What We SAW while at the BEACH

Last Friday,  I shared with you some of the things that George and I DID while at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, a couple of weeks ago.  If you missed that post,  click HERE.  Today,  I'll share just a few of the MANY things we SAW that week on the beach...

Above is a picture of a STARFISH.   Believe it or not,  this is the first year we have ever seen one.  We always enjoy searching for what we can find along the beach.  I have two HUGE containers of shells we have brought home from our various trips there.  Sharing some of those shells someday in a blog would be fun!!!!  Maybe I'll do that!

We saw lots and lots of shorebirds  (that will also be another blog post sometime).  But--I didn't know who this big guy is.....  There were two of them with a group of gulls --so maybe he is some kind of gull.  BUT--I really don't know.  Could he be an juvenile Gull?????  Anyone know what bird this is?????

Of course,  we saw beautiful waves...  On this day (Wednesday),  the rains were coming --so the ocean was rough and loud!!!!!!  Sometimes,  we'd leave our door open to our room so that we could enjoy hearing the ocean roar... That makes for some great sleeping!

As you have seen in many of our pictures,  we enjoyed walking in and around the fishing pier.   I don't fish --but my Daddy used to LOVE to fish,  and one of my sons and grandsons would love to be here fishing!!!!   I like this particular picture of the pier because of the reflections in the water/sand.... Neat, huh?

Want this little tiny beach house?????   Think that will be big enough for all of your family and friends??????   They are building that tiny house for ME I'm sure as a gift...  When it's completed,  I'll invite you all to come and visit...... (IN MY DREAMS)... ha ha.. (See that pelican up there???)

This is more like it!!!!  Forget the big house----I'll just take the tent!!!!   How 'bout you????

This  is one of George's pictures of the Sand Dunes...  Isn't it great?

Finally,  I'll leave you today with this beautiful CROSS  which we could see on our walks up and down the beach.. The cross was particularly beautiful on Wednesday when the clouds were coming in.

As I've said,  George and I do alot of walking on the beach  all week (so that we can eat that delicious seafood---without gaining the unwanted pounds that can creep up on us!!!)...   We do SEE lots of beautiful things on our walks.   Today  I just shared a sample of some of the things we saw.    Hope you enjoyed our walks!!!!

Have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you next WEDNESDAY.   We are taking Monday off to celebrate Memorial Day.   Hope you have a wonderful holiday ---and remember to thank God for all of those who have died.   OH---the memories we all have of those who have gone before us.  May God rest their souls.

Hugs,
Betsy

Sky Pictures from Ocean Isle Beach

Taken on Sunday,  5/6

I've always been told that if you don't like the weather in Tennessee,  you just have to wait a day --and it will change!!!!!!   True statement!!!!   BUT--it's also true at Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.  Everyday was different ---with more and different photo opportunities each day!!!!!

Today I will share for you what we experienced each of the six days we were there ---day by day!!!!!  And remember:  I'm focusing on the SKY in these pictures...  Be sure to click on the pictures to see enlargements. Above is a picture of the sky taken on Sunday,  May 6.   This was our first afternoon at the beach,  and as you can tell,  there was a nice mixture of blue sky and clouds.

Taken on Monday, 5/7

On this day,  there were more clouds than sun at times...  BUT--it didn't rain (like it did in other nearby places that day),  so we weren't complaining!!!!!

Taken on Tuesday, 5/8

Today was our prettiest day since there wasn't a cloud in the sky over us!!!  Our Inn (Islander Inn) is the one on the left with the red roofs...  You can see some clouds inland in the distance.

Taken on Tuesday, 5/8

Just have to show you one more beautiful picture of the beach and waves and that gorgeous sky on our Tuesday there!!!

Taken on Wednesday, 5/9

Wednesday was a day that we knew that rain was on the way...  On a day like this day,  the waves were churning more  (good photos) and the clouds were building in the distance (inland).   These are some of the beach houses near where we stayed.

Also taken on Wednesday, 5/9

We loved walking near the pier for more good photo ops.  We had gorgeous sunny skies most of the morning --but by mid-afternoon,  the clouds had crept closer to us... Again ---no rain until we went out to dinner that night!!!!  Then the skies opened up ---but it had all stopped by the time we got back to the Islander Inn.   See how the weather cooperated with us?????!!!!

Taken on Thurs, 5/10

Besides Tuesday,  this was our prettiest day.  The skies were clear and filled with puffy clouds...  Again,  this made for some gorgeous photo opportunities...  I worked very hard to get a sunbeam---but just couldn't make it happen.   But--it's still pretty.

Also taken on Thurs, 5/10

If it weren't for the pier,   this may not even look like the same beach!!!!  I loved seeing those puffy clouds....  AND--the water was extremely calm that day.

Taken on Friday,  5/11

We left on Friday (boo hoo) ---but this was the picture that George took about 6:30 in the morning that day from the balcony of our room.  He has some gorgeous pictures of the sand dunes that he took that week --which I will share with you sometime.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of our SKY pictures from Ocean Isle Beach.  This is a wonderful area to vacation --especially during the off-season when there aren't so many people around.   BUT--if you want some 'action' --Myrtle Beach is only a fairly short drive south of here,  and there is plenty of 'action' and people there!!!!   (We didn't even venture into Myrtle Beach this time. We just loved being where we were!)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Guess what we did yesterday (5/22/12)? We went hiking in the Smokies ---a 4.3 mile hike.  AND--guess what happened????  It RAINED cats and dogs!!!!  We had our neat rain jackets on (thank goodness) --and they worked GREAT.  However,  we need rain pants now, since the bottom half of us was soaked!!!!! ha.....  Had a great time despite the rain --and got some wonderful pictures...  The hardest thing was trying to keep our cameras dry.  You can see in this picture that George is hiding his camera inside his jacket... You can see rain drops in the picture ---and that is the Little River in the background, even though it is hard to see due to the darkness....  As you can imagine,  we will both blog about this little trip soon.   OH--do WE have ADVENTURES!!!!!

Have a great day.
Hugs,
Betsy