Published on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 by Katherine As I write this, I hope my story will encourage you to take chances. Don’t keep yourself from doing something that may or may not turn out. Push yourself. Take a chance. And always take off your flip flops when running in the rain. Let me explain. Last week was our family week at our beach house. My brother and mother left for Corolla Friday afternoon. Normally I...

Published on Tuesday, June 30, 2015 by Katherine Last week, this week and next are a little wonky.  House guests, a Tuesday photo challenge and VACATION NEXT WEEK.  (Woo Hoo!)  I'll get back on a regular schedule soon enough!   This month's photo challenge topic is Anything Goes.  I chose "Corolla, NC" (Or HOME) as my topic.  Can you blame me?! 1.  This swimmer started near us and swam so far south I c...

Published on Thursday, June 18, 2015 by Katherine Hello everyone! For the summer I am going to switch from my lofty “post two times a week” goal to every Thursday. So here I am! You might have seen all the recent stories about sharks in North Carolina and Virginia waters. Two children were attacked on the same beach last week North Carolina.  My thoughts and prayers go to these brave kids and their families! T...

Published on Sunday, May 31, 2015 by Katherine This month's photo challenge subject was Spring! 1.  Spring has sprung and things are growing, including this single mushroom perched in our front yard. 2.  Spring means osprey diving for their food.  This osprey caught a beautiful fish!  Thank you Babs, for making this picture so much clearer and beautiful! 3.  I have spent many hours making dribble castles, ...

Published on Sunday, May 17, 2015 by Katherine ...

Published on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 by Katherine I loved this month's photo challenge theme "Two."  It is like a photographer's choice with a challenge.  I could do this all day long! 1.  During the winter I kept hearing that the Corolla shipwreck off of Albacore Street had been uncovered a bit more by the winds.  I made sure to visit it on our first day back this month. This wreck is officially known as the...

Published on Sunday, March 29, 2015 by Katherine The beach is a magical place, surprising you with something different at every turn. We have had our family home in Corolla for about 35 years, yet I still see new things each year. After several 70 degree days, the temperatures dropped… leaving us with one of the coldest weekends we have experienced in Corolla in March. Bundled in my coat, hat and gloves I took ...

Published on Saturday, December 13, 2014 by Katherine Remember me? I ‘m still here! It has just been a whirlwind, as I’m sure it has been with all of you. Holidays… Bah! Last weekend was our final visit to Corolla until spring of next year.  This is almost a time of mourning for me. Leaving home is hard. Leaving the only place where you truly find peace is even harder. Saturday there was a cover of fog across ...

Published on Tuesday, November 11, 2014 by Katherine It began years ago in Corolla with Hotdog Kitty. There are many feral cats in the Outer Banks, and this orange cat was one of them. We threw a hot dog down to him and he raced to it, quickly dragging it behind him in to the bushes. From that day on he was called, “Hot Dog Kitty.” One of his descendants, another orange and tan cat, seemed to be a bit tamer. One of...

Published on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 by Katherine I was on the last three pages of my book when I heard commotion behind me on the beach. I turned to see people gathering on the top of the stairs. And then I saw the smoke billowing over the dunes. Grabbing my phone I rushed to join them, gasping at a scene that I could have only imagined in my worst nightmares. A house was on fire, right in the middle of our neighbo...

Published on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 by Katherine Earlier today I spent an hour typing up a story about Corolla red flags, vacationers who leave their brains at home and about Karma and her friendship with the beautiful ocean. But instead of posting it, I chose to simply blurt my story out. Keep it simple stupid, am I right? Last weekend a father took his two kids in to an amazingly dangerous ocean despite the re...

Published on Monday, August 25, 2014 by Katherine This weekend brought us red flags in Corolla. Red flags mean rip currents. REALLY REALLY BAD RIP CURRENTS. This means no swimming. A rip can take you even if you are knee deep. But for some, red flags mean, “I’m on vacation. The rules don’t apply to me.” Lucky for these folks, Corolla Ocean Rescue gave them some skoolin before the ocean gave them a worse sk...