MY NIECE'S SUNRISE PHOTO AND A POEM

When we took a trip down to North Carolina, my niece took this photo on 4-16-25 at sunrise. I thought it was gorgeous and I asked her if I could share it on here. She was happy to say yes. Thank you my sweet, you are greatly missed!

"The tide recedes but leaves behind

bright sea shells on the sand.

The sun goes down, but gentle

warmth still lingers on the land.

The music stops, and yet it echoes

on in sweet refrains…

for every joy that passes,

something beautiful remains…"

and the sun will rise again.

~author unknown~

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - ARTSY PHOTO FUN ON THE DECK

I was drinking a glass of water when I spotted my dear other half after the last few sips, which started a trend. So, next thing, out came the cell phone.

Our sweet niece I have been close to and loved dearly since the first time I set eyes on her as a wee little girl, and…

honorary nephew. It was the first time we have met and by the end of their vacation he was one of the family. He also has a lovely sense of humor and had me laughing out loud several times (I love a good laugh). Of course, we mustn't forget his daughter. She was inside the house at the time I got the idea for these photos, but she was/is a sweet young lady.

We had a lot of great times chatting out there.  Weather cooperated, not too hot. Tallied up to several hours during their stay.  Happy times and great memories for the memory box.

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Sunday to you all!

PHOTOS FROM WILLIAMSBURG ON 4-25-25

I didn’t take as many photos on our short trip here. I was having problems with not being able to walk too far because of my knee issues. Gregg dropped us off not too far from this courtyard. The part of the street you see is blocked off to thru-traffic. There were no regular shops on my side as they ended at the road on my left, and to my right it was the start of the historical colonial homes. There were only two tables in use in this courtyard,  I was sitting on a wooden bench in an area all to myself.  It was relatively quiet in my tiny bubble (also where I was privileged to witness the bee swarm I mentioned in this post). I sent my family off to look around the shops, assuring them that I would enjoy my time in this one spot. I love to people watch, and dog watch! I had a great time and not too long afterwards, Gregg after much waiting and circling around, found his parking spot and joined me. We have the app on our phone that locates each other. This is how he found me. I could also follow him and could see how far away he was. It's comforting to know where we are located and is a big help at such times.

Below is a close-up picture of the dog in the above photo. Williamsburg is a very dog-friendly place. People are very responsible and take care of them. I have never seen anything untoward in all the time I have been visiting Williamsburg and all the dogs, I have seen at least, have all been very well behaved. 

We always took family and friends here when they visited us. 

Years ago we lived an hour away and now it is about three to three-and-a-half hours from home, depending on traffic.

In the photo below, on the right of the picture you can see a round piece of art on the brick wall on the right. I wrote about it before, and it shows it in better detail. That post you can find here.

Last dog for today. I loved that expression. I felt she was saying, "I've had enough of this. I would like to go home now and find a cool spot to lie in by the window so that I can watch the world go by, just like that lady over there.” Our eyes connected and we understood each other. 

One last look at the shopping area and...

as our family joined us, Gregg left to get the car again. He told us to walk up the road and turn left on another road. We were to walk to the end of that road where he would pick us up. One of the buildings had a figure of a sheep placed in a prominent spot. These usually show what is being sold inside. It is part of Williamsburg where you often see people walking around dressed in colonial costumes. To step inside these shops it would have been like stepping into the 1700s. We needed to purchase tickets at the visitor center for access. No one felt like it as the general consensus was that time was getting late, and we still had three-and-a-half hours on the road. We had already driven over three hours from the Outer Banks, where we had spent a very nice few days with my sister-in-law and her husband.

I found a plant outside one of the shops called Wax begonia.

This field of wildflowers took my interest for a while as we waited for Gregg.

The buttercups were everywhere...

and so were the dandelions.

The next one is Sweet vernal grass. 

Next you can see the trunk of a Black Walnut tree.

For some reason I took not the whole tree but the bottom and some of the branches and leaves further up. Everyone’s energy level was a little depleted by this time, or perhaps I was projecting. At this link you can see more info. 

If you click here you will find every post on Williamsburg that I have ever done in the lifetime of this blog. Too much to see in one sitting but if you see something of interest, it will give you a lot more information than I have shown today.

I am at end of our latest trip to Williamsburg. It was short but very enjoyable. I know we will be back there again one day.

I am including another collage above and the signature below, which I put together with the app on my iPad. I never get bored using them, and these clever apps make it so easy to do. 

Take good care of yourselves everyone.

THE CHEROKEE ROSE

These photos were taken in April 2025, when my niece visited with her partner and his daughter. I have shared a lot from their visit, as many of my regular blogging friends have seen. Today I am sharing this pretty flower taken in Williamsburg on our way back home, after visiting family in North Carolina.

