This blog is dedicated to the discovery of beauty in all its ordinary and extraordinary manifestations. May we all learn to become more present with what is inside of us and around us, the subtle nuances of experience, the savoring of simple pleasures, and the celebration of what makes us unique and life worth living.
My name is Annette. My passions include nature, health, simplicity, self-reliance, truth, and life-long learning. Originally from Germany, I now live in Virginia, USA; however, having travelled on five continents, I feel that I belong to the international community rather than any one country. I am a (retired) therapist, life coach, writer, photographer, and organic gardener.
Copyright notice
© BeautyAlongtheRoad, 2013-Present. Please be aware that all contents of this blog are the property of BeautyAlongTheRoad. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without written permission from this blog’s owner is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to BeautyAlongTheRoad with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
The Beauty Along the Road 
Annette, thanks so much for visiitng my blog, for the trail of “likes,” for leaving such a kind comment, AND for your follow. But thanks most of all for leading me to your wonderful blog and incredible story. I, too, live in metro DC, in Virginia, and am so inspired by what you and your husband have done! Having just returned from a trip to Colorado and Wyoming and the beautiful scenery and wide-open spaces, I lament how much I miss that (and the simpler feeling of life). Your story is one I really needed to hear today. I am so looking forward to reading your old posts, following along with your new ones, and enjoying your lovely, lovely photos!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Stacey – welcome. Yes, I was in your shoes almost 10 yrs ago and we found a place only 4 hrs away from the DC area. Amazing how much green space there still is in a relatively short driving distance from the major metro areas in the East. Let me know what you think – there are lots of posts, you can peruse them by category (on the right hand side of my home page), or just randomly go here and there. I found you thru Robin Kent’s site, another No.Va blogger you are familiar with.
LikeLike
Annette – thank you so much for your comment on my blog :). It had been a while since I visited your blog and just love love love all your writings and gorgeous pictures about life and the environment that surrounds us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by again, Darshana!
LikeLike
Hi Annette, we are right, we have many things in common, nice to meet you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey there Annette, found your blog through a friend and decided to give you a follow. If you like, check out my weird world at http://www.thatssojacob.wordpress.com and join the fun 🙂 have a great day!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Jacob – thanks so much for following. I read a few posts on your site and left a comment. You live in Baltimore now? I used to live in Silver Spring and work in DC. World is small. Welcome to Beauty Along the Road.
LikeLike
Hi Annette,
I enjoy reading your blog and seeing your photography. I also find it neat that we have some things in common: I have a counseling background along with social work. I also love to write and do photography. I hope this finds you well and have a great day 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Where in Germany did you grow up? I found the answer to my two questions 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Black Forest
LikeLike
Guten Tag! Die USA war eine sehr frühe Idee. Danach dachte ich, es könnte Japan sein, doch bin ich auf Sulawesi gelandet. Cherchez la femme! ist bei mir die Antwort auf die Frage: Wieso?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Ach, verstehe ich jetzt. Hast du diese Frau denn gefunden? Fuer mich wars wohl Cherchez l’homme 🙂
LikeLike
So: http://tomschrat.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/die-party/
LikeLike
Hi Annette, thank you for stopping by my blog! Us tiramisu lovers must stick together 😀
LikeLiked by 2 people
what about us roti lovers?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my gosh how did I miss that on your comment??? Yes! Yes! Yes! We definitely have to stick together. Have you been to Trinidad? Had a true Trini roti?
LikeLike
You bet – lived on T’go for a while…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oooh makes sense. I love it!
LikeLike
Great blog Annette. Very inspiring things you say. I’ll love to be here often and draw some inspiration from you. Journeying with others can be such a joy when I meet people like you. Your program is so charged but knowing about you I know you’ll be coming over for a visit to my blog so welcome in advance.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ngobesing. Inspiring each other is what it’s all about, so we can draw nourishment and continue our respective and interrelated mission….
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love this. I am a former ex-pat and Third Culture Kid, grew up on 3 continents. Sounds like we have a lot in common. Nice to “meet” you and look forward to following your blog 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
So you’ve been around the block (or should I say, the globe 🙂 ) as well. Lovely to meet you here and thank you so much for following Beauty Along the Road.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A well lived, rich and compelling life! Thank you for your visit…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Stormie. glad you came over for a visit…
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have such a rich site Annettte, full of life and adventure! My joy! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello,
I just stumbled across your blog today, and I’m enjoying it greatly. I’m a transplanted/displaced native of Appalachia, so I’ve particularly enjoyed your posts about that region. Your photos are especially captivating. In fact, your panoramic photo of Highland County, Virginia–where my parents are from–is so captivating that I’d like to have it on my wall. Would it be permissible to print a copy for my personal use? I don’t know what kind of copyright restrictions you have on your photography, so I though it best to ask.
