86/366 Picture Today Post

86/366 | Tuesday, March 26, 2024 | #365PictureToday

Black and White

One from the archives.  Daniel's Dam on Cedar Run in 1985/86.

58/366 Picture Today Post

58/366 | Tuesday, February 27, 2024 | #365PictureToday

Splash

I had to take the rental car through the car wash because it had been raining, and it got really dirty.

41/366 Picture Today Post

41/366 | Saturday, February 10, 2024 | #365PictureToday

Withered

I found lots of withered leaves on the banks of the Potomac River when I dropped my husband off to bike on the C&O Canal Trail today.

 

10/366 Picture Today Post

10/366 | Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | #365PictureToday

Body of Water

The Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg on a cold winter day.

337/365 Picture Today Post

337/365 | Sunday, December 3, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Cordial

Picture Life | Vintage

This sculpture is called the Awakening.  It's by J. Seward Johnson, Jr. who created it in 1980.  
Originally, it was installed at Hains Point in Washington, D. C., where I first saw it around 1981 on a school field trip. (The field trip was to somewhere else in the city, but the buses parked at Hains Point and/or we ate lunch there.) For some reason because Congress designated Hains Point as the site of a national peace garden, the sculpture was sold and moved to a beach on the Potomac River at National Harbor in 2008.

 

 

331/365 Picture Today Post

331/365 | Monday, November 27, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Glassy

Picture Style | Landscape 

Even though it was overcast, the Capital Wheel is still reflected in the Potomac River.

 

 

 

192/365 Picture Today Post

192/365 | Tuesday, July 11, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Open

Picture Style | Sports

In 2021 we stayed near South Holston Lake and rented a boat for a day.  Here my two sons are enjoying each other's company while sharing a tube.

 

 

 

175/365 Picture Today Post

175/365 | Saturday, June 24, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Methodical

Picture Life | Your Space

We rented a boat and spent the day out on the water exploring Lake Gaston.  I liked the way these steps climbed up the hill from the lake.

 

 

 

170/365 Picture Today Post

170/365 | Monday, June 19, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Super

Your Space | Guest Prompt 

This week finds us renting this super house on Lake Gaston.

 

155/365 Picture Today Post

155/365 | Sunday, June 4, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Fetching

Today we welcomed new members by baptism and transfer of membership.  Five people were baptized in the pond of a member of the congregation, and a couple who moved to the area recently transferred their membership.  It was a special time of fellowship.  "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." ~Acts 2:41

 

46/365 Picture Today Post

46/365 | Wednesday, February 15, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Idyllic

Picture Color | Navy 

I changed the white balance setting for this photo at a park that's between where I work and my home.  It's often a great spot for a quick change of scenery.

 

 

 

13/365 Picture Today Post

13/365 | Friday, January 13, 2023 | #365PictureToday

Vibrant

Picture Basic | Negative Space

Just a view of one of the lakes near our house.

 

 

 

Anniversary Trip - Day 4 - Happy Anniversary

For my husband the day began very early with sunrise photos from the balcony.

 For lunch we walked a few blocks (5 to be exact) to the Maple Tree Pancake House.

After lunch we walked 11 more blocks to the 15th Street Pier.

This sign brought to mind the Dr. Seuss book One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish.

 Views from the pier.

These young ladies either didn't seem to be able to read the posted sign or maybe they just didn't care.

And someone caught a fish as we were getting ready to leave.

I was intrigued by this cottage that seemed like a step back in time amongst all of the high rise hotels and took a picture so that I could find out more about it.  It turns out that it is the Historic deWitt Cottage and Atlantic Waterfowl Museum.  According to their website, it was built in 1895 and is the oldest private structure still standing on the Virginia Beach boardwalk.

Next we walked the 16 blocks back to our hotel.  We saw this Navy ship off the coast, and then a lifeguard had to call someone in from the water because he was swimming too far out in dangerous water conditions.

Later in the afternoon I went for a swim in the rooftop infinity pool.

Then it was time to get cleaned up for our anniversary dinner.  The restaurant in our hotel, Catch 31, was highly rated on several websites I had visited in preparation for the trip.  We hadn't eaten there all week because we were saving it for our anniversary dinner.  We checked into reservations, but their website said that they don't take reservations.  Just before 6:00 we went downstairs only to be told that the wait was an hour and a half!  After exiting the restaurant to regroup, I suggested to my husband that he ask the hotel concierge, whose desk was just outside Catch 31, for a recommendation.  Not only did she make a suggestion, but she immediately booked a reservation for 6:30 at Chops, which was just two blocks away on Laskin Road.  By the time we walked there, we were just in time for our reservation and were seated immediately.  If you have a special event to celebrate while you are staying oceanside at Virginia Beach, I highly recommend Chops.

My chocolate martini and David's Safety Dance Pilsner from Smartmouth Brewing Company.

We both had the Surf 'N' Turf: a 6 ounce filet, broiled scallops, lightly fried shrimp, and mashed potatoes.  David got the standard asparagus, but I substituted steamed broccoli.  Great portion size and done to perfection!

After cheesecake for dessert (sorry no pictures), we wandered into Kitty Hawk Kites and then back to the hotel.  All in all a fun anniversary.

Anniversary Trip - Day 3

First stop Old Cape Henry Lighthouse.  If you visit, be aware that you have to enter Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story in order to visit the lighthouse and the First Landing Monument.  Everyone over the age of 16 has to provide an ID, which they hold while you are on the base.  You also have to undergo a brief security check.  Make sure that you have all of the items that you need from your car (water, ID, membership cards, cameras, etc.) after parking in the designated parking lot and prior to entering the building for the security check.  If you are a member of Preservation Virginia, you will avoid the fee for visiting the lighthouse.

Old and New Cape Henry Lighthouses

 New Cape Henry Lighthouse from the top of Old Cape Henry Lighthouse

View of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel from the lighthouse.

More lighthouse pictures.

Crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge - Tunnel from Virginia Beach to the Eastern Shore.  Views from the scenic overlook.

 

 

Container ships after crossing over the Chesapeake Channel Tunnel.

And look at the distance to the upper part of the DelMarVa Peninsula!

 

Lunch in Cape Charles in Northampton County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.  I had the bacon-lettuce-tomato sandwich, and David had the goat cheese salad.

After lunch we headed to Kiptopeke State Park.

The drive back over the bridge.

 

Afternoon sights from the hotel.  First a catamaran out in the ocean.

Also found the prototype 600 foot tall wind turbines that are 27 miles offshore.  Dozens more 800 foot tall ones are scheduled to be installed.😒

One of the helicopters that has been flying over every day.

Heavy surf this afternoon and evening.

Moonrise on the beach after ice cream for dinner.

And we stumbled upon a concert in Neptune Park beside the hotel on our way back.

These helicopters flew over our hotel multiple times a day.  There were also fighter jets too, but I wasn't able to get a video of any of them.