Vacation Time!! Day 3!

We are really making our way around! On Day 3, we decided to head to another town that seemed to have a lot of things going on...Beaufort, NC (pronounced Bo-fort) What a quaint little town!

We started out the day making a trip to the NC Maritime Museum. 

If you have children, this is a great place to visit. It is free (donations welcomed) What drew me to visiting this museum was reading that there are relics from Black Beard the Pirate's Ship, Queen Anne's Revenge, that are on display. 

A few years back, QAR was discovered sunken in the Bogue Inlet. The ship has not come to the surface, but many items have been pulled from the ship, cleaned, preserved and put on display. 

Aren't these dishes cool? 

Black Beard seems pretty proud of his stuff....

This was a fun museum for the kids since everything was hands on and even offered a scavenger hunt. My boys were in heaven!

Even the littlest one was searching...

Up front, they had a costume area that was perfect for pics with the kids. Who wants to be Black Beard and who wants to be his pirate dude friend?

Guess Reiner won Mr. Black Beard!

After our visit to the museum, we were famished. We had read about a really neat place with yummy food and a cool story...Clawson's. 

This was the "General Store" back in the day and still has the setups on the inside. Original cash registers, shoe shine area....even the post office! My daughter thought it was a jail...

With full bellies and a wonderful time had, including having a nice couple pay for my meal, we hit the boardwalk in Beaufort. It was a very beautiful walk along looking at boats and flowers. I had read about Carrot Island that was across the water. On a good day, you could see the wild horses. These wild horses are said to be the offspring of horses that many, many years ago were shipwrecked and swam to shore. It must have been a good day, look what we saw!!

It was amazing watching them walk right alongside the beach goers. Very tame for being wild! They share their beach nicely.

We walked to the new General Store and grabbed some ice cream. It was so hot out!

We found the car pretty quickly after for some much needed air conditioning, but our Black Beard Adventure wasn't over just yet. I had read about a place called Hammock House, which was a place that the pirate would stay in when he made his way to town. 

It is called Hammock House because many, many years ago, the water used to come right up to the porch and Black Beard was able to tie his boat right to the rails which made the house appear to resemble a hammock the way it stood above the water. Legend has it that one of Black Beard's wives stayed here with him once and the next morning before he left, he hung her from the tree in the front yard. On certain nights, it is said that you can hear her screaming....

We'll just drive away before night fall, just to be safe...

While browsing the web for more ideas in this area, I came across a roadside attraction....The Old Burying Ground. This was an interesting find!

A map is available at the entrance and markers are located near the coolest graves....did I just call a grave cool?

You be the judge....

This is the gravestone of a boat captain who wanted to be buried with his cannon. This is the very cannon from one of his ships.

Rum Barrel Girl Grave. This little girl was promised by the father to the mother that after taking her on a trip, he would return her. When she passed away on the trip from an illness, he didn't want to break his promise to the mother so he put her in a rum barrel and brought her home to bury her. Many trinkets people left here.

British Naval Officer who insisted on being buried standing up so he wouldn't have to remove his boots. This is why there is a square cement pad. Buried saluting his majesty.

Glass Casket Baby. A baby that was buried in a glass casket. When vandals tried to dig her up, they saw her body in tact right through the glass...when they attempted to open the glass, her body disintegrated.

Onto Atlantic Beach!

Waves were huge!!

The kids enjoyed the water and of course the sand. They always like to dig the deepest hole possible.

Don't forget to grab some water for packing the sand.....

Hey!! Whose bucket of water caught a fish?!!! 

Get that poor guy back into the ocean!! Stat!

My littlest is finally getting used to the ocean. Strike a pose!

A nice relaxing end to a fun day for all....

Til next time....

Vacation Time!! Day 2!

Now, what better greeting to the beach can you get than this? My mother-in-law drew it on an old chalkboard she keeps hung in her dining room....just a way to brighten the space...and our day!

