Sunrise

Here are a few shots of some recent sunrises on Queens Creek here in Mathews County, Virginia.

Once upon a time, I blogged regularly about such wonderful events as a Queens Creek sunrise, but I've been woefully negligent this year.

Shame on me.

Actually, ever since October 2015 shook me up, everything

this whole blog thing has been on the back burner.

Then 2016 happened.  

2016 has been wonderful thus far.

There was so much to report, I didn't know where to begin.  

Then I said I'd start writing again when Daughter's sports were over.

Then I said I'd start writing once she graduated high school.

Now, I am declaring to the universe that I WILL be blogging again once I drop her off in Charlottesville in two short weeks.

Although all I've done is be a mother for the past 21 years, I am actually looking forward to this new adventure in my life.  I am happy for my children to be on their own, and I look forward to what awaits.  Aside from returning to blogging and taking pictures, I look forward to volunteering my time.  The tourism board of Mathews has informally asked me to participate in some of their meetings and help with their internet efforts.  

I think I can do that.

Gladly.

In short, I'm happy for my children to be off on their own pursuing their own interests and building their own new lives.

And I'm excited about what happens next in mine.

Alive and Kickin'

Once upon a time, Chesapeake Bay Daughter graduated high school and delivered the best Valedictorian speech her mother had ever heard.

One of these days Chesapeake Bay Woman will post the video of that speech, which was funny and relaxed and awesome and perfectly delivered--even if she, the mother, does say so herself.

Then, one day, forty thousand and ten other things happened, including sporadic internet and laptop functionality, and Chesapeake Bay Woman let her blog die slide.

In spite of all outward appearances, this blogger blog isn't dead.  Not yet.

There is too much to report and not enough time to do so. At least not until this blogger is Empty Nesting (effective mid-August).  So much has happened here in Mathews since I last checked in.

I promise to return to regular blogging updates as soon as time permits.

I hope all is well in your world!

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!

Twigg Motor Company

This building in "downtown" Mathews used to be Twigg Motor Company and, later, Christie Chevrolet.

I've always admired it.

Based on the signs, it looks like cars will continue to be associated with this building in the future.

Speaking of cars, this weekend I'll be doing something for the first time in my 50 years on this planet: attending a drag racing event.  Saturday I'll be just outside of Richmond (here) broadening my horizons and participating in some very serious car- and people-watching.  There will also be consumption of french fries, I've been promised.

Although my mother and daughter appeared simultaneously stunned and slightly horrified when I told them where I was going, I'm very much looking forward to a new adventure.

Son departs for college this weekend, and Daughter just took her senior portraits.  I think the drag races will be a nice distraction from the fact that in less than a year I will be an empty nester.

Have a great weekend.