Welcome to Harrisonburg VA

I've been in Harrisonburg the last couple of days, finding a home and finding my way around the town in preparation for moving here in August. According to information supplied by the Chamber of Commerce, Harrisonburg is home to about 40,000 people and 140 churches. It is easy to think that a town that is only 2 hours away from Washington DC is "east coast" but I'm thinking it's closer to the south than it seems. I've been called "ma'am" and "honey," and been offered sweet tea at every turn. The endless politeness is quite refreshing, even though I prefer my tea without sugar!

Today's first picture is of the downtown Harrisonburg courthouse. It sits in the middle of a square, surrounded by a clockwise procession of one way streets and a couple of welcoming cafes. It's not the biggest landmark visible - that would be the new science building at James Madison University, currently several ugly stories of building frame on the highest hill.

The second picture is of where you will be able to find me when I'm not home - this is the building that houses the JMU art galleries and the graduate studios. I chose my studio yesterday - it is cool and quiet, and next to that of a very talented photography student who was my guide earlier this spring.

To those who have asked... yes, the Simi house has been rented, and yes, I've found a home here. It's in a quiet old town neighborhood of dutch colonial houses (the east coast equivalent of our California craftsman beauties, complete with columns and wrap-around porches), a short 1.2 miles from the art department building. It is a townhouse, built in 1950, with wood floors and a full basement that will become my home studio. It also has a wonderful second bedroom that will soon be open for guests!