In case you want to know what I did last week…here are the pics I promised

So, last week there was a legendary weather event on the East Coast. After month2 months of drought, we had back to back rain storms that unleashed a deluge up and down the East Coast. Weather records were broken–Philly saw over 10 inches of rain in one day, while some parts of North Carolina recorded over 22 inches of rain in one day.

Last week was also the week we decided to go on vacation….in North Carolina….and Virgina. For the 1st part of the week, we joined my stepfather, siblings and other family at a beach house in Nag’s Head, NC. It’s the same place we went last year. After hanging out in Nag’s Head, the mister and I decided to head to Skyline Drive for our honeymoon. Not a 2nd honeymoon, but our 1st honeymoon. When we got married, I was 8 months pregnant and in the years since it just never seemed to be the right time to go on. Now that Indie Fixx Jr. is 19, it seemed like now the time was right. The minute we made that decesion, we should have realized it was going to rain all week…

Never ones to dwell on the negative, we made the best of it and made our own fun. Here are some pictures.

{{Aren’t we adorable? Me and Mr. Indie Fixx at the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. Since it rained most of our time in Nag’s Head, we had to find other ways to occupy ourselves besides the pool and the ocean.}}

{{I loved how this picture of the seahorses turned out.}}

{{ I don’t know what they were looking at, something only visible to turtles.}}

{{A stormy Nag’s Head beach. We only had to walk down our own private boardwalk and stairs to the beach. Too bad it rained almost the whole time…}}

{{A lone surfer taking advantage of the stormy surf at Nag’s Head.}}

Click the more link below to see many more pics, including some deer…and a chipmunk!

{{Looking along the beach at the neighbors.}}

{{ I spent some time in this hammock until the blowing rain sent me inside.}}

{{My adorable nieces hanging out in my room at the beach house.}}

{{Me and C hung out on the beach a bit together. She kept calling everything adorable after I told her that she and her sister in their jammies was just so adorable!}}

{{A last look at the waves at Nag’s Head}}

{{ After spending some time in Nag’s Head, NC, we headed to Charlottesville, VA and Skyline Drive. Here is Mr. Indie Fixx at Escafe in Charlottesville. He said it was the best food we had eaten since leaving Delaware. There was not much to eat for a couple of almost vegans in Nag’s Head, NC…}}

{{A view of Main St. Downtown Charlottesville, VA. I really liked Charolottesville and think I could live there. What do you think, anyone from Carlottesville care to chime in? It seems like a bigger college town than the one I live in, but with a Whole Foods.}}

{{Butterflies at Monticello, the home of Thomas Jefferson in Charlottesville, VA.}}

{{There were lots of exotic flowers at Monticello. Do you know what these are? }}

{{ The back view of Monticello. }}

{{ The front porch of Monticello.}}

{{Some friendly passersby took a photo of the two of us at Monticello. People were so nice in the south…very weird to get used to. I’m used to brusque northerners….it was a bit unsettling, I must confess.}}

{{Don’t know what these are either}}

{{ More Monticello gardens.}}

{{ The 1st day we were in VA, it rained. That was the sad story of our whole trip. But, by the 2nd day, the rains were gone and it was sunny, windy and cool. Here I am at our 1st overlook along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park }}

{{Honeybees were everywhere!}}

{{We decided to do some hiking and chose to hike down to the Rose River Falls along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. A 2.6 mile 720 foot climb along the Rose River. It almost killed me! I’m used to flat Delaware!}}


{{ Mr. Indie Fixx!}}

{{me! Do I look tired? I was, that trail was a little outside my comfort zone. Go me, though!}}

{{A chipmunk!!! I don’t know whether she or I were more startled by each other’s sudden appearance on the trail. }}

{{ On the way to our hike, we stopped at the Big Meadow along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. View from the Big Meadow Visitor’s Center}}

{{ Looking from the Big Meadow the Visitor’s Center}}

{{ I think this is a Tulip Tree Moth. Anyone know for sure? The Big Meadow along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.}}

{{ A view from the car winding along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park.}}

