Dawn's Report: "My Summer Vacation"

Today's post is Dawn sharing her memories of her visit with us in Hatteras.

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7 Dec 2008

There is nothing in this world as valuable to me as family and friends, and just as my family grows over time, so do my friends.

A couple of years ago, I was introduced to a message board unlike any others that I had been a member of (www.obxconnection.com, aka the OBC). Over time, I have gotten to know many people who share the same interest as I … a love for the Outer Banks of North Carolina … some only through their messages posted and some, I have actually met in person! Living so close to the Outer Banks has been very beneficial for me ... being only a couple hours away, it doesn't take long to "scoot down" if work and finances cooperate.

This past October (2008), I had the fortunate opportunity of meeting one of those wonderful ladies in person. For a long time, I only knew her as YMINIowa (most of us on the board refer to her as "Y") … she had done a lot of genealogy research on my family and found all sorts of information … I knew she was a great person right from the get go. I was very surprised and very honored when she invited me to spend a few days with her and her family and friends in Hatteras. I had never stayed in Hatteras (my family and I have always vacationed in Nags Head), so I thought it would be a great experience AND I’d get to meet another member of the board! So, I graciously accepted and made arrangements.

I was a little nervous about staying in a new area (being a creature of habit, change doesn’t come easy) and staying with people I had never met. But the day I arrived, I was greeted at the door by Lynnea … and of course, I started out on a good note by pronouncing her name wrong! She politely corrected me and then, it was like we had known each other for years. She welcomed me in her home (it was hers for the two weeks she was there), and promptly called for Darrin and Darcie to come help me unload my car. I met her friends and the rest of her family and never once felt uncomfortable. They were all very welcoming and a joy to be around. And yes, Alexa is just as pretty as her pictures.

I had promised to cook dinner for them the first night I was there. I had brought shrimp that my son had caught and soft crabs that my husband had caught (the majority of my family are commercial fishermen), and I had other side dishes planned. I’ve become so accustomed to cooking for a crowd and having the kitchen all to myself that I wouldn’t let anyone help … I hope they didn’t think that was rude. The girls looked on as I fried the shrimp and soft crabs and asked questions about preparation. They seemed a little surprised at how simple it can be. That’s me though … the more simple, the better! Dinner was a big hit, and I was very relieved.

As Lynnea has already posted in her blog, Thursday was an eventful day. We had lunch with Eve … what a beautiful person she is. And then, there was the party that night … everyone seemed to have a great time, and the food was simply delicious! It was great to meet Julie Schagwin and her hubby … I’m so glad they could come. I was hoping more members of the OBC could have made it, but they just weren’t able to do so.

Friday started out a dreary, rainy day … and continued to be that way the entire day. I walked to the beach and took a few pictures, picked up a couple shells and stared out into the ocean for a few minutes … even though it was a little angry that day, I still felt that peace of mind that I always do when I’m at the beach. Back at the house, it was so much fun watching everyone scurrying and sneaking around to prepare for Levi’s exciting treasure hunt. Everyone had their own assigned task, and it all came together like clockwork. After the treasure hunters left on their journey, Lynnea and I decided it would be a “lazy day” … there always has to be one of those when you’re on vacation … right? Right! I caught up on some reading, took a nap, and did a little crocheting … what a wonderful day! When everyone else returned from their big excursion, Levi was just glowing! He promptly displayed his treasures for all to see and could hardly contain himself. What a memory they all made possible for this young man!

Saturday was another dreary day with rain on and off (mostly on) all day. I coaxed Lynnea into taking a trip with me up to Nags Head. Hatteras is very nice and very laid back, and I loved being there. I am ever so grateful to Lynnea for inviting me to experience “the island” … but as soon as I got to Nags Head, I felt like I was right at home. I guess after sixteen years of vacationing there, it IS like home. Anyway, we made a few stops, did a little shopping, checked out the ocean (and yes, it was still quite angry), and made one last stop before heading back to Hatteras. In all the years I have been vacationing in Nags Head, I had never stopped in at Sam & Omie’s until this year. I plan on making it a regular stop from now on. I love that place!

Then came moving day … I always hate moving day no matter where I am on the Outer Banks. It means I have to very soon get back to this thing they call reality … who ever came up with that one anyway? But, I guess it’s the little breaks in between that helps us handle it a little better. Before heading home though, Lynnea and I made a stop in Manteo to meet up with a couple more members of the message board. We had lunch and then were taken on an amazing tour of Manteo with a quick trip over to Mann’s Harbor. Manteo is such a quaint little town that doesn’t get near the recognition it should. It is absolutely beautiful and packed so full of history. After our tour, we were treated to a wonderful dinner prepared by our tour guide who also set up dinner … with a movie! How cool is that? I hated to have to leave, but it was getting late and I had a two hour drive ahead of me.

