Monday Meditation

If you can't sleep, then get up and do something instead of lying there worrying.  It's the worry that gets you, not the lack of sleep.  

~Dale Carnegie

 I need the zen of the beach to get me through this week full of stress over various things, many of which are due to Midge's impending graduation in nearly a month.

And after over a month of skipping around farting rainbows, 

stress seems like such an evil and foreign thing

instead of the close old friend it was just a couple of months ago.

So when I'm wide awake at some ungodly hour of the wee morning,

I'll find something constructive to do.

That way I can say I got xxx done instead of saying I was up all night worrying over xxx.

Scenes From Seabreeze

This past Saturday, I had lunch at one of my favorite little spots on Gwynn's Island: Seabreeze.  It's located on the water just as you cross the swing bridge and enter the Island.  Saturday I lunched with the love of my life at a small corner table for two, watched the water and enjoyed the breeze blowing in off the water.  I chatted about the weather with the waitress, pointed out different sights to my companion and watched an osprey fish in Milford Haven.  It was quiet and relaxing.  One of the things that draws me to this area is the slower way of life.  It's not a lazy slow, it's more of a sensual enjoy everything around you slow.

Osprey

While spending some time on Bethel Beach this past weekend, 

I was lucky enough to catch this shot of an osprey as she landed on her nest. 

Ospreys have always been one of my favorite birds.

Native Americans believe the Osprey teaches us to be risk takers-

to plunge into things with faith and not fear.

And they mate for life.

"Its shrill scream seems yet to linger in its throat, and the roar of the sea in its wings. There is the tyranny of Jove in its claws, and his wrath in the erectile feathers of the head and neck. It reminds me of the Argonautic expedition, and would inspire the dullest to take flight over Parnassus."

~Henry David Thoreau

Monday Meditation

Here are a couple pearls of wisdom from friends of mine on love, more specifically about finding it/knowing you've got it.

"It's not all about your heart racing when he walks into a room- that's more lust or passion. For me, I know my husband has my back no matter what.  That's what it's about."

"Find someone you can laugh in bed with."

"Make sure you trust him completely."

 I think I've got those covered.

Wordless Wednesday

I've been up most of the night with a sick boy, so today I leave you with images from Hughlett Point.

Monday Meditation on Tuesday

"Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches."

~From "The Princess Bride" - Wesley to Buttercup 

"If I had a flower for every time I thought of you, I could walk in my garden forever."
~Alfred Lord Tennyson

The Anniversary

One year ago today, Deltaville was hit by an F2 tornado that ripped through churches, trees and homes.  I've always been moved by the news footage of the aftermath of these fierce storms.  But until you live it yourself, you don't quite understand the toll something like this takes on the people involved.  Houses that you've been looking at for your entire 36+ years of existence destroyed.  Trees that you've played under, laid under and climbed twisted and snapped like twigs.  The trees are the worst part for me.  You can't just go buy another 100 year old oak tree and stick it back in the ground.  It's gone, and there won't be another close to it in my lifetime, nor my kids' lifetime. 

Deltaville was blessed that day as there were no casualties, no fatalities, nothing other than minor cuts and abrasions.  Today, whether you've been the victim of a severe weather event or not, take a moment to offer a prayer to those who have been.  To those towns that weren't lucky enough to not suffer death.

  

You can read the posts about the tornado here:

This is Not a Test!

Miracle Monday

The Bright Side

Our House

The More Things Change

Miracle Monday- Rita

Before and After

Looking For a Good Time?

I pass this sign heading to and from Deltaville. 

 I want to say it's somewhere in the vicinity of La Plata, MD.

I laugh every time I see it. 
If you're looking for good times, they sell it here.  

DY-NO-MITE!

Lunch With Friends

My trip to the 'Ville last month was entirely planned so that I could see some of my Blisters
(that would be blogging + sister= blister for those not in the know).  

We managed to meet for lunch.

There was some mediocre food and wine, 

and a whole lot of high quality laughter.

Also some dancing to "I'm Hexy and I know It".

 

I LOVE these ladies! 