{{ At dusk, we returned to the Big Meadow to watch the deer feed. They are so tame, since there is no hunting in the park and they are used to human visitors.}}

{{Our shadows are taller than our souls. Do you know what song that lyric is from?}}

{{The sunset was breathtaking. On the way to Skyland for dinner. Love that name.}}

{{Our room at the Blue Ridge Mountain Inn. The hot tub with the view of Saddleback Mountain was exquisite! }}

{{The dining room at the Blue Ridge Mountain Inn. Breakfast was okay, but the view was amazing.}}

{{ The beginnings of dusk at the Blue Ridge Mountain Inn.}}

{{At the Big Meadow, a doe decided to bound by me, not ten feet in front of me. That and the chipmunk sighting made the whole trip for me…you know I LOVE woodland creatures.}}

{{ Checking each other out. She was a real sweetie.}}

13 comments

  1. Wow, looks like you had a great time. I just did a pillow design with turtles – they were looking up as well

  2. I grew up at the base of Shenandoah National Park in Rappahannock County. I still live near the mountains just a bit further south in Roanoke, but pictures of home are so nice to see! Thanks for sharing them! Charlottesville is a great town; after my parents divorced my mom moved to Madison, and we spent a lot of time in Charlottesville. If I were to ever move back towards NoVa that’s where I’d go.

  3. I used to live in Charlottesville as a teenager. I love it and always said I wanted to move there when I grew up. We life a couple towns over in Fredericksburg right now, but I visit C-ville alot because I have friends there.

    I love that C-ville is quiet but not dead. It is such a perfect mix of old world downtown quaintness and rolling country hills. Every time I drive out for a weekend I want to stay.

  4. Tricia – you made my day when wrote that my blog makes you ‘giddy with joy’!

    Marsha – It was very weird how friendly people were, that would take some getting used if we ever moved in the south. We live in a college town (Univ of De) and love the cultural and nightlife options that brings with, not to mention lots of veg and ethnic restaurants. it really seemed like Charlottesville is a bigger version of our town.

    Deena, Adina & Christine – thx for the plant id. i know someone would know. there were lots of different than I’m used to plants at monticello, but then again it’s a different zone.

    Tracie – I love skyline drive and have going theire since i was a wee little one. we talk all the time about moving down that way.

  5. Thank you all for sharing my vacation with me. It was splendid, even with the rain and even with all the PB and J we had to eat!

  6. My family just moved to Richmond, VA after living in the Shenandoah Valley for 17 years! Thanks for the pictures. I miss the mountains so very much. My sister in law lives outside of Charlottesville and loves it. I am hoping to get back up on Skyline next spring. It’s a beautiful place to hike.

  7. the red plant from Monticello is amaranth (or the more dramatic name – love lies bleeding). What a beautiful trip – especially chipmunks and deer 🙂

  8. Charlottesville is a great town. I’ve considered moving there myself! It’s a gorgeous area.

    Those red, droopy flowers are Love Lies Bleeding. They are an typical cottage flower. I love Monticello.

  9. The photo of the plant listed under the caption “Don’t know what these are either” looks to be a Mimosa.

  10. Thanks for plugging Charlottesville, VA! It really is a great little place. I live just outside of the city in Albemarle County. The town is rich in culture. The historical sites alone make it an interesting place. If you’re looking for tons of bowling alleys, mini-golfs, and night clubs, this town is far from it. To its benefit, there is a wonderful Performing Arts Center, the John Paul Jones Arena, multiple vineyards and the infamous University of Virginia. The people down here are, for the most part, kind and generous. It is a big, almost creepy, thing to get used to. People wave to you from their yards as you drive by. Neighbors help each other. It’s a nice change as pace from the hustle bustle atmosphere of a larger city. It’s a great place to raise a family or just to visit. I’m glad you enjoyed your time here. Come on back anytime!

  11. Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks now, and thought it was about time I commented 🙂
    Such lovely photos! And it’s wonderful that you and Mr. Indie Fixx finally had your first honeymoon, so sweet <3

    PS The things I find on your blog made me giddy with joy. Keep it up!

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