Yes , life has changed since my last blog so very long ago. At 72 one thing I finally learned each day or minute changes in ways I never knew possible. We have sold our little farm, moved across the road to a cabin we built 4 years ago. It was 20 x 20 ft @ 400 sq ft. total. This summer and fall we added on a 16 x 20 ft bedroom and bathroom. now we have a total of 720 sq ft. of living space. It was proof for us that down sizing is a joy. We both sorted, kept, threw and gave away. I have a feeling in the spring when we head back home from NC we will........sort, keep, throw and give away again. I like living with only what is needed and what I love. As far as cleaning the little cabin, that is great too!. Zip and it is done. We have two porches to enjoy. One looks to the hill directly behind the cabin and is accessed from sliding doors in our bedroom. I can knit, read or just relax looking at the birds at the feeder or enjoying the flowers. Little did we know how much we would love our new home. Our friends gave us a sign that says, little house with lots of love. How true.
So after so much work and a kind talented guy that was Dick's Little League player so many many years ago we are settled with only what ever we want to do. Of course we have a list, screen in the back porch, a few more shelves inside, paint the shed and put up eave troughs on the buildings. Eave troughs.......lol does that date me or what? Now they are called gutters...I like my name much better.
Well like the title says, cook'n by the beach. We are 2 miles from it but if we could walk on water it would be 1/3 a mile give or take a few feet. The bridge is the only access to cross the inter coastal water. So drive we must. Holden Beach is the last of the beaches in southern NC to see development. In one year the earth (sand) has been moving. A new campground, homes and businesses. Soon Holden Beach will lose the old coastal town feel. Progress.......
We have been enjoying fresh fish and shrimp. Once a week we drive 3 miles to the Old Ferry Docks and get fresh right off the boats. We watch the shrimp boats every day that they are out. Just off shore with the seagulls and terns hovering over the shrimpers just waiting for a free meal.
So far we have tried several new kinds of fish. When the fish guy asks what kind he is finally suggesting a white, firm, mild fish. So far so good he has picked good ones. Our favorite way to fix the fish and shrimp is in an olive oil, butter, garlic and old bay mixture sauteed in a pan quickly. Then poured over linguine or angel hair pasta. A slice of crusty bread to sop up the left over sauce! Easy to fix and easy clean up. I know when we get home frozen won't due and it will be another year if we are blessed to come back.
The tall guy that lives with me has a birthday tomorrow.......Off to Southport to the Christmas Store which has everything not just Christmas stuff. It is in an old Victorian House near the bay. So many beautiful things to look at and yes, maybe buy. You probably wonder, does he really like to shop like a woman. Well, the bait is salt water taffy! They have over 60 flavors and he LOVES salt water taffy. A win for both of us. My favorite flavor is Mango Jalapeno, just the right amount of heat!
This looks like a drone flew over to take the picture.....no it is just one I took with my phone. The tide had gone out and left these little streams of water eroding the sand back to the ocean. Now I know why they are continually dredging from off shore and back to the beach.
We pick up trash we find but one think I refuse to pick up is other dog's poop! I never thought I would see the day my husband would take a bag and pick up our dogs. LOL He does and actually we take turns. There are plenty of garbage cans to dispose of it and trash. No need to deface earth!
