Category Archives: photography

Whirlwind of activities-part one

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We take short vacations but really jam pack a lot of activities into that time! From stopping at our favorite sandwich place in Rehoboth Beach to seeing something new-we keep ourselves busy. When we got to Rehoboth, the sky looked like this:
Dolle's taffy with threatening skies
It did start to rain, so we wondered into an arcade where the guys were attracted to the baseball games:
Brian and Sean throwing pitches
Brian has a good pitching arm from being on a team at one of his jobs. : )
Here is a sign to tell you about Rehoboth. Both Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb have ties (Kathie Lee’s parents parents had an inn there and Hoda’s mom recently bought a place there-they just had an episode there a few weeks ago)
Sign for Rehoboth Beach
Of the various beaches we visit, I love the little stores that line this area the best. Isn’t this a pretty pavillion?
Rehoboth pavillion
We then hopped in the car (the rain was steadier then) and headed to Ocean City. It’s about 30 miles just to get to the outskirts of Ocean City, Maryland. We were staying on 13th and it starts about block 150.
Sean picked out this place and paid for one night. It was a good location, but we had a small room with double beds. I judged from the bathroom tiles it was built in the 1950s (as was the first apartment we lived in that had similar ones) and I was right-1954!
Where we stayed-Beach Plaza Hotel

BEACH PLAZA HOTEL– Built in 1954 by Ethel Griffin Kelley and her son Harry Kelley, a former mayor of Ocean City. Richard Nixon and his family spent many vacations here. Bryce and Shirley Phillips have owned and operated the hotel since 1970.

They are renovating it and the lobby and restaurant are very lovely.
Antique Victorian lame in parlor of Beach Plaza Hotel
Entry area of Beach Plaza Hotel
Stained glass windows in Beach Plaza
I’m not sure what the story is behind these ostriches on the front porch. There were plenty of rocking chairs to enjoy the beach scene too.
Carved ostriched flacking the front door of the Beach Plaza Hotel
How clever was it to make the porch tables out of old Singer sewing machine tables?
Tables made from old Singer sewing machines
We went down to check out the beach. Right before this photo was taken, a big wave came up and splashed my newly changed pants. What a shock!
Sean and his mom Dianne on the beach
Sean and Brian on the beach
The beach at Ocean City, MD
That night we walked about 10 blocks! Whew! We had a pizza dinner that wasn’t too great and then Brian and I stayed in and Sean went to the young people’s night club. He rolled in about 1:30 am as he had to take a bus to the place. We finally got to enjoy some beach time on Wednesday. I’ll continue in another post.

A fine feathered friend

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Yesterday when I was lazying around I was sitting at the dining room table and saw movement in the tree through the window and it was directly in front of me! I saw it was one of the birds we have been hearing and hardly seeing across the street! I think it was a young she (from the bird guide book) and ran to get the camera and add the zoom lens. Here is one of the better captures:

At first I thought it was a Peregrine Falcon, but it is really close to the Cooper’s Hawk! We have a development 1/2 mile down the road called ‘Falcon’s Lair’. But the funny thing is on the way to shopping yesterday, we passed a Lane called ‘Cooper’s Hawk’ in Chadds Ford! Go figure. I guess she was watching the bank and stream for dinner!
It’s really a pleasant day out and I’ve been mostly inside messing with uninstalling and installing software. I finally got the EOS digital to work on my computer, but I didn’t want to load it up with a bunch of software and photos. I guess it’s good to have the camera software, which doesn’t seem to work. I had to go to the control panel and it found the camera and then imported the photos. I would like to take the 460 mbs of photo stuff off if that’s what I have to do everytime.
I have an issue that I hope goes away before our trip since I have to sit a lot. I have had this issue off and on for years. Pain in the…opps! ; )
And here it the Moonflower in bloom. It’s had a few more, but I see Mr. Catepillar nibbled some of them…

It smells nice too! Maybe I will go and take a cushion to enjoy a little of this low humidity day! : )

Monochrome flowers

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Monochrome flowers, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I went to Longwood Gardens by myself as my mom said she wasn’t able to drive as her back was bad. She said she doesn’t think she will be able to drive out here that much anymore. : (
I was sitting fiddling with the camera settings as the files were too large and my card was filled up. I decided to try the monochrome and shot this right next to where I was sitting. Pretty cool!
I walked around almost the entire place and did well, not too hot! I walked up at least 50+ steps. I guess losing 6-7 pounds is a plus. More photos…
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I ❤ you!
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Reflection of sky with water lilies
Canna Lilies in Pink
For Zoey!

