Spring is the best time of year around here. The view, the clothes, the scents, the food (which, of course, I mean by ice cream). Lately I've been going for natural tones...no, we are not going to discuss the electric hot colors I wore in my pre-teens *hu-hu*.
I can't tell you HOW BADLY I wanted a pair of lace-up ballet flats. Unfortunately, I either didn't find a pair, didn't have the money to spend, or, didn't like the style of the ones I saw.

THEN.
Then, we all packed up and went to Old, Town, VA, for a day (it was beautiful...I saw a real-to-goodness steamship with those wheel thingies and it was yellow and white. We ordered a pizza at the Wholefoods there and it took an hour no kid and we hadn't eaten for 6 hours so I had a foot long piece. Wholefoods makes huge pizzas, alright, don't judge) on the way home I saw a cute pair, bought them on clearance for $18.00, and took 'em home. Easy-peasy.
Now to get used to the point.

Are you a Maxxinista too?

Have you ever eaten at Wholefoods?

Do you 'play' in sunbeams?

Since I was a wee lass, I've been reading the Chronicles of Narnia. Watching Peter Pan. Winnie the Pooh. British accents all 'round. When I began to grow up (dear me it's a trap. I'm not even joking) I started to read Jane Austen, watch British films, and happily indulge in the quirkiness of the Great British Baking Show (as I quoted to Dad, the difference between Americans and Brits is the "knitty gritty" and "needy greedy"). I also learned I'm at least 15% British...and I'll hold on to that with every cup o' tea. This American girl has a board full of England travels on Pinterest. So no, the following are dreams and not my own pictures besides the watercolors; but someday, someday.

So...why do I exactly have this thing for everything British?

Castles. Castles everywhere

The best accents world wide...just ask the new Star Wars.

British Lit. I.e, the birth place of great fiction.

The royalty and their little ones

Do you dream of England??

Do you sing 'Raindrops on Roses' with an accent (like me)?

Is 'the young Victoria' one of your fave films?

Anyone remember how Christopher Robin used to say "Silly Bear"?

Bethany has always been our family's go-to vacation spot. I fell in love with the dear beach...let me share a corner of it's page with you.



-Ocean
This is obvious. It is astounding to think that, looking across this massive body of water (the ol' pond) are huge continents I've never seen...foreign countries with the same water lapping at their sands. British beaches. Oh.

It makes me feel how strong and powerful our God is-that he made such a roaring tide.

The ocean is a wonder and a beauty, it can be so calm and peaceful, and then so wild and ruff within the same day. I love the ocean, because I'm part mermaid, you see, and whenever everyone else is ready to dry off I'm ready to leap back in. I would be beaten to a pulp by the end of the day if Mom did not save me.

-Boardwalk 
Ah! The boardwalk. Fries (soggy, though, you know) soft serve (I cannot possibly count how many free samples I have eaten from that place. Custards the best.) T-shirt shops and cafes. The salt of the ocean is the perfume of the boardwalk, it's tune is the hum of crashing waves and ravenous seagulls.

Everywhere people are casual (and tanned) with the gentle breeze that comes off the sea.

-Sand
To me, there is almost nothing so wonderful for the feet as to sink into warm, deep, golden sand. Here and there are smoothly rounded pebbles that could be mistaken for jewelry, and hermit crabs if you have a good eye.

-Dolphins 
Just last week we took our trip to Bethany, and right as I first tripped onto the beach I saw dolphins; the sun glinting off of their wet bodies as they swam (or jumped) through the water. How cute they are! And I had not seen one since I was young.

-Seagulls
a-hem. Seagulls and me have a love-hate relationship. Personally, I admire their nautical little suits and dainty beaks, their call-which is so very beachy-and how they are always on watch. Also...you have to love those cute faces. Unfortunately, however, the seagull family comes in the thousands at Bethany.

-Environment 
Bethany was originally a Christ-based town, and there are still many fragments of Christianity around. For one it has a mostly wholesome, family feel.

-Shops
Sweatpants. Boho attire. Cute beachy necklaces. Quirky things you can't find anywhere else.

-Sunrise
I have not witnessed the sunrise there for...around half my life ago. I still remember how glorious and breathtaking it was, and will continue every morning to be.

