GOOD FENCES AND WILLY-NILLY FRIDAY FIVE

No rambling this week, just five photos from our last trip to Virginia Beach.

1.  Gregg's photo at Rudy Inlet. 

  2) The rest I took along the boardwalk.

3)

4)

5)

For Theresa at Good Fences here and 

Tanya at Willy Nilly Friday Five here. Thank you for hosting Ladies.  You will be able to visit other participants by clicking on the links above.

GOOD FENCES AND WILLY-NILLY FRIDAY FIVE

For Theresa's Good Fences on Thursday.

There are still a lot of fences I wanted to share from our trip to Clifton a few weeks ago.  

Here is our friendly cow that I have posted about before.

The rest were found while walking around town.

For Tanya's Willy Nilly Friday Five
on Friday.

(Click on the links in red to visit other participants.)

What did we do this week?

1)  I had friends visiting last weekend, who have to travel some distance to get here.  They stayed for a long weekend.  I took them to Meadowlark on one of the days, and they enjoyed it as much as I do.  We also took them to Petersens Ice-Cream shop in Clifton.  

2) Two days later Gregg and I took a trip down south but only for an over-nighter, as we headed back the next day.  We were there for a baby shower, which I attended while Gregg had a good time walking around town and along the beach.  The day we arrived we also met up with family at an Italian Restaurant.

3) The next day we went to the Home Expo Center not too far away from home.  It's an annual exhibition but this is the first one we have attended in a very long time.   I had bought tickets weeks ago and almost forgot all about them, until Gregg mentioned it early that morning.  It was fun looking at what people were selling and just for the heck of it we picked up a whole pile of brochures which filled my bag. Our home is 30 years old and the most major project we had done was the roof and aluminum siding replaced, when several years ago Mother Nature sent us the biggest hailstones we have ever had.  It ruined our roof and broke the siding, even smashing through a slat vent in the side of the house where I knew - imagination running rampant - bats were going to take a liking to our attic and set up residence, along with every other critter in the neighborhood. It took a long time between waiting for the insurance and choosing a company. Many of them were knocking on our door as the whole area had had major damage.  Fortunately our car was in the garage but driving around we saw that many vehicles in the area looked like every square inch had had a hammer taken to them.

4)  We went to our largest shopping mall today.  It's one we rarely visit as it isn't that close, but there was a particular shop I needed to go into.  After we had done our shopping and were on our way to the exit, a lady fell right in front of us.  I had worn a pair of shoes with different soles and noticed they were catching on the floor, telling myself I had to be careful because you know, I've kissed the floor a few times.  No sooner had the thought run through my head, this poor lady took a nose dive.  She landed with such an awful thud and I was scared because she was bleeding from a nasty cut on her lip.  Gregg went into his problem solving mode and is always a good arm to lean on in these situations.  As she was well into her 80s, I worried that she may have broken something. Fortunately she had not.  We realized listening to their conversation, that the younger lady next to her was her daughter.  She and Gregg gently eased her Mom to her feet after making sure no bones had been broken.  She was obviously badly shaken.  The poor lady, her lip had taken the brunt of her fall, and it was already starting to puff up.  I smiled at her when she made a few jokes, but couldn't really focus on anything other than checking whether she was okay.  She wasn't 'okay' but had no serious injuries, in that way she was blessed.

Someone had picked up a chair from a seating area for her to sit in, someone else bought tissues for her cut lip, I went into a shop and asked for a bag of ice, security had been called and this dear lady looked like she really did not want all the fuss around her, and definitely no security.  I don't blame her.  After we were sure she was in good hands we eventually left.  

We talked about it on the way out of the underground parking area, how several people jumped in immediately to help her, of all different nationalities.  We are a very ethnically diverse area, and I can't help but think that with all that we read in the newspapers and then I see something like this, where everyone came together to help one dear lady in her 80s, there's hope for the world yet.  There are a lot of good people around.

5) After that serious No. 4, I thought you would enjoy this.  Click on the link here for some smile bringers.

My thanks to Theresa and Tanya for all the hard work in keeping up these memes.  Their websites can be reached if you would like to see other participants, by clicking on the lettering in red.

GOOD FENCES AND WILLY NILLY FRIDAY

Everything in red are links to other places.

For Good Fences 

I chose more of the fences found in Clifton, Virginia.  These are along the pathway leading up to Peterson's Ice-Cream Depot.  We don't go that often because it is not exactly round the corner, but it is a great place to take our visitors. Nothing fancy but fun and really cute.  This little one wasn't sure where she was heading, maybe she thought she was going to the vet, and it was also very hot.  She seemed happier when she came back.  Hopefully she had a wee taste of her human's ice-cream to calm her nerves and cool her down.

It calmed mine, and the ice-cream did indeed cool me down.

On one side there is a giant chalkboard, and on the floor a big basket of giant-sized chalk.  You can entertain your kids or even yourself if there is a long line.






