Images of Virginia Beach 2016

It's just over a week since I returned from my annual visit to see my friend, Laura, who lives in Virginia Beach.

It's always a special time for me...to visit with my friend. We first met at the local pool club when my son, Aaron and her son Nathan were babies. The two of us became close friends. I recently found photos from when Aaron and Nate were just under a year old. I also found some of the poetry that I wrote when Laura and I had regular writing get-togethers. Guess what I'm trying to say...is that my friendship with Laura runs deep.

During my visit, we spent lots of time outdoors on nature walks and cooling off in the ocean and the bay.

I got to admire Laura's flower garden...

And, of course, had the annual tour of Brian's vegetable garden.

These yellow tomatoes were SO sweet!

I enjoyed lots of yummy vegetable meals (and also some delicious meals out).

Sign on wall at the restaurant.

On the last full day of my visit, Laura and I spent some time printing fabrics. I can't believe that I didn't take any photos! She worked on a piece with printed trees that looked like hands that were lifting up a creature that was fish-like (again...how did I NOT take a photo of this!). She also started on a piece about her grandmother using lots of green (her grandmother's favorite color) and printing with Hibiscus...a favorite flower. I got involved in making another cloth book. I spent time printing the "edges" of things.

Laura and Lucy

On the last evening (at sunset), we went down to the ocean beach for a swim and a last walk...though Lucy, the dog had other plans...running off and greeting everyone on the beach!

Here are a few other things I want to remember...
--Cracking and eating my first crabs (I'm a lobster girl remember) at a surprise birthday party (for one of Laura's friends)
--Gorging on the most amazing home-made ice cream cake (I need that recipe).
--Riding bicycles with Laura and Brian at dusk.
--Watching a watermelon deflate (yes...that was an experience! It was rotting from the inside (unknown to us) and had a very slow leak. Laura inspected it...put it back down on the counter and then I watched it quickly deflate, leaking all over the place!)

Thank you my dearest friend!

Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore

Relaxing on the dock at Bay View.

It's hard for me to believe that a week ago I was walking on beaches, swimming in the ocean and just having an all-around fabulous time with my friend, Laura B.!

Here are some highlights before too much time passes...

This year we decided to take a trip to the Eastern Shore of Virginia...which requires a journey over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This curious crossing consists of 20 miles of alternating spans of bridge and tunnels that dive under the Bay. If you want to "experience" crossing over the Bridge-Tunnel...here is a YouTube video.

We drove up to Onancock for the late afternoon and had an early dinner (seafood, of course!) there at Mallards.

After a "long and winding" detour through the back roads we finally arrived at our destination for the night, Bay View Waterfront Bed and Breakfast in Belle Haven. We made it just in time for sunset. I loved the narrow dock that went out into the water and had a bench to sit on at the end. Great views of the water and sky!

Bay View Waterfront B & B.

The dock at sunset

Beautiful cloud formations...little did we know that a big storm would arrive a couple of hours later.

In the evening, Laura and I worked on our "story/healing" cloths that we'd started in the morning. Here's mine. Laura took the various pieces of hers apart before I had a chance to photograph. So...hoping that she will send me a photo when it's further along.

My cloth of the sunset.

Next morning we had a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit with yogurt and Eggs Benedict. Since we were the only guests, we spent a pleasant time chatting with the owner, Mary Will Browning. The inside of the B & B is filled with family treasures, portraits and stitched samplers. Very homey!

Laura went kayaking. I'd hoped to do the same but my tendonitis flared up so instead I spent the morning walking the grounds and taking photos. Also enjoyed some meditative moments on that bench on the end of the pier.

The afternoon we spent in Cape Charles visiting shops and galleries and walking on the soft white sands of their local beach.

Thanks, Laura for this sweet gift. A mermaid dish by a local artist.

We arrived back in Virginia Beach for some delicious veggies from Brian's garden. Laura is certainly a magician with those fresh veggies!!

Thanks, dear friend, for another wonderful getaway!

Off to VA Beach....

Laura and me during our time together in 2014.

Heading to Virginia Beach today for my annual "girlfriend" getaway! Laura and I have lots planned...including a bit of stitching... Looking forward to walks on the beach and exploring some place new. I'll report back when I return...Enjoy your week!

Just Gelatin and Cherry Blossoms

Malou's work table...great goodies for printing with gelatin!

Yesterday was a very full day...

The first half of the day, I had fun teaching my Just Gelatin class. It's impossible not to have a great time when it comes to monoprinting with gelatin! Here's what my two students, Marou and Suzanne, created in class...

Marou Q.: Silhouette print of string.

Marou Q.: Ghost print of string

Marou Q.

Marou Q.

Marou Q.: Lace print.

Suzanne B.: Goodies from her garden.

Suzanne B.

Suzanne B.: Bubble wrap!

Suzanne B.

During the second half of the day and into the late evening, I got to spend some time with my friend Laura B.-L. from Virginia Beach. It all started with a text message on Friday afternoon... Your book and others on display Mid-Atlantic Play Therapy and Creative Arts Conference Gateway Marriott. What r you doing tomorrow evening? I invite you to see Cherry blossoms...

What an unexpected treat to spend some time with my good friend! If you're from this area (Washington, DC), you know that it's a crazy time of year. People from all over the world come to see the cherry blossoms in bloom on the trees surrounding the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. And of all the days to go see the cherry blossoms, the day of the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade...is the craziest! Laura and I plopped ourselves right into the middle of all that crazy. Here are a few photos...the blossoms are really quite spectacular...

Laura

Laura and I enjoyed a long walk and talk and then a metro ride to Old Town Alexandria for dinner. A great day all around. I arrived back home at 11:00 PM...and boy were my "dogs" tired!

Virgina Beach Getaway Part 2: Crezia Covington Reed Lotus Garden

Crezia Covington Reed Lotus Garden was an unexpected treasure on our drive to and from Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

We stopped on our way back to take a closer look. It had gently rained during our nature walk in the refuge with delightful consequences in this garden! Enjoy!