Outer Banks, Part 4: Ocracoke Beach

By the end of our day in Ocracoke Village, all of us were feeling tired and hot and worn out. We had another long ferry ride ahead of us, and were eager to get back to the landing to beat the crowd, and back to our rooms to bask in the glorious air-conditioning. So we almost didn't stop by the beach while we were on the island. But it seemed silly to visit and not even see them, so we pulled off the road in a fit of spontaneity, found a cut in the dunes, and followed the sound of the crashing waves until we came to the beach.

I'm really glad we stopped, because the Ocracoke beaches are probably the most beautiful beaches I've ever seen. In fact, they routinely make the list of top 10 beaches in America, and were named America's #1 best beach in 2007. I don't profess to be a great photographer, but looking at the photos I took the day we went, I think you can figure out why. Acres of golden sand (the Ocracoke beaches are WIDE beaches), water in all shades of blue and green, with shaving-cream whitecaps roaring in almost on top of one another (the Ocracoke beaches are also LOUD. The crashing surf, and all that).

And no people. The Ocracoke beaches (which span the whole eastern side of the island) are federally protected, which means no buildings (though there is a campsite and a lifeguarded beach toward the southern end of the island). There was nary even any a footprint on the sand, and only a few boats on the horizon and a few dune buggies way way off let us know we hadn't been accidentally shipwrecked on a deserted island. It felt like we were the only people for miles (maybe we were?)

We had all brought swimming gear with us, but we didn't end up swimming. It felt like enough to walk and explore. We waded, we jumped the waves, we collected shells (there were heaps of perfect untouched specimens), we found a tone of little coves and hollows in the dunes. We collected sea glass. And then we just sat for a while and stared out and out at the waves.

Next time we go, we're doing it right. Lawn chairs, a cooler of drinks, umbrellas, sunshades, toys, a good book (or two, or three). And we'll spend the whole day. If a scant hour on the beach can make me smile as I think of it two weeks later, a whole stretch of them together might alter my mood permanently.

Norview Community Center Splash Pad

I'm blogging about our afternoon at the Norview Community Center Splash Pad over at My Active Child today! So fun. We brought a bunch of kids ranging from 1 to 13, and everybody had a great time.

What are your favorite spraygrounds in the area? Let us know, we're building a list.

Halfway through the week! Be sure to do something nice for yourself today, to celebrate.

Pollinator Projection Project: Books about bees

Last week, as part of National Pollinator Week, I downloaded and signed the Xerces Society's Pollinator Protection Pledge. Basically, the pledge says that our family will take steps to make our backyard safe for populations of birds, bees, bats, and other animals that pollinate our plants. Around the world, but especially in the Southern US, pollinator populations are on the decline, which has a negative effect on almost every other part of the ecosystem (including, you know, the human part).

Over the course of the summer, we have a few projects planned -- planting some flowers, building nests, doing a little landscaping work -- that will hopefully be a step toward increasing pollinator populations in our area. I'm looking forward to sharing our work as we go!

Since we signed the pledge, Anouk and I have been looking for books that will introduce her to pollinators and give her some inkling of why we're doing this project (or at least the idea that these animals are our friends). We literally checked out dozens of books from the library last week -- we immersed ourselves in the world of bees, etc., for days. Below are some of our favorites out of that bunch.

Bee and Me by Elle J. McGuinness: When a young boy finds a bumblebee in his room, he hides in fear. However, once the bee tells him of all the good things she does (makes honey, spreads pollen), he changes his mind and the two become friends. The book features moving hologram-type illustrations which I personally find distracting but which Anouk (and every single one of her friends who sees them) loves, so what do I know? The regular old drawings are adorable enough on their own.

The Moonflower by Peter and Jean Loewer: When night falls, the moonflower vine blossoms and bats, owls, and moths come out and swoop from plant to plant. The depth of information on each species given makes it an ideal choice older kids but I like it for the younger ones because it mentions less well-known (read: cutesy) bugs and birds. A really beautiful and moody book.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon: The story of a baby bat adopted by a family of birds highlights the differences -- and the similarities -- among these animal populations. It's sort of hard to love a bat -- they're not really very cuddly animals -- but we love Stellaluna. 

The Hungry Hummingbird by April Pulley Sayre: A hummingbird is attracted to red flowers -- but soon learns that not every red thing will be as delicious. The reader follows as the bird flits through the garden, sampling each flower (and even a bird feeder) to find the best food. This is kind of quiet book -- meaning it might not have enough excitement to it to hold a very little one's attention the whole way through -- but the beautiful and very detailed drawings make us pick it up to leaf through several times a day (and each time we notice something new hiding out in the background).