It is called the Cherokee Rose, botanical name Rosa laevigata. You can find information from the link I have provided if you click on its name above. There I read that it "is a woody, deciduous, sprawling shrub in the rose family (Rosaceae), that is native to central and southern China to Vietnam and Taiwan. It was brought to the United States during colonial times and cultivated by the Cherokee." It is described as taking a lot of time and effort to cultivate these. "It is a fast-growing vine that will reach from 15 to 33 feet tall, and scramble over shrubs and trees for support."

"Plant in full sun to partial shade and moist soil. Water deeply and regularly, with a summer application of mulch helps retain moisture. Pruning should take place in the late winter."

It has a sad origin of its name and relates to the Trail of Tears. I won't add any more here but have added links in this paragraph for anyone who is curious about its history. The Legend of the Cherokee Rose can be found here. 

"The canes have numerous hooked prickles, glossy dark green leaves and showy, fragrant 2-4 inch single white flowers with yellow stamens that attract butterflies. Rose hips will follow." 

More information can be read if you click on its name in my second paragraph. Alternatively, you can do your own search. There is lots of information out there.

I HAVE A NEW PIECE OF ART ON ...

the bedroom wall. They are of three quilling cards my niece gave me when she was visiting a few weeks ago. She knows my love for birds, and she couldn't have given me a more perfect gift.

It's hard to see the workmanship of each one in these photos, but I can't pick a favorite. I love each one.

After she left (sad day that was), I took all three to the framing shop at Michaels and asked to put them all in one frame. There was a real nice lady who helped me. I told her basically what I was looking for. I asked for a none-too-fussy frame as I wanted to focus on each picture, not the frame. She showed me several, and the same with the matting. She picked out colors in the cards themselves, which made it easier for me to choose. There was an inner and an outer matting, a lighter green outside and the darker green inside. She suggested a 'raised sink' which would prevent the glass from pressing on the quilling and leave it untouched. One final thing I had in mind was to get a non-glare glass. 

After admiring my niece's card choices, this lady told me that she had a few quilling cards she had framed at her home, and we talked about those for a few minutes. I appreciated the fact that she didn't rush me through or try to persuade me to pick parts I didn't want and when I left, I felt comfortable with what I had chosen. It's been years since I had anything framed and it all worked out really well. Even the man Gregg spoke to when he picked it up and who showed him the finished piece, took a few moments to admire it and said, "Now this is really nice."

And we have something lovely on the wall that will remind us of the special time we all had together with our family. We surely did have a wonderful time with many good memories made. I will share more of them as time goes on.

Thanks for looking and 

I hope your days are sunny and warm. 

SWARMING BEES IN WILLIAMSBURG

I saw an extraordinary sight when we visited Williamsburg with our family a few weeks ago. They had gone off to explore the town, Gregg was looking for a much-prized parking spot as it was very busy, and I was having my usual sit-down on a bench while waiting for him, enjoying the warmth and sunshine, and people watching. 

I don't know what made me look up, maybe it was the sound of them, I don't know. 

I raised my head and there they were, literally thousands upon thousands of bees. I think I must have heard them first and I gasped at the sight of them. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I had never seen anything like it before. A dozen bees at the most on a plant I was photographing. You can click on them to enlarge for better detail.

For some reason I wasn't afraid that they were going to sting me. I was mesmerized and I quickly looked to see if anyone else had noticed them. I couldn't see anyone with their heads turned upwards like I was. I was sitting on my own of course, and everyone else seemed to be busy with their families, small children, dogs, etc. I felt like I was in a world of my own with all those bees putting on the best show. They seemed to be heading in one direction. This went on for at least ten minutes as I followed their movement. It was the most surreal experience I have ever had. It seemed as if they were all only a few feet above my head, probably higher but not so high that I couldn’t get these photos with my cell phone.  And then they were gone!

Gregg found the following info online. (He had joined me not long after they had disappeared, and our family an hour later.) It read as follows:

"What you witnessed is almost certainly a mass swarming event, likely involving honeybees, and here's what is probably going on.

Late April in Virginia is peak swarming season for honeybees.

When a hive becomes too crowded, the old queen and about half the worker bees leave to find a new home. This swarm can involve tens of thousands of bees.

The bees swirl in the air (sometimes for 5-15 minutes) as scouts search for a new nesting site. It is dramatic but usually harmless - swarming bees are gorged on honey and less aggressive.

It is a natural, healthy behavior for a thriving hive. Beekeepers actually hope to catch these swarms, as it is a way to grow or start new hives.

