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Getting to know Virginia – Westmoreland Park

We are experiencing unseasonably pleasant weather for late August, so I took a trip to Westmoreland Park yesterday, located in Montross, VA, about an hour and a half northeast of Richmond. It is on the Potomac River and separates VA from Maryland.

I want to go back after school starts, on a weekday, when its less crowded and hunt for stuff. I didn’t make it to the other side of the park this time, but they have a beach called “Fossil Beach” where combers have found ancient shark teeth (hence why I have to go back)!!

I did find some sea glass though (again, I need to go back)!

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The drive is mostly through farmland, but there are some antique stores and restaurants that look intriguing.

The drive into the park is heavily wooded and would probably look really pretty in the fall.

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When you enter the park, you are up on the cliffs overlooking the river. It is so expansive, it almost looks like an ocean.

 

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The land on the other side is Maryland – about seven miles away.

The park itself is very well maintained with lots of picnic benches, a pool, and a “snack shack.”

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Unfortunately there are jellyfish in the water. But after a quick search, I believe these are moon jellyfish and the stings are minor.

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A fish carcass.

I think this is an osprey.

The park also has cabins throughout the park that you can rent.

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All in all, it was a lovely day, with a lovely drive, and a destination I definitely will return to!

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Gem Mining – Take III

Take three for Dad and I visiting Lucky Lake! We found a few new gems and four or five palm-sized ones!

The last time we were there, I found a very dark-colored amethyst, and I brought it with me to have cut. This is the before and I will post the after when I go back in a few weeks to get it.

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Blood Jasper – as legend has it, named because it was the stone underneath Jesus as he was nailed to the cross.

Giant rose quartz

Giant amethyst

I think this is picture jasper…but jasper nonetheless.

Spider jasper – some look like they have hieroglyphics on them. One of these does, but its hard to capture in a picture.

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Rubies and Garnets (I think I know which is which, but without being certain I lumped them together).

Fluorite

Twix decided he wanted to help.

Smokey quartz. The larger one has a piece of mica growing out of it!

Citrine

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The whole catch!

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Between Spring & Summer

I didn’t realize until I downloaded these photos that I hadn’t been to Lewis Ginter in four years! I walked around it briefly last year after a work retreat, but I didn’t stay long because it was too hot and not much was blooming.

Not the case this time! I took half a day off on a low-temp, low-humidity day in early June. I took a different path than I normally do when I go to the gardens. I normally head straight for the conservatory and move around clockwise. I decided to save the conservatory for last and headed counterclockwise.

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Snickers & Twix – 12 years

Last year at this time I posted about Twix’s “episode” and I didn’t think he was going to make it. Let alone make it to his next birthday. He lost a lot of weight. He won’t let me weigh him so I’m not sure what he actually weights, but he probably lost 10 lbs.

His biggest problem now is that he doesn’t walk very well anymore. He gets around just fine, but he swings his hips and flaps his feet in a weird way. Still devours his food. Still takes naps on my lap. Still insists I use both hands when scrubbing his face. Still “mushes” my stomach. His toy-playing time is reduced to a minute or two, but he still loves his toys and play-time.

Happy twelfth birthday boys! Here’s to many, many more!!

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