From the Yard

All of these shots were taken from my back yard, which some might call my front yard since the house technically fronts the water.  I'm a bit stubborn and slow to make changes, however, and I've always called it the back yard since we approach the house by car on the other side--which I refer to as the front yard.

That first paragraph absolutely exhausted me, I cannot imagine what it was like to read it.

Anyway, I never know what I'm going to see when I glance out back.  The other evening, I saw this eagle patiently perched across the creek.  We see them all the time in flight and in trees; this is the first time I've ever seen one wading in the creek.

Herons, on the other hand, are very familiar friends.  It's not at all unusual seeing them wading along, waiting for just the right morsel of seafood to happen by.

The first rainbow of the season made a faint but quaint appearance earlier this week.  

And this seems to be the week for sunrises.  The one below happened Thursday and was even more beautiful in person.

Mother Nature puts on some spectacular shows here in Mathews, and her efforts this week were especially noteworthy.

Welcome to the month of May, I thought she'd never get here.

Heron

This Millers Cove heron was enjoying the warmer temperatures Sunday afternoon.

I'm still in shock, pleasantly so,  that we've had three consecutive days of above-60-degree temperatures.

Baby Sis and I (foolishly) signed up for a half marathon in Virginia Beach a week from Saturday.  Given all the snow and nasty weather we've had, neither of us has done any noteworthy running since our Valentine's Day 10K at the New Kent winery.

I hope to take advantage of this week's warmer temperatures to get in a few sorry miles, but there's no way we're going to be ready for 13.1 in a week.  Of course we'll attempt it, ready or not, but we are fully prepared to watch in aggravation as the senior citizens zoom past us.

Doggone it.

More From Bethel Beach

The marshland on the approach to Bethel Beach is something of a tree graveyard.

Although you can't tell so much in these pictures, there are many trees that still stand but are completely dead due to the salt water.  

As I was staring into the vast marshland, I noticed a heron.

As I've mentioned many times before, herons really don't care to have their photo taken.

And this one was no different.  He was highly suspicious.

He did allow me to take a few shots before squawking and flying away.

Today the Mathews cross country teams travel to Pocahontas State Park in Richmond for the regional meet.  If they do well, and they will, they advance to next week's state meet. Daughter is an alternate on the team, so she won't run unless there is an injury.  Nevertheless, we're all very excited.

I'm still struggling with the fact that it's November already, and, on top of that, the signs of December are cropping up.  Christmas decorations bombard you in the stores.  I've even heard some Christmas music coming from an office at work.

I'm really not ready for any of this.

Dear Universe, 

Could you please just slow down a bit?  The pace is way too crazy; we need time to enjoy the present.  
What's the hurry, anyway?

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Chesapeake Bay Woman

Heron

A hungry heron stands poised in the marsh.

A hungry heron notices someone way off in the distance behind him.

A hungry heron stubbornly refuses to go back to his hunting even though the camera
is very far away; things only appear close here thanks to the zoom.

The hungry heron's stubbornness wins, and CBW puts her camera away.

The herons here lately have been waking me up at all hours of the night, as have the resident fox and the Canada geese.  I can count on hearing from them anywhere from midnight to 4:30.

No need for an alarm, every bird in the 23076 zip code is rising and steadily calling and chatting away between 5 and 5:30 a.m. now.

Anyone who thinks it's peaceful and quiet in Mathews has never tried to sleep with the windows open (or closed for that matter) on a summer night.

I'm not complaining though.

Well, maybe I am a little.  I just want one night of uninterrupted sleep.

It just might be time to invest in a cave, I really think that's the only place I'm going to get a full night's sleep a fan for some background white noise.