I composed this photo with the old beehive in the foreground, while showing the two more modern beehives in the background.
We found a "hive of activity".
"A bee is two-and-a-half centimeters long, with a brain the size of a peppercorn. Yet they can fly 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the hive to forage, and then make a straight line home. How do they do that?"
~Elizabeth Capaldi~
"You can never tell about bees."
~Winnie the Pooh~
Michelle is the host of Nature Notes. Thank you Michelle for this great meme.
On Saturday night we were at one of our northern Virginia shopping malls, Tyson's II. There is a Tyson's I and this isn't too far away from there, but far away enough for us to always get lost trying to get to it. We don't come here very often and now there is major upheaval as they are building a metro line which should be finished in about three years. The traffic is complete chaos and when we were driving home around 10.30-11.00 p.m., it might as well have been rush hour. I was glad Gregg was driving as I don't like heavy traffic at the best of times.
My interest was peaked when I saw the cars on display below. I don't think I have ever seen a Lamborghini unless it was in a book or a movie. I liked how the elevator was coming down and trust me, that I am more interested in the elevator than in the Lamborghini. Oh well!
As you can also see, I was fascinated by these interesting looking plants, some kind of cactus. At first I thought they were fake, an artsy design in keeping with the mall, but no they were real.
You can see Gregg on the left. We were ambling around as this was the night we had arranged to meet up at the restaurant, to celebrate our son and daughter-in-law's first wedding anniversary. We were early and chose to walk around for a while rather than wait the half hour at the restaurant.
This is the outside of the restaurant and Gregg took a photo of Maggiano's, where we were having dinner.
Another he took inside.
This is another thing that grabbed my interest. Across from the restaurant is an Asian furniture store and this rather fascinating antique carriage was on display.
We had a lovely evening with our family and now we are on the way home. I was trying out several settings on my pocket camera. It is relatively new and I am getting used to it. Not good night time shots but I enjoyed all the multi-colored squiggles that the lights created.
It doesn't take much to keep me entertained and besides, it took my mind off all that flipping traffic!
Bye-bye Tyson's I and II, see you in three years as I won't be back until your metro line has been installed and all the crazy traffic has calmed down. Yes I am joking, sort of!
Added note: for shopping enthusiasts this is a fantastic shopping mall, a great place to window shop. Malls are also great places to get out of the heat as their air-conditioning is a welcome respite from the 90 plus degree temperatures outside. When I first moved to the States, Tyson's I was the first mall Gregg ever took me to - we didn't live that far away.
Thank you Klaus, Sandy, Wren, Fishing Guy, Louise and Sylvia for hosting My World.
Having just celebrated my son and daughter-in-law's first wedding anniversary, my mind went back to when I met Gregg 34 years ago. On our second or third date, he asked me if I had ever heard of Cat Stevens. At that time I had not, but even to this day I am not one to keep up with who is popular in the music world. I liked the movies more, though that's not to say I don't enjoy listening to music, I do.
On our next date Gregg presented me with the first gift any boy had ever given me, a Cat Stevens album and this song was included. It has always been one of my favorite hymns since childhood and I had never heard it sung by a contemporary artist before. I thought it was absolutely lovely but what touched me the most was that even though Gregg and I hadn't known each other for very long, he was kind enough to buy me such a thoughtful gift. When I told my Dad, not knowing Gregg, I think he rolled his eyes. I must have been a veritable chatterbox about this young man I had just met, and my Mum and Dad could see that somehow this was different. As they told me after we had been married for a while, they knew Gregg was special.
Another thing my Mum told me about, was meeting the Mayor's Secretary several months after I had moved to the States. This was the man whom my friend Mary had worked for, and who had arranged all the official mayoral cocktail parties to welcome naval ships into port. If you haven't read it already, you can click here and here of how Gregg and I met. When Mum and Dad bumped into this man at one of the local pubs months later, the first words out of his mouth to my Mum were, "You hate me don't you?" He had a twinkle in his eye and I don't think my Mum knew what to say, but when she told me on the phone after it happened, I just knew she was rolling her eyes.
It was our son and daughter-in-law's first wedding anniversary today. It has been such a fast year.
Last night, along with Lisa's Mom and Dad, we went to the same restaurant we had their wedding rehearsal dinner. It was a wonderful evening, and a lovely celebration of the day our children started married life together.
We are always looking for new participants. If you are not already doing so, won't you please consider joining in TODAY'S FLOWERS by sharing blooms from your part of the world? We would love to see them. You will find the link below my photos.
Anyone who would like to be a "Guest Friend" and have their flowers displayed on the home page, Luiz explains how you can do this at the TODAY'S FLOWERS site.
An added note, I have had a hard time getting to your TF posts lately. Hopefully this week I will be able to visit. Thank you for sharing your beautiful flowers. This meme is a very enjoyable one for me and for so many others because of your generous support.
I am still sharing from the National Garden in Washington DC and will identify those I was able to find a marker for. I thought these plants and flowers were native to Virginia, but I have had some interesting comments to the contrary, so be sure to read them if you are curious. I am the first to admit that I am no expert and am continuously learning, so many thanks to those of you who help me on my educational journey.
Shasta Daisy from the Aster Family
Eastern Purple Coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Lindheimer's Beeblossom
Oenothera lindheimeri
From the Evening Primrose Family
Shrubby St. John's Wort
Hypericum prolificum
Pickerelweed
Pontederia cordata
TODAY’S FLOWER’S was created by our good friend Luiz Santilli Jr.
You can find beautiful and unusual flowers from all over the world by clicking here.
These shots were taken by husband Gregg while we were walking near the Capitol Building in Washington DC. Our first stop was the Botanical Gardens and you can see its glass framed roof in the photo above.
Sadly, I just learned from Michelle's post that Bobby passed away last Saturday. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and to all the friends who knew and loved her. I know she will be greatly missed by everyone.
This is the forest primeval.
~Henry Wordsworth Longfellow~
~~~~~
Michelle is the host of Nature Notes. Thank you Michelle for letting us know about Bobbie.
Michelle is sharing Bobbie's Memorial Badge for us to share on our blogs, to honor this wonderful lady who was a friend to so many in the blogging world, so please feel free to pick up the badge if you would like to post it yourself. I didn't know Bobbie, I only wish I had.
Born English but have lived in America for almost 36 years, now proudly a US Citizen but as the old saying goes and as Gregg occasionally tells me, you can take the girl out of England but you can never take England out of the girl.
This is my Mom and Dad, Stanley Douglas Haig Goodall and Joan Goodall, nee Howell. Sorry, this link is for my family, and only family members will be able to click on Dad's picture to view. I have added this link for their easy access.
If any family members pop in and would like to be added to the list, let me know and I will send an invite.
Dad was a member of the Boys' Brigade.This photo was taken around 1928. I am sad to say I don't have any childhood photos of my Mum.
My Mother's parents on their wedding day - early 1900's
Leonard and Elsie May
In memory of my Mother-in-Law Bea, who was a Red Cross Volunteer for many years.
If you are thinking of rescuing a greyhound in Virginia, please click below.
SUPPORT CANINE CANCER RESEARCH
Greyhounds ROCK Fredericksburg is a non-profit charity dedicated to raising awareness and funds to support Canine Cancer Research, to honor the dogs that are or have been affected by this disease, and to offer encouragement and education to the people who love them. (click on logo to learn more)
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