Category Archives: People

21 June, 2026 Chesty Puller 10k – and more! 

Posted on June 21, 2026 by Jay McLaughlin

Yesterday my friend Andrew and his brother Peter and I went to historic West Point, Virginia to participate (we didn’t compete) in the 18th Annual Chesty Puller Memorial Twin Bridge 10k. You missed the 2026 version but (especially if you … Continue reading →

Posted in cats, disability, Dogs, Endurance, Fun, grateful dead, James River, love, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, Rivers, Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valey, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged | 4 Comments

Finally got to fly again (and more)

Posted on December 5, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

5 December, 2021 Finally got to fly again (and more) I flew most of the day Tuesday. Viruses don’t affect a plane’s ability to fly, but my schedule was disrupted by the pandemic so I took a break. I finally … Continue reading →

Posted in accipiters, Birds, Bryan Park, buffleheads, Endurance, Fun, James River, love, People, Pileated Woodpecker, Pony Pasture, raptors, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), sunsets, Tecnam | Leave a comment

Slacking off never pays

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

21 November, 2021 Slacking off never pays Somebody probably told me that in kindergarten or first grade, second grade at the latest. I’ve been told that in some form or other for the past half century-ish. You can teach an … Continue reading →

Posted in accipiters, Bald eagles, Birds, Bryan Park, Dogs, Fun, James River, love, mockingbirds, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), squirrels, whitetail deer | 6 Comments

Dust bath at the borrow pit

Posted on July 18, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

18 July, 2021 Dust bath at the borrow pit I often hike at Three Lakes Park in Henrico County, near where interstate 95 North intersects 295. It’s east of 95 and slightly south of 295. It’s roughly 1.5 miles east … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, cats, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, love, People, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Sushi before it’s sushi

Posted on July 11, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

11 July, 2021 Sushi before it’s sushi    I was at Deep Run recently and this hungry Great Blue Heron snagged a large fish. The heron was juggling it around trying to get it down its throat. This may be … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Bryan Park, cats, Dogs, Emerson, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, koans, love, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), squirrels, sunsets, thoreau, walden, whitetail deer, Wildlife Book Club | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“A calming reminder”

Posted on June 27, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

27 June, 2021 “A calming reminder” “The lives of many animals are constrained by the schemes of men, but the determination in these lives, their traditional pattern of movement, are a calming reminder of a more fundamental order.” – Barry … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, box turtle, broad-headed skink, cats, Dogs, Emerson, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, Insects, James River, love, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, skink, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), thoreau, Turtles, walden, whitetail deer, Wildlife Book Club, Wildlife Center of Virginia | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Oxtail kolache

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

23 May, 2021 Oxtail kolache That’s not related to an oxtail kolache, but I took it nearby. I snapped that picture (with my phone) from the parking lot of the Kroger at 1510 Eastridge Road close to my house. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, newfaze, Northern flicker, People, raptors, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), sunsets, whitetail deer | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Flowers and birds and dogs, oh my! 

Posted on May 9, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

9 May, 2021 Flowers and birds and dogs, oh my!  And Happy Mother’s Day! Evelyn as always has our yard brimming with spectacular roses. Here’s a beauty:  I think a lot of moms (and dads and siblings et al) also … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, broad-headed skink, cats, Dogs, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, Rivers, roses, simplify, skink, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A house trailer, a jon boat and a blue flame

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

25 April, 2021 A house trailer, a jon boat and a blue flame I wrote a little blurb at the end of this blog post – it’s worth checking out. If you know my siblings, ask them which parts are … Continue reading →

Posted in Birds, cats, Dogs, Flowers, Fun, James River, love, moonshine, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, raptors, Red-bellied woodpeckers, Red-tailed hawks, Rivers, Shenandoah River, Shenandoah Valey, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!), thoreau, Trains, whitetail deer | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Flower power! 

Posted on April 18, 2021 by Jay McLaughlin

18 April, 2021 Flower power!  A friend described my blog to a newcomer as having “lots of pictures of flowers.” If we’d had the same exchange in January she would have described it differently, but it’s April. Lots of flowers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dogs, dogwood, Endurance, Flowers, Fun, James River, koans, newfaze, People, Pony Pasture, Rivers, simplify, Smiles (including "dog smiles"!) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment