Look up to the Clouds

Looking up can be quite rewarding.  While on our daily walks,  I am usually the one to look at the trees, the houses, the birds, and whatever else we pass.  Grayden is one to look up.  A bald eagle caught his glimpse the other day and we both had to stop and gaze at the wonder of his beauty.  I have no photos to share of him, but he certainly thrilled the two of us.  We both thought his mate was riding the thermals way above him.  Of course we were just surmising that!  We live between the Rappahannock and Potomac rivers and often see eagles flying between them. 

 When we were at the beach we love watching the birds that live nearby.  The pelicans are some of the best flight birds ever!  Their formations are the envy of pilots.  As lovely as their flights are when they are on land they are quite awkward.

 

Looking up to the clouds rain appears on the horizon.

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

Rabindranath Tagore

It's hard to believe the last week of April is upon us.  I hope you will look up dear reader friends.

 

Spring Days

Springtime joys come in so many forms.  The warmer weather signals new growth in our garden.  As buds appear the hope of new life signals warmer days ahead.  Well, maybe as the days of April are fickle with 80 degree days mixed with near freezing evenings.  

 

It's almost, well almost, an embarassment of color that blooms in our garden!  

Our youngest grand had Spring break recently and we were able to all go to our favorite place, the beach.  It's wonderful to be with our grands as their busy schedules limit our time we can see them. 

 Alex was able to spend the weekend with us before returning home as he still had work and classes in college to attend.  

It was so good to spend time with our son as well.  It's so hard to believe his sons are practically grown.  It doesn't seem so long ago that he was their ages.  

 Our youngest grand, Miles has been visiting colleges where he hopes to continue running track.  

Grayden and I had such a good time with our grands.  We're so thankful to have three wonderful grandsons.  As most of you know our oldest grandson Samuel lives with us and was holding down the fort at home while working and attending classes. 

Daily long walks were enjoyed by all of us as we gazed at our favorite, the lovely ocean!

I come from a long line of beach lovers.  My late cousin and his wife were as well.  Many benches at the beach are left with memories of loved ones.  Grayden and I found Elizabeth and Jerry's near our hotel.  

Our time away was a balm for our souls.  Full of great memories of time well spent with our loved ones. 

Spring Break with the Younger Grands

I've mentioned before that we are an ocean loving family.  Not just in the summer, but in all seasons.  We all ventured to the beach for a break together this past week.  Our youngest grands were off from school for Spring Break and this was the perfect time to have a look at our beautiful ocean in Virginia Beach.  

We spent the week enjoying some pretty days and some rainy days.  It was okay because we had many German Checker tournaments and most importantly time together.  

Miles loves his long board and agreed to let Alex ride the wind for a few blocks down the boardwalk.  The wind was quite bitingly cold that day, but how can you not appreciate the beauty of the day.

Miles preferred to ride the entire length of the boardwalk on his long board under his own steam.  The length of the boardwalk is 2.6 miles and of course he traveled both ways.  We didn't walk that far, but we did enjoy walks as well.

Each pretty day we made our way to the Neptune sculpture.  This piece was placed here in 2005 and is the work of a Richmond artist, P. Dipasquale.

Neptune is quite large as you can see and is a lovely focal point on the boardwalk. 

We were able to enjoy time by the pool and one of us even went in.  One afternoon we wanted to sit on the sand and take in a closer view.  The sun was so warm and inviting, but the ocean needs to warm up a lot before any of us will be venturing in.

The bike trail is full of beautiful pansies that really love living by the ocean.  Virginia Beach does a wonderful job of landscaping the property adjacent to the ocean.  

In my family growing up and in my children's childhood and now adulthood, we bid the sand and the ocean goodbye until we are fortunate to see her again.  ♥