my cats like it here

The yellow cat is easier to photograph than the black one.

another look at the seagulls

4 pm

 

11-12-13

Since being here, I have delighted in stopping by the side of the road to buy a pound or two of freshly caught shrimp from the back of a pickup truck. When I see the neon green poster board with "FRESH SHRIMP" hand written in black magic marker, I know I have the option to buy. It gives me a happy feeling in my heart for being so blessed to live only a couple of miles away. The once dour shrimp man now seems glad to see me, too, and I have noticed he adds a shrimp or two to my request. He goes to Snead's Ferry to get the shrimp, maybe six or seven ice chests full, and by December, shrimp season will be over with none until early summer. Tonight my one pound, actually about a third less after removing the heads, was used in a pan of jambalaya, one of my go-to dishes. But any way they are prepared, and Bubba Gump knows all the ways, they are yummy.

settling

Patches of bright blue peek out from behind the clouds. Soft nature sounds are coming from the marshy area behind the house. The screen door is letting in the fresh air, neither cool nor warm, just pleasant and still. Inside I have been doing some online work, submitting an application to work as a registered nurse in my new state. The only thing left is to go to a local law enforcement place and get fingerprinted. I do not have a plan to work. It is OK if I do or if I don't. However I want to be ready to say yes if the perfect job comes along, and it may.

taking care of business

Two big issues have been settled. One is my hair.
Back when I was a teenager and came from Charlotte to visit my grandparents here, I couldn't do a thing with my hair. Due to the hard water and high humidity, it just hung lifeless and limp. Jump to 2013. Same thing. But I think I finally have a handle on it.  Desperate times call for desperate measures, so I invested in a bottle of Biotin, a fancy new roller blower, and some Sally products for "aging" hair. So far, so good.
The other issue was where I will go to church. My visit Sunday to the old downtown First Baptist settled it. Church is important not just for worshiping with like minded believers but also for connecting with others and being a part of the community. I am relieved to have found a church home.

update

A month in the new house, and though there is much left to do, it is beginning to feel like home. The warm and fuzzy connection and the feeling of comfort seem to be doing it. I am delighted to be here, in this home and in this town, and I am surprised that I like it even more than I had thought I would.

Though rugs need to be bought and laid down and pictures need to be hung, the downstairs is usable. The upstairs is another story. A walk begins with a single step taken in faith, a book begins with a single word written in anticipation, and step by step, word by word, the attic, where all the leftover stuff is stashed for now will, I say will, turn into a nice space. I am beginning to see the possibilities.

I am also glad to live at a cool destination spot, and I've loved having some visitors. Last week Wyatt came. The day we went surf fishing, the weather had turned cool, but we were not deterred by it or the light rain. It was too beautiful a day. Here he is casting a net for minnows.

Another picture comes from Saturday. It was taken at the corner of Market and Water Streets, under the tall sculpture of the Venus Fly Traps where there were lots of noisy little brown birds in the bushes. (I should know what kind and will find out.) I cropped out one bird and made an oval pic.

There are so many pretty things to photograph.