-Cottages
I cannot explain enough on this one...nautical, spiral staircase. bright or faded colors, tall, windows. Beautiful. It's an attraction just to see them.

-Neighborhoods
As well as the cottages, the neighborhoods are perfect. How I like those sandy roads and grasses, and the slight passage of the sea between the homes, the sound of the waves crashing near, and seagulls overhead.

-Memories
I learned to ride a bike on one of those roads...I made friends...many sunburns...game nights with family...boogie boarding with Josh...eating donuts...laughing...napping and listening to the waves.

-Tans
All 'round. When I got home last week, I had what I like to call 'the bumble bee burn' in three stripes. I wonder how I ever was so pale.

-Swimming
...Or throwing your body crazily into a wave hoping you'll come out on the other side okay. Also getting caught in one of these especially large waves, almost or close as tall as yourself and going through a washing cycle, then coming out feeling as if your a wet blanket, sitting down and still being pushed in and out with the waves though you are on dry land.

-Traveling 
Half-fun. On the way up your tired, but excited, on the way back you and your brother figure out some odd way of sleeping where the seat buckle is sticking in your ribs.

-Hoodies
Because they say Bethany Beach and are teal.

-Sea Foam
I remember a time when I called it 'frothee' and that was all I would play in.

-Pebbles
(I said 'pebbles' not 'peebles') The pebbles on the beach/in the water are the best! Their so clear they almost look see-through. I'd warn you not to try and fish them out when a giant wave is coming, though.

-Salt Water
It's so clean and clear (and boy it stings the eyes). When I came home I had some skin problems gone just from it.

-Totem Pole
It's quite famous.

-Flowers
I could smell them from the car.





Do you love Bethany Beach like I love Bethany Beach?
Have you ever been to the ocean?
Where is your go-to vacation spot?
Are you thrilled for fall-fashion?

There was this a-mazing Christian rally in D.C called Together.

It was a call, for all Christians who love their country, to come together, to pray, and to be united. It was a call for America to wake up and read the Bible.

And there was over 344,000 people who answered.

We came late (no surprise) just in time to hear David Crowder sing about 4 songs and get into a good hoe-down country groove.

We also heard a few speakers, which had amazing testimonies, such as Ravy Zacharias, etc. And Hillsong, Lecrae, Tedashi...plus a lot more Christian artist performed, but my favorite (also who me and my Dad weaved through the crowd to see up-close) was Lauren Daigle! *squee!* Her songs are the best, so full of spirit and voice, and God. Her talent is humongous.

Can I just say the girl sings as wonderfully rawly talented live as recorded.





After this excitement (okay, the whole day) it got HOT HOT HOT. I mean, on the National Mall where the sun is blazing and the humidity is ridiculous-in July-it's just bound to get hot. But then you have a hot day to add to that, and it's ah "scorcher" as we people say 'round here. Let me paraphrase...it was so extremely hot that the Emergency units were flooded with "heat related illness" and due to this the rally was shut down 5 hours before it was supposed to. They literally had a 'cooling station' which was to fire trucks spraying their water hoses.


Nevertheless.........I got a tan *winky laughy face*, and altogether a great experience to remember.




What are your '16 summer highlights?
Did you go to Together?
Have you heard of Lauren Daigle?
Did you ever get a sun-tan in a city?

We headed out to Washington, D.C for this years Green-fest. Although the festival is beginning to lack, D.C is not withholding any monumental structures. It is amazing to think how old the White House really is. President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were it's first residents. I got out of the car to snap some quick shots of it. While I was, the bus (there are literally too many of them over there) came behind our car, and chased my Dad away. So, me and my Mom had to catch up with him ;). You wouldn't believe the size of some of the buses in D.C. There was this one, that (no joke) literally had basically a camper attached to the back of it.







Of course you all probably recognize the pencil!


And this is the castle...which you would think would have some very interesting things inside, but, for some reason it is more of a giant information kiosk.




Still very interesting, however.


And the dome of the capitol, which is still in repair.


Have you ever seen famous landmarks in Washington, D.C? 
If you could, which one would you go see?
Which picture was your favorite?

God Bless.