An American Cream Draft horse, at Colonial Williamsburg.

And part of it, frankly, is that I like horses. I can’t ride worth a damn, but I like ‘em anyway. So there.

We’ve had a few new arrivals in the CW stables in the last few months, and I haven’t learned all the new kids’ names, so I can’t properly attribute these photos to a model. But eventually I’ll have the current crop down.

Anyhow, I kept telling him, over and over, that I had no treats on me and just wanted to take his picture. No apples, no mints, no altoids.

He preened, and posed, and then pestered me for a reward anyway.

Oh well. I gave him a good nose-scratching to make up for it.

The Governor’s Palace in Colonial Williamsburg has a storied history, and is well worth the visit.

The Tucker House at Colonial Williamsburg serves as the donor reception center, where contributors of $100+/year can go to take a break while touring CW. The house is staffed by helpful, friendly volunteers — all of whom know my son.

When he was younger, Trip would go there three times a week without fail. Now that he’s older (2.5 and counting!), his schedule is more erratic, but he still visits about once a week or so to get a cookie and eat it on the front sign. Given how hot and cold it can be walking around Williamsburg, I’d say we more than get our money’s worth out of his contribution.

This photograph was taken in the late afternoon sun, from the Palace Green. I used a tripod for the first time on one of my walkabouts this particular afternoon, with some good (and bad) results.

More photos from this shoot to follow.

Yes, those are artichokes in the wreath.

Williamsburg is awesome at this time of year.

Colonial Williamsburg's "Prelude To Victory" weekend celebrates the march of the American and French armies through Williamsburg on their way to besiege the British forces in Yorktown in October, 1781.

More photos are available in my Flickr set .

What, autumn already?

Unexpected colors on a great fall day.

Caesar (the new kid, stage right) and Prince try to work it out.

Last August, a nor'easter dropped 10 inches of rain on Williamsburg, damaging the dam on Lake Powell. As a temporary measure, the water levels of the lake were lowered by 7 feet to reduce the pressure on the dam.

This summer, the mud turned green as a variety of grasses and plants colonized the lakebed, slowly creeping across the flats. Geese and herons are a common site along the banks of the marshy stream that flows through the northern side of the lakebed. It is a far, far different site than the placid lake ever was; this view constantly changes, an environment in transition.

Nature finds a way.

Soldiers are everywhere.

(And I mean, everywhere.)

The town is turned into an armed camp, and townsfolk are arrested and subject to military justice.

Papers are tucked into the brims of hats, ready to be presented when requested. And they are requested a lot.

This weekend recreates the occupation of Williamsburg from June 25th to July 4th, 1781, by the British forces under General Lord Cornwallis.

The occupying army were not maurauders, and made efforts to win over the Colonists.

Some Loyalists even signed up for service.

It was, however, still an occupation. There is nothing trivial about martial law.

The presentation of the tyranny that led to the ‘Revolt of the Colonies’ is a startling reminder of what freedom is, by taking it away for a weekend.

Life goes on, but it is far, far different.

The re-enactors who converge on Williamsburg do a great job. They present the human side of the enemy in our national creation myth, and show that the American Revolution was fought not by monsters, but by honorable men.

They accurately portray the variety of forces that fought during the war, including the Hessian mercenaries:

And many of the British dragoon corps:

As well as many of the infantry regiments:

And all sides of the military are presented.

I should mention that it’s wickedly hot, they’re wearing wool, and they sleep in tents. We had a major thunderstorm roll through this year, too.

And by invading my peaceful town once a year, they remind us all of how tyranny looks, lest we forget.

More photos are available in my Under the Redcoat set on Flickr.

Photograph from the Under the Redcoat program at Colonial Williamsburg, recreating the occupation of Williamsburg from June 25th to July 4th, 1781, by the British forces under General Lord Cornwallis.

This weekend is one of the larger summertime events, as historical reenactors from all over the country converge and declare martial law on Colonial Williamsburg. (Many folks come just to get arrested.)