AROUND AND ABOUT - ONE DAY - VIENNA, VIRGINIA - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15TH, 2026

Thursday, October 15th, 2026: I'm writing this way past midnight on the 16th. We went out today (yesterday) to go to the Pure Pasty Company in Vienna (Virginia). It's not too bad of a drive but a good job it's not right round the corner as those Cornish pasties draw us in like a siren song. They are that good! (We did run a few other needed errands.) 

I didn't take any pictures of lunch as I have taken dozens of them over the years. You can see one visit at another 'around and about' at this link if you haven't seen the place before. 

We also bought a couple of packets of British Bangers, also mentioned on other posts. They come frozen and when we got home, we put one out to thaw and another in the freezer, as son is coming over for breakfast and we want to surprise him. 

It wasn't a big purchase today and didn't get anything else, except for the pasties for our car picnic outside. 

I have it in mind to make a nostalgia meal for us sometime, Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy. When I do I will put it on one of my Monday Morning Recipe Posts. 

We passed this market run by Depaul's Urban Farm. I haven't stopped here yet but it's on the list. Usually we are heading elsewhere - the siren song thing going on - but need to make an effort to look around here next time. The Halloween Dog was outside a pet shop on Church Street. 

I have been wanting to take a photo of the following sculpture for a very long time, and I remembered to get my camera out beforehand. I took the photo when we were driving by. 

When I got home, I looked up who the artist might be. Google is a wonder for finding information. Its title is The Spirit of Community and the sculptor is Mark Stahl. I have always wanted to know the meaning behind these pieces, what was its creator going for. It said the following: 

"The piece features a stylized flame comprised of dozens of metal hands painted in a brilliant gradient of red, orange and yellow. The "flame of hands" is cradled by sweeping, curved ribbons of weathered Corten steel, which develops a stable, rust-like patina over time. It represents the warm, energy and collective diversity of people coming together to support one another, perfectly aligning with its title and its welcoming church setting." 

And now I know the meaning of this piece. I also read that the church welcomes everyone from every walk of life, no matter who they are. That was the message here and I found that very moving. I am very happy I took this photo finally. It truly is amazing what we can find out more easily than ever before.

We are now about halfway home. I also like to take photos of buildings, as you may know, and I saw the start of this one in the next photo quite a while ago. 

The building was almost completed and I had never seen the mural before. My reflexes were fast today as I reached for my cell phone. Okay, we were stopped at a traffic light, that helped. However, even when we do that, sometimes I am too busy looking. Then I suddenly decide to take that photo as the lights change, and the moment has past. 

So, what did I find out about this place? Another heartwarming moment as I read this was a faith-based shelter for the homeless. I will tell you more in another post. Today, as it's quite late, I'm going to talk about the mural, designed by artist Sarah Berry.

From Google: "The stained-glass style mural is a striking public art installation wrapping the corner of a multi-story brick building. The imagery heavily emphasizes universal themes of hope, renewal and community support, which align closely with the mission of permanent supportive housing and shelter services. 

Breaking down the core imagery, the mural presents a narrative of transition and growth divided across two distinct sides.

1. The Left Side: Night and Isolation: 

The Setting Sun / Full Moon: The upper-left corner features a crisp white orb against a deep, cool blue sky. This establishes a nocturnal or twilight setting. 

The Bare Winter Tree: A dark, bare-branched tree stands prominently on this side. It represents hardship, vulnerability and the cold "winter" periods of life that individuals experiencing homelessness often face.

The Yellow Bird: Perched alone on a branch, a bright yellow bird looks across the corner toward the brighter side of the mural. The bird represents the individual - isolated but looking forward with anticipation toward a better future.

The Warm Ground: Despite the cold sky, the ground beneath the tree transitions into vibrant shades of pink, orange and magenta, hinting that warmth and a foundation are being established even in dark times.

2. The Right Side: Day, Peace and Flourishing:

The Radiant Sun: A vibrant yellow and red sun bursts from the top-right corner, casting massive geometric rays of light across the entire scene. The sun is a universal symbol of a new dawn, warmth and hope.

The White Dove: A white dove flies dynamically near the center corner, carrying a green olive branch. This is a powerful, globally recognized symbol of peace, reconciliation and new beginnings.

The Flourishing Tree: In contrast to the bare tree on the left, the tree on the right is anchored by a sturdy, deeply rooted trunk and full green leaves. This symbolizes stability, growth, and the structural wrap-around support provided by the housing community to help individuals establish roots.

Blooming Flowers: Bright white and pink flowers blossom at the base of the tree, representing life flourishing once safety and resources are secured.

3.The Central Connector: The Pathway:

The Winding Path: Winding its way from the dark left side, crossing the corner, and flowing all the way down the green landscape on the right is a white river-like pathway. This serves as a metaphor for the journey out of homelessness - a visual representation of the path towards stability, recovery and home.”

I think this is the first detailed explanation of a mural that I have ever read and I am happy to know it.

That's all for tonight. It's now way past midnight and my day has ended. Tomorrow we are heading to the pharmacy to get our flu shots.

If I have any typos I will correct them tomorrow.

Take good care of yourselves everyone and thanks for stopping by.