The Shenandoah Valley is a beautiful venue all year around, but one of the best times to visit is in the Spring when the redbud trees are at their peak.This time of year is celebrated by the annual Redbud Festival in Browntown, VA. The festival starts at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, April 22, 2012, and it has something for everyone.One of the biggest attractions of the day is the silent auction, offering gift certificates from local businesses, antiques and new items. There will also be stalls offering hand-made local craft items as well as a bake sale with delicious homemade cakes, cookies and desserts. You can also see old-time craft demonstrators such as a blacksmith, a potter, a chair-caner, a quilter and a basket-maker. You can also watch demonstrations of woodworking, penny rug making and... 04/10/2012

A couple of weeks ago a small brush fire was started in Smith Run, Browntown, VA by outdoor furnace ashes blowing into the woods.  Before it had finished it had burned over 2,000 acres of the Shenandoah National Park. Fortunately, no one was injured and no homes were destroyed, although the photograph shows how close it came to claiming one property. With winds gusting at up to 50 miles an hour the flames spread quickly and many residents and their pets had to be evacuated.  Unfortunately, no such provisions exist for the wildlife, they have to fend for themselves as best they can. The firefighters did a great job and it is thanks to them that the damage was not worse.  In all it took a week to put the fire out, helped by the changing weather taht brought snow, ice, sleet and rain to qu... 03/05/2011