Hatteras, etc

cousin conclave!

blooming lotus

new bib concept: kitchen towel from the $store, lined with flannel

jamie in one of his bibs

visit from Peggy Concannon

approaching Hatteras

Missing Mimi on the trip, but thinking of her!

beginning of a hike behind the Hatteras lighthouse as dusk was rapidly diminishing 

The harshness of the weather keeps these coastal forests 

of oak and juniper only several feet tall.

we soon noticed that all of the branches, high and low, 

were webbed  and occupied

 by very large spiders. 

Certain taller members of our party began walking bent at the waist...

and another kept his tee shirt over his face and mouth...

it was a very creepy place to be, 

and since part of the objective of this fun, fun time

 was to find a cottonmouth,

I decided i had had enough of "adventures with the Adams Family"...

its too bad!

we left too soon!

because after ken and i turned around,

a beautiful little 8" tall screech owl 

flew down to a low branch in front of the group and stayed there--

2 or 3 minutes--

just 10 or 15 feet away--

studying everyone!

What an unforgettable, beautiful encounter!

😡

the next day,

all bitterness of having missed seeing the owl aside,

we went to the Avon pier.

we are used to seeing piers such as the pier in Monterey--

straight and stable,

hosting restaurants and stores.

but in the outer banks

instead of replacing hurricane damaged piers,

the idea is "make do"

which makes you really feel you are at sea,

pitching decks and all!

Monday was Ocracoke day.

the ferry ride was fantastic

and peter saw a sea turtle.

the lighthouse at ocracoke, built in the 1820's!

gone away lake?

we saw this white ibis looking for and eating worms in someone's front yard.

The sign for the hike at Springer's Point included this information:

we did say a prayer for Sam Jones, but not Ikey D.

the beach at Springers Point was really lovely and this picture does not do the water justice--

it was crystal clear and beautiful blue and green.

Nicole described the forest hike at springer point "moody"

but since it was daylight

and no spiders

or snakes

we could enjoy the moody beauty of the place

We left the OBX that night at 8pm after realizing that the forecast was for rain all night 

and thunderstorms in the morning.

thanks be to God,

the traffic was quite low

and we pulled in safely at 2am.

I spent much of yesterday a la Mrs. Bennet in Pride and Prejudice.