The Butterfly Count by Sneed Collard III: We found this book in a thrift store and it's kind of a cheat -- it definitely wasn't one of Anouk's top picks but I loved it enough to put it on the list anyway (mommy veto power!). I definitely think it will appeal to kids just a little older than Anne. A little girl and her mother spend a day looking for the rare regal frittillary, her great-grandmother's favorite butterfly, which is rarely seen nowadays. Besides being really informative, the book is super sweet (especially when the find the butterfly in the old family burial plot -- "the last patch of prairie in the county that was never plowed.") Besides some pretty (if slightly dated?) illustrations, the book features instructions on how to participate in the North American Butterfly Count and how to plant a butterfly garden of your own. 

What If There Were No Bees? by Suzanne Slade: This book sets young readers in a grassland, and then shows them what it would look like if there were no bees, setting off a chain reaction in which certain species are blacked out on each successive page. Because it's all connected, by the end, of course, there's not a lot left standing. It's very visually effective and affecting, even for an adult, and very clear in its language and concept.

There are many other types of pollinators -- beetles, flies, ants, shrews, even the rain -- but we thought we would keep it simple to start with (also, there aren't as many picture-book options for the less photogenic pollinator contingent). An option for older kids that covers the whole contingent is the Pollinator Activity Book put together by the University of Illinois.

What are your favorite buzzy, busy books? Are you thinking of signing the pollinator protection pledge?

Outer Banks, Part 3: Ocracoke Village

While Anne and I were staying with family on Hatteras Island, we took a day trip to Ocracoke, probably the cutest and most interesting place in the whole Outer Banks. I've always been fascinated with Ocracoke, how remote it is, its laid-back, Key-West-type vibe, it's wild history as a WWII hotspot and a colonial-era pirate hangout.

Our journey began in Hatteras with a ferry ride that took us across the Pamlico Sound, followed by a short drive down the island to Ocracoke Village, which is situated at the very southern tip. All of Ocracoke Island, except for the village, is owned by the National Park Service, which means that it's as remote and pristine as you could hope for it to be. Nothing but dunes and grasses, and glimpses of the sea in between.

Our first stop, once in the village, was at Dajio, for a delicious seafood lunch. Then we explored: we went all the way around Silver Lake harbor and meandered some of the village's shady, unpaved lanes, poking our heads into the shops we passed. Our favorites were the Village Craftsman and the Ocracoke Community Store, a handmade art co-op featuring local artisans. A blackboard outside the latter proclaimed that a local resident was turning 90 that day -- the man himself was sitting on the porch to accept birthday wishes from passers-by, who rode by on bikes or in rented golf carts. (The streets on the island are narrow and mostly unpaved, and so those are the preferred ways of getting around; it's not really a car-friendly place).

We also paid a visit to the famous wild Banker pony pasture outside of town, but as it was 90+ degrees, the ponies themselves had decided to hunker down in their shelters for shade, like any smart mammal would. We didn't get to see as many as we wanted and we definitely didn't get any good photos of them. But as my 13-year-old cousin, child of the internet age, reminded me, I could just Photoshop them in to the pics we did get. (Sadly, my skills aren't quite up to that yet.) So...

This is the part you should definitely read if you are thinking about visiting Ocracoke: With the tourist season in full swing, and the waters in the Pamlico shoaling up as a result of recent storms, the Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry ride can take a little more time than anticipated. Wait times to get on one of the three free ferries can be upwards of two hours, and the ride, which is supposed to take 40 minutes, is actually more like an hour. My advice is to get there early, when the ferry opens at 5 AM, or else wait until the afternoon to cross and stay overnight on the island. I wish somebody had told us before we tried it -- we could have saved a lot of time (and sanity -- there's only so many times you can sing your toddler the "What do you do with a drunken sailor?" song before you feel like you might lose it).

But I would have done it all over again for the sight of the beautiful Ocracoke beaches. Stay tuned for the fourth (and final, and my favorite) installment of our OBX trip for more on that.

A midsummer night's lanterns

Today is the Summer Solstice -- the first day of summer and traditionally, the longest day of the year. In ancient times, it was celebrated with bonfires, as a gesture of gratitude for the sun's warmth and a way to mark the beginning of the dying of the year. Tonight, we'll celebrate the Solstice by throwing some steaks on the grill, and lighting a fire in the fire pit to make s'mores (a modern addition to the ritual.)

Earlier in the week, Anouk and I made some colorful lanterns to add to our festivities. We've been setting them out on the deck at night and enjoying them since.

The stained glass technique is one we found on The Artful Parent. It involves rubbing watercolor paintings with cooking oil, which makes them translucent when they dry. Then we took it another step by shaping our oiled paintings into cylinders and gluing them into place (tape doesn't stand a chance on the slick paper). We slid mason jars into them to stabilize them, and dropped flameless candles inside to light up our designs.

Such a simple project -- but one that we've really enjoyed.

Happy weekend! And happy Solstice.

12 in 12 (June 2013)

As a stay-at-home mom, I'm often asked exactly what it is that I do all day. I have a hard time answering this question a lot of the time -- there's not really a pithy way to say that you ran around like a chicken with its head cut off and then sat and sorted miniature socks for two hours. Also, as I come up on the one-year anniversary of this blog, I find that I miss keeping a personal journal sometimes. I don't really have time for both and the latter really falls by the wayside. I miss the simple act of documenting, and reflecting.

