Here's to the Start of a Beautiful Day

Having a job that requires you to be outside a lot you get to see a lot. A lot of bad weather, I swear the summers are getting hotter and the winter's getting colder (or maybe I'm just getting old). A lot of miles. A lot of inconsiderate motorists. A lot of long days and sometimes a lot of long nights. But some days all the planets align and you get rewarded with a bluebird day. After a long month and a half of cold, hot and wet, I got this day.

Franklintown and Community Fire Company

Franklintown and Community Fire Company, 107 Baltimore Street, Dillsburg (Franklintown), Pa. York County Station 65. FCFC covers Franklintown Borough and Franklin Township. Established 1940. Little more can be found on them. Their website has been shutdown and there seems to be no history on their facebook page.

As always, if you have information about any of the fire stations I spotlight here , please just leave a message on the blog, flickr or facebook

The Grackle and the Dead Sumac

Never underestimate the value of a dead tree. 

Valley Meadow Farms (PG 190)

I had driven by and worked past the Valley Meadow Farms several times through the spring and summer but never had the opportunity or gumption to pull along Interstate 68 to get any pictures. Finally found myself off of an obscure exit and right there in front of me was the Valley Meadow Farm. VMF sits along I-68 in western Maryland just west of the Sideling Hill cut and on Bottenfield Road. Apparently you can rent the farmhouse  by the day or by the week.

More form Graceland

 The back of Graceland mansion.

 The office in the garage.

 The pasture out back.

 Movie memorabilia.

There is more to Graceland than just the mansion. The tour leads you along through the mansion and into the garage to another building holding lots of memorabilia. This is still only part of what is located right at the mansion. There is even more across the street. That's where all the souvenirs are.

Sunshine

I sat and staked out the sunflowers again last weekend at the in-laws. This time with success. But it wasn't the house finches, it was the goldfinches. Light was low but I was able to capture a few pictures that are worthy.

Parade Day

Busy day today here in the Outskirts. The Vigilant Hose Company No. 1 of Shippensburg, Pa is hosting the 112th annual Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen's Association convention. To top off the 4 day event we are having a good old Fireman's Parade. Starts at noon. There are more than 80 pieces of apparatus scheduled to make the slow pass through the borough streets. The convention in Shippensburg is in conjunction with the Vigilant's 170th Anniversary.