Do you see it?

Do you see what I added to the last little photo?

Yes, us at the beach another time - in a different world.

 I really do wish we could be down at the North Carolina

 shore this coming weekend with the weather being so good.

This is what I really miss right now -

The crash of the Atlantic Ocean waves 

Waving 'across the pond' to family and friends in Europe (I always do!)

The fragrance of clean, pure sea air 

The calling of the hungry seabirds along the shoreline

The line of diving pelicans along an incoming wave

Watching surfers and fishing folk on the beach

Walking along the boardwalk, over the dunes, and along the sand

Meeting and chatting with beach walkers and their dogs 

Searching for a few perfect and pretty shells to tuck in my pocket

then -

Lazily swinging on a wooden porch swing on the boardwalk

Watching the evening fishing trawlers offshore

Washing my feet off under the ice cold water tap on the well-worn beach steps

Pulling my sandals back on

Meandering through the hotel lobby, across the street to Magic Beans for coffee

Catching up with old beach friends of several years

and later -

Showering and dressing casually for dinner out - oh to have a dinner out

and served to me, it has been so long. . . . . 

Breathing the salty evening air blending with fresh fish, shrimps, scallops

Sitting on a beachfront patio with a well-chilled glass of rosé

The orange sunset to the west

Smiling at the arrival of the seafood platter, always "too much" but always eaten!

Perhaps time - well there's always time at the beach - for a nightcap at

 our favorite (and one of America's best) dive bars, The Fat Pelican.

A great night's sleep with the balcony window wide open and the ocean sounds below.

It's so sad knowing our beach friends with businesses must be suffering, hotels too,

due to the restrictions brought by COVID-19.  We hope they will still be there 

when we return and we can support them again.

Please wait for me beautiful Atlantic shore - we'll be back some day, hopefully soon.

Meanwhile another 91F day here, and curfew continues tonight.

A peaceful protest late afternoon yesterday - no local rioting or looting in the 

night thankfully.

'Down East' North Carolina. . . . . .

We're visiting friends in New Bern this weekend and despite wet weather it's 

very lovely, green, clean, and the drive down through North Carolina's 

countryside was glorious.

A little springtime romance going on between a pair of Laughing Gulls
 at our riverside hotel.

The 'Proud Mary' sailing by.

Well duckie apparently read the NO DIVING sign and carefully entered the pool

 via the steps!

Did you watch the royal wedding?

I've just seen a bit and loved viewing Windsor in the brilliant 

sunshine - it was my mother's home as a child when my 

grandfather was in the Coldstream Guards at the castle.

Off to Morehead City and Atlantic Beach this morning.

Carolina sunrise. . . . . . . . . . .

With two mornings to awake to scenery such as the sunrise brings, 

I was up to greet the sun from the balcony ten floors above the 

quiet beach. 

Pelicans were already flying in their usual long lines across the pewter sea.

Shore birds were waiting on the beach, seeming to know exactly

 where to stand in the pathway of the golden rays.

Waves rolled in and then foamed onto the sand making really

beautiful designs in colors of molten gold, bronze and steel.

There is nothing quite as inspiring as drawing back the curtains, 

looking due east, and meeting the new day as the sun

 rises on the horizon at the ocean.

Enjoy each day - and these busy weeks ahead as we prepare for Christmas!