#10 - I've Never Seen Sea Turtles Hatch

I have spent many of my days on this earth at the beach. My family always visits the same place every summer in Pompano Beach, Florida. One of the things that I have always been fascinated with is sea turtles and their nests. The little guys are just so cute and the fact that they live for decades is so interesting to me. And of course I have spent my summers hoping to watch a nest hatch.

Many times in Pompano we have seen their nests but I have never been able to see a mother turtle laying her eggs or the nest when the eggs are hatching. There are several conservation programs in the Pompano area that track the nests, rope them off, and at times even relocate the nests to less populated areas. After almost 30 years of visiting this area, I have been waiting for this opportunity.


While visiting the Blevins family at Oak Island over the weekend I finally had the opportunity to see a hatching. Mark has been volunteering with the local turtle group and goes out on "nest watch" in the evenings. After being gone for only a short time, Anna, Mike and myself all got the text from Mark - the sand is moving. And so were we! We got the Blevins girls out of bed, into car seats, put on flip flops and were out the door in under 3 minutes! Anna drove like a crazy woman (well not really with 2 kids in the backseat) to the location and we hiked across the sand to the area.

The little guys were just getting started when we got there. At the actual nest site a red light is used to barely illuminate the area and the red tone does not disturb them.


The turtle volunteers had already set up what they call a runway to help keep the turtles on track as they make it to the ocean.




The volunteers then use flashlights to simulate moonlight to help direct the turtles down to the ocean and hopefully on their journey to adulthood.

The sight of all these little newborn turtles was absolutely awe inspiring. It was amazing to watch how complicated but perfectly orchestrated this natural moment was as it unfolded. Even though there were people helping these little guys it makes you think about the miracle of life and how for who knows how many years the natural born instinct has led them to the first steps of their life. It really made me think about how tiny we all are, but how there is a master plan that we all fit into and how we each have the perfect talents for our role.

That night we watched 69 turtles hatch from the nest. I'll admit it - I cried. I really can't put into words how long I have been waiting to see this and how much joy it gave me to actually be able to cross this off my list. I certainly owe Mark a big "Thank You!"

So good luck little guys! I know you have a hard time ahead of you, but just know that you have already made such an impact in my life. Life is a struggle, but you just keep on going until the waves carry you off to your next adventure.

#9 - I've Never Biked the Virginia Creeper Trail

I have some awesome friends. In particular my friends Mark and Anna Blevins have been a huge part of my life since I have moved to North Carolina from Ohio. My husband and I have become very close with them and in fact I call her whole family my NC family. They have been so much fun to be around and are the type of people who are usually game for a good time.

The group has a tradition of going to the Virginia Creeper Trail the weekend after Labor Day. This year they invited Mike and I along for the fun. I immediately said yes and then thought, "Oh no. This involves physical activity. I might be biting off more than I can chew." I did a little research about the trail. I first found that it is 34 miles long. Yikes! But then I remembered they usually only bike half of it, so that calmed my nerves a bit. But I have never biked more than 10 miles at a time and I can't even tell you the last time I was on a bike so I got nervous again. But after a bit more research I found many posts about how easy and enjoyable the trail was so I figured it couldn't be too bad.

I had also been told that this was generally a weekend full of fun, eating, laughing, some more eating, and relaxation. Snacks and meals were a big conversation topic as we got prepared for the weekend. The family even has shirts made to commemorate their trip. This had to be good.

We took off Friday and headed up to Virginia. There is never a dull moment! Even on the way up little Madeline managed to bonk her head, Anna got stung by a hornet, and Issac had a bathroom mishap. We managed to make it there mostly in one piece and got settled in. We had a great dinner that evening provided by Rachel and had a great time sitting on the porch watching the kids play.

The next morning we got up earlish and headed up to the top of the trail. The weather was cool and crisp and could not have been more perfect. As we got prepared to set off, we watched 2 people take spills on their bikes in the parking lot. This did not give me a whole lot of confidence! But as we started I could understand why this is a return trip for the family. The views are awesome! The trees, streams, fields, and trails provide the perfect background for a relaxing bike ride. And for the first 15 miles there is minimal pedaling involved because it is all downhill.

We stopped frequently to enjoy some snacks and each others' company. The kids had a great time riding in their seats and pull behind trailer. And the whole ride passed with only one major incident. Anna hit a very big rock and took a nasty spill. It could have been a lot worse because she landed about 2 feet from a large pile of horse manure. But she got up, dusted herself off, and headed on down the trail.

The last 2 miles or so of the trail flatten out and it becomes a bit more challenging. The trail is also in the sun at this point so it gets a bit warmer as well. My knee decided to hurt at this point (which was wierd because I never have knee trouble) so I had to take it a bit slower and was the last one to finish the ride. I was in pain when I finished, mostly from my stupid knee and a numb behind. But thankfully I didn't have any pain the next day.

