Barred Owl

| edwinridout
7:27pm May 9 2026, in our front yard, photo by our neighbor Jack Murray. We’ve had several sightings of this bird in the last few weeks, but haven’t recently heard him ask “Who cooks for you?” Perhaps a month before we started seeing him this year, we had several times heard the call in the distance. Years ago, we used to hear that and another owl call quite frequently.

On May 13, Jack saw the owl again and got this photo:

Special Election: Gerrymandering

| edwinridout

We had a fairly busy day with no significant mistakes. We were strictly told to answer no questions about the amendment, not even to read it aloud. But none of the 1,786 voters had a question. The amendment failed in both Hartwood, Stafford County as a whole, and the neighboring Spotsylvania County, but it passed statewide by a slight majority. Eventually I suppose the courts will decide whether the amendment is lawful or not. [On May 8th, the Virginia Supreme Court said not.] At the general election last November, we had 1,902 voters, and 3,691 at the presidential election in November 2024.

Spring Choral Concert

| edwinridout

University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, Virginia

The Fredericksburg Singers is a college/community group I’ve been thrilled to be a part of. In this concert, before the intermission, the chamber choir and the UMW chorus each performed some of their own pieces. After the intermission, at recording minute 33, the Fred Singers were added to those two groups to perform first the Aaron Copeland song Stamp your Foot, then the Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzen, then the finale from Gilbert and Sullivan’s Gondoliers. Our director is Dr Chris Ryder, and our accompanists (piano for four hands) were Dr Melissa Wells and Dr Robert Wells.

Charlottesville 10-Miler

| edwinridout
Run 025, Sat March 28, 7:15am, my 14th Charlottesville 10 Miler (my 13th fastest), 1:43:55, 10:24 pace, 2nd of 6 in M75-79, 150th of 216 M50-99. Shown with FARC teammates Jeff Haber, Karen Hawkins, and LJ Darcy. Mostly clear, 37°F, 3°C, Humidity 54%, Wind NNW 4mph, UV 1, AT 39°F, Activity Feel 35°F, 2°C. Two other FARC members took age group 2nd place awards, Sarah Gilliam and Duane Williamson. Photo by Duane Williamson.

Big oak down

| edwinridout

It crushed a section of our back fence and blocked the back path. I got my chain saw stuck within seconds of starting work, but our neighbor Jack came with his big boy chain saw and saved the day, even giving me a fresh bit of wire fence.

How big? Inspection, two weeks later: