52 Photos Project, Raindrops

, originally uploaded by Scarlett Design.

Its been awhile since I participated in 52 Photos Project, not for any particular reason, just busy with other things I guess.

This weeks theme, Raindrops, was unfortunately pretty easy; we've had a rainy spring. I actually took this last month (it was part of the instagram mosaic I blogged yesterday). Its at a park about 15 minutes from my house where I like to walk my dogs a few times a week, in a beautiful woodland garden setting.

Cape Henry Lighthouse

  Recently, I have found out I will most likely be moving in June, and so I have been playing tourist and visiting any sites I haven't seen in the Virginia Beach area, and going back to some I haven't visited in awhile. This week, I went to climb the Cape Henry Lighthouse. I love lighthouses, but for some reason never made the effort to visit this one, even though it is only about 5 minutes away from my house. The light house is actually located inside an active military base, but access is maintained for the public to visit this historic site.

The first 54 steps, to get to the top I had to climb 191 total, and my legs definitely felt it the next day.

View from the top of the old light house, looking towards the new one. The views from the top were beautiful, looking North and South along the Atlantic coast, and even into the Chesapeake Bay.

First Landing Beach

  Even after almost six years living in Virginia Beach, I still haven't seen all that this area has to offer. Just this week I walked the dogs on the beach at First Landing State Park for the first time. Its a pretty, sandy beach at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, only a few miles from my house. I just never bothered to see this part of the park because there is a beach at the end of my street.

Pelicans, seagulls, and cormorants resting on some old pier supports, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel can be seen in the background.

Interesting tide pool draining towards the ocean.

An Atlantic Whelk shell to add to my collection, usually I only find these after a large storm.

First Landing State Park

  Our snow didn't last very long, only three days later we go some unseasonably warm 70 degree weather. Naturally I wanted to take advantage of the beautiful day and take my dogs on an adventure. I chose First Landing State Park, which is very close to my house, probably less than a mile, but for some reason I almost never walk there. At least that was what I was thinking, and then I remembered why, it was crowded, very crowded.

In spite of all the people, we still had a good easy hike, and I did find some moments of peace in between dodging the local high school track team. Next time I'll go when the weather isn't so nice, or at least chose one of the less popular trails.

Changing Seasons

Recently, the City of Virginia Beach acquired a new park, Pleasure House Point, with a nature trail through a tidal marsh and some low land pine forests. Here are several photos of taken in different seasons and weather. Its amazing how dramatically the view changes.

January 2013
Afternoon fog

December 2012
Just before sunset

October 2012
Midday sun

52 Photos Project, week 33: Morning::Evening

IMG_0025, originally uploaded by Scarlett Design.

Trees silhouetted by a setting sun. Pleasure House Point Natural Area, Virginia Beach VA.

This weeks topic for 52 photos project is Morning::Evening. Since I'm not very good at getting up early, I obviously chose to photograph the end of the day. I spotted this beautiful scene of the sun setting over Lynnhaven Bay while walking the dogs at a nearby park this weekend.

My life in Instagram, July 21-August 1

My creation, originally uploaded by Scarlett Design.

I am still loving Instagram! I've been wanting a second camera that is less bulky and less fragile than my DSLR, and until I can afford one Instagram will have to do, since I always have my phone with me anyways. Definitely makes documenting my everyday life easier.

Top row: Moonrise over sand dunes, Panzer loves me so much!, Sangria yum
Middle Row: Cucumbers in my garden, Sunset over Lynnhaven Bay, Finally getting tomatoes
Bottom Row: Blue pina colada, its pretty but made my head hurt the next morning, Red Wing Park, Moonrise over the Ocean

My life in Instagram, July 13-20

My life in Instagram, July 13-20, originally uploaded by Scarlett Design.

52 Photos Project: Light at Night

I love fireworks, and living here in Virginia Beach I get to watch them every Wednesday and Sunday during the summer. Best of all, I have a pretty good chance of getting fireworks on my birthday. This year I will, my birthday is next Wednesday, assuming the weather cooperates. Usually we just walk down the street to the beach to watch them, but sometimes we go down to the boardwalk for ice cream date, or to a bar with a deck overlooking the boardwalk for a better view.

These were taken way back in early June, I forget the occasion, Flag Day maybe?

Boardwalk Art Show

Dragonfly, originally uploaded by Scarlett Design.


Yesterday I went to the  Boardwalk Art Show here in Virginia Beach.  Its a great big art show over a mile long, with all kinds of artists exhibiting and selling their work. I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a large installation like last year's Amococo, but there was still alot to see.


I got the dragonfly from Debi Dwyer Designs. I was a little hesitant, because I already have a few dragonfly garden ornaments, and I was concerned that if I added a third it would turn into an actual collection. But I loved it, so I bought it anyways. Hopefully everyone I know wont start buying me dragonflies for every birthday and Christmas from now on.


I also got a really cute bracelet made from an old china cup, from The Charming Cherub.


And here are some other interesting artists:
John Hung Ha
Gyotaku, by Jim Roberts
dzael, by Pamela Hill
Barbara Umbel Jewelry
Michael Bryant Photography
Leslie Peebles
Ryan Gothrup, Glass Artist