I have gone on a curiosity adventure in researching these very important, beautiful little creatures. Some facts I knew, others not at all.

A single bee can produce 1 tablespoon of honey in its lifetime.

683 bees fly roughly 32,550 miles to gather 5.93 lbs. of nectar from about 1,185,000 flowers in order to make one 9.5 oz. jar of honey.

(Now, you can take all these little bits of info with a grain of salt as I found them all over the internet. I went to dozens of websites. Once on that curiosity journey, I found it hard to stop.)

Did you know that honey contains a substance that helps the human brain work better?

Did you know that the honey is the ONLY food on earth that can sustain human life alone?

Did you know that a teaspoon of honey is enough to sustain human life for 24 hours?

Did you know that propolis produced by bees is the most powerful natural antibiotic.

What is 'propolis’?

Propolis, also known as "bee glue," is a sticky-like resinous substance produced by honeybees from plant sap, combined with their saliva and beeswax. Bees use propolis to seal cracks in their hives, protect against pathogens and maintain temperature and humidity. Humans have used propolis for various medicinal purposes due to its antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Historically, propolis has been used for wound healing, treating infections and even as a component in embalming.

It is available as a supplement, ingredient in topical creams and ointments, and in oral products like mouthwashes and throat lozenges.

Propolis may help with various conditions like cold sores, swelling and sores in the mouth, and may even slow blood clotting.

While propolis has shown promising results in research, the claims about its medicinal properties haven't been fully supported by scientific evidence, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Did you know that honey has no expiration date?

Did you know that to gain 1 kg. treasure, you need the nectar of more than 1,000,000 flowers?

Did you know that bee grazing is the healthiest food in the world? (Bee grazing is also known as bee pasturage or bee forage, and refers to the vegetation that provides honeybees with nectar and pollen resources. This included flowering plants, trees and shrubs that bees use to collect food for the hive and for the production of honey.)

Did you know that pollen can have over 1500 colors and shades?

Did you know that bees are the ONLY insects that produce food for humans?

Did you know that in peak season a healthy Queen Bee, according to Penn State Extension, can lay more than 2,000 eggs in a day, which is more than her own body weight in eggs? 

Did you know that bees flap their wings more than 11,000 times per minute?

Did you know that the only honey that can be enjoyed by people allergic to beekeeping products is manuka honey?

Did you know that manuka honey is the best honey for women?

Did you know that acacia honey is not sweetened.

Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime?

And there you go, again more information that you probably want to read about. However, I am always fascinated, and I like to read back on my posts about such things. 

I would definitely check up on these facts if you want to expand your knowledge even more.

Thanks for taking a look and 

I hope you day is going well.

THE FAMILY SPENT A DAY IN NEW YORK ON MONDAY, APRIL 21ST, 2025 - PART 2

Everyone wanted to try a New York Pizza. Son had either been here before or had heard about its excellent reputation, so this was one of their first stops. By all reports it was excellent.

Our niece found 'The Rock' and had her picture taken with him (outside Madame Tussauds as you can see - they did not go inside but were glad for the photo op).

On a more somber note, everyone wanted to pay their respects at The 9/11 Memorial. 

They all found it very moving.

From this very sacred place they headed to The Empire State Building.

This level was not far below the observation deck with the family looking at the New York skyscrapers far below. Our niece is center and her partner is to her left with his daughter walking towards them also on the left.

Her cousin took this photo of our dear niece.  I wondered who on earth was brave enough to clean the outside of all those windows! 

I found this very famous photo from 1932 showing men eating their lunch - which I have seen several times over the years...

but I have never once seen a photo of the man who took their photo. Another brave man with a great head for heights. I love those shoes!

Son took a selfie with the city far below.

There is a King Kong exhibit here, which they visited, depicting the scene when King Kong climbs the Empire State Building from the old 1933 movie. The photo below is one I found online. Our son told us that this famous primate moves from window to window, not the hands obviously but it all looks effective.

Son had a good time being goofy... 

and enjoying time with his new friend King Kong.

The next photo shows a shot of the top of the building taken by son again. This was from the observation deck I believe...

and one of son at the top and outside.

More views of all those skyscrapers.

By this time it was decided to make their way back to the car, as they still had a bit of a walk to get there. They arrived home not too long before midnight, thoroughly tired but very happy at all they had seen that day. We heard all about it the next day, and it was a lot of fun listening to them.

I have other photos to share from our family's visit and will put them on here as I get them put together. They were in NYC on the Monday and were leaving for home the following Friday. We let them set their own pace for the rest of the week.

I hope you have enjoyed your quick trip into New York City. 

Thanks for visiting and have a great day.