The entire trip is one that I will never forget … Hatteras Island, the fun, the memories, the people, especially the people. I am so thankful for all the friendships I have made by way of the OBC message board, and as I said before, I am so grateful to Lynnea for inviting me along and giving me the opportunity to experience life “on island time.“ She is one special lady, and I look forward to seeing her again this year. Dawn aka beachbum98_98

Last Day at Lightship

Vacation Day 16

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Jennifer, Darrin, Darcie & the little ones shipped out early in the morning to return to their respective homes. All of them dawdled on the trip north, lingering on the Outer Banks until the last minute. All of them arrived late for their flights. Jennifer po'd numerous travelers by pushing to the front of the car rental line, returning her key & Darrin and Darcie replayed the "Home Alone" scene, running through the airport, dragging luggage and children. It's hard to leave island time and return to the real world.

Dawn & I decided to head north of the Bonner and do a bit more shopping. Actually, Dawn was shopping, I was watching. Since I would have no room in my limited amount of baggage, all purchases would need to be smaller than a ....... gnat.

Our first stop was Indian Town Gallery. I was still looking for a piece of sea glass jewelry as a Christmas present for Katie, in hopes it would bring pleasant memories of her stay whenever she donned it. Numerous jewelry stores, galleries and gift shops had been scoured by me - unfortunately most sea glass in jewelry sold on the Outer Banks, is not native to the Outer Banks. (Why is that?) And, I wanted sea glass found on Hatteras beaches. Indian Town Gallery

had a wonderful assortment of sea glass baubles by Shawn Franklin. I found exactly what I was looking for ..... delicate, dangly earrings with blue & green serendipity set in gold. Perfect!

Our next stop was The Farmer's Daughter in Nags Head. As was usual for the time of year, a big sale was in progress. There were many items I would have liked to buy at great prices, but no way to get it back to Iowa. I pulled a long face as Dawn merrily shopped away.

Dawn wanted to go to The Christmas Mouse, place I've never shopped before. Someday I hope to have 2 Christmas trees during the season ..... one traditional, the other beach themed. Now, I certainly know where to go to buy beachy ornaments! Again, I exited a store with no purchases, unlike Dawn. (Actually, I was hoping that we'd have time to go to the Christmas Store in Manteo the next day, but it was not to be.)

Heavy into the shopping groove, Dawn headed to the Outlet Mall, another place I'd never been. As she shopped for a blouse for an upcoming wedding, I headed to the kitchen store. As soon as I walked in, I knew I'd be dropping some $$. I found kitchen towels and dish cloths that I really liked, but they would take up so much room in my suitcase! Hmmmm ..... maybe I could remove the wines I had planned on taking back home and substitute the towels. It was a sacrifice, but one I made for the betterment of my cooking experiences. Bye, bye vino.

Having completed our shopping, we decided it was cocktail time, so it was off to

We sat at the bar, ordered up some drinks and watched the activity around us. I think that I like S & O's because it reminds me of a neighborhood bar with lots of local color and characters. The menu offerings are very good - very tasty & well prepared, however this is not the place for fine dining. The amount of diners can attest to Sam & Omie's popularity. There is usually at least a half hour wait even during the off season at dinner time. We checked out the menu for a light snack and decided on the fried veggie platter. (Which reminds me - I really should schedule an appointment with my cardiologist after all of the fried foods I had on the Outer Banks. My arteries were narrowing simply at the sight of the dishes I consumed this year.)

After a beer, or two (or three), we headed back south of the Bonner to begin packing for our departure the next morning. An activity that I dread every year.

Post Holiday Blahs

I've managed to make it through yet another holiday season without acquiring a chemical dependency. This is a very busy time of the year for me, as not only do we celebrate Christmas (2 days) and the New Year (2 days), but our anniversary is the 30th (we've made it 30 years now) and Bugs' birthday is the 1st (Happy 69th Bugs)! Add an Iowa bowl game into the equation, along with Bleyart's Annual Pancake Breakfast, and I'm constantly running hither & yon. Tomorrow evening we have plans to go to dinner and a movie with Chris & Katie to celebrate our anniversary. After that ...... I have no set plans until September.

