Rainbow

Last evening, although there wasn't really any rain in the forecast, we had a little shower on top of the 4,869 other rain showers we've had practically every single day and night since January May 1, 2016.

The difference this time is the rain left behind the gift of a rainbow.

From a distance, the pot of gold appeared to be right on the sandy beach of Cow Point, at the mouth of Queens Creek.

Zooming in, however, the pot of gold appeared to be several feet underwater.

There was not just one but two rainbows visible.

A rare treat indeed.

As usual I have nothing but the excuse of being busy for not blogging lately, but with the school year coming to a close, Daughter's graduation nigh, and work being busier than ever, etc., I've had to pick and choose my priorities.

Daughter is unofficially Valedictorian, and is already starting to receive notification of scholarships--which is welcome news indeed.  We're all very excited for and proud of her.  Graduation is Saturday, June 18, orientation to UVA's School of Architecture is July 11-12, and she's off for good mid-August.

I'll try to post more often once we survive these next major milestones.

Storm

Last week we endured a nor'easter on top of a nor'easter just before the remnants of a hurricane rolled in.

Queens Creek tried to contain herself, but those sustained northeast winds wore her down after a while, especially at high tide.

The water came in the yard but thankfully not in the house.
Unless you want to count the standing water in my garage due to a clogged drain, and I don't.
Thank you very much.

The dock and boathouse, built by my father in the 1970s, worried me.  The creek was over the top of the dock and well up the side of the boathouse for at least five days straight.  Whenever I went out to check on things, especially at high tide, I shook my head as I watched the weakened dock boards go up and down like piano keys with every wave that hit.

There are four dock boards here poking their heads above water.
They're supposed to be attached to the dock, not coming up for air.

(Let's not talk about the paint job the boathouse needs. Thank you.)

This was the first time I ever wondered if the boathouse would finally just surrender and say, "Ya know what?  I've been here a long time.  I'm old.  I'm tired.  I've put up with a lot of stuff, I've done my job.  I deserve to be retired, sipping a margarita poolside in Florida.  Why, exactly, am I still here on Queens Creek putting up with heavy, sustained northeasterly winds and water up to my waist?"

I didn't have an answer.  I couldn't muster a reason at all.  As a matter of fact, why wasn't *I* sipping a margarita poolside in Florida?  Why was *I* still here putting up with the same stuff day after day? Storm after storm?


Miraculously, we both stayed put.

Although the boathouse and I survived with nothing more than an attitude, the dock clearly showed signs of a potential move to Florida surrender.

Luckily, this was the worst of it for us.

Mathews schools let out early on Friday and were closed Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday there was an hour delay to allow the tide to come in and out.

And the sun came back out again.

The storm always passes.  

And life goes on.

********

p.s. I'm not blogging as much for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is Daughter is using my laptop for homework since hers kicked the bucket of late.  Other reasons include driving 400 miles a week to work, work itself, other people asking me to take on more work, very little spare time, nor'easters, surviving as a single parent, surviving another senior year of high school and college applications, remembering to order senior pictures, enduring a nagging toothache that is causing a nagging headache 24 hours a day and my refusal to go to a dentist, Daughter's car needing work, Son needing money, a dog that needs a bath, a cat that needs flea medicine, the stink bug population, ants on my counter, a leaking kitchen sink, a dripping kitchen faucet, and a case of severe exhaustion.  Oh, and I'm training for a half marathon.

Busy

These were taken back in December 2012 from the public landing at the Sea Breeze over on Gwynn's Island. I've been so busy here lately, there's been no opportunity to take new photographs.  

Monday night it snowed just enough to postpone Tuesday night's basketball game against Charles City.  They will instead play tonight.  I confess the delay was a relief. Not only was I exhausted from a brutally long day at work, but Daughter has been enduring a sore throat, which I'm hoping will clear up by the time the game rolls around.

Other than that, I'm doing three people's jobs busy at work, busy at home.

Busy, busy, busy.  With no end in sight.

Happy Wednesday.

Ridgefield

This wonderful building is on Ridgefield Road, near Wayland Baptist Church, which is where I park my car when I go on my six-mile run.

(I haven't gone six miles in a couple weeks now; my excuse is there's been no time.  But I hope to reacquaint myself with this particular six-mile route  this week! soon.)

I've posted seventy eleven thousand many photos of this structure over the years and never cease to be entertained by and attracted to it.  Alas, I know none of its history, none of its stories, none of its connections.

All I can tell you is it sits patiently on the side of a very quiet road down which I love to run. It doesn't require attention.  It doesn't insist on acknowledgement. It just is.

Bethel Beach

These were taken yesterday afternoon from Bethel Beach on one of the first Do Nothing days I've had in years months weeks.

So much has happened over the past week, and there's still so much to do in anticipation of Christmas and my mother's birthday dinner which is Christmas Eve.  My son's surgery was successful--but also stressful.  The important thing is it's behind us, and he's doing well.  Mercifully, Daughter has a two-week break from school and basketball. The past two weeks have been grueling for us all, between the games and her normal school work. The Waverly Lane Christmas Party was Saturday night at the property known as Clifton--which all of Waverly Lane belonged to back in the 1700s. It was good to spend time with our neighbors we so seldom talk to thanks to our rush-rush lives.

Today I return to my demanding commute and work.  Although Christmas is days away, I still haven't done much of anything for my children's Christmas presents and feel horrible about that. I also still need to buy a new car but have had neither the time nor the energy to spend on that utterly ridiculous arduous process.

In other words, things are as they always were:  chaotic.

I hope all is well in your world.

Basketball

Work, basketball and extremely long days covering hundreds of miles have consumed most of my time this past week. Although they haven't won every time, the Mathews varsity girls are playing a darn fine game of basketball these days.

(Of course, I'm just a little bit biased.)

The girls play at Northumberland tonight, and next week there are three more games before the Christmas break.

Although I'm enjoying the season thus far, I'm looking forward to the break.

Enjoy the weekend.

Moon II

This view of the side of the old Moon post office--especially all the lines--caught my eye.  There are horizontal lines, vertical lines, diagonal lines and the haphazard lines of the trees and their branches.

(I suppose most of the branches don't form lines, exactly, but that's just a technicality. It wouldn't be the first time I've made up my own rules about what's what on this blog.)

There's simultaneously everything and nothing to report from my world.  Just the standard too much going on and not enough time to accomplish everything.

I will mention, though, since I've not reported it here yet (only on Facebook), that at last Friday night's basketball game in Lancaster my daughter sunk a three-pointer hurled from half-court right at the buzzer at half time to catapult Mathews to a lead going into the locker room.  We ended up winning the game in what was most definitely a team achievement.  But I keep replaying that shot over and over in my head, because it was so perfect.

The girls have a 2-1 record and take on Gloucester and Northumberland this week.

We're enjoying basketball season, but it's a grueling schedule, even if you're "only" a spectator. *


* I take my spectating responsibilities very seriously. Someone recently commented on my vertical leaping abilities in the stands while cheering.  This was, of course, after Daughter's half-court shot that I cannot stop talking about and probably will not until the day I die--which I hope is no time soon, for the record.

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

New Point

Here are a few more scenes from Saturday's boat trip to New Point.

In spite of the fact that the end of the school year is just about on top of us, and Son graduates in a week, it doesn't feel as though anything has slowed down at all. Not one bit.

Work is busy, the teenagers are busy, there's lots of stuff going on.

I'm glad the weekend is finally here.

May yours be peaceful and enjoyable.