Some Farms Are Just So Beautiful - Overlook Farm Purceville VA

(Double Click on each photo to enlarge to full size)

I had only 15 minutes this weekend to shoot some photos of Overlook Farm in Purcellville Va. This is my BFF's farm and as you can see these are some of the inhabitants of Overlook Farm. The cute little girl in the photo is Casey Jones who can ride like a true cowgirl. The dog in the photos is Jake. Jake helps round up and rotate the horses from field to field. Overlook Farm will be on this year's Farm Tour 2010. If you have never been to Purcellville, it is the land of McMansions in every direction (beautiful horse farms for the rich) but the town itself has a small town feel even though it is one of the fastest growing suburbs of Washington DC Metro Area. We had breakfast in the little diner in downtown Purcellville. I felt like I was back in Nebraska as a child when we always ate at the little diners with all the farmers hanging out and drinking coffee. This was exactly the same. All the old farmers in town hanging out and the waitresses at this diner have been working there for over 30 years. Great food and great time with my BFF Terri Jones. If any of you have friends in Northern Virginia that are looking for a state of the art equestrian training facility check out Overlook Farm.

Click on the link below for more info on The Overlook Farm:

http://www.theoverlookfarm.com/boarding.htm

Photos From The 2010 BARKitecture Auction At The Fall Home Show

Here are a few examples of some of the great entries at the BARKitecture custom dog building contest at the Fall Home Show this weekend at the Salem Civic Center. I have to say the Hokie Hound dog house was my favorite. If you are a UVA Whahoo you could easily of purchased the Q99 (blue and yellow dog house-those are also WV colors) and painted they yellow trim orange and you would have a Whahoo Hound House for your dog. Everyone did a great job and all proceeds from the auction benefit the Roanoke Valley SPCA.

If you would like to add a new furry friend to your family go to the link below:

http://www.rvspca.org/adopt/animal_gallery_landing.php

A Beautiful Morning On Bluebird Farm This Morning!

Whenever we go into the fall season, I always worry because in some years past the leaves on the trees just turn brown, die and then fall to the ground. Did I mention how much I hate RAKING (sorry, I digress). Since Bluebird Farm is at a higher attitude, we usually get a sneak peak of what the fall colors will be throughout the Roanoke Valley. Every year the colors start to pop early up the hill on my back pasture tree line. So I noticed some color this morning and went and got my camera and walked to the back pastures. There were brilliant colors popping all along the back tree line. All of you trail riders out there can look forward to an amazing colorful fall. This is my prediction: we are going to have one of the most colorful fall seasons ever! I think it is because of all the snow we had last winter and then we had a good amount of rain throughout the summer (with the exception of the last couple of weeks). Dust off those saddles, pack your saddle bags, get the farrior out to your barn for new shoes, load up those horses and hit the trails! We are all going to have an amazing autumn. Happy trails!      Lexi and Christina

(photos taken on 9-23-2010 by Christina Lee)

Photo of The Week Contest

If you want to be part of our Photo Of The Week, please send high resolution photos to me at: Christina Lee at dakotagirl403@gmail.com or christinalee@leedigitalmarketing.com
Please try to get them all in one email and no more then 4 photos each. We will launch the Photo Of The Week next Monday, September 27, 2010.

Let's Launch A Photo Of The Week Contest!

This is my beautiful sister-in-law Heather Lee Jersild with her dog Sammy

(Photo taken by Kira Jersild)

The World According To Lexi is launching a Photo Of The Week contest!

If you have a great (and clear) photo of your dog, dogs, dogs and cats or a photo of you and your dog together and want a chance at being our Photo Of The Week, send photos to Christina Lee

at dakotagirl403@gmail.com Show off your pets!

BARKitecture Is Next Weekend at The Fall Home Show. Check Out Dick and Dave Building a Dog House

Dick Daniels and David Page from Q99 will be participating in the 2nd Annual BARKitecture custom doghouse auction to benefit the RVSPCA. Last year's BARKitecture brought in over $ 3775 for the RVSPCA. This year you can bid on at least 14 entries at the Fall Home Show next weekend at the Salem Civic Center. As you can see from this video Dick and Dave are deligating the building to their two assistants Don and Harford. I also saw one of our FB friends did a "Hokie Hound" dog house to be auctioned off next weekend. For all you Hokies that have Hokie Hounds, you might want to visit the Fall Home Show and put your bids in. Here is wishing the Q99 the best of luck building thier dog house. Have fun boys...you are going to at least paint the dog house yourselves aren't you?