After a large lunch, homemade by Greg's parents, we headed out for the day. When I am on vacation, I lounge around, sleep in...no rush :)

On the road between destinations, we love to find unique and/or pretty things. Just crossing over the 

Emerald Isle bridge, we found a few....

This gorgeous field of sunflowers begins at the light in Cedar Point and goes almost fully to the bridge. Want to come back and get some photos here when we time. How about these islands in the middle of the sound? Just so gorgeous!!

There is a huge (and I mean HUGE) Pier in Emerald Isle. Bogue Inlet Pier did not disappoint! It is probably the longest pier we have ever been on. Isn't it just amazing?!! Not very often that we end up on this side of the ocean.

With the area being right next to 

Swansboro, there are a lot of local fishermen there to grab their catches of the day that they will sell to the locals. I am a big fan of those fishermen. Last visit, we had fresh caught shrimp, grilled, for lunch. Yum!! So, being pregnant, that long walk seemed to take forever and a day. It was so windy too! My daughter took on a new hairstyle pretty quickly! 

Matlyn just doesn't seem to be tall enough when she needs to be...

No problem....it allows for some time with Daddy and a great photo while we are at it! We stayed for awhile and then once I had enough wind in me, made it back down the pier. 

Had to get a pretty shot of my 6 year old first...

After making a quick stop for sunglasses (and a hairbrush after that pier,) we headed to the beach for the evening. It was like a bathtub....water felt great! 

My 2 oldest boys always hang together in the ocean. Yep, they're buds <3 p="">

Hmm....Matlyn is daring herself to get in. You'll be fine....go ahead :)

Don't forget the huge sandbox (as my 2 year old would say)

Yeah, she loves it. At this age, she really doesn't go into the water which is just fine with me. I can relax and just enjoy :)

Until next time...

Happy 21st Anniversary!!!

July 15th, Greg and I celebrated our 21st Wedding Anniversary. Amazing that it has been that long, but here we are...almost 8 kids later, numerous house pets, many cars, and a few house moves.

Over the years, we have always celebrated with a dinner for 2. In the beginning, we started small, but over the years and many job promotions later, we are able to afford more. For many years, we chose The Century Inn as our place of celebration. Sadly, they burned down this time last year....our wonderful place and many memories in a matter of minutes went up in smoke. We have been patiently awaiting the rebuild, but it is taking much longer than we could have ever expected....it just sits boarded up awaiting its fate. 

We searched and searched for a new place that would be even just a bit comparable. Not only do we love "chef inspired" dishes, but a nice atmosphere. We made reservations for a place in Uniontown, Pa known as "Generations"....an upscale restaurant that is located in an old house that dates back to the 1840's. 

The chefs are an older married couple, Ann and Ron Popovec, taught to cook by their culinary graduate son added to self teaching themselves along the way. Their daughter serves as a chef and waitress. The restaurant seats only around 32+ and is only open 5pm-9pm, Mon-Sat so reservations are definitely a must! 

Walking into the house, you are welcomed by framed photos of ancestors and a photo of the original house and its story. The front 2 rooms (most likely a living room and parlor previously) are the dining areas. The decor consists of wallpaper giving a feel for times past mixed with contemporary ceiling fixtures and seating. A small contemporary oil lamp adds ambiance to each table. 

The menu is not too big, but offers many choices just the same. My husband and I are "course eaters" when we go fancy and were able to do just fine with this menu. 

For our First Course, we chose the Sicilian Tomato Bread. 6 pieces are included in this yummy appetizer! 

You don't want to pass up the "Soup du Jour" as your Second 

Course. Tonight, it was the Chicken Pastini.

We each had a cup. Greg says that he has never had soup so similar to his Italian grandmother's soup until now.

Third Course, a fresh Side Salad that is large enough to call a regular salad. With soft carrot sticks, grape tomato halves, black olives and beet triangles along with their house vinaigrette, you get a wonderful bite of greens!

Our main dishes were our Fourth Course. 

I chose the Chicken Maria. Sauteed Chicken Breast with Sun Dried Tomatoes, Garlic, Basil and Wine topped with Feta Cheese. 

I chose the Fingerling Potatoes as my side. 

Greg chose the Chicken Parmesan.

He picked the Penne Pasta as his accompanying side dish. 

Let me just take a minute to bring up the fresh baked Italian Bread served at dinner. Thick, soft, awesome!!

Fifth and Final Course....Dessert. 

Now, for anyone who knows me, knows that I am not a raspberry fan at all, in any way. I don't like them in berry form, ice cream or pudding form...I just don't like raspberries. I decided to try the Raspberry Creme' Brulee' as my dessert. Can you believe it? 

Mark my words...this is one of the best desserts I have ever had in my life! Just created this week by the chef, I'm sure it will end up being a favorite. Subtle raspberry mixed with the wonders that are Creme' Brulee'. 

I was surprised that Greg passed up the White Chocolate Cheesecake and went with the Lemon Creme Cake with a Meringue Crust (I think he wanted to share and knows I don't like Cheesecake) One more dessert to add to the favorites list. So light and fluffy  :)

At the end of our meal, we were greeted by the wonderful chefs. Ann spoke with us on a personal level about her family as well as ours and told us how she went from owning a pizza place to this marvelous restaurant. 

We are very excited to return to this establishment! If you are looking for a nice place to go on a special occasion, give them a try....you won't be disappointed!

Vacation Time!! Day 1!

 Since we had to put so much money into getting our pool going again this year, we decided to make our summer vacation back to the Crystal Coast to visit with my in-laws. It is actually a very nice trip.

 When my in-laws moved closer to home from FL (their original choice of retirement), they built a house that was purposely to house us for our visits. Their bedroom is on the right side of the house and we have a whole wing on the left for our big family. They love to make us home cooked meals which my hubby misses very much with them being so far away now....plus, we have a few nights of non-eat out nights which means more money in our pocket :)

 Our house is complete madness the day that we leave. You would think after taking a few trips a year every year for the past 21 years, we would get everything packed and out the door we would go. Yeah, right! The night before, everything is in the suitcases and closed up. The next morning, you would think we were going to a deserted island somewhere and the kids have to throw in everything possible to make this stay as pleasant as humanly possible. Cords for electronics, blankets, pillows (don't forget that huge plush unicorn that my 6 year old daughter insists on having) Finally, house sitter arrives, 7 kids have been counted, prayers have been said and we are on our way!

 Roadside attractions along the way and while we are there makes this an interesting, fun and most importantly, bargain trip!

 First stop,,,.New River Gorge, FREE.

 My husband and I have been here many times, but only the first 4 kids have visited. My oldest son, Cameron even stopped here this year as part of his High School Band Trip, We took a walk down the ramp for a wonderful view. Got a few shots and was very tempted to head down the large amount of stairs for a closer pic, but being 30 weeks pregnant doesn't allow me much strength to head back to the top.

 Thank goodness for my very healthy (and in shape) sons who took my camera down and got a few for me. The gift shop had postcards which is always nice. The story behind the postcards...when my first son was born,  he wanted me to buy some sort of stuffed toy for an outrageous price that would surely make its way into the yard sale bin for a dime. I compromised by buying him a postcard with a photo of the area we visited and wrote any comments (funny things he said while there, things he liked, etc..) on the other side along with the date we went. This way, he would look back one day and have memories to share. He ended up loving the idea and it has since become a souvenir for everywhere we go. Only it used to be a .49 souvenir and now it has turned into a $3.50 souvenir. Still better than a $5 whoopie cushion with a pic of a monkey on the side....

 We decided to continue our love for Geocaching and grabbed our first one while at New River Gorge. Reiner, my 10 year old very good at finding and grabbed this one pretty quick.

