Dreaming of a White Christmas

Pink sky in the morning…
and, YES
a Winter Storm is approaching.

Winter Storm Watch obtained from Weather Underground.
I am dreaming of a White Christmas….
Pink sky in the morning…
and, YES
a Winter Storm is approaching.
Winter Storm Watch obtained from Weather Underground.
I am dreaming of a White Christmas….
We spent 5 nights (April 7th through April 11th), at Chincoteague, Virginia in an Airbnb rental called “Tranquil Shores”. Our host, Joseph, gave me permission to include details of his Airbnb in a blog post. The complete listing for this AirBnB rental may be seen by clicking here.
Here is a Google Map picture of our Airbnb accommodation.
“Tranquil Shores”
“Tranquil Shores” is the right side of this duplex house. We had use of that entire side of the duplex. The entrance to the home was via the wooden steps on the side of the house. We entered the door code, opened the door and we walked inside. The entry door opens to the kitchen.
Eat-in Kitchen
The kitchen contains all the essentials of cooking and dining to include cookware, dinnerware, utensils, stove, oven, microwave, toaster, coffeemaker, spices, and so much more. We didn’t use it, but there was coffee grounds in the freezer for the coffeemaker. We brought the tea kettle that you see in this picture. We boiled water for hot tea and coffee. Bob used an Aeropress to make coffee.
The kitchen and living room form a Great Room.
Living Room
There is access to a Screened Porch from the Living Room.
Screened Porch
The living room was comfortable, and we made frequent use of the screened porch.
In addition to the kitchen and living room, this Airbnb rental has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. Two of the bedrooms (queen bed and twin bed) and one bathroom are located downstairs. A washer and dryer are located in the downstairs bathroom. The master bedroom (king bed) and second bathroom are located on the second floor. There is access to a balcony from the master bedroom. We made use of only the master bedroom. The bed was very comfortable and provided for a good night’s sleep. Bed linens and towels are not provided in the rental cost. They are available, however, for an added fee of $10.00 per bed. We saved $10.00 by bringing our own towels and bed linens.
Tranquil Shores, as seen from Maddox Blvd.
This AirBnB rental is located at the end of a quiet road.
This is the view of the road on which “Tranquil Shores” sits. The house is at the end of this road.
The rental cost was approximately $55.00 less than the cost of a King Bed with Balcony hotel room at Best Western Chincoteague, where we have stayed in past visits. “Tranquil Shores” was a much nicer accommodation than staying in a room in a hotel! We had lots more space, and we were able to eat in or eat out, as desired. We ate breakfast and either lunch or dinner at home, during our stay. Our view at “Tranquil Shores” was much, much better than at Best Western Chincoteague too. At Best Western Chincoteague, if you booked a balcony room, your view was the McDonald’s Restaurant across the street. Compare that view with the view from the screened porch and balcony of our Airbnb rental.
When I took this picture, I was standing at the edge of the property. The water seen in this picture is Eel Creek.
We enjoyed daily sunrises, sunsets and wildlife viewings, while at Tranquil Shores.
Snowy Egret on Eel Creek
Osprey flying over “Tranquil Shores”
Sunset at “Tranquil Shores”, as seen from back porch
Canada Geese on Eel Creek
Sunrise at “Tranquil Shores”
Tern Gull Flying Over “Tranquil Shores”
Sunrise, on the morning of our departure
I highly recommend “Tranquil Shores” to individual travelers, couples, and families. You will be within a couple miles of downtown Chincoteague and Assateague Island where you can enjoy Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and the Assateague Island National Seashore. We brought our bicycles with us and enjoyed rides in the neighborhood, several rides at the wildlife refuge, as well as one ride from “Tranquil Shores” to the wildlife refuge.
Thank you, Joseph, for sharing your home with us. We will return!
We awakened early the morning of April 3. Bob got up at 4:00 am, and I got up about 30 minutes later. We ate breakfast at 6:00 am and watched the sunrise from our 8th floor hotel room balcony at 6:47 am.
The four sunrise photographs shown above were taken within the space of 8 minutes. What a beautiful start to the day!
Soon after sunrise we went for a walk on the boardwalk. I will share details and photographs of our walk in my next blog post.
I was passing by the bathroom window this morning, around the time of the sunrise, and happened to see the sky painted a beautiful pastel of blue and pink colors. I picked up my camera, changed to appropriate settings and pressed the shutter button.
Pink Sky in the Morning
I didn’t have a minute to spare. The painting in the sky disappeared that quickly!
Bob and I visited two lighthouses on Thursday, September 19th. Before sharing photographs from our visit to the lighthouses, though, I have to share these two sunrise pictures.
Sunrise South Nags Head Beach
Sunrise South Nags Head Beach
What a gorgeous sunrise we had that morning. I had never personally witnessed such a beautiful sunrise!
The first lighthouse we visited was Bodie Island Lighthouse. This lighthouse was located only 2 miles from the beach house at which we were staying. In fact we could see the lighthouse from the south side of our ocean-front deck.
We hadn’t seen Bodie Island Lighthouse since 2007. Scaffolding covered the lighthouse during our Outer Banks vacation last year. The lighthouse looks brand new.
Bodie Island Lighthouse
A new-to-us boardwalk (the boardwalk was laid in 2009) provides great views of the lighthouse.
Bob and I at overlook at end of boardwalk
Bodie Island Lighthouse and Boardwalk
The second lighthouse that we visited was Currituck Lighthouse. This lighthouse is located north of Nags Head, about an hour’s drive from where we were staying.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
After “lunch”, which was a peanut buster parfait at Dairy Queen, we stopped at Jockey’s Ridge State Park in Nags Head. The park contains the tallest natural sand dune system in the Eastern United States.
A boardwalk is located near the parking lot. Interpretive displays along the boardwalk offer information about the plants and animals in the area.
We walked to the end of the boardwalk, where we found a deck with a bench with a great view of the dunes. From the deck there were steps that led to the sand. Bob climbed the sand dune to Jockey’s Ridge, where he enjoyed a wonderful view of the surrounding area.
Bob walking to Jockey’s Ridge
Bob took this picture of the view from atop Jockey’s Ridge.
Bob took this picture on his way back to the boardwalk.
See the deck in the distance?
I opened this blog post with two gorgeous sunrise pictures. Not to be outdone, the moon put on a spectacular show in the evening!
Full Moon Shining on Ocean Waters
I awakened early enough on our second day of vacation (Sunday, September 16) to watch the sun rise. What a marvelous sight it was!
Later in the morning Bob and I drove north to Corolla,, to the Currituck Heritage Park where we enjoyed a walk in the park. Among the points of interest at the Currituck Heritage Park are the Whalehead Club, the Boathouse and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse.
We walked over this bridge to get a closer view of the Whalehead Club.
Whalehead Club
The Boathouse, with the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in the background
This was not our first visit to the Currituck Heritage Park. We attended a wedding at this park in May 2007.
Bob and I at Currituck Heritage Park in May 2007
From the boathouse we walked over to the lighthouse.
Currituck Beach Lighthouse
We opted not to climb to the top of the lighthouse, as we had done this in May 2007.
This was the view from the top of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse in May 2007.
Our last activity at Currituck Heritage Park was to take a walk on the Nature Trail Boardwalk.
Nature Trail Boardwalk
This was the view at the end of the boardwalk.
The dawning of the day
Because I haven’t had to be at work until the afternoon, most mornings I sleep in. Today I was up and about and saw the dawning of a new day.
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Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
TRYING TO DO THIS WITHOUT A DEGREE!
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog
Showcases Portraiture, Scenic & Nature Photography and Feaures a Photo Journal Blog