Sunset

Last evening, after a long day at work and a meeting at the high school regarding winter sports, Daughter and I arrived home just as the sun was setting.

(By the way, we're only a few meets into the fall cross country season, and all of a sudden we're talking about basketball, and why are we talking about winter and winter sports when it's only the first day of fall-- and why does summer ever even have to end? Ever?)

Since I had absolutely no new pictures and no reason to live now that I've just been told that December and the first basketball game will be here before we know what's hit us the sunset was glowing even in the eastward sky, I dashed into the house and managed to get these just as the light was dimming for the day.

The next two below were taken facing west--the house, which belongs to my parents, 

is known as Waverly.

This is looking north from their yard.

This is facing east towards Queens Creek and Gwynns Island.

The temperatures this first full day of fall were a little on the chilly side. It was 57 when I pulled in to work this morning.  

I'm not vehemently opposed to this particular time of year; in fact, it's rather nice sleeping with the sliding doors open and not having to run the air conditioner.

But all of this buildup of cool temperatures, brisk nights, leaves starting to drop--plus tonight's winter  basketball meeting--reminds me that hibernation season is just around the corner.  

Only I'm not allowed to hibernate.

If I ever live long enough to retire from my job--I think I have ten years. three and a half months, two hours, sixteen minutes and seven seconds until I'm eligible but who's counting--I might seriously contemplate leaving the state of Virginia from November through March.  I think I'd do just fine living in a tent in a campground on Key Largo during that time. And if for whatever reason I can't temporarily move to Florida, I do intend to close all the drapes, turn off the phone and sleep until spring.

Since neither one of those options is available this year, however, it looks like I need to continue to focus on running and eating right.  And napping, whenever possible.

This protracted discussion of the winter blahs has been brought to you by one full day of crisp, cool temperatures and one mere mention of winter at a meeting this evening. And also the Farmers' Almanac, which predicts "more shivery and shovelry" this winter.

The End.

Sunset

These are the last few photos from last weekend's trip that included a stop on Virginia's Eastern Shore, which manufactures some of the best Chesapeake Bay sunsets you'll find.

This weekend I'm off on another adventure that (if all goes as it's supposed to) will include a trip to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (click here)  in St. Michaels, which is on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

With any luck Chesapeake Bay Woman will share pictures from the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum next week.

Until then, enjoy your weekend, which I hope is fantastic.

Three Things

Today is Thursday, which means we share three things.

1. I love sunsets on the Chesapeake Bay.

2.  (Insert sound of crickets because I have nothing else to report.)

3.  Sunsets from the Eastern Shore are the best.

Please share your thoughts, whatever is on your mind.

Clouds

These were taken from the Eastern Shore as the sun was setting on the Chesapeake Bay. I titled this post Clouds rather than Sunset, because I want you to focus on the clouds instead of the glare  the sun itself is blurred.  I was using my backup camera and honestly was more focused on the clouds at the time.

There are a few more sunset pictures that I took later on that came out better.  I'll save those for tomorrow and/or Friday.

We are slowly being forced back into lives that are tied to the school calendar.  Daughter is trying out for volleyball and practices began this week.  Son is frantically trying to finish a school-related project before he takes a few more trips out of town to visit colleges and family.

And I want to stay stuck in the memories of our last summer together before Son graduates high school and prepares to leave home.

Thanks for stopping by.


 

Pelicans, Pound Nets and Sunsets

These were taken near Kiptopeke State Park on the Eastern Shore.

Son, Daughter and I stayed here for two nights after 

spending the two previous nights in my friend Iris's beach house in Delaware.

Most of the pictures I took in Delaware were from the iPhone.

At the moment, I am too tired to deal with transferring them.

Anyway, we enjoyed the visit with Iris and her family immensely.

The two nights we spent in Kiptopeke were very relaxing.

And the sunsets? 

 Spectacular.

We started the drive back to Mathews Monday morning.  The trip takes us over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which drops us off in the Virginia Beach vicinity. Son had the great idea to extend the vacation by just a few hours by stopping in Virginia Beach.

Who was I to say no to more beach time which would also delay our return to reality?

We parked the car, dragged our beach chairs out one more time and enjoyed the most beautiful weather.

Then we drove home.

Some of us are in denial that there is work tomorrow.  But some of us can't complain about having the opportunity to get away again so soon after our North Carolina vacation.

No, some of us have nothing to complain about at all.

I hope your weekend was great and that your week is too.

