OUTER BANKS A GREAT PLACE

We had never been to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, so back in the spring we decided to check out the place. I started doing some searches on the Internet and suggested to stay in bed and breakfasts rather than hotels/motels. So after studying the map book (we actually have an atlas) we came up with an itinerary.

We left early on Sunday morning taking I-20 East, then we took I-95 North. Our first stop was Tarboro, North Carolina. This town was established in 1790. It was a really nice town. We stayed at The Main Street Inn, which was extremely nice. The Innkeepers were Denise and Stewart Sanderson. When we made the reservations Denise told us they would not be there when we arrived, but the key would be in the box and just go on in. I said, "you must be kidding!" Oh no, she said it would be find. So when we arrived our key was waiting and we made our selves at home. We sat on the porch in the swing and greeted the people walking down the street. We had a really nice room on the second floor. The Inn was built in the late 1800s and had been restored to the historical standards established by the town. Many of the houses in the town are on the National Register of Historical Places. It was late Sunday afternoon and we wanted to have a good meal, but it didn't happen in Tarboro. There were only fast food places, so we drove back to Rocky Mount for vegetables at the Cracker Barrel. It was about 20 miles, but worth the drive.

The next morning Denise prepared the most delicious breakfast for us. We also had a wonderful strawberry smoothie. This was definitely a five star B & B.

We were out early headed to the Outer Banks. It was only about a two-hour drive. We were on a four-land highway for most of the trip. Once we reached the Outer Banks we headed south towards Hatteras where we were going to take the ferry over to Okracoke Island. This was the short ride from Hatteras to Okracoke, which was only about 30 minutes. Anybody wanting to take the ferry has to line up, so we had to wait about 20 minutes before the ferry came. Once on the ferry everybody gets out of their vehicles and just walk around and enjoy the boat ride over. Some people washed their windshields and headlight, others went up to the second deck and most just roamed around watching the water and birds. Guess who's working the crowd on the ferry? Hubby down there with the yellow hat is talking to the NCDOT employee. He was on his way to work on Okracoke, he grew up at Hatteras, moved to San Diego, but didn't like it in CA, so he moved back home. His entire family has lived on the Outer Banks all their lives.

Once we arrived on Okracoke we drove to the town part. It is only 12 miles of paved road on the island. We found our lodging for the night. It was adequate, it was clean, but it certainly was not the grand lodging we had the night before. It too was an old home which had sustained damage from hurricanes, but it had been repaired. We were on the third floor. That was rough with all our baggage we thought we had to bring along. There was no TV and when you walked around the bed you had to lean sideways because the ceiling was slanted. This 5' 1" person had to lean because the ceiling was so low. Fortunately, it was cool and we opened the windows and had a really nice breeze through our room.

We roamed all over the island. We visited the lighthouse, had lunch on the water and went to the beach. As you can see there wasn't a crowd at the beach. We did see about six or seven people. Hubby flew his seagull kite and I walked the beach picking up shells. There are no hotels, houses are structures of any type on the beach. It is part of the National Seashore and is protected from any type of construction.

There was a British cemetery not far from our B & B. We roamed around the cemetery for a while then ventured to some of the shops around the island. There were people walking all over and there were people riding bikes and some people were riding gold carts. It was busy, but not real crowded.

Next morning we left, headed back north, caught the ferry back to Hatteras. We stopped at the Hatteras lighthouse and had a great tour of the tallest lighthouse on the east coast of the United States at 198 ft high. Back in 1999 the lighthouse built in 1870 was moved about 600 yards because the sea was eroding the foundation of the lighthouse. This is part of the National Seashore and is part of the National Park Service. There was a young Park Ranger that gave a great talk about the historic lighthouse and how and why it was moved. Basically, the lighthouse was jacked up and placed on rollers to move it the 600 yards, which is approximately one-half mile. Two houses occupied by the keeper and staff were moved first, which was basically a piece of cake compared to the moving of that lighthouse. It took six days to move the structure to the new location. It was a major engineering accomplishment. This lighthouse is brick and not one was lost on the move. Amazing.

Going north we traveled through Nags Head. There were lots of houses and all sorts of commercial development. The houses were right on the beach here, so obviously some parts of the Outer Banks is not part of the National Seashore.

Our next stop was Kitty Hawk. We loved it! There was a great volunteer at this national landmark. Inside the Park Service building was a replica of the first plane the Wright brothers flew with great narrative from the volunteer. The Wright brothers were geniuses. The same principle of flight is still used today on modern planes. They figured out this method with a kite.

We headed further north to Elizabeth City, NC for a Bed and Breakfast found on the Internet. The Pond Inn. We had to circle the city a couple of times, but we finally found the place. It was in an old area of town right across the street from the sound. It was beautiful. Another five-star place for the night. This was a 5,000 sq. ft. house built in the 1930s with all traditional furniture and an elevator to the second floor. The library was heart of yellow pine with beautiful crown molding. The ground of this house were finely groomed with a beautiful lawn and gardens all around the house. There was a row boat available to putter around in the pond.

That evening we had a wonderful meal at the Cedar Tree right on the water in downtown Elizabeth City at the recommendation of the Innkeeper. This is another small town that we would like to visit again.

Next morning we headed further north to Norfolk, VA, then on to Williamsburg, VA, our favorite place. We stayed in a guest home that we have known about for years. Again, the key was in the mail box with a two-page handwritten letter to us from the owner of the house saying she was in Charleston, SC for the week visiting her daughter, but we were to make ourselves at home and her son, who lived around the corner, would check on us. We had the run of the house with more antiques and traditional furniture. This was a great place to stay right at the edge of the restored area.

I took hundreds of photos of Williamsburg, like we don't have any photos. We met friends that live in Williamsburg part time for dinner and lunch. It was great to see them. They too have a love for the place just like us. They are volunteers at Colonial Williamsburg when they are in town.

We have been going to Colonial Williamsburg since 1967 and we have never grown tired of the place. We love the buildings and gardens, but I must admit my favorite thing to do is just roam through the gardens from yard to yard.

This was a great trip. We want to go back to the Outer Banks and stay longer. This trip was more of an exploratory trip to see if we wanted to spend more time there, which we do.

IT WAS A FUN DAY!

Lately Hubby has been so excited about the new addition to his shop, which I fondly refer to as his cave. Just recently he was pleasantly surprised when he was approached by Chick-fil-A's CEO, Dan Cathy, to use the shop for one of his (Dan) new leadership tool kit videos. I am so glad we decided to paint the original section of his shop and get all the tools and other stuff organized.

Here are some photos of the film crew doing the shoot. A moving van arrived with the lighting and camera equipment. Then the crew arrived. At one time I counted 14 people in the shop. It was an all day affair. They arrived around 10:00 a.m. and was here until around 7:30 p.m.

This crew was a great group of people. They all were kind, courteous, and intense. It was so much fun to watch this group of professionals work getting all the lights and equipment assembled before Dan arrived to do the video. They all knew their jobs and went about doing them with a focus like you have never seen. It took hours to get the lights and cameras set up, to put amber gels over the outside of the windows to make it look like afternoon light for the duration of the shoot and then there was a smoke machine to give it the look they wanted. Shoot, Hubby could have just turned on a saw to give it the look they wanted, because it looked like sawdust was flying around in there. You can see in this photo that the smoke machine had been running. They did move the table saw to the side to make more room for the camera and placed the work bench at an angle.

After the job was complete they packed up all the equipment and we couldn't even tell they had ever been in the shop or around it. All the trash was picked up, all Hubby's tools and equipment was returned to their original location, and we didn't have to move a thing. I loved that.

This is Chick-fil-A country. Hubby has served on jury duty with Truett the founder, we know Dan and his wife from church, we run into Don aka: Bubba, at Wal-Mart, we have seen their entire family at a local barbecue place after a funeral, so these are hometown people. Dan's son and daughter-in-law were in this same place (restaurant) months later and because the BBQ joint didn't take credit or debit cards at that time (now they are high class and do accept the plastic) son and daughter-in-law had to leave and find an ATM to get cash to buy their meal. Truett and his wife still live in the house where they raised their family, which a very modest home. These people are a down-to-earth, loving and kind family.

Chick-fil-A is a privately-owned family business that lives their values and gives back to the community. This family and business is generous and giving and this is why they are so blessed.

We LOVE Chick-fil-A. Thanks Dan for such a fun day. You and your film crew are welcomed in our home/shop any day.

Ice Skating Anyone?

This is our front yard, a solid piece of ice. If I had ice skates I could be out there cutting figure eights, assuming I can ice skate.

It was in the teens this morning with a wind chill of 9 degrees. The sun is out which has caused some of the snow/ice on the roof the melt. The high for today is only 30 degrees, tomorrow is only 31. However, Friday we are having a heat wave, it's going up to 43 degrees. Get out your bathing suits. Who knew 43 degrees would be--warm?

The main thoroughfares in the Atlanta area are okay, but all the side streets and neighborhoods are still frozen. I bet there will be another snow day for all students in the metro Atlanta area again tomorrow, that will be four days. Don't get too excited teachers and students, I heard rumors those days could extend the school year by four days.

Well, I'm going to drive to the garbage can, which is still on the road awaiting the Monday morning pickup. I don't dare attempt to walk because of all the ice along our driveway. It is much like the yard. I'm just glad we shoveled paths yesterday.

WE HAVE SNOW!

The State of Georgia, for the most part, is closed. Middle Georgia and all parts north. The sleet started last night just after dark and then it turned to heavy snow. I don't know the official amount of snowfall at the Atlanta Airport. There are people stranded there because hundreds of flights have been canceled.

We walked to the road this morning and saw foot prints in the snow. It could be our neighbor's cat or a fox. We were so amazed at how quiet it was outside, every thing is so still. I love this as long as we continue to have power, even though I will be able to cook and have hot water. I just like to have heat. We stacked firewood on the side porch in case the power does go off. Hubby has heat in his workshop that does NOT require electricity. We can always migrate to the workshop for warmth.

This is our road.

Watching the local news there is no, I mean zero, traffic at the Atlanta Airport. Some guy (I'm being nice) just set his BMW on FIRE from spinning his tires. It was a huge fire. The news media caught the entire episode on tape.

We are in for the day(s). I'm going to make a big pot of soup and cornbread. Yum.

WE WILL MISS YOU

John Briggs
February 1948
December 31, 2010







We had big plans for New Year's Day. In the south pork loin, collard greens, and blackeye peas are a tradition on January 1st, so we were going to our friend's, John to share lunch and enjoy an afternoon of football, another southern tradition.

Last evening we received a call that John died suddenly. His wife of 28 years found him on the kitchen floor unresponsive. In spite of all the efforts of the EMTs and the emergency room doctors he didn't make it.

Hubby and John met when their employer sent them to middle management school back in the early 1980s. They immediate hit it off and became good friends. As a result our families became friends. We watched their children grow up, and now they have children.

We are devistated. We spend New Year's Eve crying our eyes out and much of today as well. Several years ago our friend asked Hubby if he would do the service when he died. Last evening when we got the word, Hubby said, "I don't know how I'm going to do this." Only through the support of prayer will Hubby be able to get through the service.

John had retired on disability back in 2000 after suffering a major heart attack. More recently he had been ill for several years with prostate cancer that had spread to his only kidney, which he lost. He had been on dialysis for over three years.

John, you are loved and will be greatly missed.

I'M DONE!

The shop addition is FINALLY finished. We have been painting since early September. The outside and the interior of the new part was easy. After finishing the painting of the new part the old part looked so yellow and dingy, so we tackled painting the old part. We had to move all the stuff off the walls and on the cabinet. It was like an explosion in a mattress factory. It has taken us weeks, but it has been well worth the effort.

Now there will be many hours spend working on more projects. Hubby keeps saying over and over, "I love my new shop." He working a workbench, but before that project is finished materials for the next one has arrived.

Yesterday lumber was delivered for a wood shed. Do you ever finish with projects around the house?

Honoring our Veterans, especially one

My hubby served in the Army National Guard for six years the first few years we were married. Yesterday we were eating at the best barbecue place in Georgia and a gentleman came in wearing a Vietnam Veteran's hat. My dear hubby got up and went over to him to thank him for going to Vietnam in his place. The gentleman was so stunned he was speechless. He did manage to utter a thank you.

I want to honor my dad here today. He served in the Army during World War II in Europe. He fought across France, Belgium and Germany. He was in that horrible Battle of the Bulge and was wounded twice. The last time he was wounded was after the war had ended when he stepped on a land mind. He was issued one of the last Purple Hearts during the conflict in Europe. My Mom says it was the LAST Purple Heart issued, but I can't document that statement.

I was shopping one day and found a book, "US Forces in Europe" by Ian Westwell and Steven Smith. Anything about WWII, especially Europe, always sparks my interest, so I picked it up. I opened the book and there at the beginning of the book was a double page photo of soldiers. The descriptions reads, "Previous Page: Armour--M10 tank destroyers and M4 Shermans--and infantry--men of the 'Big Red One' await the order to advance. The date is 1 March 1945 and US troops are deep in Germany. US Army via Real War Photos."

There stood my Daddy. I'm positive the fourth man from the left is my Dad. My brother thinks it our Dad as well. Unfortunately, our Mom has lost her vision and can't see the photo. My brother saw him in a documentary on the History Channel one day.

My brother told me one day, that our Dad marched a hundred miles in three days across Europe and THEN had to fight a battle. We don't realize what hardship and sacrifice these veterans of World War II did for our country. They surely are the greatest generation and I will forever be grateful to all of them for what they were willing to do to keep us free.












This last photograph includes a photo my Dad (standing alone with his arms crossed) sent to my Mom with a handwritten note on the back that reads, "Limback Germany June 1945" next to the photo in the book.