These were taken during a kayak ride from a few weeks back.  I've been negligent in my photo-taking responsibilities lately, and these are only being scooped up off the cutting room floor because I have no others to post.  The weekends have been flying by, and the work weeks are becoming more and more hectic.  I've just not had time to focus on getting out to take new pictures.

Yesterday my bad back and I drove in bumper to bumper beach traffic six hours round trip to drop Daughter off here, and today before work I'm scheduled to talk to a surgeon about my 50-year-old gall bladder that has decided it's now disgruntled.

Hopefully at some point this week I'll be able to stop complaining about my back and gall bladder make the time to take some new pictures.

Thanks for your patience.

Wader Too

Miller Cove on Queens Creek is the social hub of blue heron activity in the neighborhood.

Except, socially, herons are socially awkward actually textbook introverts, preferring to do their own thing in the peace, quiet and solitude that, for example, Miller Cove ordinarily brings.

The younger herons, lacking that life experience that brings cynicism and a slightly jaded outlook on mingling with others, trot casually along the shoreline even when that shoreline is in close proximity to a strange person with a camera in a brightly colored kayak .

High-steppin'

I've never seen anything other than a full-grown heron on Queens Creek.  By the time they are wading within eyesight of my back deck, they're big, big, big  birds.

But last night on Facebook, blog friend LLC shared this photo  of a baby heron.  

I want to adopt a whole nest of baby herons but realize logically herons are not ever up for adoption.  Plus once they come into teenagerhood, the drama just wouldn't be worth it.  So I'll just admire them in all stages of life from afar. It's the right thing to do.

Thanks, LLC, for the glimpse at heron infancy.

Have a great weekend.






 

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.

Kayaking

Last Saturday night, Baby Sis came for a visit, and we went out for a ride in the kayaks.

She donned her sun-brero, and we both marveled at the instant peace 

and tranquility that comes with barely skimming the surface of Queens Creek.

We took a spin down the cove which really needs to be renamed

 Heron's Cove--since a heron sighting is almost guaranteed every visit.

Both Middle Sister and Baby Sis will be in town this weekend for Market Days. 
  

I'm looking forward to seeing them.


Have a wonderful weekend.

Millers Cove

Sunday evening, in complete denial that this is the last week before my son departs for college, I went for a kayak ride in our cove to soothe my soul and quiet my mind.

This particular arm (is it called an arm?  regardless, that's what I'm calling it) of the cove is right near Clifton, which has a very rich history that includes shipbuilding, a women's finishing school and all sorts of possibilities for movie plots. The property on which my parents and I now live was once part of Clifton.

Although I was searching for herons or other creatures along the shoreline, I happened upon a piece of wood.

This piece of wood, part of a fallen tree, looked like a cross between 

a dinosaur
an alligator 

and a heron.

A heron gazing skyward, kicking one stump of an abbreviated leg upwards in some sort of high five to the heavens.

If I've not mentioned it lately, I'm very easily amused.  This is how I spent my entire life childhood.  Gazing at nature and making up stories, no matter how irrational.

Thank you for tolerating indulging my imagination.



Signed,

In Complete Denial That My Son Is Leaving Home

The Dock

Here are a few more snow pictures taken from my dock.

This dock needs some TLC, but in its heyday it was quite the gathering place, especially for my father and his fishing buddies.  And for me and my sisters back when the creek would freeze solid enough to walk on.

Now it's like a museum of memories.  Neither the fish cleaning table 

nor that gill net have been used for decades.

Amazingly, that turquoise bucket filled with gill nets stays put even when storms rage

and the tide comes way over the dock.  It's as if it refuses to budge. It's holding on.

Watch out for that last step, it's a doozy!

Although I don't get out here often enough, I do enjoy a walk out on this dock.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In other news, today is yet another snow day for the teenagers, 

and tonight's basketball game is also postponed.

Instead, the varsity teams will play Saturday night at home against West Point starting at six.

(We beat West Point before, let's hope we do it again.)

I hope your weekend is a good one.

Some Questions

This is the evening sun highlighting the dock belonging to my neighbor across the creek.

That cute little shed on the left has always caught my eye.  The former owner of this property (who ran a charter boat operation) used it for all kinds of exciting things--like cleaning fish.

Perched on a pole to the right of the dock this particular evening was Mr. Heron, who spent the better part of a half hour primping and preening at the end of his long day.

********

In other news, after the storm the other night, the temperatures dropped drastically.  Yesterday was absolutely stunning even if I did waste it spend the majority of the day trapped in my office toiling away.

********

In honor of the middle of the week, and since I have nothing interesting to report to liven things up a bit, how about I ask you some questions?

1.  What's your favorite day of the week and why?

2.  If that cute little shed above were yours, what would you use it for?

3. This heron spent at least half an hour fixing himself up.  If you were trying to spruce up (say for work or a night out), how much time do you require?

Thanks for playing along and have a great day.