Scenes from Queens Creek

Sunrise on Queens Creek

Sunset on Queens Creek
(The Islander is in the background.)

Have a fantastic weekend.



p.s. Sunday is Middle Sister's birthday.  We won't get to see her, but we wish her a very happy day.

Smooth Sailing

These pictures of a distant sailboat (barely a speck on the horizon below) were taken from Gwynns Island back in 2009.

My weekend, once again, is overflowing with To Dos and obligations, 

most of which involve Son and Daughter.  But that's OK.

I hope your weekend is all calm waters and smooth sailing.

Three Things

Sunset from the Islander, 2010

Welcome to the day of the week known as Three Thing Thursday, where we share tres cosas, three things.  Of course, tres/three is only a suggestion.  I've never been a fan of arbitrary rules, and three is a rather arbitrary number.  So if you feel like sharing one thing, please do so.  If you feel like sharing ten things, have at it.

Let's stop worrying about numbers and begin.

1.  These pictures were taken back when I used to actually take photographs of Mathews County and not my crazy family or scenes from the front seat of a moving automobile the back yard.  But as I've mentioned ad nauseam, I haven't had any time to go on one of my infamous local adventures, so old pictures will have to suffice for the time being.

2.  I saw four white ducks swimming in a ditch beside Route 198/Buckley Hall Road coming home from work today.  For those unfamiliar with Mathews County, we don't typically see ducks swimming in roadside ditches around here.  Herons hunting frogs or whatever they hunt are a familiar scene in our ditches.  But ducks?  Not ever usually.

3a. I appreciate everyone who gave me suggestions in yesterday's post regarding my computer quandary. Please keep them coming, because it will be a while before I can make the trek to Best Buy or wherever to get anything. But I do sincerely thank you for your input.

3b.  If you have a chance, click here for my mother's blog post about the climb to the top of the Hatteras lighthouse last week. Also click here for my neighbor's account of our recent boat ride up and down Queens Creek.

Now it's your turn to share three things. Or four things.  Five things.  Or more things.   


Whatever you want.

Four Summers

June 2008 - The Bay, Eastern Shore

Since there's been so little time to take any many new photos, I thought I'd share some older ones from the same month of every year this little blog has been in existence, starting with 2008.

June 2009 - Hills Bay

It's hard to believe this is the fourth summer I've been doing this.

June 2010 - Queens Creek

Then again, this fourth photo image begs the question of whether I'm actually doing the blog this particular summer.

I wonder what I'll be doing four summers from now.

 Hopefully I'll be taking pictures rather than drawing them.

Where do you picture yourself four years from now?

Sunset

Gwynns Island

September 2010

When was the last time you watched the sun set?

Name That Eagle

Summer evenings along Queens Creek are beautiful. You don't even have to leave the yard to enjoy the light displays along the shoreline. Those pine trees above frame Smithers Cemetery, and most evenings they are illuminated with a soft glow from the setting sun.

Although waterfront development has taken away many of the trees that used to adorn our creek, there are some older ones remaining, like these.

And really these are not that old, just a little bit older than me and I don't consider myself mature old at all.

Except on Monday mornings. And Tuesday nights. Wednesdays and Sundays all day long. But definitely not Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I'm young on those days. Oh, and any day I don a crab hat I always feel immature young. The secret to happiness lies inside a crab hat.

One particular dead tree along the shoreline makes the perfect nesting spot for our bald eagle(s). From time to time he'll rest in one of my parents' pine trees next door. They're amazing birds.

But there's something not quite right about this eagle. Recently, it occurred to me that he has no name. Right now, he's just "our eagle" or "John Doe Eagle"-- which is really awful because now we're mixing species.

We must correct this.

What would you name a Queens Creek eagle?


p.s. The name Gustav has already been taken by my mother's wicked killer goose, the very same goose who has his own Facebook page and claims to be an international film star. He's a legend in his own mind.

Silent Sunday

Have a fantastic Sunday.

Happy July 4th.

Yes, I'm being lazy today and plan to stay that way all day long.

p.s. This was taken from Milford Haven near the Sea Breeze on a recent gorgeous evening.

Silent Sunday

A week or so ago, we went swimming at Cow Point just as the sun was going down. The Chesapeake Bay Children love Cow Point, which is at the mouth of our creek. It was a favorite stomping ground of mine as a child.


Click here to read a previous story about Cow Point, but otherwise enjoy these photos of the sunset, which was way more beautiful in person.

Happy Sunday and Happy Fathers Day.