Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

December at the Beach --Part II

If you missed Part I from our beach trip, click HERE.   Today I will share with you one more group of pictures from our wonderful --but short--trip to the beach from Dec. 11-14, 2012.  Above is a picture  of our home that week,  the Islander Inn.  Our unit is the top one on the left (above the gazebo).




Here is a picture showing the units from a distance.  If you locate the gazebo,  you can see our unit on the top...  If you ever get to this area, we recommend the Islander Inn.  For a reasonable price, you get a king bed, oceanfront room with balcony,  sofa/chairs, bath, flatscreen cable TV,  internet access, free breakfast,  frig/microwave, coffee pot,  etc...  It's perfect for a few days at the beach for two.  (They do have larger rooms for families.)





As I mentioned in Monday's post,  Calabash Seafood is one of our very favorite foods --and we enjoy it every night we are in that area..  This time we ate at three different restaurants:  Captain Nance's,  Ella's and the Boundary House.   Our all-time favorite restaurant there (DOCKSIDE) was not open... But--the others were all good...

The top left photo was a picture of George and I taken at the Boundary House... The outside of the Boundary House (boundary of North Carolina and South Carolina) is on the bottom right..   The top right was one of the older Calabash restaurants,  Ella's... The bottom left is a picture of George telling me to quit taking pictures ---and let's get inside and have some SEAFOOD.... The seafood (scallops and shrimp) is pictured in the center... YUM.




In Monday's post,  I showed you a neat picture showing the sun's rays shining down on the water.   Here's another picture that I love,  and thanks to George for taking this one.




If you remember,  I mentioned in Monday's blog, a 'tiny' (ha) beach house that I thought I would like to have.   I 'hearted' that mansion when we were there last May... Above is a picture I took in May --when they were working on that beach house.




Here is a close-up of the 'mansion' when we were there in December.  They obviously are still working on this house... Can you imagine the cost of that place??????  GADS---maybe they'll allow me to be one of the maids!!!!! ha




The sun finally did come out!!!!  Look at those blue skies!!!!  It's quite a bit different from the gray, cloudy skies, isn't it?????




Here is a collage showing you the PIER at Ocean Isle Beach in different weather situations.... Thought you would enjoy seeing how different it looks at different times...




Here's a picture George took of me.  It doesn't need any explanation!!!!! ha




Finally,  I'll close with some pictures of the gorgeous SUNRISE we saw from our balcony.   Now--you can see all of the reasons we love to come to the beach in December!!!!!!  Seeing both sunrises and sunsets is just awesome.  It was wonderful! 

Hope you enjoyed our pictures... As you know,  we love that place --and will return again in MAY, 2013...

Have a wonderful Wednesday.  I finally got all of the Christmas decorations put away for a year!!!  The house looks so bare now!!!!

Hugs,

45 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Lovely beach shots, Betsy! I usually prefer seafood restaurants while staying at the beach. The mansion is cool but God help if a storm like Sandy ever comes along. Great shots, have a happy day!

Ms. A said...

Beautiful shots, all of them. Can't believe you got in the water to take the shot of the mansion. That must have been a little nippy!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

really makes me smile to see your header shot & falling snow on your blog & then you show beach views. too funny. love it!! you look so cold. glad you had a chance to show off these views. so fun. ( :

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I adore seafood! Yum!

That's quite a 'little' beach house!

Anonymous said...

What a fun place you two have found. The food makes me hungry!

Dorothy said...

Thanks for sharing your trip with us! I know you had a great time! Can you even imagine living in a house like that mansion???

Neal said...

That does look like a place we would like to go sometimes. The food sounds delicious.

linda m said...

Thanks for sharing your trip. The pictures make me want to visit there some day. Isn't it sad that our houses always look so bare after we take down the Christmas decorations? Maybe we should start a new trend and decorate for Winter. :)

MadSnapper said...

i would prefer the house you stayed in over that mansion.. way to big for me... i love the beachy look of the houses you stayed in... and love the view from your room...

MTWaggin said...

So pretty and now I'm hungry!

Shug said...

Wow....that is a big ol' beach house being built there!! I love going to the beach, but have never been in the winter months...I'm sure that it is super nice to be able to walk on the beach.... do a little dance if you want to....and take it all in without a LOT of people hanging around. Love it!
Shug

imac said...

Looks very grand and beautiful, we mostly go for a small old worldly cottage.

Sylvia K said...

Such a lovely, fun, delightful place, Betsy! Great captures and I love the new collages you and George are sharing with us. A great program you found! Hope your week is going well!

Fun60 said...

Just book me in there Betsy. It looks wonderful and as long as you have enough warm and dry clothes you can't go wrong.

Cheryl @ TFD said...

I adore seafood and it's been a long while since I've been to the beach. Hmmm. I wonder if I can get hubby to take a short little vacation this winter? Hmmm. Will have to think about that one. Your trip looks and sounds delightful, Betsy. Love your collages!
Have a terrific day!

pam said...

Having a nice little trip to the beach through you! And, I would totally love that mansion - time to win the lottery!

Nellie said...

Great pictures, Betsy. It sounds like the perfect spot to vacation!

Together We Save said...

How wonderful to spend time at the beach in the winter. Your pictures are great.

Ruth Hiebert said...

