Bethel Beach II: Trees

Here are more photos from last week's excursion to Bethel Beach.

There's nothing super exciting about any of these, but there was something about each one I liked.

The tree above is one of my favorites because of how that lower branch arches back and dips so severely over the ditch waterway.  It almost looks like a bonsai, except it's not a miniature; not in a container; and of course nobody has cultivated, pruned or shaped it aside from Mother Nature.

Never mind.

Moving on to the next photo...

Again, there is nothing particularly earth-shattering about this photo, especially the lighting which is truly awful.  However, I took the picture because of those two pine trees on the left.  I love how their trunks get all squiggly there near the top.  Squiggly pine trees are unusual in this neck of the swamp woods, where almost all of the other trees stand rigid and predictable straight as toothpicks - like those on the right.

Yes, squiggly is a technical term that I learned in my own mind somewhere along the line. It's definitely not to be confused with Squiggy though, from Laverne and Shirley--just in case you were wondering. (If you've never heard of Squiggy, Laverne or Shirley, click here and pass me an application for the nursing home.)

If you're wondering what has caused Chesapeake Bay Woman to make so many ridiculous statements in such close proximity to one another, the answer is very simple:  stress.  The way she relieves stress is to let her mind wander and let her fingers do the typing across the keyboard.  She can't help what comes out but appreciates your tolerance and patience as she works her way to an assisted living facility through it all.

This last one is absolutely as dull as the day is long, but I thought the one pine tree leaning awkwardly to the left made an interesting contrast to the tree in the foreground whose arms are outstretched over the ditch beautiful marshlands.

And this concludes CBW's inane discussion about Bonsai, Squiggy, and Laverne and Shirley pine trees at Bethel Beach.

Stay tuned for the next episode where she talks about swirls in the sand!

Three Things

View from the cemetery at Kingston.

Welcome once again to another edition of Three Thing Thursday, where both of my readers anyone reading  is encouraged to share three random things on any topic whatsoever, whatever happens to be on your mind at the moment.  

Let's begin.

1.  Last night after a grueling day at work and a long drive home, I arrived home to a gift:  Chesapeake Bay Mother had fixed supper for me, CB Son, CB Daughter, and CB Father.  The menu included grouper; a salad with vegetables from her garden (yes, still, because she is a magical gardener); mashed potatoes; homemade bread; collard greens; asparagus; and the very best chocolate cake I have ever eaten in my life.  Ever.  The Chesapeake Bay Children can vouch for this.  There is nothing better after an incredibly long day than arriving home to a delicious dinner that involves no additional work on your part other than passing the butter.  

2.  Today at 1:30 in Williamsburg, the Mathews High School Cross Country teams compete in the Regional meet.  I will be there standing in the rain under an umbrella trying to take photos.  Aside from the rain it should be a very exciting meet.

3.  Here lately I've contemplated many options relating to this blog, from stopping entirely to slowing down some to establishing a three-posts-per-week schedule.  I hate the rigidity of any sort of schedule, so that's out.  This blog, however silly and ridiculous, is one of the few things I enjoy doing in my life (when I'm not swamped), so I don't want to give it up entirely.  But lately it's become a chore, and that's not a good sign.

Most of this is due to the fact that I (a) have a job that is mind numbing keeps me away from home from 6:00 in the morning to sometimes 6:00 in the evenings; (b) I'm trying to parent two children who have very busy schedules; (c) it's just me trying to maintain the house and yard, and that just isn't happening, so everything seems to be falling apart, literally; and (d) I'm working on a book in my so-called spare time. When all of this is combined with (e) hormonal upheaval the dreary days of winter when all I want to do is hibernate, then I start questioning the wisdom of trying to do a blog post every day.

Plus, some days I just want to pack up and move to Bora Bora feel uninspired, as though I'm saying the same things over and over again and nobody could possibly be interested in my nonsensical jabberwocky. Other days I could write forever but the stuff coming out just seems, well, nonsensical.

So maybe I'll cut back some or maybe I won't, who knows.  This too shall pass, I'm sure, so please just ignore my complaining for now. Thanks.

OK, now it's your turn to share three things or four things, six things or more things. Let yourself go, let it all out.  What's on your mind today?

An old skiff blending in well with its surroundings.