Queens Creek

These shots of Queens Creek were taken during a recent froggy foggy spell.

The light was low,

and the colors rather drab.

The zoom on my new camera is pretty amazing, though.  I'm still in the novice stage and have too much lots to learn, but I am looking forward to getting out in warmer weather and experimenting.

Although these pictures may be a little drab and dull, my life has been anything but.  My son is spending the semester in Valencia, Spain.  It was a little nerve-wracking to send him off with really only blind faith that he was going to arrive safely and be OK.  But he seems to be flourishing and thriving.  I couldn't be more proud of him on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Daughter is also thriving in UVA's Architecture School.  She, too, is talking about studying abroad at some point.

In other news, we recently celebrated my father's 76th birthday. A grand event with fresh seafood, the party was a success except for the $50 Golden Corral gift card from Baby Sis that "went missing."  After two days of hand-wringing and "Can you look through that nasty garbage one more time to be sure we didn't throw it away?", I am pleased to announce said "missing" gift card was located safely in my mother's pocketbook, where it had been resting comfortably all along during all the commotion and associated hullabaloo.  *sigh*
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In two weeks, I take off for Dillon Beach, California, to reunite with dear friends I've made from this very blog.  Since we are short-staffed at work, and I am doing several people's jobs in addition to my own, to say that I'm excited for this little break away from everything is most assuredly an understatement.

Last but not least, I will be blogging for the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center starting next week. Once it's up and running, I'll link it here.

That's it from this neck of the woods.  Hope all is well where you are.

Three Things

It's Thursday once again, and that means it's time to share three things. 

1.  Last evening Chesapeake Bay Daughter asked if she could host her entire class for a party next weekend.  Of course she can.  Nothing makes me happier than for Daughter and/or Son to have friends over; I really do enjoy it.  Upon further reflection, however, I realized that would be the Friday before my very first and likely only 10K run in Richmond (an hour away), so Friday night was not good. Not wanting to disappoint, however, I agreed to that Saturday night.

1b.) To recap:  This 47-year-old (along with 40,000 others including an 80-year-old from Gwynn's Island) will struggle through a 10K at the crack of dawn on Saturday.  After that abuse, she will fight the throngs to locate her car, drive the hour home and host a party consisting of approximately 18 teenagers, which does include boys. Serenity now.

2.   My mother wrote a great post (complete with vintage 1970s photos) on Baby Sister.  Click here to read it.  She left out the part where I was a very caring, responsible babysitter with the exception of only a few unfortunate incidents.

3.  Speaking of my mother and Baby Sister, they and former Mathews/now Outer Banks resident Ann Marie, will also participate in next weekend's race.  Thanks to the magic of Facebook I've discovered several high school friends will be there too.  CB Mother will walk.  Baby Sis will run since doing a 10K is like breathing air to her.  Ann Marie and I, on the other hand, are new to all this (although AM recently completed an 8K).  We will be grateful to finish (a) alive; (b) without walking; (c) with crab hats intact. I have yet to run a race with Ann Marie that we were not wearing crab hats.  Any other way just wouldn't be civilized.

3b.  We seriously contemplated having shirts made that said, "We put the FUN in dysfunctional."  That is my new favorite slogan and actually would make a great title to a book.

OK, there you have it.  Still talking about the 10K and all the associated fears about finishing alive without walking.  

Now it's your turn to share three (more or less) things.

This beautiful barn lives in Onemo.