This week our drives up and down Route 50 were pretty spectacular. We awoke several mornings to a light snowfall overnight, which left the countryside with white highlights, and fog in low-lying areas added to the artistic feeling. Thanks to those persistent linesmen working on the road between Upperville and Paris, I find myself stopped at different areas of the road each day on my commute.

Today I had a lovely view of Greystone, a small community of homes nestled into the hills with commanding views of the area. The beautifully maintained stone walls and the coops built into the fence lines provide jumping opportunities for the Piedmont Hunt, which stakes claim to this territory. It’s a wonderful field for sighting wildlife as well, and we’ve viewed foxes, turkeys, deer, bald eagles and hawks along this stretch of road. Although the alternating traffic pattern is annoying when I’m in a hurry, I know I’ll be sad when the work is finished and I’m once again whipping by these vistas at 55 miles per hour.