What have you given up and what have you taken up this year?
Given Up: (bad for the soul)
Taken Up: (good for the heart)
After 8 weeks, I see red. With 6 plants (all different varieties), this should be a very red summer.
This past June, we joined Suzy's parents for a week in Hampstead ("ham instead"), North Carolina. We stayed with Suzy's Aunt and Uncle, who own (and built) a beautiful house on the water, right off the intercoastal waterway.
What's there to do in North Carolina? Well, that's what I wondered too. If you love the sand and the sun, the beach and boating, birds and trees, fishing and crabbing, eating and relaxing, you'll make out just fine.
We were doubly fortunate to have Suzy's cousin, wife and three children right down the road. Katherine and Vincent had a blast with their 2nd(?) cousins.
Best wild life sighting ... the birds. I've never seen such a variety. Blue herons, white herons and even a bald eagle to name a few.
The Atlantic Ocean is terrific. Swimming in the Pacific is no easy feat. Though Southern California has great weather year round, the water temperature never hits 70. The Atlantic is a heated swimming pool with 80 degrees. I've never spent so much time in salt water.
In short, North Carolina was a blast. We hope to come back real soon now. (But don't be strangers to California ... we owe you all a lot and can't wait to see you again.)
