew a large crowd over the weekend selling a variety of local items. It continues each Saturday in October with special holiday markets in November and December.

Through The Glass, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This bell jar, used as a mini-greenhouse in the gardens at Colonial Williamsburg, provides an interesting glimpse into the garden store where plants and straw hats beg shoppers to take them home.

The Godspeed At Riverwalk Landing, Yorktown, Virginia

Jamestown Settlement's ship, Godspeed, with its fully costumed crew, sailed to Yorktown's Riverwalk Landing to participate it Yorktown Victory Weekend. The Godspeed is one of three replicas of the ships that brought settlers to Virginia in 1607 where they established the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States.  Each can be toured at Jamestown on a daily basis.

Yorktown Victory Weekend is part of the celebration of the events at Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. The events included a reenactment of Yorktown's Tea Party in 1774.  Later this week events include a parade, wreath laying ceremony, fife and drum corps performances, and a variety of events at the Yorktown Battlefield and Yorktown Victory Center.

Cutest Little Colonial Couple, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This little colonial couple head home after attending Washington's review of the troops as part of the "Prelude To Victory" presentation in Colonial Williamsburg.  They were just too cute not to photograph.

Brothers In Arms, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

These reenactors intently watch General Washington making his rounds on the parade grounds in Colonial Williamsburg. The regimental flag is reflected in each man's glasses.

Ruth wanted to title this post "Adorable" while Darryl wanted the title "Brothers In Arms." As a compromise, we note how adorable these guys are here in the text.

To see some more "WEEKEND REFLECTIONS" from around the world, click here.

Oxen On An Autumn Afternoon, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This pair of oxen in Colonial Williamsburg take a brief break from munching to pose for a photograph. The event did not hold their attention long.

Admiring The Troops, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This young girl admires the troops on the Court House green in Colonial Williamsburg from beneath the shade of a large live oak tree.

Don't Tread On Me, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The 6th North Carolina Regiment, with its "Don't Tread On Me" flag, marched sharply for General Washington's review of the troops in Colonial Williamsburg.

Fifing In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

This fifer, along with the rest of the fife and drum corp, signals the troops to gather to begin their march to meet General Washington in Colonial Williamsburg.

General Washington Reviews The Troops, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

In the "Prelude To Victory" presentation over the weekend, about 200 reenactors encamped in town, were inspected by General Washington, and drilled on the Court House Greens before marching on to Yorktown to battle Cornwallis.  In these photos we see Washington and some of the troops.  We will present a number of photos on this event as there was a great deal to share.

Love Artwork At Virginia Visitor Center, Williamsburg, Virginia

This giant "Love" artwork at the East Coast Gateway Welcome Center on I-64 between Richmond and Williamsburg is part of a tourism plan by the state government. Three welcome centers in the state had the artwork installed for the summer. The tourism slogan this summer was "Love is at the heart of every Virginia vacation."

Carriage Master, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Colonial Williamsburg's carriages are an integral part of the authentic feel of the restored colonial capitol of Virginia. This driver is typical; happy, personable, and ready to share his vast knowledge of the era with his riders. Click here to learn more about the carriage rides.

Autumn Sunset At The Waterman's Museum, Yorktown, Virginia

The autumn sunset over the York River silhouetted the cupola and weather vane of the Waterman's Museum, enveloping it in orange and golden hues. 

Picket Fences And Shrubs In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Rain and cool weather have done wonders for some of the shrubs and vines. This one is quickly overgrowing the picket fence framing the yard of this home in Colonial Williamsburg.

The Sadler Center, College Of William And Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia

The Sadler Center / Student Center at the College of William and Mary is the hub of campus for students both indoors and out. It is one of the more architecturally modern buildings on campus.

Colonial Girl With Odd Leggings, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

 

This girl happily played outside the Greenhow Store on Duke of Gloucester Street in Colonial Williamsburg. The locals were quite confused by the odd leggings and shoes she wore.

The Face Of Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia

This could be the face - or perhaps faceless- of Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Virginia; the annual haunting of the theme park.

Mossy Roof, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

With the recent unseasonably cool and unusually rainy weather for the past few weeks, moss has once again begun to assert its place on the wooden shingles of the roof of this and many buildings in Colonial Williamsburg. Maybe this is the 18th century's version of a "green" building.

Sunflowers And Pomegranates In Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

As the seasons change, so too do the gardens in Colonial Williamsburg.  As the sunflowers begin to bow their heads and shed their seeds, the pomegranates start to ripen, almost inviting you to pick and sample them.