Heron

The public landing at the end of Route 611 in Onemo is probably my favorite.  

Last weekend I stopped in to say hello 

and noticed a very-clearly disgruntled heron fly off as I pulled up.

He didn't go very far, although I didn't know that 

until I used the zoom on my camera and discovered him 

eyeballing me from the end of the dock.

From a distance, he blended in quite well with his surroundings.

But zooming in, I caught him giving me the old stink eye.

The hairy eyeball.

(As only a heron can give.)

I had invaded his territory, and he was giving me 

the what for with his body language.

Here, he was basically telling me he was way taller than me.  

(I didn't argue.)

(I've learned over the years, it's futile arguing with herons.)

Then, when he realized I wasn't there to encroach any further,

nor was I disputing anything he was trying to tell me,

he finally

allowed himself

to relax.

I love herons.

And I thank this one for allowing me to invade his turf for a few minutes.

Happy February 29.

Bethel Beach

Sunday I drove to Bethel Beach, parked my car and went for a run.

Weekend temperatures were in the sixties, but here at Bethel Beach, 

directly on the bay, the wind contributed to a slight chill. 

I ran long enough to convince myself that whatever I'd done was better than nothing.

And it was.

But ever since my car accident, I've noticed that certain basic things seem more difficult.

The lesson learned is that I can't stop moving.

Once I stop, Old Age tries to take over.

I'm not stopping.  

I will fight Old Age.

Maria Spadaccini

Last Thursday was Senior Night for the Mathews Lady Blue Devils.

My daughter Maria is one of seven seniors associated with the team.

Her father is an assistant coach. 

It's hard to believe that she's graduating this year.

I know I'm her mother and everything, but indulge me for a minute.
She's a pretty darn great basketball player.  

But there's so much more to Maria.

She was one of only 96 accepted early action to University of Virginia's Architecture School.
16,768 students applied to UVA  (overall) early action.  But only 5,193 were accepted.  And she was 1 of only 96 accepted to the A-school.

It simply amazes me. 

She's beautiful.

She's kind.

She's wonderful.

And I am so very proud.

From the brochure at Thursday's game:

"Maria Spadaccini, #21, is the daughter of Janice Vogel and Thomas Spadaccini.  Maria is a member of the National Beta Club, National Honor Society and the National Society of High School Scholars.  She attended Girls State this past summer, has been on the honor roll every semester in high school and was awarded Junior of the Year last year.  Maria has played basketball for four years, ran cross country for three years, played soccer for two years and ran track for one year.  She plans to attend the University of Virginia in the fall of 2016 and pursue a degree in Architecture."

She also works at Merroir in her spare time.

On behalf of your aunts, your grandparents and your equally incredible brother Sam, way to go! We love you too much * and are so very proud of you, Maria.


*When Maria was only about 3 or 4, she said she loved me too much instead of so much.  The too much has stuck with this family.

**Many, many, many  thanks to Charlie Koenig of the Gloucester-Mathews Gazette-Journal  for sending me the first four photos above.  I greatly appreciate them!

Milford Haven

Over the weekend, after a morning jog down Redart, I drove over to Gwynn's Island

to stop in on an old friend by the name of Milford Haven.

These seagulls were also saying hello to old Milford.

These were taken Saturday from the Seabreeze.

On Sunday I had lunch with a friend at the Seabreeze, which continues to make an outstanding hamburger--a rare treat for me these days.

Daughter upped and went vegetarian on me over a year ago, so I very rarely eat meat anymore myself, because, really, what's the point in fixing two meals when one will suffice?  (I'm all about efficiency.There's also a very fine line between laziness and efficiency.)  

On a day-to-day basis, I don't really miss eating meat, but every now and then a girl just has to have a hamburger, doggone it!  Or else!

And Sunday at the Seabreeze was one of those days.

I am working on an "I MUST HAVE A STEAK RIGHT. THIS. VERY. SECOND!" day.  I think the last time I had steak was...to be perfectly honest, it's hasn't been in 2016.  It's been several months.  Many.  And a craving is just a -brewin'.

But back to Daughter.  Or were we talking about Milford Haven?  Or steak?  Mmmm. Steak. No! Back to Daughter.

She was accepted early action to the University of Virginia's School of Architecture and continues to amaze me.  We're nearing the end of basketball season, and she's done an incredible job on the court as well as the classroom.

More on all this in a later post.

Right now all I am thinking about is a nice, juicy, salty steak.