For Willy Nilly Friday Five
(Click on the links in red to visit)

1)  So, what have we been doing this week?  Among other things we have been busy in the garage as we have had a major clearing out.  Things just accumulate over the years and it was long overdue.  Things we thought we might need are no longer needed.  It feels good to get a head start and when it is finally cleared out, as we still have a long way to go, we are looking forward to painting the ceiling and walls.  Also putting a couple of coats of sealant on the floor, using a product that can be easily wiped if any oil is dripped. Exciting stuff right?  Not really but necessary.  

After a few days - working for about an hour each day - it is still way too hot around here and feels like a steam-bath in the garage - we achieved a satisfactory pile.  Our trash collectors deserve a big plate of cookies when I can make them.  What we couldn't give away or take to the curb, we took to the dump, packed the van up to the gills and off we went. 

We both agreed that this was surprisingly fun. Our county gets high marks for having everything well organized.  There was a friendly lady at the kiosk entrance who sent us in the right direction.  In fact, people in all the places we had to visit (items we took could be recycled, but needed to be delivered to different areas) were to a person very helpful and friendly.  We also went to the supermarket for a few groceries on the way back.  

We always have fun conversations in the car, to us maybe not to you, says I smiling yet again.  We started talking about how we have noticed that people are treating us a little differently, now that we are getting older.  Gregg mentioned how impressed he was that the chaps at each station came over when they saw him lifting heavy items out of the van. He wondered if it was because they saw him as an older person.  Many of them were about half his age.  

Gregg also recounted a story of when he had opened up a door for a young woman a few years back, who actually got mad at him and told him off for opening up said door.  She proceeded to lecture him on why he shouldn't be doing that.  Being the nice person that he is, he apologized and filed that one away.  But he is still a door opener, he's just polite that way.  

This morning Gregg went to the bagel shop.  When he got home he told me that people are opening doors for him now.  A young woman opened the door he was heading for.  We had a good chuckle but at the same time thought it was very nice of her to open the door for the old geyser, Gregg's words, not mine, with his usual tongue in cheek humor. 

A little while ago a young man opened the door for me , accompanied by a reverent, "Hello Mama, you have a good day now."  He was such a charming young man, I smiled back and thanked him, and didn't take offence at all at being called "Mama".  He saw me as a mother figure I could tell, no problem.  I'm also still pretty old fashioned and like a door opened for me.  

We were shopping at the base a few weeks ago, I had lost my sunglasses and needed a new pair.  There I was, staring at all the selections.  A young soldier standing nearby stepped over and actually handed me a pair of glasses.  He was again very polite and smiled like I was his mother.  I'm sure a little homesick as he didn't look far out of his teens or out of boot camp, another mother figure before him.  He said, "Maybe these are what you are looking for Ma'am", as he must have overheard me saying I was having a hard time selecting, and also didn't want to pay an over-the-top price for something that I would probably lose again in a few weeks - sunglasses and I have a history.  He said, "They look really smart on you and they are polarized.  Not too expensive either."  They were just what I was looking for.  I thanked him, asked him where he was from and we chatted for a few minutes.  After a while his mother figure left him to pick out a pair of sunglasses for himself.  Sweet young man.  So, maybe Gregg and I are being treated differently, the tide is turning but in a good way.  

2)  Now for some fun photos.  This blog shares a few National Georgraphic pics.  Click here to see them.  

3)  More National Geographic photos here, a few repeats but more really great shots.  Click here for those.  

4) Thinking of a road trip up to New England to see the Fall folliage?  This place has some great information on places to see.

5)  We have actually thought of doing this route one day.  Route 66.  Sounds like another great road trip.

My thanks to Theresa and Tanya for all the hard work in keeping up these memes.  

As I mentioned in the beginning of my post, if you click on the links in red you can visit each meme to see other participants, and also see great wildlife and nature photos.

THE YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

More photos of the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron we saw at Pleasure House Point Natural Area.  I felt he deserved his own post.

For the following as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts.

Saturday's Critters

Camera Critters

Bird D'Pot
Wild Bird Wednesday

For Tanya at

Willy-Nilly Friday Five

1) "In order to see the birds it is necessary to become part of the silence." - Robert Lynd

2. "I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief....for a time I rest in the grace of the world, and I am free." - Wendell Berry

3) "I want to paint the way a bird sings." - Claude Monet, Monet by Himself

4) "In November some birds move away and some birds stay.  The air is full of good-byes and well-wishes.  The birds who are leaving look very serious.  No silly spring chirping now.  They have long journeys and must watch where they are going.  The staying birds are serious too, for cold times lie ahead.  Hard times.  All berries will be treasures." - Cynthia Rylant

5) "Cliff swallows come back to Capistrano Mid-March.  It takes them three weeks to fly 7,000 miles from Goya, Argentina." - Diana Hollingsworth Gessler, Very California: Travels Through the Golden State

PLEASURE HOUSE POINT NATURAL AREA, VIRGINIA BEACH

The last time we were in Virginia Beach, we visited Pleasure House Point Natural Area.  This house was across the water but I saw the fences and so my first two photos are for....

Good Fences

Now for 

SkyWatch Friday

The pine cones are decorating the trees in great numbers.

The sun wasn't too far from setting.

