The Maple Tree and the Sky

 I've been away for a while. I will elaborate in another post. Because today, I'd like to bask in the beauty of autumn.

The red Maple tree and the blue sky.

Every year, I look forward to this tree's show of colors.

This is my entry for Skywatch Friday.

Four Waterfalls One State Park

As I've mentioned in my earlier posts, we visited Swallow Falls State Park in mid-June. What I really love about this park is that you hike to four different waterfalls.

Tolliver Falls is the smallest one in the park but quite serene and picturesque because of the pool that forms below the falls. For me, this is a good place to meditate and have a quiet moment.

Upper Swallow Falls  is an easy hike to get to from the main road and has a really cool view.

Tree and Sky

I took this photo last weekend near Kilgore Falls. We were on our way home after a refreshing swim at the river.

This is my entry:

Wordless Wednesday

My Corner of the World

Friday Skywatch

Swallow Falls State Park

Taken when we went hiking at Swallow Falls State Park a week ago. 

I'm currently on a week vacation from work, and I find it hard to destress granted that I now work at home and while I'm on vacation I'm also at home. The line between work and home has been blurred. In fact, it seems non-existent.

This is my entry for Wordless Wednesday and My Corner of the World.

Before Spring 2020 Fades

Spring is still my favorite time of the year.

Since we missed the Cherry Blossoms at the Tidal Basin this year, the lovely blooms in the neighborhood surely made up for it. A couple of weekends ago, we drove around our neighborhood and to the next town. We saw lovely blooming trees.

Can someone help me with the name of these lovely trees? They have beautiful white cluster flowers and they bloom first before the Cherry Blossoms.

Second Week of Staying at Home

It's our second week of working at home. We live in the worse of times. I am hopeful that we may survive this and live to tell stories of hope, resilience, strength and love.

There are times I'd be sitting on the couch and the urge to drive to CVS would cross my mind. Then reality sets in and I'd ask myself if it is necessary to be out there. I'd think not. I'd go back to flipping channels on TV and go about watching whatever is on. Kepi and I have been at home for a whole week. We went out last Friday evening for a grocery run and purchased what we needed for the week. We've seen empty shelves of hand sanitizers, toilet papers, milk, eggs and even the meat section. Some people have been panic buying, but no panic buying or hoarding for us. We have to think of other people and that there's enough for everybody. In my opinion, panic buying is a selfish act.

I've been watching the news less. I try to focus on what's in front of me, of what I can control, and of what I can do to get through the day. As my boss would say every morning, another day closer to the other side.

For this work at home situation, I have to create a schedule I try to follow:

•  6:30 am wake up, go for a 30 minute walk, shower afterwards
•  7ish am breakfast, watch a little TV
•  9 am work, conference calls
•  11:30 am go for a lunch walk while calling Mom/Dad in Hawaii
•  12 pm eat lunch
•  12:30 pm back to work
•  3 pm take a 15 minute break, have tea
•  3:15 pm work some more
•  5 pm sign off
•  5:30 pm prepare dinner, eat, rest
•  7 pm go for an evening walk if weather/time permits

The best part of my day are my walks. No matter how you're day is going, it's a beautiful world out there.

If it's not raining, I walk further in the morning and what a delight to pass through this blooming street.

A Weekend Getaway at Piney Point, MD

A couple of weeks ago, Kepi and I drove to Piney Point for a weekend getaway. The weekend trip was my gift for his birthday. Although it was a bit windy and cold out there, it felt good to unplug and getaway from our routine.

Piney Point lighthouse and lighthouse keeper's house.

Seagull at the boardwalk.

Birthday boy enjoying the view.

Our hotel had a nice view of the Patuxent River.

The boardwalk at Solomon's Island.

Piney Point lighthouse at sunset.

Kepi and I waited for the sunset. It was beautiful!

For our Thanksgiving, we chose to keep it no fuss, quiet and simple. We opted to have dinner at a restaurant and enjoyed a sumptuous buffet serving of turkey, beef and ham. It wasn't great, but it was good. We may not go back to that restaurant next year.

It is Black Friday, and yes, I've done a bit of shopping today. It is mostly for the house and simple gifts to family and friends.

Next weekend, I will be hosting a small lunch with my high school classmates and friends. I still need to get things ready and set things up, but I am very excited to spend time with my friends. We're all so busy throughout the year that we barely have time to see each other. The Christmas season seems to bring us together. I think that's what this season is all about.

Wednesday Mutter

It's Wednesday and I don't feel like working. This is probably because I didn't get a decent sleep last night. It felt rather warm even if we're still supposedly in winter. We did get one big snow storm, but this winter was the warmest I've ever experienced while living in Maryland. I'm so afraid we'll skip spring and head straight to an excruciatingly hot and humid summer.

I hope I'm wrong.

Today, we're expected to reach 79 degrees. That is 20 degrees above normal temperatures for this time of the year.

