Carson's New Blog!

Wow! I have

noticed that I am doing good to get one post a month published lately. With Carson's busy music schedule this summmer we have not had much down time. Hopefully, with Catie back at Chapel Hill and Carson starting school, I will have a little more time to connect with you all again. I also hope to get back into my garden and landscape and start some fall projects that I will be sharing with you.I do have a little favor to ask of you all. Carson is starting a blog to talk about the journey that she is on with her music. She will be posting about special things that are happening with her like studio time, radio interviews, performances, and the ups and downs of trying to have a career in music. She really needs some followers to encourage her in this journey. Would you be kind enough to check it out and follow her if you are interested? I know a lot of my followers are gardeners and foodies and such, but she would love to have you. If you know of any young people who are interested in a blog of this nature, would you please tell them about her! Thanks so much! Carson's Music Blog

Beach Fun and Back to Reality

Last night I returned home after a wonderful long weekend at Oak Island. Coming home from a trip to the beach is always a little bittersweet. Although I love my home here in the country, there is something special about the time that our family spends at the coast. It seems as though life is a little sweeter when we all leave behind our everyday distractions to take a vacation.

Our time spent at the coast is relaxed and very unstructured. Most of our time is spent on the beach with friends that we have made on the island over the years. We were very fortunate to have some of the most beautiful weather I can ever remember having at the beach. The high pressure that was bringing North Carolina such hot weather finally moved out and left us with very comfortable breezy days.

Our Fourth of July weekend brought us everything that we hoped it would.

It brought us...


...an evening on the beach watching the crowd getting ready for the fireworks.


...ladderball games on the beach with friends.


...teenagers having fun without ipods, cell phones, computers, or TV!


...beautiful sunsets to enjoy on the beach.


Doesn't the water and sky look magical while the sun is setting?





Who knew teenagers could have so much fun without cell phones, ipods, computers, or TVs?



Of course, what would the fourth of July be without a little fireworks?


I hope everyone was able to enjoy some of their own.




But as they say, "All good things must come to an end." Today I am back to a reality of unpacking, loads of laundry, grocery shopping, and according to the weatherman, another high pressure. But even with all of those chores to do and hot days coming...it is still good to be home!