Keep posting beautiful stuff!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Rob – nice to “meet” you here. I am happy to hear that you enjoy my photos so much that you would like a copy. Thank you so much for asking. You can print a copy from my site. However, I upload my pics at 150 dpi and any larger print-outs will probably be grainy because of it. If you’d like a higher resolution picture (300 dpi), they are available for sale. You can contact me at Anaber99 at aol dot com for more details.
Curious – where are you now? And which panoramic pic did you refer to, the one of blue mountains (from Shenandoah Mtn overlook) or another one?
LikeLike
Your thoughts and your photos are beautiful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Michaella, happy you found your way over here.
LikeLike
ThanIs for dropping by my blog. I’m glad you did, your posts are beautiful and thoughtful! 🌺
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for visiting 🙂
LikeLike
Hallo Anette!
Habe Deinen Blog gerade entdeckt und finde es sehr interessant was du schreibst. Werde dir ab jetzt folgen 🙂
Liebe Grüße, Suse
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hallo, liebe Suse – schoenen Dank fuer den Besuch und die Folgung. Ich schreibe immer auf Englisch, da es mir leichter faellt und ich viel mehr englischsprechende als deutschsprechende Followers habe. Freut mich dass du mich gefunden hast. Bist du Kuenstlerin?
LikeLike
Hi, I love reading your blog. I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award for blogs that engage. Here is the link: http://wp.me/p4L1Ip-fU
Vicki
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Vicki – I feel honored that you are nominating my blog for this award. However, I decided early on not to accept any awards. Thanks again for thinking of me.
LikeLike
I respect that position and thought about it myself for a few weeks. I look forward to your future posts.
LikeLike
Thank you, I appreciate your understanding. I also look forward to getting to know you better (I am following you).
LikeLike
I have nominated you for the Premio Dardos Award. See my post http://www.inspiringmax.com/celebrating-ve…-dardos-awards/ for more details.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Max, thank you so much for the nomination but I am not accepting awards. BTW, the link you gave is not working.
LikeLike
Pingback: LOVE IN TEN LINES | Anarette
Looks like you have found a lot of beauty along the way Annette! Really nice to have found your blog. Your pictures are so vibrant and colorful. Loving the Puerto Rico ones.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you found your way over here, Mia. Welcome! so glad you like what I am offering.
LikeLike
I’m so glad to meet you, Annette! It looks like we have a lot in common. I look forward to future encounters, further down the road.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Ann. Did you ever decide to move to Charleston 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you Annette for all your little visits to my blog. Coming to yours is like going down to my 2.5 acre garden – full of beauty and surprises. I love it. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
We both love gardens and nature, then 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely. 🙂
LikeLike
Hello, Annette! I just came by your blog and I love, love, love, love, love it!!! It was your latest hummingbird post that already got me – I respect compassionate people.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much, Iana. Glad you came by and saw something you liked. You are always welcome back.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Annette. Thanks for following my blog. I’m enjoying yours and meeting a fellow appreciator of nature. To finding and savoring much beauty along the path… blessings, Brad
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Brad – eventually, we find the kindred spirits, even in the blogosphere 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Annette! blessings
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Annette
Thanks for dropping by my blog and taking the time to leave a comment, appreciated 🙂
Browsing through some of your wonderful images..:-)
Mo
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hi Annette, looking for the different stages of cholla cactus growth, I just found your blog. Very interesting, ’cause we have a few things in common: I, too, am from Germany (Bavaria). Came to live in the States nearly 23 years ago … first Florida, then Tennessee for the past 17 years, and two months ago, my husband and I moved to Trinidad, Colorado. We brought 3 horses and 4 dogs along. I also am a huge nature lover, and I love animals and the American West. My two wordpress blogs are: 2 Bayern in America and Trailpics. Sure would love to welcome you to either of them. By the way, how long have you lived in the States?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bisch vom Bayrische her. Ich komm aus’m Schwarzwald 🙂 I came here as a student, in the late 70s. Now I have to check out your blog….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ja, bin eine gebuertige Passauerin. Love it over here, though, and I have only been back to Germany once in the past 23 years. Can’t believe how time flies by 🙂
LikeLike
I went back a lot since I wanted my daughter to know her German relatives; but it’s getting more and more difficult to remember the language and it takes a few days to speak it fluently again.