 

This is a park close to our house.

On another note, I am recovering well from my surgery. Thank you to all your well wishes and prayers. I think that my system is still adjusting to the loss of my gallbladder, but I've been feeling much better the past few days. The stitches are coming out next week.

Linking with Wordless Wednesday and Skywatch.

Waiting For The Train

This morning, I took this photo while waiting for the train to work.

The photo looks calm and snowy; we got about an inch or two of snow dusting last night.  What you don't see is the cold, frustrated crowd waiting for the train. You see, we were offloaded at this station due to some technical difficulties, and my usual 45-minute commute became a two-hour ordeal.

I know the new manager of DC Metro is making some changes, but DC Metro delays are frustrating  especially when you're running an hour late to work.

Linking with Skywatch today.

Maryland: Swallow Falls

On our second day in Oakland, we visited a couple of indoor flea markets in the morning; I found a cookie jar and a first edition of the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.  In the afternoon, we decided to do a little hike to Swallow Falls.

The trail was icy and slippery, which made for a treacherous hike. I wasn't sure if I was sweating from anticipation to see the falls or from fear of slipping and landing flat on my back. My boots couldn't get a good grip. It felt freezing up in the mountains.

My excitement unraveled when I saw the beauty and nature that surrounded me.

Waterfalls frozen in time.

Icicle ornaments.

 We had to get off the trail to check out these beautiful ice formations by the shore.

Island by the Youghiogheny River.

Swallow Falls wasn't as big as I expected, but it was refreshing to hear the rush of the freezing water.

The sound of the waterfall was zen. I felt the pulse of the river and the quiet breathing of the trees. I also realized how time doesn't exist in places like these.

I want to go back.

Linking with Wordless Wednesday.

Oakland, Dora And Oliver

My birthday gift from Kepi was a massage and a weekend retreat.  

So this recent weekend, we packed our bags and drove to Oakland. Oakland is located at a high elevation and considered to be among the snowiest and coldest locales in Maryland. Our drive took us three hours. From the window of our car, we passed through forests, mountains, small towns, lonely bridges and log cabin homes with thick smoke bellowing from their chimneys. It must have been really cold that day.

We got to our inn late - about 10 PM. According to the owner, who patiently waited and brewed cups of tea for us once we arrived, the original part of the house is 100 years old; it was expanded to create more rooms for guests.  The house is no longer a residence but a place for retreat and wellness.

The house looks rustic outside. The inside is decorated nicely with antique chairs, wall clocks, old photographs, wooden chests and vintage books. The older part of the house is newly renovated, but I know that it has survived many cold winters.

I felt like we stepped into the pages of a hundred year old book.

 

One of the drives we took was to visit Deep Creek Lake. It was and probably is still frozen. My massage therapist told me that there's a town buried in the middle of the lake. I still have to do research on this story, but it's a fascinating one.

 

Meet Dora guarding the garage door. She's making sure no one blocks her owner's car.


Every morning, you can find Oliver basking in the sun in front of the kitchen door. I guess he loves it there because of the delicious and warm aroma of blueberry pancakes, smoked bacon, apple bread and fried sausage and potatoes wafting through the kitchen door.

During our weekend stay, Dora and Oliver made us feel welcomed and at home. They were there every morning and they met us in the evening when we came home from our hikes or drives.

I will be posting more photos from Oakland soon, as I've only managed to download and edit three photos this week.

Linking today with Wordless Wednesday and Skywatch.

Cloudless Sky

After three days of storm, a bright sun and a cloudless sky greeted us.

   

It is also time for recovery.

Linking with Skywatch.

Surviving Jonas

We survived blizzard Jonas!

It's been three days of on and off shoveling and trying to clear the driveway from snow. My arms and back are so sore and I am just physically and mentally exhausted. Storm Jonas dropped about 3 feet of snow in my area and it will take time before we'll recover.

Saturday, second day of storm: the snow was up to 2+ feet. Our neighbor was out battling snow with his snowblower, which later broke.

It was a losing battle.

Our main street and sidewalks disappeared in a few hours.

 

Sunday was the second time we were out shoveling again. The sidewalks were more like trenches.

While we shoveled all day, Daisy found solace on the snow and welcomed the warmth of the sun.

Linking with Wordless Wednesday

New Year's Day

On New Year's Day, Kepi, Daisy and I were out for an afternoon walk when we caught glimpse of the lovely Maryland sky. The sky was a perfect backdrop to the almost leafless trees of winter.

The sky was on fire for a moment, then darkness took over.

This is my entry to:
 Wordless Wednesday
Ruby Tuesday
and Skywatch Friday.

Of Donuts, Burgers And Chocolates

After an agonizing three weeks of living with shingles, it was the first time I went out last night.  Kepi and I had dinner at Peri-Peri and spent sometime shopping afterwards.  Well, my left eye has not fully recovered yet, but I am hoping the next few weeks will be a lot easier.  Spring break is coming to an end, and I really need all my senses back together as I delve into the next five weeks of spring semester.