I love the pictures.The one with the one spot of sunlight on the water is really neat. I'm wondering if we all get to come to the beach once you have bought that new beach house.LOL

happyone said...

Great beach shots. Wow that is some house huge house!!

Hootin Anni said...

first off, love the animated "Betsy" at the end of your posts. Cute!!

And the beach photos, well, you know me, there is no place on USA soil better than a beach retreat. And that mansion...of course I wouldn't want to LIVE that close...always a threat of a hurricane. But what a view the owners will have.

Food...seafood...gotta love it.

Small City Scenes said...

Great beach shots, Betsy. The beach in the winter is always fun.
You sure have a long lens on your camera. Wow!!
The beach McMansion is a little to big for me. I would like a funky little beach shack. So romantic--haha. MB

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

The cloudy shots are beautiful through your lens, but the sunshine is much more cheery. Sounds like you had a good time. But then...you always do. :)

Ginny Hartzler said...

Gosh, I love your collages Betsy, how are you making them? Wow, what a difference when they are almost done with the building. It is awesome! But really, I think what you and George do is the best thing, I would not like my own place, it is too close to the water and in bad storms could get washed away or damaged. So just going to visit like you do is the best...no responsibility!

Chatty Crone said...

Don't you wonder just how much that house costs and who owns it? Beautiful. Just beautiful. Love the sunshine there -I have to admit - it would be hard to go to a beach when it was really cold. And I love the condos you stayed in!

Susie Swanson said...

I'm glad ya'll had a fun trip and I've been trying to keep up with everyone on FB but I've been fighting an old bug and hope to be back soon.. Sorry for my absence..Hugs

Rohrerbot said...

Hi Betsy!

It actually sounds nice to relax on the beach anytime of the year. Plus it's nice to get away to the ocean and enjoy the waves!:) I think we are heading down in March...whenever Easter is.....and spending several days on the beach. We go every year but it may be the last time as the person who owns the condos is very sick....so it will be our last time with him. I hope it's not the case because we love having breakfast with him every morning and sharing the laughs. So I take every time like this as if it were the last.....makes everything special and nothing is taken for granted. Hope you had a wonderful new year. My life has been one endless trail after another these past weeks as the birding and hikes have gotten intense. The goal? Find as many different bird species in January as you can. And it's not easy:) Hope you enjoy the rest of your week. Hugs. Chris

Small Kucing said...

What a wonderful view of the place.

Last weekend we went to the seaside too but it was not as clean as this

Connie said...

Such a lovely place to stay, Betsy! As always, you took some really nice photos. I like that "little cottage" you picked out. haha! :D

Sally Wessely said...

You always find something to photograph that is interesting and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Jidhu Jose said...

its so nice to spend time on the beach

Snapshot | Reflections

Neha Agarwal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Neha Agarwal said...

You have such a wonderful blog... and the level of your energy is worth admiring Betsy.. The moment I checked your Facebook Profile, I became your fan... :)

Rose ~ from Oz said...

Oh Betsy I was in awe of all the gorgeous photos, the units are sensational and those other beach houses are MANSIONS!
But like Beth I was laughing my head off at all the beach scenes with your blog's snow flakes falling steadily across the pics!!! I loved it!

Jeevan said...

That’s a well built beach house and no one would disagree with you owning on. I enjoy the view u got from the balcony, pretty colorful! Your pictures are perfect for a wordless Wednesday. I still remember this beach from your last year posts. I love beaches and this is unique!

Catherine said...

I think I would need a maid if I owned any of those houses! That looks like a LOT of dusting! LOL!
xo Catherine

Linda P said...

What a blessing to have a holiday house right on the sands with just sand and sea views to enjoy at different times of the day. With a sunrise like that I would certainly be up and about to catch the sun rising over the horizon.

Anonymous said...

Wow - how lovely to stay right there on the beach! Beautiful shots.

Carletta said...

There is no other way to describe that beach house other than mansion! My oh my the expense that has gone into something that big. If you get a maid's job maybe you could give me a reference as well!!!
Funny how the house looks bare when after Christmas when it's actually back to normal. I put mine away too.
Lovely post Betsy!

DeniseinVA said...

Great beach photos Betsy! It's been years since I have been down that way. My sister-in-law and her family spent their Christmas in Duck.

Betty Manousos said...

gorgeous beach shots dear betsy!! it sure looks like a well built beach house. i'd love to spend some time on that lovely beach.
sounds like you had a good time.
i thoroughly enjoyed your post..it was a smile of sunshine on a cold january day.

big hugs!

p.s.
i'm always grateful for your wonderful, thoughtful comments on my blog, betsy.

Linda G. said...

Yes I can see why you and George like it there .. the beach to yourselves, good food, sunrise, sunset.

Busy Bee Suz said...

You have me craving seafood now. Thanks for that Betsy. :)
I love all the views here and when you get a job as a maid in the mansion, call me, I'll be your assistant. LOL
XO

SquirrelQueen said...

They will likely need more than one maid considering the size of that mansion. I'm available! One of my favorite things about trips to the beach is the fresh seafood. Looks like you found lots of it.

Gardener on Sherlock Street said...

Having now experienced true beaches, I can see why people flock to them. I'm not much of a lounger but love walking along the edge of the water and taking tons of photos while looking for shells and stuff.