Sunrise

Since returning to work in early June, I've not been able to sleep until ten like I want been getting up around 5:45 a.m. each day.  5:45 in the summer time is not nearly as bad as 5:45 in the winter, when it's dark and depressing and Mother Nature is giving a very clear sign that we're supposed to be asleep, because:  DARK. 

It doesn't seem so harsh, 5:45 that is, when I can glance out the back door and see the sun and her stunning colors letting everyone know it's officially daylight.

Although I'd still like to sleep until about ten I'd usually prefer to stay in bed a bit longer, there's just something a little bit energizing and rewarding about having the sun to greet you first thing.

I hope your week is full of sunshine.

Sunrise

This beautiful beginning to a day occurred several weeks ago, at the end of April.

May is my favorite month, and this year I seem to have missed it--all I did was blink and it's practically over.  All I remember is it was hot for a day or so, then it rained for what felt like weeks, then it turned cold, and now it's all but done.

It's astonishing to me that Memorial Day weekend is upon us so soon.

I'll be ushering in the summer with a cookout on Sunday.  Middle Sister will be in the creek on Boyfriend Ronnie's boat.  Baby Sis and Boyfriend Mills will be here from Richmond.  And my blog friends Lauren (from Nashville) and Angie will be in attendance.

It's my favorite weekend of the year.

Speaking of weekends, this one was a pretty busy one here in Mathews.  The bikers who visited for the county's annual Tour de Chesapeake enjoyed breezy but beautiful weather.  The party at Williams Wharf was once again spectacular.   You just can't beat dancing to live music watching the sunset over the East River.

I hope all is well in your world.  Thanks for stopping by for a small glimpse into mine.

Sunrise

This pine tree and sailboat live at the mouth of Callis Creek, which is off Stutts Creek.

The stuff in the foreground is part of an oyster farming operation. 

(I'll talk about the oyster farming operation later on.)

I am delinquent in talking about many topics of interest around here these days.  In spite of the fact that I am now a professional Empty Nester, I don't seem to have all the spare time I thought I'd have.  However, I'm not sure I could articulate exactly what I've been doing when I'm not working.

Truth be told, work does eat up the majority of my days.  The commute is brutal, and the days are long.  But I still have weekends off.  So what am I doing?

Well, I've been to Charlottesville a couple of times--and I'm going back again this weekend for Parents' Weekend at UVA.  Next weekend, Baby Sis and I will be in the Outer Banks for three or four days running another half marathon.  (She's far more prepared than I.)  A couple of weeks back, I spent a Saturday night in Virginia Beach.  I've been having dinner here and there with my parents and Middle Sister.  I have had frequent dinners with my friend Warren--who runs the oyster operation referenced here.  My sisters and I went to a few really great wine festivals.  I went to my first Mathews County Visitor and Information Center meeting and am excited about the possibility of being involved with tourism for the county.

And now it's Halloween.  Which means one blink and it's Thanksgiving Christmas.

Time just continues to fly by.

One sad news item I have to share is the passing of Captain A.J. Hurst.  He allowed me to tag along on a crabbing adventure back in 2012, Click here and here and here for those pictures and that story.  

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.

Great and Grateful

This recent Queens Creek sunrise was not just great, it was glorious.  I only usually catch them, the sunrises, on my way out the door for work.  The sunsets have been equally spectacular, but since I face east and my westward-facing yard is full of trees, I rely on my local Facebook friends to post pictures of those.  Which is how I know they've been grand. The sunsets.

As usual, there is a lot to report but no time to do so.  On the heels of our neighbor's passing, there has been more sad news.  A Mathews family very near and dear to us is suffering the untimely loss of a son/grandson/nephew. It's heartbreaking.

Only two weeks sit between now and Daughter's return to her last year of high school.

It wasn't that long ago that we were dropping her off at preschool, where she never uttered a single word unless the teacher called on her.  These days, she's still quiet for the most part, unless she's asked a question.  Her favorite topics include her wonderful job at Merroir  or the latest and greatest with her friends.

I'm just grateful and honored to be her mother.

Very, very grateful.

Sunrise in Reverse

There's simultaneously lots to report and nothing to report.

Most of all, there's no time to report the lots or the nothing.

Instead, I share this recent sunrise from earlier this week, which pretty much says all that's needed.

Have a wonderful weekend.

I fully intend to.

From the Yard

All of these shots were taken from my back yard, which some might call my front yard since the house technically fronts the water.  I'm a bit stubborn and slow to make changes, however, and I've always called it the back yard since we approach the house by car on the other side--which I refer to as the front yard.

That first paragraph absolutely exhausted me, I cannot imagine what it was like to read it.

Anyway, I never know what I'm going to see when I glance out back.  The other evening, I saw this eagle patiently perched across the creek.  We see them all the time in flight and in trees; this is the first time I've ever seen one wading in the creek.

Herons, on the other hand, are very familiar friends.  It's not at all unusual seeing them wading along, waiting for just the right morsel of seafood to happen by.

The first rainbow of the season made a faint but quaint appearance earlier this week.  

And this seems to be the week for sunrises.  The one below happened Thursday and was even more beautiful in person.

Mother Nature puts on some spectacular shows here in Mathews, and her efforts this week were especially noteworthy.

Welcome to the month of May, I thought she'd never get here.

Sunrise on Queens Creek

This happened one day last week as I was leaving for work. 

I much prefer waving goodbye to the rising sun than saying hello 

to the cold darkness as I get into my car to make the long commute each day.

Although there's still a chill in the air, Mother Nature is waving 

all the signs that the cold, dark, dreary days are coming to an end.

And I, for one, am very grateful.

Morning Sky

This was Wednesday morning's sky as seen from my breakfast table, where Daughter was eating and I was guzzling sipping coffee.

This weekend, if all goes well, we'll be headed to Charlottesville for a quick visit with Son.  My parents are coming along for the ride. It has all the makings of an adventure.

I hope your weekend is a great one.

Sunrise

"What is the good of your stars and trees, your sunrise and the wind, 

if they do not enter into our daily lives?"

-E.M. Forster

"Welcome to another beautiful sunrise on Queens Creek, courtesy of Mother Nature."

-CBW