After shopping, we decided to hit Krispy Kreme.  Yup, lucky us the Krispy Kreme shop is open until 12 AM.

 Fresh from the fryer! You gotta have one of those. I had two.

On Saturday morning, I woke up to the sound of rain tapping the bedroom window.  I've never been happier to hear the rain.  I think this winter has overstayed its welcome because right now, I truly miss the warmth of the sun.

For lunch, Kepi and I tried the newly opened The Burger Joint.  I was impressed with The Burger and I love their sweet potato fries. I'll be surely going back to try their other burgers.

 I thought their burger was big, but it was also delicious.

Here's the husband's giant onion rings.

Since I'm a certified chocoholic, I picked me up one of these from the Lindt shop. Lindt was having a 50% off on all chocolates.

Just an update from me. I'm quite happy that I can finally get out, but I am not fully recovered yet.  This is one of the longest time I've dealt with a disease.  I think this is expected because my body is still recovering from my transplant.  Honestly, I desperately want to get better.  Please send some prayers my way.

I hope everyone's doing well.

White Birthday!

Yesterday, I turned a year older.

Due to work and my evening class, we didn't do anything special. We were supposed to host a Saturday party to celebrate both my first re-birthday and birthday, but we decided to just celebrate at a restaurant instead. I am looking forward to hanging out with an old friend.

The best thing about my birthdays? I get to celebrate "me," and realize how lucky I am to be here.

We've been getting a lot of snow, and we're expecting more this Thursday and Friday.  Here are a few photos from my phone.

I love how the snow rests on the tree branches. This is the Cherry Blossom at our front yard.

 Daisy is officially a snowdog. Daisy loves the white stuff so much.

 Due to the snow and cold temperatures, some neighbors still have their Christmas decorations up.

 Taken in the morning before driving to work.

It is cold, but I can't complain. 

There is so much beauty in winter. To tell you the truth, I am not yet ready for spring because it was in the winter of my life that I learned to appreciate my existence.

A Chilly Update

I woke up to a gusty, chilly morning -7 degrees Fahrenheit!  My ears are tingly and my face is numb. It doesn't help that I'm hauling a big bag of books to be returned at the library. Fun stuff!

Spring semester begins today. I'm taking two elective courses (Tuesdays and Thursdays). It's ironic that this semester just started yet I can't wait for this semester to be over. Over - I mean graduate. I will decide later if I want to keep going. Hard to tell right now.

Next week, I'll be going for my one year bone-marrow biopsy. I am keeping positive. Hopefully, I will get my vaccinations soon. Yes, I have to re-take all my childhood vaccinations. I hope not all shots in one day or my shoulders will be sore.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that travel will be possible this year. Doctor's call though.

Also, my gallbladder surgery "might" push through as well. (This will depend if my biopsy result is normal.) I am scared of surgery, but it's better to have it done than suffer from weekly painful attacks.

Just a short update today. It's time for afternoon tea and biscuits.

Day +120: Biking By The Bay

We're at the Eastern Shore for a weekend getaway. This vacation is our Mother's Day gift to Mom, and I think we've all benefited from this much needed relaxation. After all, we've been through so much.

Yesterday, I rode a bike. I can't remember the last time I rode one. It was in 2008 when I was told by my doctors not to ride a bike or play any sports due to my low platelets.

This weekend, I decided to give it a try. It felt liberating. The air felt fresh and my bike felt swift...that's until I fell and had mud all over my butt.  I was disappointed but got up, brushed it off and kept on riding.

We all go through numerous bumps on the road, but we have to keep getting up and keep on riding.

Today, we rode again and it was perfect and fun. My legs ached, but I didn't fall.

I want to feel all there is to feel, he thought. Let me feel tired, now, let me feel tired. I mustn't forget, I'm alive, I know I'm alive, I mustn't forget it tonight or tomorrow or the day after that.

(Dandelion Wine)

Cherry Blossoms

Seeing the Cherry Blossoms is an annual tradition.

When I wasn't engaged yet, I used to stop by the Tidal Basin after work and spend the evening just walking underneath the beautiful blooms. It's a great thing that Kepi is also into the Cherry Blossoms, so when we finally got the time last weekend, we made the trek to DC with mom.

I think that I'll never cease being amazed at how beautiful these blooms are.  The word "beautiful" is not even close to describing these flowers, but perhaps heavenly is a more appropriate word. When you walk underneath the fully bloomed trees and the sky is covered with white and soft pink blooms, it's an out of this world experience.

Walk with me underneath the Cherry Blossoms.

I see balance and perfection on this tree.

A painting come to life.

Blooms.

Walking on pink ground.

Flowers from the Cherry tree's trunk.