Heritage Festival - trolley

I missed the parade but I did see the trolley.



The passengers seem to feel like they are in the parade.

Heritage Festival - Knights

The Knights are a big part of life in Middletown. Here are some of their cheerleaders.

Heritage Festival 2

Middletown is just across South Mountain from the site of the Civil War battle of Antietam. The town provided various forms of refuge for soldiers from both sides and Mt. Zion church was used as a hospital.

The church was open during the festival yesterday. There were displays aftifacts from the era as well as photographs. During the was, the pews were removed to make room for cots for the injured.


A reinactor points out various features of a mannequin dressed like a wounded soldier.



Visit my other photo blog for more pictures in the church.

Heritage Festival

Sorry for the late post. The Middletown Heritage Festival was held today and I wanted to post a picture from the event. I heard that the rain started during the parade this morning. When I arrived around 11:30, the rain had stopped and the sun was out off and on for the next three hours.

Here is Main Street, filled with people instead of cars.




History reinactors Tiffany and Andrew are regular visitors to this blog. It was nice to meet them in person.




A cannon firing demonstration. Yes, I know there is motion blur. I jumped a little as the cannon fired.




More pictures tomorrow.

Hay and Cows

This is just north of town, looking east (there's that tower again). I shot it from the car; one day I'll find a place to park so I can take some better pictures of this farm.

Skyline at Sunset

Some of my sunset savvy is returning.



I used to be pretty good at this with film, but I've been struggling with getting a good digital sunset image. I'm starting to figure it out.

Friends of the Library

This building does have a use, at least once a year ... the annual Used Book Sale put on by the Friends of the Library.



Here is another shot of this building I posted a couple of months ago.

Water Restriction Warning

Actually there are no water restrictions right now, but I think this sign serves as a warning during times of drought.

A Tiny Hint of Fall

It's September and these trees have a tiny tinge of yellow. A few leaves are on the ground - a hint of what's to come. I've lived in Middletown Valley for six years but I don't think I've seen Middletown Park during the fall season. I can't wait!

Valley Looking East 2

This is looking east from just east of Safeway, slightly to the left of the similarly-title photo posted a few days ago.

Red, White and a Touch of Blue

At The Mall

This is the biggest concentration of "typical" retailers in the Valley. I believe the CVS and the Safeway (obscured by the tree) and the Starbucks inside the Safeway are the only national chains in this plaza. The dentist, restaurant (Italian) and the cleaners are local. The ice cream place is new and I don't actually know if it is franchise or local but the people sitting in front of it seem to think it is good. There are also two banks on this property, one local and one regional.


That restaurant delivers pizza (a weekly ritual at our house). I wonder if my wife has discovered the ice cream shop yet (ice cream is a shared addiction).

A Walk In The Park

Fountain of Youth?

OK, it's just one of the fountains in Middletown Park. I'm fascinated by how different these fountains look from each angle at various times of day. I excitedly await this scene in the fall when the leaves change colors.

Valley Looking East

Stalker

A cat stalks who-knows-what in the field east of Safeway.

Cherry-picker to Heaven

Cemetery Sunset

I probably mentioned before that although I have been an avid photographer for decades, I am relatively new to digital photography. I finally learned how to shoot a good sunset about 15 years ago ... on film, with a beat up Nikon F3. But I'm still at the early part of the learning curve when it comes to getting my digital camera to see what my eyes see.

Sunset on Main St.

Remembering

The terrorist attacks of September 11th happened seven years ago today. It is not a day or event to celebrate but I believe it is one we should never forget.

Life and Taxes

Remember that old saying - the only two things that are certain are death and taxes.



This tax preparer shows off some very colorful 'life' next to the office.

Traffic Lights and Traffic

I think there are four traffic light intersections in Middletown. Sometimes there are actually traffic jams, but usually it isn't any worse than this. Not bad, ey?

A Little More Wetness

Tropical Storm Hanna Visits Middletown

Tropical Storm Hanna dumped a lot of rain on the East Coast yesterday.

If your entire impression of Middletown Valley is based on the photos you've seen on this site, you'd probably think it is always sunny here. Not so. I just don't want to get my camera wet.


I'll post one more shot tomorrow and there are a few more on my other photo blog.

Playing

This blog has been mostly photographs of things and places. I'm trying to take more pictures of people.


This groups of kids were playing in Middletown Park last weekend, when the sun was out. Hurricane Hanna is visiting this weekend, so it'll be wet and windy. I'll try to photograph that too and post the results in a day or two.

Yard Sale Season

There have been several yard sales in Middletown during the past few weekends.


I saw the signs for this one but missed the sale.

Corn Field In Town

I posted a picture of this cornfield a few months ago, closer to the beginning of the season. This is near the end.



And this field really is in town. The shot below was taken across Green Street from the shot above.

Welcome Back To School

Schools have been open for more than a week, but I'm jsut getting around to posting this picture.

Going Down

In mid-July, regular gas at this station climbed to over $4 per gallon. By the end of July it had dropped to $3.91.


I took this picture on Sunday (8/31). Do you think it'll drop some more or will the effects of Hurricane Gustav send prices soaring again?

Closed For Labor Day

I love the idea that we celebrate work with a day off. Happy Labor Day!