What a wonderful relaxing weekend we had! We spent the rest of the trip goofing off and sitting around. It was a great break from the stress of work. The people of this family are such wonderful, caring, and generous individuals. I cannot wait for more adventures!

Left to Right: Chuck, Diane, Rachel, Issac, Brian, Lucas, Mark, Audrey, Anna, Madeline, Mike, and Paige -- Thanks to Anna and Rachel for taking such awesome pictures!

#8–I’ve Never Been to a Food Truck

I have been a teacher for 6 years, and although there are many things that I love, one of the things about the teaching profession that I don’t like is the fact that I don’t get to go out to lunch on my lunch break. I get 25 minutes for lunch. During this time I have to shoo out the kids who don’t feel comfortable going into the lunchroom, use the restroom, choke down my lunch, and maybe have a few moments to return a phone call or put on some lip gloss (but don’t hold your breath). Buying Lean Cuisine at the grocery store is a rarity and when I do I have to check the microwave time carefully. Anything past 5 minutes I just don’t have time for.

So during the summer going out to eat at lunch is something I really look forward to. We have 2 lunch buffets in town that only operate on the weekdays and I am always sure to hit those up. But in particular one thing caught my eye that I would never be able to do during the school year – visit a food truck. If you haven’t noticed it is a really big trend right now in urban areas and a whole show is dedicated to food trucks on the Food Network. Call me crazy, but it sounds great to me. Walking outside your office in your fancy shmancy suit and order tacos that you eat while watching the world go by – sign me up. Not that I don’t love my C hall lunch pals, but this sounds way cooler than our PB&J and apples.

Charlotte is not an area that has a lot of food trucks. There are many articles written on the situation. Apparently the laws governing such a business are very complicated in Charlotte, so much so that places can’t get licensed or get shut down. There seem to be about 6 or so trucks in the city and after a little research I settled on Roaming Fork. I would describe the food as Southern Bistro style. There are many things on the menu that look familiar, but they are elevated and done in such a way that make you say “I’ve never had … like this!”

My husband, Mike, and I decided on starting with their Fried Deviled Eggs, and their Truffle Essence Parmesan Herb Fries. He had the brisket sandwich and I had the Grilled Cheese with Pulled Pork. Both came with a side of Two Step Ranch Slaw and grapes. OMG. Amazing. Mike coined the term “Yomit” – food so yummy you eat until you want to vomit. So let me describe everything.

The Fried Deviled Eggs were definitely the food item I wanted to try most, just because of the intrigue. It is an egg salad with sweet relish and either ham or bacon. breaded with panko and then deep fried. It is served with a side of a honey mustard type mayo. Delish! If you like deviled eggs and fried food (who doesn’t?) then this is a good choice. So different, but so familiar.

The fries are a thin cut fry and when they are finished, tossed with parmesan cheese, truffle oil, herbs, salt, and pepper. If you are a fan of gourmet french fries, then these are for you.

The brisket sandwich had the best brisket I think I have ever had. It was so tender with the right amount of smoke. They serve it on wonderfully toasted bread with horseradish, lettuce, and onion.

The grilled cheese sandwich was definitely the star of the meal. The bread is thick cut and perfectly buttered and grilled. The cheeses were perfectly melted. And the pulled pork was by far the best pulled pork I have ever had. There was also a slight amount of barbeque sauce to give it some sweetness and spice. So so so good.

The side item of Two Step Ranch slaw was quite intriguing as well. It was like crossing coleslaw with a salad. There was cabbage, corn, cheese, jalapeno. cilantro, and this great Ranch dressing with a touch of spice. It was unlike any coleslaw I have ever had.

We ate and ate, felt sick, but kept on. There was not much left when we finished.

But for as good as the food was, my favorite part of the day were the people who own and run this establishment. When we first arrived the owner, Kelli, started talking to us like we were long lost friends. She explained the menu and we got into a conversation about teaching and her starting the business. We were almost done with our meal and Kelli came over to the picnic table we were at and checked on us to see how we liked everything. She also threw in some of our items for free which was beyond sweet of her. And the man doing all the cooking, Darryl, is sweet as well. He wanted everyone to know he is single and new to the area – so ladies, if you want a man who can cook, be sure to pay him a visit.

I had a great time with this food truck experience! I cannot wait to be able to go back. So if you work in Charlotte, or are able to make the drive during the week, be sure to check them out. You won’t regret it!

