Boat Houses on Stutts Creek

Last weekend, my first weekend as a new member of the Empty Nest Club, my friend Warren took me on a boat ride on Stutts Creek.

It was a gorgeous day and a wonderful way to keep my mind off the fledgling I abandoned dropped off at UVA the day before.

It's been several years since I've taken a spin on Stutts.  What a lovely creek.

Now that I've survived all the emotions and worries of launching my youngest off to college, I find myself in the unfamiliar position of having the luxury of worrying about what I want to do with my time, with my day, with my weekend. I no longer have to worry about details and schedules and logistics and who needs to be fed at what time, and how many friends will also be here, and do I need to take off work early to make that cross country meet or that basketball game.  When I go to the store, the only person I'm shopping for is me.  (And my cat Twinkie, who is really the Chief Operating Human in the household.)

Chesapeake Bay Woman is very excited about this next chapter of her life and looks forward to returning to regular blogging, among many other things.

Although she usually reserves talking about herself in the third person for unsavory topics, in this instance it's all good.  (She thinks.) 

Vacation Games

Last week's vacation wasn't just about lounging around, lollygagging and soaking in the sun.  No, when the Chesapeake Bay Family goes on vacation, there must be competitive games.

Thankfully, Dino brought along plenty of things to do.  

The rest of us brought our ridiculously competitive spirit.

We played pool.
(We discovered that Chesapeake Bay Father has mad pool skillz.)

We were silly.
(Here, Baby Sis dons her "sun"brero and my Dollar Tree goofy glasses.)

Speaking of Dollar Tree purchases, the water rifles shown here were just way too much fun.

Not only did we play games of pool, we played games in the pool.

Here, Dino sets up the water volleyball net while Son, Father
and Mother do their pre-game warm-up stretches.
(By the way, CB Father had endured yet another heart procedure
just prior to this.  Before, he would get winded just moving at all.
On vacation?  He played hours of volleyball. It was amazing.)

Because my back was bothering me, I was the retriever of out-of bounds balls
and the Penalty Enforcer (rather than an active participant) in water volleyball.
Whenever anyone made an error,I squirted them with a water rifle.
It was the most fun I've had in forever.
(Clearly I lead a sheltered life and need to get out more.)

The deep end of the pool gave some a disadvantage, but
every so often we'd change sides to even things out.

There were nightly games of  bean bag toss. Once, Baby Sis
couldn't remember what to call it, so she said, "Let's play that three bean game."
I jumped on that and now prefer to call this the three bean salad game.
We found it very amusing.
(Did I mention I need to get out more often?)

Middle Sis, who plays tennis semi-professionally (well, close enough),
was extremely focused in all of the sports.  She excelled in badminton, pool and
three bean salad.

When Daughter struggled to get the bean bags in throwing
underhanded, she resorted to her basketball shot.
She went back to throwing underhanded.
(Are you still awake? Sorry, but I could talk about this all day long.)

Baby Sis shows the proper tossing technique for the three bean salad game.

Yes. There was basketball too.  Daughter showed off her dribbling skills.
There was a nest of yellow jackets in the goal, but that didn't stop anyone.
(I did get stung, forgot to mention that, but not during basketball. That's another story.)

There were water wars.

Some of the battles were very intense.

I sure do miss this place.

Beach

Last week the Chesapeake Bay Family spent a whole week 

away from home in a place called Heaven.

Technically, it's called Avon, North Carolina.  

(But that's a minor technicality.)

Days were spent between the beach and the pool.

(Insert the sound of surf here.  Also the cool breeze that is abundant oceanside as the sun goes down.)

(May as well insert the sound of a gull giving thanks at the end of the day.  Because he was.)

The view from the upper back deck.  Our neighbor was all decked out for the Fourth.

Son 

Middle Sis (aka tennis and badminton pro)

Daughter

Dino (Baby Sis's Friend)

Baby Sis

Chesapeake Bay Father
Aside from the Dollar Tree water guns, these $3.88 Walmutant floats
were the best investments for guaranteed vacation fun.

Chesapeake Bay Mumma

Completely relaxed

Yes, it certainly was.

I am so grateful for that gift of a week.

I'll share a few more photos from The Family Vacation in the coming days.  

What's going on in your world?

A Visit From St. Nicholas

Mathews Court House, aka Downtown Mathews

Twas the night before Wednesday and all through the town, not a thing appeared different, businesses still looked shut down.

Country Casuals, a clothing store, has been there since I was a kid.

...When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a miniature sign and seven tiny words so dear.

...With a lot of bold color and signage so slick, I knew in a moment that only St. Nick

could bring Mexican to Mathews.

There's a Mexican restaurant in Mathews!

Christmas has arrived early this year.

Downtown Mathews has a Mexican restaurant.

What's next?

Do I hear locusts zombies approaching?

Although many people wouldn't bat an eye at the opening of a new Mexican restaurant in their town, for  Mathews residents required to drive a minimum of 15-20 miles for carne asada or tacos al pastor or margaritas fajitas de camarones, this is indeed good news.

Mi Casa Azteca is in the building that I will always call Fleets, since a restaurant by that name flourished there for many, many years.

The Chesapeake Bay Family intends to try this only best Mexican restaurant soon, this week if possible.

And CBW maintains her ardent yet futile hope that one day there might even be a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant within the county lines.  

She may be delusional, but who could have imagined a Mexican restaurant in town?  

(CBW put your hand down.)

And I heard myself exclaim ere I drove out of sight,

Happy dining to all and to all a savory bite.

Boats on Davis Creek

These boats were resting on Davis Creek
the morning I went crabbing.

Yes.

I'm still talking about the crabbing trip.

Much like after I ran the 10K a few weekends ago, 

there is a Post-Experience Let Down;

the feeling that what just happened was magnificent, 

and there's nothing concrete on the horizon to take its place.

So here are a few more glimpses from that day.

What's new in your world?