Six Months Later . . .

I hadn't really planned on writing here today but, lo and behold, here I am.  Instagram is where I've been hanging out these last six months.  Truth is, I've been thinking about some of my favorite bloggers that I've met thru the years and wondering how they're doing.  I've noticed some of them on Instagram as well now.  Seems to be the thing to do. 

These two have been building sand castles together for half their lives now.  : )

Best friends since they were two.  : )

I feel so blessed to say that things have been going well.  A few changes.  Mostly good ones. The kids are all happy and healthy.   Family dynamics are changing.  Son #1 moved to New Hampshire at the beginning of the year after receiving a great job offer.  It's tough not being able to see him when I want to but I know he's happy and that makes me happy too.  His girlfriend also found a job in Massachusetts so they're just an hour and a half from each other and planning on moving in together when both of their leases are up.  Probably going to settle in Mass.

Roots and wings.  Roots and wings.  💕

We spent a week in North Carolina at the beginning of July.  We stayed on Top Sail Island again.  We had visited there two years ago but only for two nights and really fell in love with it.  It's our paradise!  Son #2 couldn't join us this year due to his work schedule.  This worked out well for son #3 and Megan though.  They each got to bring a friend along. 

Brendan and Jakhai.

Meg and Cybele.

My honey would move there tomorrow if we could.  I could definitely get used to the lifestyle but not quite ready for that yet.  Maybe when Megan is headed for college.  There are some great colleges in NC.  I really don't like to look that far ahead quite honestly. 

One day at a time.  : )

Soaking up the sun.

These guys were taking crackers right out of our hands!!

Huge fishing bridge next to the Inn where we stayed.

 I have to admit, it's nice to sit at the computer and blog again.  Not sure if anybody still remembers me though.  Lol!!  I also look forward to catching up here in blog land and hope all is well with everyone!! 

You can also find me here:  https://www.instagram.com/crickleberry_cottage/

~ Wendy xoxo

Some More North Carolina Memories . . .

It's so hard to believe it's been almost a month already since the day we left for our vacation.  July flew by, didn't it????  I still have a ton of photos I wanted to share so I figured I'd post a bunch today.  These are all from our stay in North Carolina.  I'm apologizing in advance if there are any photos that I've already posted.  I'm too lazy this morning to check.  : )

We drove from Maryland to North Carolina to the wonderful Topsail Island.  Topsail Island is a 26 mile long island off the coast of North Carolina.  My honey had made all of the arrangements so we had no idea what to expect when we got there.  We pulled up to this rather weathered looking inn.  Not very impressive from the front but the view from the room was a whole other story.  Oh my goodness!!!!!

I took this thru the blinds of the living room.

I took this thru the blinds of the bedroom.  Yes, I said bedroom!!!  Privacy at last!!!!!  : )

The view from our balcony.

We were right on the beach.  I told Jim I felt like I was in an episode of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous."  Lol!!! 

After being cooped up in a car for most of the day, the kids couldn't wait to get their feet back in the sand so they took a walk down to the water.  My favorite time of the day to be at the beach is when the sun starts to go down.  It's so peaceful and the light is so pretty.

The next day the kids were up bright and early scoping out the beach situation.  It was the only full day we had there and they were determined to make the most of it.

The view of our hotel from the beach.  Our room is the one with the blue towel hanging in front of it.

Our last night in North Carolina, we met Jim's Navy buddy and his family for Mexican food.  They had been keeping in touch with each other since re-connecting on Facebook a couple of years ago.  We had a wonderful time and it was so nice to see how happy the guys were to see each other again.

The next morning we packed up again, said goodbye to the beach and headed for the next leg of our trip and probably the one that I was most excited for.  GEORGIA!!!!  Walking Dead country!!!!  I have goosebumps just thinking about it!!  : )


Happy Wednesday!! ~ Wendy

{These Moments} in North Carolina . . .

It just dawned on me that today is Thursday.  Not Friday!!  I usually save "moments" posts for Friday but I'm too far into this to delete it now and I know I won't have time to post tomorrow because  I'll be driving into Manhattan to take Jakhai home.  Where did this month go????  "Back to School" commercials have been on for the last week or so and Cracker Barrel has Halloween decorations for sale which I find to be such a tease because then I get all excited for fall and you step out of the store and it's 95 degrees and humid out still.  I was so tempted to buy some of them though.  I'll definitely be paying them a visit in the next month or two!!  Couldn't you just go crazy in a Cracker Barrel gift shop??  I'm not so thrilled with their food.  God knows I've tried to be but I'm just not.  Their gift shops are a whole other story all together though!!!  I'm not even sure if they have them in other parts of the country.  We're getting them in dribs and drabs in New York but there's one on almost every corner the further south you go.  Have you ever been to one?

My dryer just finished turning.  On to the next load!!!  : )


So long for now from atop Mt. Washmore!! ~ Wendy

Home Sweet Home on a {Mostly} Wordless Wednesday . . .

We just got back from one of the most wonderful vacations I've ever been on!!  We visited Maryland, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee.  A twelve day whirlwind of a vacation with lots of photo taking.  A photographer's dream!!!  I thought I'd share just a few of my favorites from the first leg of our trip.  Most of these were taken in North Carolina with a few thrown in from Maryland and our trip on the Cape May - Lewes Ferry that took us from Cape May, New Jersey over to Delaware.  It's a wonderful 90 minute ferry ride that saves two hours of driving time and gets you out of your car.  This is a good thing when you have a six year old with you.  : )  Although, I have to say, other then her incessant talking, she was was pretty darn good!!! 

Looking forward to sharing our adventure with y'all!!!  Picked up a little southern drawl these last couple of weeks!!  : ) 

On a different note, I can't sign off without mentioning the horrific shootings of our police these last couple of weeks.  Please pray for our police, their families and our country.  We certainly need all the prayers we can get. 


Many blessings ~ Wendy