129. Reading on Waterside Inn’s Balcony

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I’m on a Personal Reading Retreat!

When I found out I get to be a Cybils judge this year for Young Adult Speculative Fiction, I was daunted by all the reading I’m going to need to do.  When I talked with my coworkers about it, it occurred to me that I should just get *away* and read.

So — I booked two nights at Waterside Inn in Chincoteague!  And I took Monday off work.  It did take me 4 hours to get here, but I listened to an audiobook on the way.

But now the plan is to read and read and read.

I got here just in time to see the sun going down from the balcony.  There’s a view of the bay, and it’s going to be a perfect place to read!

I’m going to try to finish my first book tonight.

But what a lovely place to do it!

99. Wildflowers

When I get out of the habit of posting blessings, I start to think they need to be for big, momentous things.

But the point of doing this blog was to remember to be grateful every day.

So today I’m picking something small and wonderful — all the many wildflowers that bloom beside my lake.  Each day there are different ones blooming.  And they are beautiful.

95. My Lake

I’ve got a small lake outside my windows.  Management recently drained quite a bit of water to fix some fountains on the other end.  So for a couple weeks, it was at a very low level.

Now it’s been raining for ten days — and the water level is up even above where it should be.  The world outside is green and lovely.

94. Songbirds

I went for another walk by my lake today.  It wasn’t a spectacular walk.  Cloudy sky.  The lake was drained a large amount and hasn’t recovered yet, despite recent rain.  I didn’t bring my camera, but Murphy’s Law didn’t work and I didn’t see the great blue heron.  (Though later I did from my house!)

However, even on a not-spectacular day, my walk is accompanied by birds singing.  When I take the time to notice them, that’s a blessing.

93. Pictures of Tulips

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Last week, I went to Burnside Farms and took pictures of tulips.

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In case you haven’t figured it out, I love taking pictures of flowers.

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It was a lovely late afternoon.

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Not too hot, not too cold, nice breezes blowing.

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When you take pictures of flowers, you really see them.  You notice how delicate, how rich the colors, how perfect they are.

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I took a special interest in the dramatic ones this time around.

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And looking at the pictures, choosing a “few” from the hundreds I took, simply makes me happy.

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And we even brought some home.

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89. Bluebells at Bull Run

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For years now, every year on my Friday off, about two weeks after the cherry blossoms reach their peak, I go see the bluebells in bloom at Bull Run Regional Park.

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It’s all natural — in spots flowers as far as the eye can see.

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There’s a loop trail that goes by the river.

Bluebells2016_6I go on Fridays because it’s not crowded.  I’m free to take pictures like crazy to my heart’s content.

Bluebells2016_7I love all the other wildflowers that show up, too.

Bluebells2016_8There are always breezes blowing, birds singing.

Bluebells2016_9Okay, the truth is that you can usually hear guns from the shooting range.  But it fades into the background.

Bluebells2016_10The loop trail is a little over a mile long.  I take my time and ramble through the bluebells.

Bluebells2016_11My spirit is always uplifted for another year.

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86. Blooming Blossoms

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I grew up in L. A.  Though I did have a wonderful purple jacaranda tree out my window, I still think of trees blossoming all over the place as a miracle.

Today I got to lose myself in enjoying that miracle.

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Just some picture taking by my lake.

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And the birds were chirping madly.

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And a breeze was blowing.

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And I was able to just enjoy the beauty.

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And it was good for my soul.

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73. Pax?

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Today while my son and I were eating dinner, a fox walked across the end of the frozen lake!  And I had just been taking pictures of the sunset, so my camera was handy.  (Though I didn’t reach it as quickly as I would have liked.)  That was a treat to get to see.