I've been battling a flu-bug for the past five days, three of which I was pretty much out for the count. I didn't set foot out of my house for the first two days, and on the third, I only ventured out to the mail box and even that tuckered me out. You know, the stuffy nose, headache, fever, and chills kind of flu, where you're best off just going to bed, which I had to. What was kind of strange, it seemed, is that the weather kind of reflected the way I felt. Cold and shivery, gray, gloomy, thunder, torrential rain at times, and hail! It was quite violent at times, raging, just like my fever, at 102.2!
This morning, day five, I stumbled out of bed, bleary-eyed, and made my way into the bathroom. Imagine my delight as I squinted, yes, squinted out the window and saw the bright, brilliant sunlight, blue sky, and SNOW on the hills behind our little coastal town. No, I wasn't delirious....Wow! What a sight.
Husband Rey had already been up for a while and had a fresh pot of coffee waiting. After I finished running around and gawking out every window that faced the hills, I settled down to enjoy a cup, and we decided that, yes, we were both feeling well enough (he'd also been a victim of that flu-bug) to take the dogs out for a much needed walk.
We got ourselves ready and there was no way I was going to leave the house without my camera. I changed out my usual lens for my zoom lens and polarizing filter. The dogs were so excited to be going, and my poor Hannah kept having to wait for me to capture one shot after another.....
We headed out for the walk we call our Short Loop, heading down our main street here in town, past the local State Park, toward the beach, go several blocks over, then back up another, cross the railroad tracks, then home. We varied a bit from that today, we were so drawn to the beauty of it all.
Every time we get a good storm, there is a little drainage area that fills up and flows through the park, and the birds usually all flock to it, hungry for all that it offers them.
The ocean is just over that sand berm. They build these up to protect the apartments and nearby housing from the high surf this time of year. Lessons learned from the past...
Hannah, Blue, and Rey were very patient with me today......♥
As we walked the beach toward the point, I found this unexpected treasure, just waiting to be photographed. I don't usually see them on the beach like this unbroken. I left it there, for the next person who would hopefully enjoy it's beauty.
The water just sparkled with all the beautiful sun light!
It was a beautiful walk, but we both realized it was probably too far too soon. We are both still recovering after all..... but it was just so rejuvenating, making me feel much more alive than I'd felt in days, maybe even weeks! Before I got sick, I had been using the treadmill instead of getting outside to enjoy it all.
Heading home, we noticed even the dogs were panting and tired, but had that fulfilled look on their faces.
There is nothing like a walk in all this beauty to remind me of all I have to be thankful for. And now that I am on the mend, perhaps I can get out there that much more!
I like nothing about being sick, but I do love a good storm, providing it doesn't wear out it's welcome! This one left a nice, beautiful reason to get out and enjoy nature at it's best.
♥