I think tomorrow's movie will be "Marley & Me." I'm currently reading the book and enjoying it thoroughly! Siva shared a few of the same traits as Marley, i.e., his love for people, life, food .... well, everything! Siva and Marley also felt that no dog is too big to be a lap dog. At 80 pounds, Siva was quite awkward to share a chair with. And, like Marley, Siva sensed our moods, both good & bad. If I had an exceptionally bad day, Siva would be there, head on my knee - big, brown, mournful eyes commiserating with me, conveying that all would soon be well. On happy days, he would be his usual ebullient self, his great otter tail wagging at such a rate, his hind feet would slip on the floor. Unlike Marley, Siva was slightly more well mannered and controlled.

However, the comparison between Tao & Marley is remarkable. Lord, help us. I see so many traits in Tao that Marley exhibited. Tao loves to run, especially in the house. That's okay, but I'm hoping that he soon learns how to stop without the assistance of fixed objects. I'm truly concerned that he'll break his little legs when he encounters steps. He obviously feels that it's wasted time to walk down all of the stairs, so he launches himself at a distance of about 4 horizontal feet before hitting terra firma with a great thud. He exits beds and chairs in the same manner. I think Tao will follow in the paw prints of both Siva and Marley - he likes nothing more than to curl up in a lap. Should Tao actually grow into those great bear paws he possesses, we'll be in big trouble.

I used one of my Christmas presents the other night ...... I've wanted a hand held blender for a long time and finally got one. Wow, is that thing handy! And, powerful! You can puree a chunk of concrete in under 2 minutes. I concocted a new recipe. We had so much left over ham and I was getting tired of ham & cheese sandwiches. I looked at some recipes for ham & scalloped potatoes - my Mom always uses the boxed scalloped 'taters, throws in bite sized pieces of ham and bakes it. I did not have boxed potatoes, nor did I have all of the ingredients that published recipes used. Below is *my* version of Ham & Scalloped Potatoes. If you try it, let me know what you think. We really liked it.

• 2# leftover ham, cut into bite sized pieces
• 3# potatoes, peeled and sliced
• 2 cans cream of celery soup
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 large or 2 medium onions, coarsely chopped
• Grated cheddar cheese
• Freshly ground pepper to taste

Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Mix together (or use your hand held blender) the soup, milk, onions and pepper. Place a 1/3 of the sliced potatoes in the dish, covering the bottom. Next, a layer using 1/2 the ham. Then 1/2 of the soup mixture. Cover with cheese. Another 1/3 of potatoes & remainder of ham. Then the rest of the potatoes and soup mixture. Dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, covered. Uncover and top with more grated cheese and bake an additional 30 minutes.

It's really good.

I'll get back to Hatteras Village in my next post.

A Day Late, but Merry Christmas!

It's been a hectic past 2 weeks ..... I had very little Christmas shopping completed early this year. I had purchased only 2 gifts - rag rugs for Elly from the Village Ragpicker in Ocracoke and sea glass earrings for Katie from Indian Town Gallery in Frisco. Next year, I swear I'll be done with my gift shopping by the time I leave the Outer Banks! The problem is - I hate to shop. I much prefer knowing exactly what it is I want to purchase and at what store it can be found, then just dash in, make the buy and get out.

Since Chris & Katie were hosting Christmas Eve this year, there was very little pressure on me - no need for a good *spring* cleaning, no need to put up the tree, no need to drag the good china, crystal & silver out of storage, etc.

The weather could have been better ..... it was definitely a white Christmas this year! Lots of snow (& ice) on the ground. Bitterly cold, though. It was such a pretty drive to Rock Island with all of the lights & decorations.

I ordered a honey ham from Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse. It arrived Tuesday evening. I was beginning to fear that it would not arrive in time for C'mas Eve. Had it not, it would have been baloney & yellow mustard on Wonder bread for dinner. I made two side dishes to carry over - Low Country Red Rice (it goes so well with ham) and Elly's favorite potato dish. I'll post the recipes for both below.

Elly made a traditional Danish dessert called Ris á l'amande. This is a chilled rice & almond pudding, served with a warm cherry sauce. A particular tradition is often associated with eating Ris á l'amande, where a whole almond is mixed into the pudding, and the person who finds it wins a prize. (I brought along the prize, but Elly forgot to place the whole almond in the pudding. Harumph.) This dish is usually served as dessert at Julefrokost (Christmas lunch) or on Christmas eve. According to Wikepedia, nine out of ten Danes enjoy it after the main course Christmas eve. It was very good, but not as flavorful as the recipe that Birgit used on the Outer Banks.

