Honestly, when I first saw this photo, I thought it was a library in a fancy subway station!
I love seeing photos of other libraries, around the world! Seeing these every so often just furthers my desire to travel and take the time to visit them!
What about you? Is there a library that holds a special place in your heart? Where do you dream of traveling someday?
Until the next headline, Laura Beth
Seeing this post yesterday morning made me drift away into whimsical daydreams. Especially since it’s been a wild roller coaster ride of temperatures in Hampton Roads recently. It was chilly on Saturday, then rose to nearly 80 degrees on Sunday, and Monday was frigid and grey all day long.
I love tree houses! I’ve wanted one ever since I was a kid. What about you?
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Our original plan was getting away to the mountains of Virginia for our first wedding anniversary.
However, with a mid-November wedding, we didn’t realize how expensive the accommodations were at this time of year!
So, we switched to Plan B: The beach!
The Outer Banks of North Carolina are basically a 90-minute drive from our house. We’ve been through Corolla, Nags Head, and Bodie Island on previous trips.
Al hadn’t been farther south than that.
We decided on Hatteras.
It was a three-hour car ride, but it was well worth it.
We found a really nice place, the Cape Hatteras Motel, in Buxton. It’s right on the beach. It was literally half the cost of any place in the mountains, mainly because it was the off-season.
One of our first stops was the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse! It was just a few miles from the motel.
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. We couldn’t climb it – Their season runs through Columbus Day – but we could walk around and enjoy the park.
I love these wooden signs.
I love how it’s in the shape of an arrowhead.
I think this was my favorite photo of the whole trip!
The next day, we drove down to Hatteras Island and explored the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. It explores the rich history of the area – Fishing, diving, shipwrecks, the USS Monitor, and its role in the Civil War and other events.
The museum is right next to the Hatteras ferry terminal, so we decided to take the ferry across the sound to Ocracoke Island on Sunday.
We passed this ferry on the way to Ocracoke.
I love how all the wooden signs are different.
It’s one of the smaller lighthouses, and no one can climb it. But, it’s still a beautiful sight.
Ocracoke is a charming island. We ate lunch at the Ocracoke Oyster Company, and had delicious seafood. The next time we travel down, we’d like to check out some more of the islands and lighthouses.
The view from our hotel balcony during sunset and the full moon.
This was taken the night of the supermoon. It was huge as it was rising, but this was the best I could do with my camera.
This was such a relaxing vacation!
We tried several local restaurants during our trip, and everything was delicious!
Al is also creating a video about our trip! I’ll post it as soon as it’s finished.
We had a great time on our first vacation since our honeymoon.
Next year: We’re thinking about the Grand Canyon!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: pinterest.com
Every September, Al’s mom’s family has their annual family reunion in Keysville, Virginia. Conveniently, Keysville is only about 45 minutes from the Vardaro farm in Scottsburg!
Al and I took Friday, September 16th off from work, and drove the truck up to the farm. We left around 8:00 a.m., and stopped at the Hardee’s in Emporia, Virginia, which is roughly the halfway point. The typical drive from Hampton Roads to Scottsburg is about three hours. It’s a nice, relaxing drive. You basically take Route 58 West all the way there. When you reach South Boston, you turn on to Route 360. Once there, it’s only about 15 more minutes.
We spent Friday with Mom and Dad at the farm. Lunch was delicious. We explored the farm, saw Scooter the horse, and fished!
Scooter’s so pretty!
The cows next door were out and about!
Scooter was very interested in Al’s camera!
I will never get sick of this view. Absolutely gorgeous!
Al caught a 14 1/2 inch bass!
There was a harvest moon rising. I thought this photo I took was pretty cool – The power line is slicing the moon in half!
I got up early on Saturday and went out to fish with Mom.
I FINALLY CAUGHT MY BIG BASS!!
Fifteen inches!
I was able to avenge the bass that took the best fishing lure on Memorial Day weekend. I was so excited!
Saturday was also the day of the reunion. We left the farm around 10:15 a.m. to get there at 11:00. Uncle Bill and Aunt Susan live in Keysville, and they always reserve the fellowship hall of the United Methodist Church. It’s always a good time!
This year, there were about 25 people, which was larger than the last few years. It was smorgasbord of food!
The food was on two 8-foot tables. Sixteen feet full of goodness!
We also celebrated Uncle Joe’s birthday. Mom Vardaro is one of four kids – Joe’s the baby. Brenda brought a cake, and we all sang Happy Birthday. Then, great-uncle Herbert presented Joe with a gorgeous, solid gold pocket watch that has been in the Chambers family for nearly a century. It was a nice presentation, and several people shed tears. Joe promised to keep it in the family as long as possible.
After the reunion, we drove home and relaxed. Almost everyone took a nap!
Around sunset, we moseyed out again. We built a fire and enjoyed s’mores!
The skies are always beautiful!
The “guard donkey” that keeps an eye out on the cows. There were baby calves this time!
Scooter was posing!
I caught another one! It was so exciting!
Campfire!
It was a wonderful weekend. It’s a nice escape that’s only a few hours away!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Here’s another jaw-dropping photo from Just Wunderlust.
As many of you know, I love reading and I love books. Libraries fit into that category as well. This photo has me drooling and lusting for another overseas trip!
Also, I’ve heard Prague is one of the most sophisticated cities in all of Europe. Have any of my readers been to Prague?
I hope everyone’s having a terrific Tuesday!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
I absolutely love Just Wunderlust’s photos. They’re so beautiful!
This photo of Scotland took my breath away this morning. It makes me want to squirrel away money pronto so I can go see this for myself!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: http://www.etsy.com
I need to get better about posting these adventures sooner!
