When a photographer glances at the weather forecast and sees that its a new moon with clear skies, chances are you will find them at their nearest dark sky location. I am no exception. Living in the Shenandoah Valley over the last two years, I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy some of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, but chasing the stars is, hands down, my favorite adventure.
One of the best things about summer is being able to get outside soak up the warmth from the sun. I ventured off to the local farmers market yesterday and stumbled upon these beauties. I couldn’t resist the colors… or the urge to break out the camera.
And by summertime blues… I mean Blue Crab! Summer wouldn’t be complete for this Maryland girl without steamed crabs. Although I have temporarily relocated to Virginia, my heart and soul will never leave the Chesapeake Bay. So for my “30th” birthday this year, my mom found a way to help me enjoy this lovely little crustacean… complete with Old Bay.
One of my favorite parts of summer is watching the lightning bugs twinkle through the back yard. I was lucky enough to catch a few last night. They aren’t the sharpest photos, but a couple of cuties still.
And if the lightning bugs weren’t enough excitement, I stumbled upon this handsome critter while I was out for a run…
Sometimes life can be so hectic that you forget to stop and enjoy the little things. Living in the Shenandoah Valley, I don’t have to travel far to enjoy the simple beauty in nature.
Whether I’m walking through wet grass in the morning…
or stopping to watch the clouds creep over the mountains during a mid-morning hike…
I’m witnessing something magical.
It has been an extremely busy couple of weeks, but I have still managed to find time to enjoy some of the fruits that the Shenandoah Valley has to offer. Here’s a little taste of a few local sweet spots. Enjoy!
Blueberries at Chiles Peach Orchard
Cherries at Spring Valley Orchard
Strawberry Moon and the Blue Ridge Mountains
Stopped off at a local wildflowers spot today….
I felt so much peace here and I think it shows. The simple beauty of this place was inspiring to say the least.
Hidden in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Swannanoa Palace is a lovely mansion with Italian style and a Great Gatsby vibe. It’s glory days are long gone and it is in desperate need of renovations, but if moody, forgotten masterpieces are your thing, add this to your bucket list.
The fog was heavy, but I think it only added to the mystery of this old treasure. See all of the photos from the Swannanoa Palace Gallery here. Enjoy!
I visited the Serenity Garden at Ridgeview Park this week and it is a beautiful reminder of all that is good in life that nothing can take away, not even something as ugly as Cancer. A truly beautiful place.
My son, Patrick, and I are working with a speech therapist to help develop his communication skills. One of the tools that has really helped has been the use of flash cards. In order to help his recognition of common items at home, I decided to create some flash cards of everyday items around our house.
Erin Harrigan Photography 
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