Shrimp

Freshly caught shrimp from a truck by the road for five bucks a pound. 

for now

No computer, no blogging. A girl can do only so much with an iPhone. Though many topics have flitted through the old noggin, none have been been written, at least not by me. This evening, with the closing scheduled for tomorrow, I am on the threshold of moving to my next home. Like the night before a wedding, the thought brings happiness and anticipation, as well so a bit of wonder in how everything has worked together for good. It is funny how you know. From my first entrance through the Chinese red front door, I felt that I was home. Since we have the apartment for another month, the transition can be a slow one. We, or someone, can clean and paint, and pretty up the place to enjoy for the next decade or so. When I get my computer set up, I will tell more.

Restful time

To be able to drive only a few short miles to sit by the ocean as the sun is setting is simply heaven. I am so glad to be here. Other people were drinking in the moments from the pier, the sand, or their porches. Seagulls soaring and diving around. Altogether beautiful. 

The South End

A glittering sea under the morning sun.

Four weeks

Four weeks ago tomorrow, much of our stuff was moved to Wilmington, to the apartment I rented back in March, and here it still sits. As with most things in life, the experience has been a mixed blessing. I admit however that I am beginning to lean a little toward restlessness and sometimes find myself yearning for that permanent (as much permanency as Earth allows) place I am hoping for. Waiting for a short sale house to be approved by a bank can test the limits of one's patience. Yet overall, I feel relaxed and satisfied here, and believe it will all work out as it is supposed to.

Outside the apartment today were some young men smoking and discussing sports and just making themselves at home. No doubt they are UNCW students, as Port City Radio warned their listeners today. This is the big return to school in the fall, moving in weekend. They may add to the sort of interesting mix of people here.

The weather. On Sunday the temp was 94 with a heat index of 104. Four days later, a new record low for this day was recorded. There is still a lot of rain, much of it coming in short bursts of huge drops. I heard today that all the rain has been hard on the shrimpers.  

Greenfield Lake

How I love Greenfield Lake. Let me count the ways.
The first is remembering when the thousands of azaleas were in full bloom in the spring and I was in a pretty dress with a big bow in the back. Second perhaps is being in a little boat in that murky water with my daddy as he rowed away from shore. Safe and happy. 

Now I can go anytime I want.

Today I got there about ten. I took my good macro camera hoping to capture a pic of a dragonfly, but though there were many zipping around the edge of the water and onto the shrubs and vines, none stopped to pose. It was a lovely morning anyway, and I could have stayed on and on. As for facts, there is a five mile sidewalk around the lake, a bike path, paddle boats (that are not used much), playgrounds, places to sit and swing, shelters for picnicking (and a couple of guys sleeping on the tables), and lots of really cool wildlife.

This morning I saw one of the alligators - being sneaky out there in the middle waiting for an unsuspecting sea gull to dive down - ducks, birds, lizards, butterflies, lots of turtles, and several colors of dragonflies. The cypress trees, and the live oaks with their swaying moss are so pretty.

I have just been run out of the office (wifi) as it is closing time, so I will post a quick picture or two while I sit on the porch.

fait accompli

A big round of applause...we have had  the closing on our Greenville home. Yippee! My realtor commented that people really like Greenville and nobody moves away from it. They just move toward somewhere else like I did.  Agree. I have no complaints about the past sixteen years there. The decision to move was made with much thought, and July 2012 we started working toward that goal.  What an exhausting, grueling year lay ahead. Honestly I think there were a million things to do, and by the grace of God, everything got done. On Wednesday, the house was emptied and cleaned and ready to pass on to the next owners. "We love the house," they said several times. And that made me feel very happy.