For more information on BARKitecture click on the link below:

http://www.rrhba.com/rrhba/news/barkitecture

Dogtoberfest Is Just Around The Corner!

For the last several years I have had the pleasure of working with Saint Francis Service Dogs to promote their annual Dogtoberfest. This year we are looking forward to bringing Lexi and Tallulah to Dogtoberfest to see great events such as Pawcaso, the Parade of Dogs, Blessing of the animals and many dog venders. Last year we had a blast shopping and playing! Mark our Calendars for October 2, 2010 from 10AM to 4PM at the Saint Francis Training Center (8232 Enon Drive, Roanoke 24019). Lexi and I encourage you to bring your furry friends to come out and have fun at Dogtoberfest 2010!

Photos from the 2009 Dogtoberfest taken by Christina Lee

For more information to Dogtoberfest 2010, click on the link below:

http://www.saintfrancisdogs.org/

For vender space contact Niki Voudren at Saint Francis Service Dogs 540-942-3647 Ext; 409
All proceeds from this event benefit Saint Francis Service Dogs.

PawPaws - Yummy!!!

Every Saturday I run down to the Salem Farmer's Market to pick up locally grown produce and PawPaws. What are Paw Paws? They are a wholesome homemade treats for my three beautiful angels. They love the sweet potatoe PawPaws the best so every Saturday I run and get them a bag. If you look at the top right photo this is my three pups waiting in anticipation for their PawPaws treat. The photo on the left (if you look really close at the pink blur below Tallulah's nose) I blew the photo up so you can see Tallulah licking her chops after her PawPaws treat. The bottom right photo is the PawPaws vender at the Salem Farmer's Market this morning. They even gave me a punch card so when I get to 10 punches I get a free bag of PawPaws (I'm up to four punches already).

Tallulah after another PawPaws Sweet Potatoe Treat!

The other flavors PawPaws carries are Chicken Broth and  Bacon, Peanut Butter, Green Bean, Combo Packs, Beef Broth and Rice, Chicken Broth and Rice and Sweet Potatoe. You can order your treats by calling 540-589-4911 or email PawPaws at pawpaws@comcast.net. They will have a website coming soon.

Fall Is In The Air!

 

Fall is in the air....

Join The Students at Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine For World Rabies Day Events and Car Wash

Virginia Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine - World Rabies Day Events and Dog Wash on September 25, 2010 from 10AM-4PM

Veterinary students enrolled in the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine will hold the biannual community dog wash on Saturday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg. The first annual World Rabies Day event will be simultaneously occurring at the vet school with a variety of educational and entertaining activities in an effort t...o promote rabies awareness.

The annual dog wash is always a popular community event and will be held in conjunction with the World Rabies Day event. Dogs will be washed on a first-come, first-served basis while owners wait until they are finished. No appointments are necessary. The cost per dog wash is $10. For an additional $5, customers can have their dogs’ nails trimmed and ears cleaned.

The World Rabies Day event will be held from 10am-4pm and will include a 5k fun walk/run that will begin at 1p.m. on the cross-country course behind the vet school. Dogs are not only allowed, but encouraged! The race entry fee is $5 per human/dog team. Prizes will be awarded for winners, best costumes, and more!

Additional Activities:

- Educational presentations by the Virginia and Maryland Public Health Veterinarians
- Display and education on our local wildlife
- Variety of merchandise by veterinary clubs
- Food and drug company representatives
- Demonstrations and games for all ages
- Bake sale with dog treats
- Information on reduced cost vaccines
- Percentage of race entry fee along with donations will go to supporting our local animal shelters with free rabies vaccinations and financial aid



For all activities, dogs must be at least five months old, up to date with their vaccinations, and must be on a leash. For more information on the dog wash, please contact Kelly McConville at kellym87@vt.edu
For more information on World Rabies Day, please visit http://www.worldrabiesday.org/

"I Really Don't Know Clouds At All"

I've looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It's cloud illusions I recall
I really don't know clouds at all

I've looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It's life's illusions I recall
I really don't know life at all

The clouds were amazing tonight when I took these photos. I played with some of the tuning in Picasa and changed some of the colors. The whole time I was editing these photos the Joni Mitchell song kept popping in my head. I was 10 years old when this song came out and I would sing it over and over again. I loved this song. It was an extraordinary night for clouds tonight...I really don't know clouds at all....

