No man is an island...........no woman either

Bald Head Island is the southernmost North Carolina barrier island and classified as tropical. These palm trees and the torrid heat of the day reinforced this, however it wasn't humid and no hurricanes caused us to evacuate the island.................it was in fact a perfect week with just a shower our first evening.

Beginning of another day - sunrise over the salt marsh from the screened porch.

The marina with the ferry arriving taken from our golf cart - no cars permitted on the island.

Old Baldy - that landmark lighthouse again.Well wouldn't you know it - my favorite spot was right in this little sand chair plonked in the Atlantic Ocean early in the day before the heat became too hot! We walked and swam at 9 a.m. - but not too avoid the crowds, there never were any. 5.8 square miles, 180 permanent residents, a couple of thousand visitors, plenty of room for all on those 14 miles of beautiful sand beaches.The exquisite island chapel in the Maritime Forest - a popular spot for island weddings.
The island library - leave a book, take a book - the cutest place for discovering Summer reading.
Traditional Pawley's Island hammock - whelk shells - pedicure showing the ravages of the Atlantic water and sand - and a fascinating book set in England which gets inside the mind of an mentally ill woman, from her disturbing childhood to old age as a homeless person ~ a real page turner.

One of my deck visitors - green and gorgeous. Cooling off time in the condo - started an island journal and made a few cards to mail to friends.


The condominiums where we stayed - looking out over the wonderful salt marsh and creek - marina in the distance - just 5 mins. in the golf cart.

The huge white heron visited each day at low tide and waited patiently in the same spot for his meal. The marina - playground of the rich and perhaps famous.
White ibis silhouetted along the creek.
A spot to relax overlooking the Cape Fear River on the western side of the island.The evening passenger ferry leaving for the mainland - a 20 minute trip.Sunset - the perfect ending to a perfect day.More tomorrow....................some island cottages.

More Memories - South of France 2006

Just back from the coast and will soon have pics to show of that peaceful, beautiful island. Meanwhile, have been thinking about France again after chatting with my family there - here are a few more pics from last year's visit with Granddaughter Jasmin.

Beautiful fields of sunflowers, faces always pointing toward the sun, stretching for miles across the Summer countryside of Provence.

Family gathering on the Canal du Midi on a perfect June day - granddaughter, niece, sister-in-law, DH and moi - brother taking the picture! Daytrippers and canal boat vacationers enjoy a cool breeze, stopping to pick up fresh provisions and local wines along the waterway.

Visiting the stunning ancient hilltop "village perche" Les Baux de Provence.

Decisions, decisions, what shall I buy for my "souvenir de Provence"

Later, passing through the small villages it was obviously a brilliant day for drying - let's wash "les jeans".

The national music fair of France - Fete de la Musique held in every village, town and city throughout France on June 17 - so much fun. We listened to cabaret style singing here in Bize in the afternoon - more singing and African drumming by the light of a huge bonfire late into the night in Peyriac.
A tiny bakery just beyond the walls of the old city of Carcassonne -the best "straight out of the oven" baguettes for lunch.

Then a quick stop at the olive mill where the choice was amazing!
Wonderful memories of a beautiful place................must return soon.

Inspiration Friday - The Letter

There it was, tucked in between a few bills, some junk mail, and the latest LL Bean catalog - the awaited with anticipation notecard from our ten year old granddaughter. She left for Summer camp the week before saying we were on her list and that she'd write and tell us all about the experience. Of course she came home before the note - explanation being they were so busy and having so much fun she didn't mail her cards until the very last day. That's fine, just glad camp was fun. Teaching children to hand write Birthday cards, "thank you" and "thinking of you" notes is still so important in this day of e-mail and text messaging. Nothing beats opening the mailbox and seeing a handwritten envelope knowing something special is inside - my heart gets all a flutter!!

Of course it was Grandma, who sat her down and had her address her envelopes before leaving for camp................after all that's just another little extra special thing Grandmas do!!

........................hope you are inspired to hand write a card, a note or a letter to someone special this weekend. I'll be writing mine from the coast - have packed my little art box and will embellish my page with some tiny sketches of the ocean, seabirds, and shells perhaps.

Enjoy your Summer weekend.

Island Hopping

Bald Head Island is a somewhat small, remote village located on the east side of Cape Fear in Brunswick County, North Carolina on an island of the same name. Only accessible by ferry from the town of Southport - cars are not allowed, instead residents drive modified golf carts - max. speed limit 18 mph - how refreshing. There are 14 miles of pristine ocean beaches, 10,000 acres of protected salt marsh and tidal creeks, and a vast maritime forest preserve.
Generous friends who own a beautiful condo on the island surprised us with the offer of spending next week there! Come Sat. morning DH and I will be heading to the coast - laden with books & mags. to read on the screened porch. Flip flops, shorts and sun hats packed - some food and our favorite wines ready to go. North Carolina seashore, we'll soon be on our way.

This is Old Baldy lighthouse on the island. Built in 1817 it's the oldest lighthouse still standing in North Carolina but is non-working now. We have visited before and climbed to the top for the great island and ocean views. A small museum at the base supplies an audio tour of the island - that will be something DH will enjoy................he loves history. However.........he dislikes being in one place for long and I will be holding him captive on a tiny island for an entire week - will let you know how that goes!!

The more modern development on the island consists of mostly very expensive retirement and vacation homes - a recent sale recorded a selling price of just under $4M - wow, will have to check out that one! As the village has a total area of just 5.8 square miles you can imagine the price of a lot.

One grocery store, two restaurants - that's about all folks...........................so it will be a week of relaxation, listening to music, reading, some art projects and letter writing, walking the beaches and soaking my feet in the surf, taking photographs, and of course drinking good that wine while viewing the ocean sunsets. I think I can manage all that.

Hope each of you get to paddle in the ocean, Atlantic or Pacific, this Summer!

Cornish Cottages

My new blog friend, Anne (do visit her at Not Entirely British )
grew up, like me, loving the Southwest of England, especially Devon and Cornwall. This post is for you Anne, and anyone who knows Cornwall perhaps from Daphne du Maurier's wonderful and famous novels, Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, Frenchman's Creek and My Cousin Rachel.

Typical Cornish villages and fishing scenes.

Although there are many lovely fishing villages along the Cornish coast, Polperro is one of my favorites and I last visited there in 2005. This is everyone's idea of a picturesque Cornish fishing village - narrow winding streets and alleys, a jumble of charming white cottages perched on steep slopes overlooking the tiny harbour. Polperro was once a thriving center for smuggling. Generations of seafarers brought contraband goods ashore from France via the Channel Islands of Guernsey and Jersey. High taxes on a wide range of luxury goods, basic commodities and even salt, imposed to finance the wars with America and France between 1775 and 1815, encouraged the fishermen to supplement their meagre livelihood by engaging in the "trade" as smuggling brandy, gin, tea and tobacco was known.

Exquisite seashell decorative work on a fisherman's cottage.

The traffic-free village requires a winding downhill walk to the harbour............or taking the "Horse Bus" from the main car park.

With its protected inner harbour full of colorful boats, Polperro is still a working fishing village.Away from Polperro and other nearby villages are scenic walks along the cliff tops. Although Cornwall is known as one of the less wealthy areas in the UK with the lowest per capita contribution to the national economy, it certainly is one of the most beautiful and has a thriving tourist industry. Be sure to visit this lovely part of Britain if you have the chance.........and of course you have to pass through Devon (my home county) to reach it so you get to see two great counties on the same trip!