I am thankful that I began blogging and had the opportunity to meet them. 

And all photography was done by the Brat Child (except the one with him in it).

Haven Beach Overlook

 I've taken more than a few photos of these chairs sitting on this dock called the Haven Beach Overlook.

Located at one the the Mathews' beaches where people swim and fish, 

it was something that made me dream and think.

One day, I'd be sitting in those chairs and sharing the view with someone special.

There would be hand holding.

There would be deep meaningful conversation or not 

because just being with someone special and not saying a word is deep and meaningful in its own way.

 I never climbed up to sit in those chairs.  

Just took photos and made my dreams.

Sadly, I learned yesterday that Hurricane Irene took the dock and the chairs out to the Bay.

They're gone.

Of course now I have someone special to sit with. 

And while I'm disappointed that I don't have the chance to sit in the chairs with person, 

I am grateful that the chairs were there when he wasn't to help keep the dream alive until he showed up.

New Point Comfort Lighthouse

The New Point Comfort Light was completed in 1804 and the light was first lit in 1805. 

 It is the 10th oldest lighthouse still standing in the United States. 

Elzy Burroughs, the builder of the lighthouse was also appointed as the first Keeper by Thomas Jefferson. 

During the War of 1812, the Brits burned down the keeper's house and oil vault, broke the glass in the lantern and removed the windows and door.  

Burroughs was called upon to repair the damage.

Luckily the Confederates were much kinder to the property.  

After their occupation (where they extinguished the light to hinder the Union Navy), the property was merely neglected and needed minor work.

 The light was converted to electricity in 1950 and in 1963 

it was decommissioned and replaced by an offshore navigation aid.

Since 1976, restoration efforts have focused on stabilizing the structure. 

In 2001 the New Point Comfort Lighthouse Preservation Task Force was established.

Because of safety concerns, the lighthouse is no longer open to visitors.  

There is an observation deck located at the southern end of Route 600 (where these photos were taken) where you can view the lighthouse in the distance.

I hear the swimming in the channel between the mainland and the lighthouse is excellent because the current prevents jellyfish from being an issue.  

Hopefully I can get there by boat to get some better shots.

Monday Meditation

"Love comes to those who still hope even though they’ve been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they’ve been betrayed, to those who still love even though they’ve been hurt before."

~Unknown 

 These lovely daffodils were a gift from the lovely CBW  when I was down south back in March.
The photo does not do justice to just how bright and sunny these flowers were.  
They practically glowed.
To me, they serve as a visual reminder to never lose hope. 
That no matter how bad things are getting, keep whatever hope you have alive, 
no matter how small it is. 
Remember that sometimes your prayers are unanswered for a reason- 
because there's something far better for you around the corner. 
In the time since I received this bouquet of sunshine, my life has changed in magical ways. 
I'd like to think it's because these flowers served as a reminder not to give up.

The Beach in Early Spring

I finally had the opportunity to head down to the Tidewater for St Patrick's Day Weekend. 

So the Brat Child and I headed to Aaron's Beach.  

Fortunately for him, I dressed him in long pants and a jacket. 

Unfortunately for me, I wore shorts.

Ethan playing with the camera

And as with any other trip to the beach, there was a stop for choc-it shakes.

Wordless Wednesday

No new photos today, just dusting off a few old ones.  Life has been a little too busy to lend time to blogging or uploading new photos. 

If You Build It...

...They Will Come.

Baseball season is upon us, and while I am not a huge fan of professional baseball (the whole steroids scandal pretty much did me in, and not having Cal Ripken or Brady Anderson on the team), I do love watching minor league teams.  It just so happens that Deltaville is home to one such team: the Deltaville Deltas. 

Where else in the world can you sit in a WWII era ballpark that uses crab pot netting to protect the fans from foul balls?
To read more about the Deltas and the Ballpark, check out the other posts I've written about it here and here.

Monday Meditation

 "Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it."

~Rumi


“But I love your feet
only because they walked
upon the earth and upon
the wind and upon the waters,
until they found me.”
~Pablo Neruda