Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Fuck that bum, let’s go Joe!

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

“The defense has a certain level of trust in defendant that the government does not.”

If marriage is the equivalent of selling yourself into slavery, women with self respect should reject the offer.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

“Joe Biden deserved better than he got from some folks in his own party.”

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Dead end MAGA boomers crying about Talyor Swift being a Dem is my kind of music. Turn it up.

You are here: Home / Photo Blogging / On The Road / On the Road and In Your Backyard

On the Road and In Your Backyard

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On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.

From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.

Submit Your Photos

Good Morning All,

This weekday feature is for Juicers who are are on the road, traveling, or just want to share a little bit of their world via stories and pictures. So many of us rise each morning, eager for something beautiful, inspiring, amazing, subtle, of note, and our community delivers – a view into their world, whether they’re far away or close to home – pictures with a story, with context, with meaning, sometimes just beauty. By concentrating travel updates and tips here, it’s easier for all of us to keep up or find them later.

So please, speak up and share some of your adventures and travel news here, and submit your pictures using our speedy, secure form. You can submit up to 7 pictures at a time, with an overall description and one for each picture.

You can, of course, send an email with pictures if the form gives you trouble, or if you are trying to submit something special, like a zipped archive or a movie. If your pictures are already hosted online, then please email the links with your descriptions.

For each picture, it’s best to provide your commenter screenname, description, where it was taken, and date. It’s tough to keep everyone’s email address and screenname straight, so don’t assume that I remember it “from last time”. More and more, the first photo before the fold will be from a commenter, so making it easy to locate the screenname when I’ve found a compelling photo is crucial.

Have a wonderful day and weekend, and enjoy the pictures!

I’m weary – you know how, for those unfortunate castaways, a three hour tour turned into something a bit more? I’ve been helping my mom for months now and was just figuring out a twice-a-week, multi day/1-2 night visit plan and I’ve now been here full-time for a week and a half with no end in sight. Chemo is kicking her ass hard, but things are now being tweaked. And the tumor indicators are way down, so that’s a good sign but not the battle.

Also, my aunt is here for a bit and so I can go home for a few days and nights and restore. Seeing as I’m going to be here full-time once my aunt leaves, I’ve got some planning and moving of some stuff to figure out. At least I’ll be able to do it at (my, not my family) home.

There’s going to be some home health care and physical therapy, so it’s not going to be all on me, but as an only child of a widow (and a Freemason, who’s made oaths to support such, to boot!) I have to, don’t I? I mean, if anything is important, it’s taking care of your mom in need!

And no, I’m not really asking – it’s as clear as needing air to breathe. I’m just venting, hoping to encourage you all to honor your mother and father and try to well by them – it’s important.

On the all-positive, gustatatory front, my recipe for a ginger-mushroom-pork-kabocha stew was very well-received. If you’ve never cooked with kabocha (and I hadn’t until a couple of months ago), do it! They’re dense pumpkins that taste like the best sweet potato but have the texture of chestnuts. It is to yum. Cutting and peeling it is a chore, but it’s well worth it.

Have a good weekend everybody, now onto the pictures!

Today, pictures from valued commenter J R in WV.

A couple of year ago we visited Williamsburg and Yorktown with our friends M and R. These are the guys we were in Italy with, known them since way long ago.

I have some wild llife pictures from very near the Yorktown Battlefield National Park, and a few of the battlefield itself. It was fallish, November but pretty, and very few people were there. Like having a national park to yourself, almost.

Pics with a Panaconic FZ-250 super zoom, post processed to shrink file size with GNU Image Manipulation Program.

Yorktown Earthworks

Taken on 2013-11-18

Right on Yorktown Battlefield.

This shows what the battlefield looks like now, 250 years later. Well kept, serene, right on the Virginia coast, there are markers, paths, old cannons and mortars, etc.

Business end of brass cannon

Taken on 2013-11-18

Yorktown Battlefield

From the plaque:
Bronze Smoothebore Calibre 4.75
Made in Holland 1742
Captured at Stony Point N.Y.
July 15, 1779

Mortar at Yorktown Battlefield

Taken on 2013-11-18

Right on Yorktown Battlefield, among the earthworks.

This is a huge-bore mortar, being managed by Mrs JR in charge of the gun crew.

From the plaque:
A 1681 MORTAR
Although a century old this mortar was still serviceable in 1781 indicating that armament did not change so quickly then as now. Its Latin inscription carries its own message: “I send not the rays of the Sun, but the thunderbolts of Jupiter.”

Twisting 250-year-old Earthworks

Taken on 2013-11-18

Yorktown battlefield

These earthworks were all built by hand by desperate soldiers under fire from the enemy. There are hundreds of yards of them, with cannon and mortar emplacements, and wood placed to allow work without sinking into the mud.

Swans on pond by battlefield

Taken on 2013-11-18

Peaceful looking giant waterfowl floating on a pretty pond just south of the Battlefield itself. We were driving from one part of the park to another when we saw this pastoral scene. Swans are aggressive and will attack if they feel threatened at all. So not as peaceful as it looks.