Red as a rose and other things

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Welcome Cardinal Sign

Red, red rose
Indian summer
Dreaming in Red Skinny card
Ruby red daylily
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Today I had lunch with my high school pal Heather. We get together now and then which is nice. I so enjoy talking to ladies my own age instead of just men or my mom. Goes to show that many of my good friends are around my age. I have friends in their late 30s and I tell them I’m kinda like an auntie, but we share many of the same interests. : )
Sean went along for the ride, dropped me off and Heather and I went in PF Chang’s for lunch. Afterwards, Sean and I strolled along in some high priced stores (I check out the sales or sale rooms-but got nothing today). We then went over to Home Goods and I got some new towels, tea and a few little things. That fancy shamancy gardening place had a sale-actually what the sale price is should be their real prices-lol. I got some hot pink phlox in a big pot. When I got home I noticed it had powdery mildew on it. I know that is common with phlox, but should I wipe it off? I let Sean pick it out while I waited at the register, so I didn’t see it until I got home-not a good move. I think the gardening is continuing all summer here. I am really pleased with how my gardens are coming along. I would like to mulch the veggie garden as it looks really dry.
No big plans for the 4th-my oldest brother is turning 57! Wow! ; )

Blue, blue, blue Wednesday

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Blue Morning Glory

Blue glass

Blue Poppies

Blue Graniteware coffee pot
Even though this isn’t summery oriented, here is a blue Christmas tree…
Christmas Tree 2006

I was working outside for a few hours with the weed whacker late this morning until the spool wouldn’t stay in place anymore. I was almost finished what I wanted to do too. Did the front sidewalk, the back patio edge and pond. Then the pond looked nasty, so I drained that out a lot and a tiny frog popped up! There use to be a big one in there. Guess he moved out and let ‘Elvis’ move in. So I got out the half moon edger and did almost around the entire pond. Things look better when they are edged-so nice and neat. I worked the ground enough for planting some flowers and I added three in the pond garden. I came in took a shower and tried to relax again outside (did I mention how nice the weather is today?) until I saw pots needed watering, so I did some of that and planted polka dot plants and another unusual plant in the fairy garden. Whew! I’m bushed!

Front step blooms

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Front step blooms, originally uploaded by DianthusMoon.

I bought the pretty geranium and wicker plant holder from the little Amish lady yesterday.
Did a little puttering around, not much as I was tired from yesterday. It was fun to put things around the yard, but I only planted a Turkish eggplant (you know I like unusual plants-scroll to bottom to see the orange fruit) and moved a droopy pepper. I took some photos as my flowers looked pretty despite the Chestnut tree catkins all over the place.

Petunias, Lantana, Millions of Bells
I’m getting lots of Lily blooms this year!
Prolific Lily Garden
Dreamsicle orange Lily
Burgundy with Yellow Throat
Pole from clothesline used for cone planter
Cone shaped planter with red Petunias and Lantana
And a few bowl gardens-the fairy one is filling in nicely:
Fairy planter
And the Succulent one with new green pebbles:
Bowl garden
Some bauble in the Viburnum next to the fairy garden:
Baubles in tree next to fairy garden
Fairy jar
The little jars (only this one is showing and the pebbles for the bowl garden were both under $2 each at the Christmas Tree Shop. : )
Tomorrow I hope to weed around the fairy garden and plant up a few more things. I’m on my 4th bag of potting soil (the soil from Dollar General for $3 is fine and like the pricier stuff).
Have a nice Sunday!