More from Aarons Beach

Here are some more shots taken from Aarons Beach.

I'm pleased to report I barely made it, they tried to kill me!  survived gall bladder surgery.  In spite of what I'd heard and read, recovery wasn't exactly swift and easy.  I'm supposed to return to work today, but I'm still taking pain medication which makes me tired, and I can barely eat anything.  So we'll see.

While I was incapacitated, July arrived.  We're now in the seventh month of this year.

Time continues to fly by whether I'm half dead from surgery an active participant or not.

Regent

This charming structure sits high on a hill overlooking Locklies Creek off of Regent Road over in Topping.

It's near Regent Point Marina and my favorite restaurant (also my son's employer) Merroir.

Although I have boatloads of chores that I'm absolutely dreading this weekend--but must focus attention on lest we drown in laundry and dog hair--I hope to make time to do something enjoyable.  Maybe take some pictures or perhaps make a trip to Merroir.  Who knows.

I hope your weekend is a good one.

Sailboat

This Northern Neck sailboat was headed out the mouth of Carters Creek into the 

Rappahannock a week and a half ago.

The perfectly wonderful, humidity-free temperatures have finally been chased off by our normal July weather. As hot and humid as it is, I still much prefer this over the cold, dark days of winter.

We're easing into the summer routine around here.  Son works at Merroir over in Topping most days, and Daughter sleeps until 3:00 p.m. early afternoon.  She also exercises most days, running in anticipation of cross country practice that begins in a few weeks, or playing basketball on a weekly basis.

Next week we're off to Charlottesville for Son's orientation to UVA.

Other than that, there's not much to report.

And that's fine with me.

My mother has an update on the local wildlife on her blog--click here for that report.

Fourth

After the clouds of Hurricane Arthur blew off into the Atlantic, the rest of the July 4 weekend was spectacular.  Friday afternoon some friends came over to my house for an afternoon of boat rides and tubing up and down Queens Creek.

Glenda and Billy put their boat in over at the Seabreeze on Gwynn's Island and used my dock as the base of operations for a day full of fun in the sun.

The temperature was practically perfect, and there was hardly any humidity--very rare for July.

While some people boated, others congregated on the deck under the not-so-easy EZ-Up that I haven't pulled out since a camping trip over three summers ago.  Needless to say, there was a little bit of hissing and spitting involved with setting up, and matters were not helped by all the three-year-old sand that was still stuck in every nook and cranny of the awning and its poles. Eventually, with some help from Son and Daughter, I was victorious. 

Although it wasn't excessively hot, it was nice to have the shade.

Laura Lane

Alda

Theresa

Lisa

In addition to the not-so-easy EZ-Up, I tossed up a few decorations from the Dollar Tree, my new favorite store.

These droopy streamers were originally more lively; this was taken post-party.
During the party this table was covered with food including several red, white and blue desserts brought by Lisa and Laura Lane.  Naturally I forgot to take pictures, but trust me,
they were works of art. 

Yep, that's a yellow bread tie messing up my festive photo.

After the day of boating and congregating, most everyone went off to the fireworks at the high school, which from all accounts were fantastic.  Exhausted by that point, I opted to stay home and watch the sporadic pyrotechnics put on from various spots in Hallieford and Gwynns Island.

The weather Saturday and Sunday was just perfect.  And I did absolutely nothing. It seems the more I rest, the more tired I am. Completely lethargic.

Although it was a three-day weekend, time seemed to fly by.

And now it's back to work.

If I haven't mentioned it lately, I'm really looking forward to my vacation in a few weeks.

How was your weekend?

Independence Day

These are from our July 2012 family vacation on Hatteras Island in the Outer Banks.  This same island is currently in the path of a hurricane which appears to be avoiding Mathews County, thankfully.

I'm grateful that, for a variety of reasons, we decided (a while back) to schedule our family vacation later in July this year. Usually we're in Avon, NC, the first or second week of July.  Hopefully this storm won't be the start of a summer trend. And, hopefully the last week in July will be storm-free.

I'll spend this Independence Day at home with lots of food and a few friends. Son has to work, but Daughter and I may go to the fireworks display at the high school, we'll see.  Right now, most of all, I'm looking forward to a few days off from work.

I hope your Independence Day weekend is a wonderful one.

Nonstop

This heron was presiding over some East River crab pots near Williams Wharf on Thursday morning.

He was not far from where I parked my car to run four slow miles.  During that run, I chastised myself repeatedly for accomplishing only one or two of a mile-long list of things that were to have been done on my days off this week.

My son graduates high school in two weeks. There are lots of emotions swirling about that major milestone alone. Next week Busy Season begins at work, and I'll be putting in more hours. The doctor says my blood pressure is high, and I am also Vitamin B-12 deficient (among other things, one of which requires a nerve test at the end of June. Joy!).

Daughter is still in the throes of sports and has a soccer game tonight in West Point, which I'll attend after work.  Wearily. Cow bell dragging behind me, kicking up dust.

And, I just got the first email regarding the upcoming fall cross country season, which Daughter eagerly anticipates. There is a meeting Monday night in the high school cafeteria for runners and very exhausted parents.

After spending most of the week "off" from work--doing yard work and other not-so-small feats of hard, physical labor--I'm still wondering if things will ever slow down or get caught up.

More importantly I wonder why I thought they ever would.

Yet I did.

For now, I am just trying to keep everything in perspective and be grateful for all the good.  Because there is a lot of good.  I'm just tired.

This weekend won't necessarily be restful, but it most definitely should be enjoyable.  My friend Glenda turns 50, and her celebration takes place Saturday on New Point island.  Hopefully there will be pictures and, no doubt, a story or two.

Have a great weekend.