Turtles near Yorktown Battlefield

Taken on 2013-11-18

These guys were basking in the warm sun, on the traditional old log on the edge of a brackish small pond near the battlefield

Swans on Pond

Taken on 2013-11-18

Same small group of swans in the sunshine. There were four all told, really pretty and calm looking.

 

Thank you so much J R in WV, do send us more when you can.

 

Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.

 

One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form or Send an Email

Reader Interactions

40Comments

  1. 1.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    I had forgotten how beautiful the tidewater areas of Virginia was. I had taken two of the kids that direction about 10 years ago to Williamsburg and Busch Gardens. So much fun….

  2. 2.

    Betty Cracker

    I mean, if anything is important, it’s taking care of your mom in need!

    You’re damn right it is. I lost my mom a few years ago to a wonky heart valve. I spent a month or so taking care of her at the end, and as hard as it was — physically, emotionally and financially — I wouldn’t trade a single second of it. Best of luck to you and your mom, Alain.

  3. 3.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    as an only child of a widow (and a Freemason, who’s made oaths to support such, to boot!) I have to, don’t I?

    My dad is alive and in seeming good help, but that’s going to be me too, at some point.

    I keep my dues paid, but haven’t been to lodge in years. I should probably make an effort.

  4. 4.

    Alain the site fixer

    @Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes: it came out of the blue this summer. July 3, we see Wonder Woman and then she has a call from her doc waiting on her answering machine when she got back. It’s been like a train, speeding up almost imperceptibly. Sorry this post was late folks, I had fat fingered the publish date. Now off to check on mom. Have a great day and weekend, all.

  7. 7.

    eclare

    I’m an only child, completely understand as both my parents have had severe health problems lately, suddenly appearing for each in July/August. What I tell myself is that even if I had a sibling, that is no guarantee that it wouldn’t still all fall on me. Helps a little.

    Thanks for the pictures, J R! That’s a part of the country I’ve never visited.

  8. 8.

    Mustang Bobby

    Beautiful pictures, J R in WV.

    Heading out this morning for Lakeland in central Florida for the annual Lakeland Auto Show with about 600 other cars on the streets of downtown Lakeland and around Lake Mirror. If you’re in the area, look for the 1988 Pontiac 6000 Safari station wagon in the “American Excitement” class. I’ll post some photos at BBWW if I get the chance later this weekend.

    (I consider myself an insurgent in Lakeland; it’s total Trumpland.)

  10. 10.

    Another Scott

    Beautiful pictures, JR. We’ll have to get down there to visit Yorktown sometime.

    Alain, and everyone else, strength and comfort to you in caring for your oldsters. It’s hard, and painful, and rewarding too.

    My dad lost his battle with uveal melanoma a few weeks ago – just before his 82nd birthday (metastasized to his liver). He had a good life, time to prepare, all his faculties, and excellent hospice care at the end, but it was still painful to watch his health fail.

    Remember the good times, and best of luck with the treatments!

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  12. 12.

    Aleta

    I remember kabocha. It has a way of absorbing meat juices or broth that is so delicious. I was surprised at how good the rind is too, because it looked like dark green winter squash rind but softens up much better. It makes good tempura too. That ability to absorb and soften but stay itself and hold its flavor.

    Also remember the intensity and exhaustion and joy of caring for my mom while figuring out the medical part and the emergencies. Would solve some things and adapt and then it would all shift again. It kept the stress effects going. I did things to counteract that, but later realized it would have helped to build it into my schedule.

    All the best to you and your mom and her sister.

    The Yorktown pictures are beautiful, feel serene.

  13. 13.

    Aleta

    @Another Scott: My sympathy for your loss. You’re always so supportive to people here, and I imagine he would have received such good company from your nearness.

  14. 14.

    Schlemazel

    A – thanks for the pictures, I have never seen Yorktown & didn’t know they had left that much of it for posterity.

    B – Tale care of yourself also. Having been through the cancer thing myself I know that the caregivers often suffer more than they will admit and don’t get the support they need. Being stressed out is not helpful to anyone soma make a list of anyone who ever said “If there is anything I can do” and ask them to relieve you if only for a couple of hours so you can see a movie or take a walk. Best of luck to you

  20. 20.

    rikyrah

    @eclare:
    What you tell yourself is true. From personal experience and observing life over the years, parental care usually winds up being the responsibility of one child,no matter how many kids there are.

  23. 23.

    satby

    Alain,

    And the tumor indicators are way down, so that’s a good sign but not the battle.

    This is good news and we all continue holding your mom and you in our thoughts. May she continue to improve!

  24. 24.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @rikyrah: When my mother was dying I took the lead role, mainly because I was able to not work for those months. My siblings all helped as best they could but it was mainly on me. If I was lucky I could go home once a week to see my wife and sons but that didn’t always happen. Very stressful.

    To all, when the time comes take care of your parents. They took care of you.

  27. 27.

    JMG

    Hi, all. Just to say that if I’m not on the site for a few days, don’t worry. I’m having surgery on my left wrist in a few hours because the plate put in when I broke it two years ago is starting to rub up against a tendon. I will be doped up today, and one-handed for a couple days after that. Typing one-handed is such a drag.

