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Signs, Fenceposts, and Other Quaint Things

I can’t believe it’s been two months since I’ve posted! I almost forgot my password to log on to this thing!!  The summer has blown by like last year’s Derecho. We successfully launched the oldest daughter (the Teacher) into a brand new life and career 3 hours away. Ouch!!!  The youngest (the Future Event Planner) is moved and settled into college life for the 3rd year.  The nest is once again empty, quiet, peaceful, a little lonely, but now there’s more time with hubby (the Doer of All Things Well), thinking, writing, planning, and working on what God has in store for me for the next phase of life.  Now that our project on Ocracoke is finished, I don’t have as much to say about it in a blog.  I will certainly keep it updated, but perhaps not so often. And I’ll probably focus more on the Island in general.

I have always had a thing for doors and windows and other architectural details. I have an entire album of doors and windows that I photographed on a trip a few years ago through France and Switzerland.  I found this subject to be much more interesting to capture than even the most historical sites and landscapes throughout Normandy, Paris, Lucerne and Zurich. I won’t share these here, because, after all, this blog is still about a beach house! (Some of them can be seen on Pinterest).

This summer, as we traveled the outer banks and vacationed on Ocracoke, I fell in love with the quaintest and most fascinating signs, doorposts, gates, fences, and old cemeteries on the island. I spent some time photographing them.  I really should give in and take a photography course. What I see in my mind, I am completely unable to capture on a camera lens, but I think they’re still fun to see so I’ll share them anyway! 












                                                   Hurricane history right here!




















Did you know Tow-mater lives on Ocracoke Island? (When he’s not doing movies, that is).
                         





   Howard Street is probably the oldest on the island.  It is a lovely tree and 
fence-lined street made of sand and shells, flanked on both sides by historic cottages, many of which are still owned by the descendants of this fine island.  You never know what you’re going to see driving around this place!




As you approach the street, there are some threatening and hazardous road conditions.  Obeying traffic signs is a must
(pedestrians rule).


You can see why we love this historic part of the village of Ocracoke.  Along this street are numerous old family cemeteries.


The moss and lichen-encrusted fence posts guard very old and tiny family grave plots. These plots are small, square and cubicle-like with fenced and gated boundaries that dare the old Ocracoke ghosts to step foot into the next family graveyard!











                                                    Old cemetery, new sign!   






Ocracoke is a good place to rest in peace whether you’re dead or alive!!  The O’Neal Cemetery is on British Cemetery Road, not Howard Street; but there are numerous ones on this street, too.  O’Neal is an old and prominent name on Ocracoke.  You will probably do business with an O’Neal at some point if you come here!  We have rented Carolina Skiffs from the O’Neal’s at Restless Native Boat Rentals on the harbor for a number of years.




I also have some earrings fashioned by Kathleen O’Neal; 2 pairs that I have bought over the years that I dearly love, maybe because I think of Ocracoke every time I put them on. The pair on the left I purchased on our very first trip here in 2000.  The right pair I purchased on our most recent trip.










This is another family cemetery. I can’t remember which family but it is also on British Cemetery Road.






                                                           The Williams Family Cem????







One more which I couldn’t leave out............





Since I’ve mentioned British Cemetery Road, I would be remiss if I didn’t focus a blog on that subject. The British Cemetery is a must-see while on Ocracoke. I will do a little research so that my facts are correct and you can learn more about it in my next blog!!!





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