This was Katie's first *big* dinner party. She was terribly nervous, but really did a great job! The ham was baked to perfection and she also whipped up 2 of Chris' favorite holiday dishes - bleu slaw and cauliflower with Grandma Annette's cheese sauce.

Their loft was decorated in the Christmas spirit. Lots of candles, lights and a lovely decorated tree. It's a very cute & quirky place located in The District. At one time the structure had been an office building. The dining area is the old elevator shaft - the up/down arrow lights are still above the door!

Of course, Tao was the main entertainment for the evening, but before dinner we played a game called Cranium. What a blast! We didn't have time to finish the game, but I'm sure that my team, consisting of Bugs, Mom and me, would have beat the pants off Chris & Katie.

We enjoyed ourselves immensely and this was truly one of my favorite Christmas Eve's of all time.

Low Country Red Rice

9 thick slices bacon, fried crisp, crumbled & reserved

2 medium onions (preferably Vidalias), chopped

6 stalks of celery, chopped

2 cups uncooked Minute Rice

3-15 oz. canned tomatoes or canned diced tomatoes

3/4 cup water

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

In the bacon grease, fry onion and celery until soft & onion is translucent. Mix together tomatoes, water, salt & cayenne in a 2 quart casserole dish. Stir well. Add in rice & stir again. Mix in the onion & celery.

Place in a casserole dish, loosely covered. Bake at 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes or until the rice is soft, but not dry. Before serving, stir in the reserved bacon.

Also excellent served at room temperature. Goes especially well with ham, fried chicken or shrimp.

Mrs. Smith’s Potatoes

2 pound bag frozen country style hash browns

3 cups grated sharp cheddar

24 oz carton sour cream

1 can cream of celery soup

2 sticks melted butter

Thaw hash browns on paper towel. While potatoes are thawing, combine sour cream, melted butter and soup. Add in grated cheese. Then gently fold in potatoes. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 60 minutes in a 9 x 13 pan, uncovered.

Levi's Treasure Hunt

Vacation Day 15

Friday, October 10, 2008

Jeff & Carrie vacated the premises first thing in the morning. It's always a sad day when they leave .... they are such enjoyable company. They've decided to take a break from the Outer Banks next year and vacation elsewhere. It just won't be the same without them!

Dawn & I had a lazy day doing a whole lot of nothing. Jen, as usual, was up and about bright & early for her morning walk, then traveled on over to Ocracoke for her secret mission. She was in charge of the treasure chest ..... hopefully, she would bury it where #1 Levi could find it and #2 no one else would find it before Levi did!

Darrin, Darcie & the kids ferried over to the island that afternoon and after finding a bottle washed ashore, the fun began. Levi successfully followed the treasure map and dug up the pirate loot - all the while battling 'skeeters. (From what everyone said, the mosquitoes were terrible on Ocracoke, but the day I visited, I saw nary a one. Not even on Howard Street!)

Levi et al returned to Hatteras Village where he proudly displayed his find.

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The Get Together at Lightship

It's All About Making New Friends!

Vacation Day 14

Thursday Evening, October 9, 2008

After our wonderful lunch with Eve, Dawn & I hurried back to the Lightship to prepare for the evening's cocktail party. I had posted a notice that all OBC members were invited - unfortunately, between the lateness of the season, the pouring rain and our remote location, not many folks from the board attended.

Judy Schwagin & her hubby represented the OBC - it's always so nice to meet the folks from the board - without exception, each and every member that I've met have been lovely people. The Schwagins were no exception. I wish could have sat down and talked more with them, but I seemed to be entertaining out on the deck most of the evening, sitting under the umbrellas with the smoking population.

Before the rain started, the deck was a great place to sit & chat. This is Scott, one of the Wisconsin people, and Lynne, Sandi's mum.

Tons of great munchies! Darrin & Darcie made super crab ragoons.

The WI group contributed a Dairy Land cheese & meat platter. That pepper cheese was the hottest I've ever had in my life! Have I mentioned that my friend, Sandi from Madison, and her family and friends were staying just up the beach from us?

They are rich, so they stayed ocean front in a McMansion. I had hoped to spend a day hanging out at their place, to see how the other half lives, but there was never enough time.

Here is a pic of Sandi and her group.

Left to right: Lynne (Sandi's mom), Marv, April, Braylon (Rena's daughter & grandson), Rena, Farrell, Sandi, Scott & Holly.