Whadda Week!

Saturday, 2/28

We arrive at Oceanaire mid-afternoon and settle-in quickly. We've got the vacation condo-thing down pat. This is our first time at Oceanaire, but we've stayed at the adjoining sister property (Ocean Beach Club) many times. This is a lovely property. Kind of a masculine, urban flare.

Lager Heads next door for dinner. A short stroll and great food.

Sunday, 2/29

Pocahontas, across Atlantic Avenue for Breakfast. A beach favorite. Great coffee!

Who knew? Off season you can ride horses on the beach.

CA picks-up sandwiches at nearby Taste, and we have a picnic on the 10th floor sun deck, in front of a blazing fire pit.

We thought Restaurant Week ended last night, but when we cross Atlantic Avenue to Mannino's Italian for dinner we find tonight is the final night. Happy Hour 1/2-priced wine and a 3-course prix-fixe dinner, to-boot.

Apricot Vinaigrette and Gorgonzola. A terrific salad.

Monday, 3/1

Tending to my shopping "needs":

Gorgeous sunset tonight!

We carry-in pizza tonight. Pi-zzeria is just catty-corner across Atlantic Avenue. This is a must-have on every beach visit. Tonight we choose pear, prosciutto, Gorgonzola, and arugula. Excellent!

Tuesday, 3/2

My reading spot...

An entertaining and delicious dinner an Otani.

Wednesday, 3/3

Mary's Restaurant, a new breakfast experience. 17th Street.

My reading spot!

It's a bit chilly beachfront today, but I prevail.

We spend some beautiful and tranquil time on Croatan Beach. A family favorite. Hypnotizing, even.

Thursday, 3/3

Inside today, reading. It's very windy outside.

Dinner at a Blue Pete's. We last visited in 1978 when it was a tiny, white tablecloth restaurant. Way down in Pungo, on Muddy Creek Road. Still isolated today, but not nearly as much as years ago. Now it's more of a seafood/pub-style menu. An adventure; worth repeating every visit.

I have to point out that these are quart-sized Mason jar drinks! I did not imbibe, but I certainly will next visit.

Friday, 3/4

Another windy, 45° day. But, the sun is shining!

My reading spot today. I love this lounge & the view. They've even covered the fire pit today as it's SO windy.

We'd planned on Pelon's for Mexican, but it's closed for renovations. We're afoot and it's so cold (and windy!) that we walk to a close and dependably excellent spot. Lager Heads--again!

Hanger Steak Frites. Balsamic and blue cheese.

Saturday, 3/5

Check-out day, but we've decided to extend our visit so we're just moving down the beach. Way down the beach--from 35th Street to 5th. We can't stay a full week, but 5 more days make me happy.

Pocahontas again for breakfast. So good. Have I mentioned? Excellent coffee! I may have over-ordered. In my defense, I did not order those potatoes nor did I eat even a bite. And, I only ate 1/2 of the biscuits and gravy, though they were very good. I know, excuses, excuses.

My reading spot today.

Tiny House

The area we stayed in had no landscaping.

I get big ideas. I convince myself of the logic, the practicality, the potential of something. Some of my big ideas die a quick and riskless death. Some get filed away for later or for someone else. Some stay on my front burner for months and years, waiting for timing, opportunity, a lightening strike. Some move forward, cost a few dollars, then fizzle. Most don't soar. O.K., none have soared because by nature and by nurture I am not a risk taker. This tiny house thing has intrigued me for years. I'd almost convinced myself and had begun drawing others into conversation about the ingenuity, the practicality, the beauty of living small.

We don't live small nor do we live large. We live medium in a 2,000 sq.ft. 2-story townhouse, with full basement. We have stuff. I've spent years as a hunter-gatherer. First primitive antiques and kitchen gadgets; then dinnerware and French Country accents. Oh, I've sorted and passed on many treasures--to family, to friends, and even to strangers. Yet, the elephants(s) are in every room and our basement--I'm no minimalist. I'm someone who draws comfort and creative energy from my stuff.

I digress... We had the opportunity to live small this week; very small. Well, of course it'd work well!

Guess what? I hate it. Hate it. It's been claustrophobic and boring. The necessities are here, but there's nothing lovely to feed my hungry soul. The house's amenities are fine. Just o.k. The setting is not. It could be. The Napa River is right here, but no one has made any attempt to make the river bank inviting. The owners of this community have fallen apart when it comes to curb appeal. We won't come back.

Our weather this week has been phenomenal. Much better than we ever expected. Sunshine and 60s. All week. The area of and surrounding Napa and Sonoma are lovely. Natural beauty is everywhere in the undulating hills and valley; in the forrested Calistoga area; in Muir County Baylands. At these sights my soul is happy.

I am not an extrovert. I need solitude and quiet activity to exist. My filters are wacky; too much gets through. My brain drains; my energy wanes. Beauty is required. (As well as a decent Internet connection, or at least more than 2 lousy Cellular bars.)

Napa General Store.

We had a lovely brunch today--patio seating with umbrellas, sunshine, and lovely food. At one point a cool breeze drifted though. CA laughed when I told him I'd be oh-so-happy to pay extra for that breeze. If it'd been on my brunch menu this morning:

Filtered sunlight with intermittent gentle breezes ....................... $20.00

I would have asked our waitress to add it to our check. Hands down. Zero hesitation. Soul food.

If Martha Can, So Can I

This has been my hair coloring inspiration for a couple of years now.

Martha embraces her grey! Gracefully. Yet, keeps it current with highlights. And so, this is how I roll now, too. Martha's been consistent for quite awhile now and although she's quite a bit older (sorry, Martha) than I am, this works well for me. Saves me a colorist appointment or two each year. I get compliments.

More Martha...

Kiawah, Tuesday

 

We slept in! Really slept in. So, we didn't mount our trusty bikes until 11:30am, or so. We rode bike paths to Turtle Cove, then accessed the beach at Boardwalk #28 and rode along the wave line, in light then pouring rain, to Boardwalk #1, and back to our Greenslake Cottage. 1:30pm. Time for a quick shower and lunch at King Street Grill in the Fresh Fields Village. And then, shopping in the lovely boutiques--dashing between raindrops.

 

Dinner at the much anticipated Fig on Meeting Street in Charleston. Lovely food. Nice ambience. Great location. Husk wins! But, the experience at Fig was mighty fine.

 

 

Kiawah, Flora and Fauna

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whoops! How did that get in here?!