LikeLike
‘I feel that I belong to the international community rather than any one country.’ Nicely put, Annette!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jadi, and I know you can relate to that yourself.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice to meet you! Thank you for your recent visits to my blog! I came to visit you and to see what you are about. I feel like you do…a global citizen…Mother Earth is home to us all! WordPress has brought so many more worlds into mine. I have only lived in three continents: Europe, Africa and North America. I live in Wisconsin—it is a difficult place to live in at the moment—but nature is beautiful here! Blessings to you!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hi Jane – so glad you stopped by. Nature remains a comfort for many of us, even though She is being threatened and beleaguered as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is sad what we have done to Mother Earth. Hopefully, it is not too late for us to change the tide…
LikeLike
She’ll survive even if we don’t…when I heard that thought for the first time, it was strangely comforting to me.
LikeLike
Hi Annette, what a beautiful blog 🙂 … so inspiring!
Love your pictures too!! ♥
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Beluchi, for your string of likes and following my blog. So happy to hear that you enjoyed browsing around…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I identified the flowers growing behind my mothers garage, from your ” A Spring Promise”. Winter aconite is quite showy here in Erie, Pa., also. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Carl – glad my post helped out. This little flower spreads in large carpets and is quite a delightful sight so early in the year. Enjoy them.
LikeLike
I like and share your philosophy, Annette. I, too, like a member of the international community. –Curt
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Curt. The world is a big place physically; but very small and familiar when we see ourselves as part of the same human race.
LikeLike
And getting ever smaller due to modern technology and ease of travel. The nation-state is becoming something of an anachronism. –Curt
LikeLike
Hi,
Happy to discover and follow your blog after your email, sorry for the late response
Don’t hesitate to follow for free my blog
anita
https://femmeetinfos.wordpress.com
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hello Anita – thank you so much for visiting and following Beauty Along the Road. I just returned to your blog and was impressed with your trilingual “About” statement. You are such a versatile, intelligent and compassionate young woman. Good luck with your studies. I hope to visit Madagascar one day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for good appreciation
It’s a great pleasure to follow your blog
You’re welcome in Madagascar when will arrive the time you decide to come in my isle
Kisses
🙂
LikeLike
Thank you for your lovely invitation, Anita.
LikeLiked by 1 person
you’re welcome
🙂
LikeLike
Truly beautiful – in every way… sending hugs to you… Thank you for sharing your art with us…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Krissy, for stopping by….and following 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I really like the concept of your blog and I feel we have a lot in common. The beauty is everywhere but we often miss it in hurry. I’m happy to found your blog!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you, Chiaki. So nice to hear from you. I visited your blog and left a comment there….
LikeLike
Thank you so much Annette!
LikeLike
Annette, I am indeed impressed by your full, yet succinct, bio! But I am not surprised, given how insightful I have found the posts I have so far read on your blog. I look forward to reading more of them! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aww, thank you so much, Timi; it’s a pleasure getting to know you a little through your versatile blog as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Annette, nice to visit your beautyalongtheroad blog. 🙂
Thank you for sharing and have nice day…
Best Regard,
-My Surya-
LikeLiked by 3 people
Your photos are refreshing. Love the blog title too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much.
LikeLike
Wonderful photographs, I found your blog just by accident. Beautiful, beautiful day. Mel.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Mel, for leaving your string of likes and following my blog. So glad to have you here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
am much enjoying your lovely site 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you, Da-Al, happy you stopped by to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for visiting my blog and for the follow. You have created a lovely space here,, rich and vibrant. Congratulations!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sam, pleased to meet you in cyberspace. I enjoyed reading about your personal multi-cultural journey. I have a similar story…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely connected with your life story too. Hope you are having a lovely weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Annette,
I found your blog via Humoring the Goddess and I want to say hi! I am also a therapist who is passionate about beauty and learning. Thanks also for visiting my blog.
blessings, Linda
LikeLike
Hi Linda – how we find each other in the blogosphere is always a mystery and pleasant surprise. Nice to “meet” you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
agreed, yes
❤
LikeLike
What a beautiful space you have created here, Annette. What a treat to learn a bit more about you and your work. -Helen
LikeLike
So glad you stopped by, Helen. Thank you.
LikeLike