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I feel a little...unfaithful... 
I’ve been to Ocracoke twice and didn’t write about it.  
In fact, I went for 2 whole weeks last September (a huge indulgence) AND spent New Year's there (a first) and....
no posts! We’ve even started a new reno project for this year...
I just haven’t felt the desire to write.  
Not sure why.....

For starters, life has flown by and stayed busy, busy, busy.  And I think maybe I’ve overdone the whole sunset, porch- sleeping, seafood-eating, wine-drinking-on-the-dock-with-the- ducks kind of thing. There’s not much more to Ocracoke than that (oh, but how wonderful!)

But now I do have the desire to update!  

The 2 weeks in September were heavenly. First week was reconnecting with an old friend (by old I mean friend from back when we were birthing babies in church (well, in the hospital actually) and doing church stuff and pot luck fellowships together. Time and distance eventually pulled us apart but when this sweet friend lost her mother only weeks before, I knew it was time to get her away for some girl time. What a sweet time it was. After a few days on our own, our husbands joined us (hers brought a boat!) and we had a sweet time of couple’s fellowship as well, reminiscing about our days living in the same town, raising children together, loving the Lord together, serving our church together and just living life as young married couples (and eating good seafood!)

The second week, another old friend came down (by old I mean college roommate) and I had another week of girl time (by then The Doer had returned home). 
So, I spent most of that 2 weeks sitting on the dock in my pajamas with my girlfriends drinking coffee, reminiscing, talking about middle age and spiritual things. What a time of refreshment!  

Next, we spent New Year’s weekend on Ocracoke with our oldest daughter, The Teacher, and her beau. Shops and restaurants which had closed for the season opened up just for the weekend.  I was surprised at the number of people on the Island. I guess many others had the idea of hopping down to Ocracoke for the holiday weekend.  It was a few days of perfect peace and quiet. Lots of reading and naps under blankets got accomplished; my daughter on one sofa and me on the other.  The men went fishing. 

New Year’s Eve was spent at The Flying Melon Restaurant, one of the best on the island.  It was packed that night and a long wait ensued, but it was so worth it! Another great Ocracoke memory!

So now, hubby and I are preparing for our annual March work week to get the house ready for another year of renters. We are having a new kitchen island made to replace the old one. While the existing kitchen is very well designed and functional and well stocked, the cabinets themselves are quite shabby. We plan to start with a new island this year and hopefully replace the rest of the kitchen cabinets within the next 2 years.  I’ve chosen a pale yellow distressed-finish wood base with hand-painted Mexican tile on the countertop.  The rest of the kitchen will be completely different so that the island will be the focal point of the gathering place.  In a few weeks, we’ll haul it down there, install it, and then spring clean the house from top to bottom; a week of work that is always worth it. Pictures will come later.

There was some damage from Hurricane Matthew last October.  The boathouse flooded and the dock was severely damaged; so very insignificant when considering the great amount of damage and lives lost overall during that storm. Ocracoke had the biggest flooding since the 1940’s. Thankfully no lives were lost there.  We had to replace the couch cushions and the rug in the Boathouse. No big deal!!! The repairs on the dock will take some time because the only dock repairman on the Island also runs the car repair shop and he will be “swamped” for months we hear.

Rentals are up this year!  We plan to use the cottage in June and then in October.  And maybe well do New Year’s again, who knows???





Sneak peak of the Mexican tile, 4"x4"!!!






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