Author Archives: Jay McLaughlin

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About Jay McLaughlin

I am a rehabilitation counselor. I have many friends with autism and traumatic brain injuries. They help me learn new things constantly. I hike with dogs at the James River in Richmond - a lot. I've completed an Iron distance triathlon a year for 11 years. My most recent was in Wilmington, NC in November, 2013. I currently compete in mid-distance triathlons. And work and hike and take pictures and write and eat.

The rebirth of Corned Beef Row 

Posted on September 22, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

22 September, 2019            The rebirth of Corned Beef Row  Evelyn and I rode Amtrak to Baltimore this weekend and had an excellent time with my niece Aileen and her friend Dylan. My sister Katie (Aileen’s … Continue reading →

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Casting about… 

Posted on September 15, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

15 September, 2019            Casting about…  I was looking through my pictures for the week – I have some nice ones – working on a theme. I was “casting about” for a theme. I looked to … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, love, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, roses, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), squirrels | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The kindness of strangers

Posted on September 8, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

8 September, 2019            The kindness of strangers Mackey and Turner and Yuki and I had just gotten out on the rocks this spectacular early September morning, and we saw a young family enjoying the pleasant … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, hyacinths, Insects, James River, love, moon, Pony Pasture, Rivers, roses, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Playing chicken

Posted on September 1, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

1 September, 2019            Playing chicken In the decades our cabin in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley was our home away from home, quirky memorable events occurred more often than it seems they should have. But our family … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Carolina wren, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Rivers, Shenandoah Valey, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Butterflies in the ground

Posted on August 25, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

25 August, 2019            Butterflies in the ground Evelyn saw a bare patch of ground in front of our house and imagined a Monarch butterfly. She planted a plant. Flowers bloomed. A monarch butterfly stopped on … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, love, People, Pony Pasture, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), triathlons | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The craziest picture I’ve ever taken

Posted on August 18, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

18 August, 2019            The craziest picture I’ve ever taken I almost put the craziest picture first – but it has a snake in it. So I’m giving  Ophidiophobes a chance to bail. I’ll begin with … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, love, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), Snakes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Hula girl” – this time, it’s personal

Posted on August 11, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

11 August, 2019            “Hula girl” – this time, it’s personal I pass a little plastic solar powered hula girl on a sunny (most days) windowsill once each week. I wrote a brief essay about it … Continue reading →

Posted in Rivers | 4 Comments

If this isn’t nice…  

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

4 August, 2019            If this isn’t nice…   …I don’t know what is.” – Kurt Vonnegut – courtesy of Andrew  The quote is courtesy of Andrew. The flower is courtesy of Evelyn. The monarch butterfly … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, hyacinths, Insects, James River, mockingbirds, ospreys, People, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), Spiders | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Walking into spider webs/screening phone calls 

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

28 July, 2019            Walking into spider webs/screening phone calls  Evelyn and I were over in Bonair Monday evening and came back across the Huguenot Bridge toward the Virginia Eye Institute and Starbucks. Evelyn pointed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, roses, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), Spiders, whitetail deer, Wildlife Book Club, Wildlife Center of Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Some things in life can be improved… 

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Jay McLaughlin

21 July, 2019            Some things in life can be improved…  …but this weekend wasn’t one of them! Evelyn’s birthday was this weekend and her sister Jackie came down from NJ to help us celebrate. Evelyn … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, box turtle, cardinals, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, moon, People, Pony Pasture, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), Turtles | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments