Sunday, April 18, 2010

Alone Again.......

Naturally.  I need to get organized.  I've got so much stuff swimming around in my brain.  I always thought that when kids got older - it got easier.  WRONG!  There is so much to remember, so many things to do, places to be, deadlines, applications, meetings - eek - it just gets to me after a while.  I know I'll miss it now with Sal heading off to college and Sabrina only 3 years away.  But still - it's overwhelming.

I decided that since Blaise was going to Atlanta for a boat race that I couldn't go to because Sabrina had school -- that Friday, we'd play hookie, pack up the jeep and head over to the Carolina Coast for a little R&R.
In the middle of nowhere - that's where it feels like you are when you are on Topsail Island, NC.  A far cry from the uber crowded and noisy beaches of South Florida where we are used to spending our beach time.  Miles and miles and miles of desolate, peaceful , immaculate beach where all you hear is the sound of the waves and the call of the birds.  These pictures were taken on Friday and Saturday - can you believe how unpopulated the beach is?
It was nice to have a few days to relax outside. No chores, no television, no computer, no phone, no e-mail, no facebook, no blogger, no doorbell and lots of quality time with my girl.  And while the beach was devoid of humans, we made plenty of other friends...I did have to lure this guy closer with fish (pretzel goldfish!) but he had no problem coming right up to our blanket and gobbling them up. 
What's also cool about this place is you can bring your dogs.  We didn't know this or Tobie and Gizmo would have been right there with us.  We saw quite a few dogs including a corgi that loved playing in the waves. I really liked it here - very unpretentious.

When we first drove up and saw the outside - I know we were both a little unsure  - but upon entering our room , we found it to be  charming, very beachy and most importantly - immaculate.  And the view from all windows was beautiful --  framed with crisp, white curtains.

We're back home now - the jeep has been washed and vacuumed (it gets really, really dirty inside with the top off), the bags unpacked, the laundry washed and put away - and now it's business as usual.  Blaise still isn't back from his boat race and Sal is working all day so we have one more day of peace and quiet.  Sabrina is on her bed reading, and I'm in the studio working on some WIPS (two needle cases, a gothic baby quilt (yep, that's right)  a cape cod table runner and a few other odds and ends that are cut out, partially stitched together) that I intend to finish up this week before starting any other projects.  My goal is to get them ALL done by next weekend.  I really want to start my MOD Quilt!

I know I am a self-proclaimed "mountain girl."  But I do miss the ocean.  That was the ONLY thing I loved about living in South Florida.  The ability to go to the ocean whenever it beckoned - which was almost every day.  I'll leave you now with this beautiful sunrise of Topsail Island. 
Have a great week!  And by the way - what WIPS do YOU have laying around? 

12 comments:

sea-blue-sky & abstracts said...

Great photos Cathie, especially the bird close ups. It sounds like you both benefited from the break beside the sea. Have a good week, Lesley.

Craftymoose Crafts said...

What a beautiful spot! Nothing like a little R&R to recharge the batteries! And quality time with your daughter, priceless!

My one and only goes off to college this Fall. Not sure how I will feel, but I'm trying to stay positive and upbeat. She'll only be 2 hours away.

Mary Welsh Hubbard said...

I love when the beach is empty like that. Glad you had a nice time - can't wait to see what you've been working on - even the goth baby item (as disturbing as that sounds)! :O)

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your getaway....I need one of those...really bad! Enjoy the rest of your day.

The Idaho Beauty said...

Yup, no matter how deserted a beach is, there are always some birds around.

WIPS? Too numerous to mention! I'm working my way through some of them this year and it is very rewarding. Amazing how just their existence even when you're not actively thinking about them can weigh you down.

Rafael's Mum said...

That's my dream getaway! How beautiful being right on the beach, that chalet looks just the ticket too. Fantastic! I'm glad you had such a nice time and just LOVE that last seascape photo!

ACey said...

Looks and sounds like the perfect R & R. My entire LIFE is an overflowing stack of WIPs right now. Couldn't figure out what was wrong with my CD player just now but it was simply "warring" with your blog soundtrack!

Deborah said...

Wonderful photos!

Cathy said...

Hi Cathie, thanks for visiting my blog for the book giveaway. I will put your name in the "hat". I have seen your blog mentioned on other peoples blog lists and always thought it said Cleverandgirlie not Clevelandgirlie...haha. Silly me. Anyway, I love your bird photos. Why won't our birds come that close?

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Such a lovely post ... felt like I was almost there with you. Lovely photos. So nice to see your beach and the birdies. So nice to hear what you are working on

Will send goodies by email tomorrow :o)


ps. how lovely! Word verification is "blessed"

Barb said...

Oh, this looks like a wonderful place! I will have to look into getting some information about it! What is a Cape Cod tablerunner--do tell! We spend a lot of time on the Cape. We spent the morning on the lake in my husband's boat--gorgeous, but I don't think as nice as this! Love everything in your blog!

Pursuing Art... said...

Beautiful getaway for you both...what fun! LOVE your beach and bird photos and that sunrise is photo...GORGEOUS! You are going to love the PNW coast!!! XOX

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