#7–I’ve Never Been to a Brewery

While trolling the internet to find fun and inexpensive things to do around the Charlotte area, I came across a company called The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. It is a newer company in Charlotte, contrary to what the name suggests, that focuses on creating German style beer. The founder was inspired to recreate what he had experienced at beer gardens while working in Germany. The building is located in a warehouse area near the light rail in Charlotte, not some trendy neighborhood. But you wouldn’t know it – they were packed while we were there on a Saturday afternoon and a tour bus even stopped. The Tap Room is a brick and wood paneled room with long tables where you can sit and enjoy your beverages. While we visited they were between seasons so they only had 2 choices of beer. I don’t drink beer, but Mike and our friends Gina and Dave sampled the selections and all decided they liked the traditional “Copper.”

The main reason for the visit however, was to tour the brewery which is located behind the Tap Room. Our guide led us back to the area. The first thing they do is add the water and the ingredients of the beer in these metal tanks and it goes through many heating stages and mashings. The OMB follows the beer purity laws created in 1516 called Reinheitsgebot, which means only water, malts, hops, and yeast can be added. You will not be finding any flavored beers or my favorite perry.

The mashing and boiling tanks.

Gina is not a fan of hops!

Behind these three tanks are the fermenters. The beer sits in these tanks where the yeast goes about its work eating the sugars in the beer and creating carbon dioxide to give the drink its foam.

Mad science experiment? Nope, beer!

The fermenting tanks for different brews.

After it has fermented the appropriate amount of time for that beer it gets kegged in this machine. This machine takes 2 minutes to clean the keg and fill it.

From here we were shows the stock and it was surprisingly limited. Because OMB does not put any preservatives or anything extra in their beer, the turnover has to be very high to keep the product fresh. We visited on Saturday the 6th and the oldest thing in their stock was from August 3rd.

It was really neat to see a local business at work. I’ve toured wineries before and this was much the same process and look, but with different ingredients. Although I will not be drinking their product any time soon, it was fun to see the people in the Tap Room enjoying themselves and supporting a local place. If you are looking for something to do on a weekend I suggest checking them out. The tours are free and the beer is reasonably priced. What more could you want!?!

#6 - I’ve Never Been to a Lighthouse

When people think of North Carolina Beaches, I am sure many people also think of lighthouses. Because they are such a big tourist attraction in the state, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to visit one during our recent beach trip. We were visiting our friends the Blevins family and Anna was good enough to schedule us a tour to the top of the lighthouse.

I was very nervous about this! I am not really scared of heights so that was not a problem. I was however, concerned about movement in such a tall structure. I have really bad motion sickness so sometimes these types of things can get to me. (I’ve gotten queasy on the Empire State building, balconies in theaters, and I couldn’t go out on the piers at the beach either.) Being confined in a concrete tube in 90 degree weather at such a height was making me claustrophobic and dizzy just thinking about it! And lets be honest, I am not the most athletic person in the world so I was a little concerned about just climbing that height to begin with!

So once we arrived Mike, myself, Mark, and the Blevins’ friend Shannon signed the release forms and were ready to roll. Anna stayed behind with the girls saying she would have plenty of opportunity in the future to do a tour. The tour guides take you up one flight of ladders to a small landing and give “the talk” about the lighthouse. Did you know the Oak Island lighthouse is one of only two lighthouses to have ladders instead of a spiral staircase? Did you know it used to be the second brightest lighthouse, but they found out with the curvature of the earth the extra brightness didn’t matter so they cut back on the bulbs? Did you know every lighthouse has it’s own signature flash, with OI having four one second flashes and then a six second pause? Did you know the colors of the lighthouse were poured into the concrete so it never had to be painted? Did you know they poured the concrete continuously for 7 days so no weak spots formed?

With all of that out of the way, we started climbing! There are 8 ships ladders to climb in order to reach the top. To be honest it really wasn’t bad! We all took it slow because of the heat and before I knew it we were at the top! What a view! The ocean is gorgeous from up there, but my favorite was looking to the intercostal waterway with all the marshy areas. I had a grand time up there! Mike and Shannon however were clinging to the wall like starfish! I managed to pull him away from the wall long enough to get one picture!

We spent some time just hanging out at the top of the lighthouse seeing what there was to see. We spotted Anna and the girls down below coming back from the beach! We waved and yelled, and later they said they could hear us like we were standing right next to them!

The climb back down the lighthouse was actually more difficult than the climb up. You had to look down at your feet to make sure you were placing them correctly on the next step. It was just a bit more tedious and slow, but we all made it back safe and sound. I’m not sure it is something I will ever need to do again, but it was fun to see that I could do it! And of course I had to get a souvenir T-shirt that said I climbed the lighthouse!

#5 - I've Never Been Crabbin'!

During our beach trip to visit our friends the Blevins family we wanted to come up with some fun activities to do. Somehow when we all get together we can come up with some pretty unusual things to do. So this weeekend was no different as we decided to go crabbing. I guess it's not all that unusual for the area, Oak Island, but for me this was something way beyond my radar.