September Is Our Big Horse Show Season - Random Show Photos

Here are some more random photos from some of the local horse shows that Lexi and I have attended. The weather here in Virginia has been perfect for the horses and riders. Nice and cool between 78 and 80 degrees. We are so lucky her in the area to have so many different horse venues. If you love your horses and your dogs, Virginia is the place to be!

More Photos of B-52 Bombers...Oh I Mean Photos of Hummingbirds Before They Fly South

We had six hummingbirds fighting over our two hummingbird feeders this morning. Chris and I each went out and stood like statues near each feeder. They literally had B-52 bombing fights right in front of us. They narrowly missed my head on a couple of missions. We were both so close to each hummingbird that we could feel the wind beneath their wings hit our faces! It was very cool. Chris took some great photos of them and I noticed there were three diffenent colors of hummingbirds. Enjoy the photos of the Bluebird Farm hummingbirds!

We Finally Finished The New Guest Suite At Bluebird Farm!

It has taken a whole year but we finally finished the guest suite downstairs. My husband Chris is an amazing carpenter! It took him 15 months from start to finish but it was worth the time because it gave me time to get my "idea book" together for this entire project. Whenever I start a design project, I take several months putting together my idea book with photos from all my design books/magazines of things that I really like or need to find. It really helps my husband Chris see my vision, for example, take a look at the sliding bathroom door. We ordered barn hardware and purchased an old antique solid wood door from Black Dog Salvage. When we finally hung the door on the barn rollers, we could both see it was the perfect solution for this particular design project. Also, I had sketched several drawings of the built-in-day-bed. I love the old rail road train passenger cars with the small beds and curtains for privacy. We installed lights with a dimmer switch on the inside walls of the built-in-bed for reading. On the guest suite project we went from very dark colors (burgundy and dark golds) to very light colors. With the new color combinations of white, cottage beige, and accent colors of  light aqua blue, and dark beige the downstairs is much lighter and brighter then before. I fell in love with the white slip-covered couches (so much so I ordered the same couch in a sectional for the upstairs great room). Double click on each photo to enlarge to full size:

We lucked out on the bathroom because we were only planning a half bath. With only 4ft x 8ft to work with, we didn't think adding a shower was an option but much to our surprise we discovered we could actually fit a nice sized shower in the very small space. We used beadboard and high baseboard trim on the bathroom walls just like you might find in an old farm house. We decided to add the built-in shelves for towels and toiletries. I found the cool old antique mirror for only $ 30 at Black Dog Salvage. The whole project has come together nicely. All the artwork downstairs is either equestrian or old dog paintings and photos that Chris and I have taken of all of our dogs (notice the shelf in the daybed has all black and white photos of our dogs) over the years on Bluebird Farm. We can't wait for our families to come from Montana, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota so they can experience Bluebird Farm in total comfort! Hint..hint...hint....

We Had An Amazing Time At The Horse Show!

(Click on the photo to ENLARGE)

 

Chris and I went to take some photos at the Astride with Pride Horse Show. It was one of the most beautiful days last Saturday. The weather was about 80 degrees with a slight breeze. All the riders were showing, hanging out and socializing while waiting for their class numbers to come up. What a great day! Here are some of the results...

French Bulldogs Playing With The Cats.

I got this email from Patty of Pet Pals TV and this video was attached. One of my favorite breeds is a "Frenchie" so I thought I would share this cute video with all of you...Enjoy!

This is an amazing Pedigree Dog Ad Shot 1000 FPS Using The Phantom Camera

Ad by Creativity....amazing photography...enjoy! Lexi xoxoxox

Fall Is In The Air On Bluebird Farm...

I was out this morning checking the yards for mushrooms and there is a crispness in the morning air that was not there a few days ago. Fall is arriving on Bluebird Farm. I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you some of our Bluebird Farm summer photos. This has been an amazing summer. For the first time in my life anyway, I have been able to spend time on the farm with all of my beautiful animals (in the past I was always working and trying to catch up on the farm). The animals have had an amazing summer with their mom around to spoil them. That includes all the birds. Enjoy our summer photos. Click on each collage to enlarge:

Dog Telling His Mommy and Daddy "I Love You"

He is absolutely fabulous!