It doesn't get....

any better than this.  

OBX in October. 

My OBX.

Cape Hatteras Road Trip 2014

Had an entire day by myself to wander the Banks.

That doesn't happen very often.

I explored island by island. I wandered Cape Hatteras National Seashore, 

Bodie Island, Pea Island, Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, Avon and Cape Hatteras.  

We had a heck of a storm the night before and I was hoping there would be some good shells. 

My theory was accurate, however this time, there were no welk, nor scotch bonnets,

just clams, scallops and other small shells.

But millions of them.

Spent a good hour or so scouring through them. 

I couldn't believe how many there were.

I did find some nice sea glass.

Stopped at Bodie Lighthouse for the first time in almost a year.

Couldn't climb to the top of Bodie.  It was closed to visitors,

but the fresh paint job from last season had it looking so pretty!

Stopped by the Oregon Inlet to see what today's catch was.

Then on to Pea Island Wildlife Sanctuary.

I had the entire island to myself.

Just me, the birds, the turtles and the crabs.



Spent almost 2 hours at Pea, then on to Cape Hatteras,

where I climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse.

Lots of history and interesting stories

surround this lighthouse that 

guards the Graveyard of the Atlantic.

A beautiful, old, brick lighthouse.

I think I read that Cape Hatteras Lighthouse

is the tallest brick lighthouse in the country.

Picked up lost of interesting stuff

along my journey for inspiration.

I was gone about 9 hours.  

It felt like 2.

and waiting for me when I got home....

Sorry Gizmo.  Next time, ok?

OBX mornings...

Make me happy.

A Little Beach Time.,..

A blustery day on the Outer Banks.

Peace and quiet.

So nice.

Taking a break.....

... From reality for a few days.

It's cold and breezy at the Outer Banks.  Just the wAy we like it.  (As long as we have our blankets!!)

Cape Hatteras, OBX Dog, Corolla Wild Horses and Life...

 I just recently realized how much the ocean is a part of who I am. 

It feeds my soul in a way that nothing else can.

Lifts my spirits...

...and reminds  me

that I am just a small part

of the larger scheme of things.

I am going to make a conscientious effort

to remind myself of that.

What a beautiful planet
we live on, and I am so
grateful for the role I
am playing in this
grand production.














(Click HERE to learn of the Corolla Wild Horses.)

To be nobody but yourself....

To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best night and day to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight, and never stop fighting.
-E.E. Cummings
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Now THIS ......

is what I call a great day.

Outer Banks Girlie (f/k/a Clevelandgirlie!)

 With two more years until we can finally relocate out West - we decided that life is too short to keep "waiting" for dreams to come true - so we took a leap and bought a beautiful place over on Roanoke Island at the Outer Banks or North Carolina.  Close enough to get to in less than three hours - but yet - an "entire" world away.

 Nestled between the natural beauty of the salt marshes and the Outer Banks, our new place is situate right in the middle of Nags Head and Cape Hateras National Seashore -   where we can watch the sun rise over the ocean in the morning - and set over the salt marshes in the evening.  And with fourwheeling on the beach, boating in the ocean and  corgis in the sand - we will never be at a loss for things to do.  

There truly is nothing more beautiful, more spiritual, more inspiring - than the Outer Banks at sunrise, or sunset, or during a thunderstorm.  (Except for maybe the Rocky  or Sawtooth Mountains at sunset.)

We just received the signed contract back today - and with a three week closing date there is much to do in a short time.  I'm guessing the next month will be a whirlwind of activity.  Not like that's anything unusual. Bring it on!

But for today.... after having spent a lovely four day weekend with my husband's family - I have managed to squirrel away a little time in the studio.                             

I think I will do some painting - on a piece of Egyptian cotton I purchased a while back that I have been saving - setting the stage for some stitching later on.   I'm in the mood to paint sunsets for some reason - oranges, pinks, purples.  Yes - a sunset.  An Outer Banks  Sunset.  My very own - Carolina Outer Banks Sunset -   YOU and I are going to get to know eachother very, very well.