Mary and Peter Jennings came to visit us in Virginia over the last few days. They were neighbors who came from the Jersey shore, although we have known them for much longer than our time at the shore. So we took them around and in the process visited quite a few sites in Virginia. 

Mary & Peter Jennings in Mount Vernon

The sites included George Washington’s estate in Mt Vernon, Falls Church National Park. That’s the spot where the Potomac  separates Virginia and Maryland.We traveled to the Bluemont Vineyard with its spectacular views and the US Equestrian Open.

Orange and black butterfly with white wing spots perched on a flower against blurred green foliage.
An orange and black butterfly rests on a flower amid green foliage in Virginia, United States.

The weather was perfect–autumn is definitely in the air now. We are close to the time when the leaves start to turn colors. That is truly a sight to behold in the fall out in the countryside.

At Falls Church we saw two kayakers in the water braving the Falls, something you would never catch me doing in a million years. We knocked off a bottle of wine at the Bluemont Vineyard while overlooking the scenery. Easy to do. Mary Anne volunteered to be designated driver, so we were free to imbibe. 

A lone kayaker crosses blue water and white foam below rugged rocks and cascading waterfalls.
A kayaker paddles through foaming water beneath rocky cascades on Great Falls on the Potomac River.

Before going to the Bluemont Vineyard we watched Regional US Equestrian Open trials. The events include Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country riding. The Final will be held at the Desert International Horse Park in Thermal, California on November 13-14, 2026. Prize money will be $200,000. 

Rider in a black coat, helmet and white breeches on a bay horse inside a sandy dressage arena.
A formally dressed equestrian rider guides a bay horse through a dressage arena in Virginia. The filename and capture date suggest the 2026 US Equestrian Open Eventing Final at Morven Park near Leesburg.

Pretty soon we will have a visit from a friend and neighbor who now lives in Kitty Hawk, and after that we will go up North to New Jersey to celebrate the 50th Wedding Anniversary of a family member. You don’t see that very often these days.

Well, ciao and it’s time to sign out.

JFB