I have been fishing many times - in lakes, ponds, and deep sea fishing too. I have never really kept anything I have caught, and have done it more as a past time. It's something that my Dad really enjoys so fishing is something that we did on many family outings. But I have never had the opportunity to go crabbing so of course I was up for it.

For those of you who don't know how to crab, step one is to get your equipment. All it took was a trip to Walmart and about $10 to get some triangle shaped hooks with string and a long handled net. Next you need your bait which is preferably chicken necks. Walmart didn't have any that were up to our standards so we ended up with turkey necks. I am assuming most people don't have this item regularly on their grocery lists, so if you've never bought them, good thinking. They look pretty gross and have all kinds of tendons and such in them. We needed to cut them into smaller peices which was proving quite a job for the small knife that the Blevins family had at their house. So instead we opted for a machete that my husband uses to cut down kudzu. I was worried there might be finger loss involved at this point, but all went smoothly.

The next morning we set off to the dock near the Blevins' place that went out into the intercoastal waterway.

Mark baited up the hooks with the turkey necks and Mike and I started crabbing. It's basically like any other fishing - throw your bait into the water, wait patiently, and when you feel a little tugging on the line bring it in slowly. Mark manned the net for us and while the crabs hang on to the bait, you scoop them in before you bring them completely out of the water. Right away we started having success!

As we started to land the crabs, Madeline was torn between looking at them and being scared. The moment the crabs started to move too much she was out of there! Eventually she, Audrey, and Anna found some shade and played away from the crabs.

It was really fun to watch the crabs go after the bait and latch on. We caught over 20 crabs that day. However, there are size restrictions as to what you can keep, so we ended up with 2 keepers for dinner. Luckily I was also making shrimp and grits that night!

Later in the evening as I prepared dinner, we decided to cook up our two friends as an appetizer. Mark was in charge of getting them from bucket to pot and needless to say, they were not happy!

Although the runaway crab was pretty entertaining, the best part of the cooking was Madeline's reaction. She was horrified by the smell of the crabs and shrimp cooking! She ended up spending time in her room coming out frequently to ask if the smell was gone!

I don't enjoy seafood at all. Shrimp is as far as I will go, but I have never eaten anything that I have ever caught before. Why miss the opportunity? I loaded a tiny little piece with some citrus butter and choked it down - it really didn't taste like anything but butter so I survived!

What fun we had on our crabbing adventure! It is probably not something I will really do again, but I had a great time with some great friends. Don't worry Deadliest Catch - we are not in your league!

#4 - I've Never Been to a NC Beach

This past weekend Mike and I went to visit our good friends the Blevins family who recently moved to Oak Island, NC. Mark, Anna, Madeline, and Audrey have only been gone for a few weeks but we miss them like crazy. Mark has a new job in Brunswick County which he likes, so we are very happy for them. However, we were having a little withdrawal so we packed in the car and headed east to hang out.

Oak Island is a beautiful, sort of sleepy beach town. Pretty much where ever you are on the island you are within a few blocks from the beach. So of course the beach was a main attraction for us over the weekend. We arrived Friday at noon and were at the beach a few hours later. It is beautiful! I have been to the beach hundreds of times in Florida, a couple of times in South Carolina, but never North Carolina. I was pleasantly surprised! The sand was so nice and the beach grasses were beautiful.

The first time we went the waves were a little large, but the best way to describe it would be powerful. Even though I have been to the beach so many times, I still get a little nervous in rough waves. I would like the ocean if it had a pause button between waves. That way I can get my feet back under me, wipe my eyes, and get prepared before pressing play. Alas, this is not true. Mike and I had a great time jumping the waves with Madeline and helping her “swim” back and forth between us. I got thrown around a little bit, but toward the end of our time I got dunked a few times and lost my sunglasses. Worse, Anna was holding Audrey and they ended up under the waves. They were fine, but we decided it was time to go.

The second time we went we spent more time digging in the sand than we did playing in the ocean. My favorite part was digging for these very small critters in the sand. I’m not sure if they were crabs, oysters, or what type of shelled creature they were. We were putting them in a bucket and comparing shells on the ones we found. Audrey had a great time “freeing” the ones we caught from the bucket while we weren’t looking. I was having such a great time I kind of forgot about sunscreen and ended up a little toasted.

On our last day at Oak Island we took a trip back to the beach to say good bye. Apparently the dolphins knew we were leaving because they came by to greet us! I have never seen dolphins like this in the wild before! I tried to get a picture, but they were too fast and smart for me. It was a little gray at the beginning of the day because of rain the night before, but it soon cleared out and was a wonderful day at the beach. The ocean was calm and much easier to swim in. Before we knew it we had to say good bye!

I am so happy that my friends found such a great place to live. Although I am sad to see them move away, I will be visiting frequently after such a great weekend!