Sept 11-17, 2020 Cherry Grove Beach

"May you always have a shell in your pocket, and sand between your toes."

Yes, it's the last week of Summer and I have to confess that I'm longing for Fall. But before saying goodbye, and before saying hello to Fall's chill,  we seized the opportunity to see the untouched, flawless, unscathed, and pristine beaches...... one more time.

The beaches were fairly isolated, except for a few weekend warriors. 

The condo overlooked House Creek 👇👇. The kayakers were eager to enjoy the day!

Our daily routine: coffee, napping, walks on the beach, more napping, more walks on the beach, and reading....... when we weren't napping.😁😁😁

                                                            "L O W   K E Y" 

Part of the pier was ripped out during the previous hurricane (Laura) a few weeks ago,😢but be that as it may, the afternoon sun's reflection made for a striking iphone photo!

Surfer boy here, tried to re-enact the the 'youngins'.......😁😁😁👇👇👇

The clouds were stunning/spectacular/splendid/ impressive/ awe-inspiring!

The feeling of sand between our toes......... was priceless

The surfers were grabbing the end of summer with gusto!

Looking at the stars from our balcony was a highlight. Mars to the right was super bright!👇👇👇

The early morning sunrise views, also from our balcony, ............ were spectacular! 

We had a few visitors this week. It was a treat to see family members and long time friends.

Unplugging from the news, the social media drama, and circumstances that we can not alter, made for a healthy, rejuvenating/refocusing/recharging week. It enabled me to RETHINK and IMPROVE my current attitude concerning our country/world affairs. I'll be working overtime to do this in the coming weeks. Here are 8 quick tips to improve anyone's attitude 👉👉👉 IMPROVING MY ATTITUDE😀

Sometimes you just have to bite your upper lip, close your eyes, put on your sunglasses, and carry on.......... so I did.

Summer's humidity vanished. (click on video below for soothing sound effects..........ahhhhhhhh)

A morning of raindrops and clouds, did not prevent us from catching the Carolina winds. Check out this WIDE beach!

Until next time..................

Sept 2, 2020 Urban Garden Update.

 It might be September 2nd, but the Sharpley urban garden 2020 is alive and thriving! We seem to have gotten a rather slow start, or else the growing season was about 2 weeks behind the normal schedule.

One almost #3 butter-nut-squash was transformed into a delicious soup! Recipe is here👉ButterNutSquashSoup . This recipe freezes well (and that's a good thing considering we have 10-12 of these almost ready to harvest! 

These are 'mad-hatter' peppers. (new to us this year)☝☝☝

Last update on garden was July. Read about it here 👉July Garden Update 

Gardening for us this year has been beneficial. We have been trying to eat a healthy dose of plant-based foods. Picking and eating off of the vine has been fun. But preserving our produce for the winter months has been rewarding! GROW IT.......... EAT IT

August 29-30, 2020 The Haymarket Gang

Boy did we get a welcome!💓💓💓

Hello our precious Grands!...... and of course Daughter #1 and SIL!
It seemed like 'forever' since we had hugged and talked and laughed with this gang.
After a quick Friday night dinner, the seriousness of the evening began!
The stakes were high, we let our hair down, the prized vanilla cream Oreos became the prize for the win in the game 'SEQUENCE'

ahhhhhhhhhh......... those coveted vanilla cream-filled oreos 😁

The fierce ping pong championship game ended the evening.

Saturday's schedule included running a few errands.

.... a few crafts, a cook out, and snapchat sessions, hair braiding....... oh goodness......

 The picnic in gazebo was so relaxing!

It was a braids, bikes, bracelet, burgers, babes, xbox and getting ready for BACK TO SCHOOL weekend! 

What happened to my babies?????????????

Back to school surely looks different this year.😕😕😕

Panic attack anyone????

And this is for a 2nd and 5th grader 🙃🙃🙃. 

Who knew this would be happening? 

So long until next time.

Wishing you well for the new school year, 

the busy work week, 

and making life the best that it can be! 💓

August 24-27, 2020 The Riot Kid Week#3

WEEK #3...........It's a wrap!

Who knew? .............. that we were actually capable of keeping up with this tornado!
Our stamina slowed toward the finish line, and there might have been a weeeeeeee bit more TV available for the Riot Kid!
We are going to miss his perkiness, his intuitiveness, his energy, his appetite, his kisses and hugs!
As viewed in week #1 Aug 11-14 and in week #2 Aug 17-21 a variety of toys was not required.😁😁😁.
The week began with a visit from our son. These 2 hit it off like a live stage performance!  I'm not sure who laughed the most......... the oldest, the youngest........ or us!

We tried to include a little yard work........

A lot of play time.........

Some solitude creative time (Ever hear of chalk dust? His creation of blueberries made of acorns turned out quite interesting!)

A few trips to 'the pond'..............

And some garden time!

Our daily duty had come to an end on Thursday afternoon.
We were sad to see him go.😢😢😢
Grandparents and grandkids go together like peanut butter and jelly.
When your children have children, you're no longer "just" a parent.
"Becoming a grandparent turns the page. Line by line you are rewritten. You are tilted off your old center, spun onto new turf. There is a faint scent of deja vu from when you raise your own children, but this place feels freer. Here you rediscover fun and laughing, and reach a depth of pure loving you have never felt before." 
LOVE 
FUN 
JOY 
ADVENTURE