  28. 28.

    MomSense

    Alain, you’re doing a good thing. I’m in a similar situation with my parents. My siblings have really young kids so it’s not possible for them to leave their routines. Got my mom through her surgeries over the winter and since May have been spending as much time as possible with my dad doing the chores and things that he is not allowed to do. The hardest part is that he is in a lot of pain and not taking any medication. He manages it through toughness when he is awake but when he falls asleep the moaning starts. It rips at my heart.

    I hope your mom continues to feel better. I don’t know if her doctors are monitoring her iron, but my family and friends who have gone through chemo all ended up being anemic. Once the anemia was treated, they had more energy.

    It’s really tough but so worth it to spend this precious time with our parents.

    JR in WV these photos are so beautiful. It’s so fitting that swans, turtles, and nature have worked their healing magic on that battlefield.

  29. 29.

    MomSense

    @JMG:

    Hope the surgery is successful and you feel much better. You will be non-zen typing before you know it!

  30. 30.

    Elizabelle

    Beautiful photos, JR. Love the Tidewater area. Got to visit it again, real soon.

    @ Alain: all the best to you and your mom, and please don’t bogart that kombacha stew recipe.

    my recipe for a ginger-mushroom-pork-kabocha stew was very well-received.

    The recipe. You must share.

    ===

    I took care of my mom in her last years. The last year was dealing with lung cancer, which took her rather quickly — she was two days shy of her 88th birthday. The speed at the end was merciful; she actually was not on heavy duty painkillers — it was more that her lung function collapsed and that was it.

    It was a grueling time, but sweet too. I wrote everything about Mom’s care — drug dispensing times, etc. — in a notebook since I was too tired to keep much in my head. You grabbed an hour or two of sleep while Mom was quiet, and she had little concept of day and night in the last weeks.

    I would advise to record some of her stories on tape, or on your iPhone. They come from long ago, are ones you may never have heard, and you will be too tired to remember them. Wish I’d known to do that with my dad. He talked so rarely about himself, but came up with some wonderful stories about his youth and what he thought as a young person in his last weeks, in the dark of night, which are gone, gone, gone.

  31. 31.

    Another Scott

    Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I got a chance to say goodbye to him, and I’m doing Ok. He had a great turnout at his memorial service and everyone was very supportive. He had a positive impact on many, many people and lived a good life (even with his at times infuriating political views ;-).. That’s about all anyone can do.

    Have a good Friday everyone! Hang in there.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  32. 32.

    J R in WV

    Alain,

    Thanks for running with these so soon after I submitted them.

    My wife and I helped my dad recover from a broken hip. He was an active type of guy, swam laps, used light weights, but after his chemo, which beat his leukemia, he slowly came down with COPD. When he came back to WV, his house was at 2600 feet, and he had spent the last 18 months in Houston.

    The change in elevation made him dizzy, so he fell and broke his hip.

    No rehab center would admit him because he was taking a drug as part of a clinical study at MD Anderson Center in Houston. So we took him to his home and started in. Eventually we got him to the point where he could return to Houston and the doctors there. IT was a long haul, though.

    I know your work helping your Mom will be one of the most rewarding things you do in your life. Knowing I had helped my dad fight back to get on his feet again, and beat COPD and Leukemia for several years was great too. He died under hospice care November 2004, they were the most compassionate medical group you could ever meet. Pakistani Dr was the medical officer for this Hospice group, kept pretty strict Muslim life, office closed at noon on Fridays, but was understanding, willing to take a new patient with several life threatening illnesses and see him through it the best it could be done.

    Thinking about it today, it could have been yesterday instead of 13 years.

    Hang in there everyone. I gotta clean up after some wild house cats!!!

  35. 35.

    toocanAnj

    @OzarkHillbilly: And what if the elderly parents didn’t take care of the kids? I am always amazed when clients of mine, who were traumatized and neglected as children, take care of their dying parents.

  37. 37.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @toocanAnj:

    And what if the elderly parents didn’t take care of the kids?

    Turn about is fair play. I am obviously speaking to those of us who had parents that actually loved them. As to

    I am always amazed when clients of mine, who were traumatized and neglected as children, take care of their dying parents.

    Children are very forgiving, or at least sons are when it comes to their mothers. I know mine are and her transgressions are legion.

  39. 39.

    No One You Know

    My heart broke so many times on this thread it leaks. Bringing back done bittersweet memories to me. Humble best wishes to all.

  40. 40.

    J R in WV

    @raven:

    And if you don’t have kids?

    A very good question. We have great neighbors, they too have chosen to be childless. What happens when we are too old to drive, and still want to live in the hollows and coves of the green, green hills of WV! In 3 years we will both be 70+. Scary nighttime thoughts!!

    Maybe the 6 of us can find a couple of strong young folks to help us out, in return for the right to live on the north hillside of this hollow. We own quite a bit of land between us. We want to keep it natural, as opposed to clearing it for housing development, but how to?

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