 Second stop....Tamarack, FREE.

 It has been years since we have been here. I believe that Greg and I are the only ones who have been here so this was a first for all of the kids. Besides wanting the kids to see this unique place full of WV handmade art, there was a "Roadside Attraction" to check out. This one was kind of different....being both funny and with a story. "Armpit Sniffing Statue" 1995 bronze set in a boulder commemorates the Hawks Nest Tunnel Disaster. Hundreds of workers succumbed to silicosis after digging a 3-mile long water diversion tunnel in starting in 1927. The shirtless figure appears to be sniffing his own armpit. What a crazy statue! 

My son is spot on, what do you think?

We love the beauty that comes with Tamarack, inside and out! Aren't these glass pieces gorgeous?!!

Love this metal tree....not sure $23,000 love, but still love, no doubt!

We even had the pleasure of coming across a few paintings done by a high school friend of mine, Seth Hill and wooden furniture made by a friend of Greg.

Here was a bonus on a hot day...a fountain!!! 

Made a nugget run at Burger King and back on the road to our in-laws in the Crystal Coast. 

Swansboro or bust!!!

Book Review: Fast Food Maniac by John Hein

  

 Book Review: Fast Food Maniac by John Hein 

Book Summary: The beloved personality from The Howard Stern Show celebrates American fast food, exploring the history and secret menu items of both national and regional chains, ranking everything from burgers and fries to ice and mascots, and offering his own expert tips on where to go and what to order.  
 
Jon Hein is the ultimate fast food maniac, and in this book he draws on his extensive knowledge of, and love for, both nationwide chains and regional gems, from McDonald’s and KFC to In-N-Out Burger and Carvel. He digs into their origin stories; reveals secret menu items; includes best lists for everything from fried chicken and shakes to connoisseur concerns such as straws and biscuits; takes a nostalgic look back at the best giveaways, slogans, and uniforms; and even provides a battle-tested drive-thru strategy. With behind-the-counter looks at places like the Dunkin' Donuts headquarters and Nathan's original hot dog stand, Fast Food Maniac is the definitive, cross-country guide to some of America's best-loved guilty pleasures.

My Review: I am a lover of these kinds of books so I was very excited to see one offered! The history behind fast food restaurants is one that I would have never thought to look at, but now that it is all in one place, I am was excited to get started! Finding out where restaurants originated, how certain foods came to be, etc....just one more brain talent to possess...is that a saying, "Brain talent?" I am not in in any way a history buff....these are the kinds of thing that I enjoy. The kind of history that no one thinks as history. Makes me want to get to each one of these place and look at them in a brand new light....and munch on some of their yummies while I am at it. Great book!

Book Review: 365 Devotions for Peace by Cheri Cowell

Book Review: 365 Devotions for Peace by Cheri Cowell

Book Summary: The Christian life isn’t exempt from times of difficulty, strain, and worry. But God didn’t intend for you to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. He offers an amazing gift to those who fix their eyes on Him: peace.

This 365-day devotional will help you release your worries to God and discover the peace that only He can give. Each devotion offers an encouraging Bible verse and closes with a prayer to help you find peace in the midst of any circumstance.

Spending each day with the Author of peace will bring a restful and refreshing year.

My Review:

I was so excited to be offered a devotional from "BookLook Bloggers" in exchange for my honest review :)

The book came in a hardback copy in a gorgeous color! Flowers on the front along with the Peace dove already put me at ease in my mind before I had even opened the book. A satin ribbon attached to the inside made it easy to mark your place so you are ready for the next day. Because this is a daily devotional for 1 year, of course I have not made it all the way through, not even close. However, I have been enjoying reading one daily and look forward to waking up to the next one to get my day going in the right direction. Although the book has a feminine look to the outside, the devotional is written for anyone who wants to read. The titles of each devotion are a lot of fun, plenty of insight on the topic in passage and a nice prayer at the end. I am thoroughly enjoying this book!