So when Darcy of No Monsters in My Bed and Rebecca of Not-So-SAHM began a 12 photos in 12 hours challenge, I knew right away that I wanted to join them. (We're trying to make this a regular monthly feature, so if you want in, please let me know so we can all link up). Here's how an average Tuesday looks in my house -- so far, I think the main thing I've found to reflect on is that I take a LOT of pictures of my kid. Luckily, she knows how to work it.

8:15 AM: Breakfast. A. has asked for plums. So that's what we have (with a couple of scrambled eggs apiece). Turns out it's sort of hard to take pictures of plums. Who knew?

9:30 AM: Anouk has picked her own outfit today, which means a skirt from the ironing basket and fancy shoes.

10:00 AM: Coffee break with daddy, before he heads back to work (AKA his home office upstairs). Having a work-at-home dad is the bestest.

11:15 AM: We head to Kid Zone at the Pretlow library to meet up with some friends. The library has a new puppet theatre and a ton of puppets to go with it. Through careful Game of Thrones-style finagling, the parents manage to prevent the kids from going to war over it.

12 PM: A quick stop by the thrift store on the way home (it's the day they bring the new furniture out). We're sorely tempted by this $90 antique cash register but where would we put it? And what would Daddy say if we brought it home?

Not tempted by: the army of creepy ceramic kewpie dolls with BLANK EYES. Who what when where WHY IN HEAVEN'S NAME?

1:30 PM: Working in the garden after lunch -- we have a bunch of cherry tomatoes that need picking. Also a bumper crop of weeds.

3 PM: Anouk is down for a nap; I snatch an hour to work on a sewing project. 



4:15 PM: Getting dinner on the stove - chicken curry with peas and this Romanesco cauliflower, which we got in our weekly CSA box. Yum, fractals are delicious.

5:30 PM: It starts to rain just as I'm leaving for yoga.

8:30 PM: Dinner has been eaten, Anouk's been put to bed, and at least some of the dishes have been washed. Time to relax with a book or two. And a cup of fully-caffeinated tea that I will regret in an hour or so. But in the meantime -- ahhhh.

How was your day?

Outer Banks, Part 2: Hatteras Island

After our stint on Bodie Island last week, James had to go home to work, but Anouk and I headed south to Hatteras Island to meet up with family. We stayed in Buxton -- about midway down the island, a good middle point right smack dab between Pea Island and Hatteras Village. It was only a little over an hour away from where we'd been staying in Kitty Hawk, but the feel of the place was totally different. The further south we drove, the more of a laid-back small country town vibe we encountered. But there were still tons of things to do and see.

We started each day of our trip with breakfast at the Orange Blossom Bakery & Cafe. I feel like this is notable, because when I'm on vacation, there's not a lot that can get me out of my PJs and on the road before 10 or so. However, if you want to get one of the Orange Blossom's apple uglies (giant, delicious apple fritters), you need to get there before they sell out. So we got up bright and early, and off we went.

^^ They call them apple uglies for a reason. And that reason is deception.

Another must-see is the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, which has the distinction of being the tallest lighthouse in the United States. In fact, it was so much fun that our group visited twice. The view from the top is supposed to be fantastic (the my cousins swore they could see for miles), but the climb is arduous, especially in hot weather -- akin to climbing a 12-story building with no air conditioning. Kids under 42" can't go to the top, children under 12 have to be accompanied by an adult, and during the height of the season, wait times to climb can be 30-60 minutes. Unfortunately, Anouk and I had to wait down below, but luckily there was enough to see around the grounds and in the museum that we didn't feel cheated (the exhibit on how the lighthouse was moved over a half-mile from its original location was truly fascinating.)

And of course, there was the beach. The beach! Just a few short steps from our front door -- we could hear the waves all night, even with the windows closed. It almost seems inaccurate to say that we went to the beach while we were in town because it didn't seem like we were ever very far away from it. Wherever we looked, there was golden sand and deep blue water. Anouk was still a little afraid of the water, but the big girls and I jumped right in. And we taught cousin D. to body surf -- her first time ever in the ocean. She took to it like a pro (and those aren't beginner-type waves).

A few more notes about places to go in the Buxton (and surrounding) area: Conner's Supermarket, which looks like a standard grocery store but actually has a great selection of organic and local foods; The Captain's Table, which has the best Hatteras-style clam chowder I've ever tasted; Uglie Mugs Coffee Shop and Haoles Sushi a few miles north in Avon; Buxton Village Books, which offers a great selection of books about the Outer Banks; Buxton Cemetery (make sure you have four-wheel drive). And I also highly suggest just turning down one of the many roads off of the sound side of Highway 12 around about sunset. Because you might just get a view like this:

And that's something definitely worth seeing.