Willy-Nilly Friday Five

All about nature.

1) "There is pleasure in the pathless woods, there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not man the less but Nature more."

~Lord Bryon~

2. "The butterfly counts not months but moments, and has time enough."

~Rabindranath Tagor~

3) "Earth and sky, woods and fields, lakes and rivers, the mountains and the sea, are excellent schoolmasters, and teach some of us more than we can ever learn from books."

~John Lubbock~

4) "Trees love to toss and sway; they make such happy noises."

~Emily Carr~

5) "A light wind swept over the corn, and all nature laughed in the sunshine."

~Anne Bronte~

For the following as they become available.

Saturday's Critters

Camera Critters

Bird D'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

I saw a flock of Black Skimmers flying low to the water.  They were far off so I had to crop the above photo.

When we saw that the tide was in, we realized there would be no wading birds to observe.  I was disappointed but I didn't take into account that the Yellow-crowned Night Herons would be finding a place to roost for the night.

We rounded the corner of the path and there it was, not ten feet away.  Another Yellow-Crowned Night Heron.  It didn't seem to mind us too much, though kept a wary eye just in case, and once hopping from one side of the tree to the other.  We again found it as we made our way along the path, and very happy to find it still quite close.  I took a whole bunch of photos (I will share them another time).  We didn't stay but a few seconds more. We were grateful for this gift but didn't want to disturb it any longer.  I didn't expect to see such a beautiful bird as close as it was.

You can visit all the memes by clicking on their names in this post.  My thanks to all our hosts for bringing them to us.

WILLY-NILLY FRIDAY FIVE

Driving through the relatively new part of the Portsmouth Tunnel

1) We have just returned from a trip down south and got to visit with a lot of the family.   I forget how hot and humid it can get down there.  One afternoon it rained heavily and when we got out of the car, steam rose off the ground.  It felt like a steam bath.

2) We ate out every day so my five this week is a lot about the places we ate.  One day we were invited to dinner by our niece and nephew.  A big thank you for that because they have a brand new addition in their family, and I know how tired and busy they are.  There is a sweet baby who was born last month.  Her little sister is doing a super job of helping mummy and daddy take care of her.  We had a very special evening.  We have three relatively new members in the family, a five year old, a one year old and a month old.  It was lovely seeing all three of them during our stay.  Sweet as can be and it just gave you a good feeling being around them.

3) Another day we went off with other family members to a restaurant we have been going to for years.  I always enjoy it.  Usually we sit by the window and look out over the water, but it is the busy time of the year with tourists, and even though we were further inside, we still get the view.  It was also the lunch hour, and yes it was too hot to sit outside.  There were plenty of tables available out there but not many people were making use of them.

4) A little while ago Gregg found a food truck that sold Lobster Rolls.  Oh my goodness, they were delicious.  They also sell a whole lot of other things, including fish and chips.  This place is very popular but fortunately we arrived at a quieter  time.

5) On the way back home we decided to drive via the Northern Shore and had lunch at The Shanty in Cape Charles.  We actually had fish and chips this time.  It's a restaurant that I look forward to returning.  The lady who took care of us was great.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and we found ourselves chuckling several times.  She noticed I jokingly held my Margarita back when Gregg asked for a sip and I said to her, I guess you saw that and she said oh yes I did and she laughed.  She was a real breath of fresh air.  And yes Gregg got his sip.  He was driving, he couldn't have but a sip and agreed it was excellent.  I only have Margarita's on my birthday or when on holiday, and from now on when I am at The Shanty, because it was the best one I had tasted in a long time, and the fish and chips were delicious.

Yes, we will most definitely be going back to The Shanty the next time we are in the area.

Now we're back home and being good!

I am slowly trying to catch up with the memes and this morning I am linking with Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five.  You can click on the link below to visit other participants.


Willy-Nilly Friday Five

FENCES, SKIES AND FIVES

 

These are photos of an old greenhouse that is on the grounds of Oatlands Plantation near Leesburg.  From this angle I was able to take a good amount of sky through the roof.  I thought I would also share photos from inside.  

All I could find out on line was that it was built in 1810, and is said to be the oldest standing greenhouse in the south.  I hope to go on an actual guided tour on my next visit, where I hope to find out more.

Here are more skies from that day....

and some fences of course.

Here are five links for you to view.

1) Did you ever wonder why there are no monkeys native to North America?  Well no, neither did I, until I read this very interesting article here.

2) A fascinating story and video about the crab horde that gathers in Australia here.

3) Any fans of Kris Kristofferson out there?   He is now 80 years old.  He was being treated for Altzheimers but they not so long ago discovered he actually had lime disease.  After three weeks of treatment 'he was back'. You can read about him here.


4) Amazing photographs from the 2014 National Geographic Traveler Competition Part II here.


5) Heartwarming photos here, some I have seen, some not.  


A fence for Theresa at Good Fences, sky photos for the team over at SkyWatch Friday and five photos for Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five, with my grateful thanks to our hosts. You can visit other participants if you click on their names.

Good Fences

SkyWatch Friday

Willy-Nilly Friday Five