For Memorial Day weekend, a good portion of the Vardaro family gathered at the farm in Scottsburg, Virginia:
We also had an awesome guest:
During the weekend, we enjoyed fishing on the pontoon boat, amazing food, great conversation, and we even ventured out to the World of Sports – Cinema I & II in South Boston to see X-Men: Apocalypse!
Photo montage!
Picture perfect – The pond, the pontoon boat, and the tractor, at sunset.
Just gorgeous.
Campfire, with s’mores!
We also got to see the progress on Dad’s garage!
The front. Almost finished!
It looks like stairs to a treehouse!
It really feels like you are in the trees!
This is the second story – Dad’s future “Man Cave.”
Al on solid ground, flying his DJI Phantom 4 quadcopter.
My first fish, in a long time! This is a brim. Photo Credit: Nick Vardaro
Mom and Dad showing off the big bass! I think this was the one Al caught. Photo Credit: Nick Vardaro
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Perfect slogan. It truly was art and magic.
Back in April, Al and I wanted to check out LanternAsia at the Norfolk Botanical Garden for ourselves. We had heard rave reviews and seen the advertisements everywhere. It was the first exhibition of its kind to come to Norfolk and the Garden – and it was completely worth it! It was so popular that it was decided that the exhibit would be extended for an extra week, in time for Mother’s Day. By that week, nearly 90,000 visitors had come to see the mix of art and magic.
We journeyed out to the Garden around 4:00 p.m. on an unseasonably chilly April afternoon. I’m glad we bought our tickets online. It wasn’t packed, but we knew it would be by nightfall.
Art by day.
Hanging flowers over the first footbridge.
One of my favorite pieces. This was constructed entirely of china/porcelain bowls, spoons, plates, cups, and saucers – All held together by fishing line and wires. Amazing!
Fabric on top, and thousands of glasses with colored water on the bottom. Incredible!
The magnificent dragon.
Moons and stars.
During our visit, this was one of the few roses in bloom in their amazing Bicentennial Rose Garden.
Fabulous archways at the end of the tour.
Magic by night.
Taj Mahal.
The dragon.
A fan ablaze in flowers and light.
Japan Fuji Mountain.
The moon and stars light up the night.
Amazing display towards the end of the tour. The archways are in the background.
I was in awe. I’m so glad we saw the exhibit during the day and at night. It was such a festive atmosphere. Traditional music played throughout, and different countries in Asia were represented. The information platforms were great.
I’ll have these, and the rest of my photos, in a Facebook album later today. It was an amazing experience!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Image Credit: http://www.pinterest.com
“The spirit of Southwest Airlines is exuberant, it’s caring, it’s dedicated, it’s diligent, it’s fun, it’s rewarding, it’s a joy.”
~Herb Kelleher, Founder
I love Southwest Airlines. Ever since they came to Norfolk International Airport (ORF), my family has been flying with them.
Then, seeing this story from one of my local TV stations last week made me cry.
LouAnn Alexander on the job, a flight attendant for Southwest Airlines, November 2015. Photo Credit: Rex Ridenoure
In this photo, LouAnn looks so happy, so in her element. Most people that work for Southwest seem that way, at least to me.
I’m so glad that her brother turned this flight into something so positive, so inspiring. This renewed my faith in humanity.
Then, yesterday, whilst browsing the ABC News website, I found this:
I’m glad she’s no longer suffering. Cancer is tough on anyone. I’m glad that she was surrounded by her family, and that she knew about the final flight.
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
Yellowstone National Park. Image Credit: nationalparks.org
“Keep close to Nature’s heart … and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.”
~John Muir
In the beginning of February, I stumbled upon this article on CNN.com:
I didn’t know that the National Park Service was turning 100 in 2016, so that grabbed my attention immediately.
I love that CNN is launching a year-long series to celebrate. I can’t wait to see what they publish.
This first kick-off article focuses on Yellowstone National Park, the first federal park to be created, in 1872.
Its anniversary, the 144th this year, is March 1st.
The National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916, by way of the Organic Act. Back then, it protected the existing 14 national parks, 21 monuments, two reservations, and “those yet to be established.”
While reading this article, I recognized John Muir’s name immediately. I remembering researching him and the Sierra Club in high school. I took Visual Arts in my junior and senior years, and I had to have a focus, or an overall theme, for my final presentation at the end of my senior year. I was drawn (no pun intended) to flowers, nature, and landscapes, so I made environmentalism my overall theme. I remember being fascinated by Muir and his work to help conserve our land, dreaming of the day that I would get to experience the lands that he worked to protect.
Sadly, Muir died two years before the National Park Service was created. He died on Christmas Eve 1914, at age 76, of pneumonia.
However, his legacy lives on.
He helped establish Yosemite National Park in 1890, and has been lauded as an inspiration to both Scotland and the U.S.
His name, in the U.S., is on a 211-mile hiking trail in the Sierra Nevada, a national monument, a beach, a glacier, a college, a camp, and a mountain.
In Scotland, his name is on a 130-mile long distance route. In 2013, the first ever John Muir Day was celebrated in the country, to mark the 175th anniversary of the conservationist’s birth.
Reading this article, it’s chock full of history that you just don’t see in the history textbooks today. Personally, this article has inspired me to dig deeper. I want to learn as much as I can about the National Park Service, Hetch Hetchy Valley, artist George Caitlin, Stephen Mather, and the National Geographic Society.
It also makes wanna get away. Between reading this article and recently chronicling My Bucket List, I want to go West as soon as possible!
Until the next headline, Laura Beth 🙂
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