Published on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 by Katherine I was the type that would never step on an ant.  I still won’t.  I rescue any critter that flies or crawls in to my house, and attempt to save neighborhood animals I find in need.  As a child, fishing with my parents always led to me whining, “Ohhhhhh… poor fishie!”  And rescue animals?  Let’s just say I can’t count them on two hands, much less four. ...

Published on Monday, April 11, 2011 by Katherine Last Christmas my mother gave me a Message in a Bottle kit, complete with cork and sealing wax.  My daughter and I couldn’t wait to send our message out to sea.  Where would it end up?  England?  Ireland?  How long would it take before someone discovered it? On April 4 we placed my email address and our city on a pre-printed form that was decorated with pict...

Published on Sunday, April 3, 2011 by Katherine The beach, the beach, the BEACH!  This weekend was our first trip back to Corolla.  It was like being home again.  The peace I feel the moment I smell that ocean air is a gift.  One delivered directly from the man above. The spoils we found on the beach this weekend ranged from a bit of precious sea glass to a live (and now saved) blue crab.  We also found r...

Published on Saturday, September 11, 2010 by Katherine When my mother was packing to leave the beach house on Monday, the renters from the neighboring house stopped her. “Excuse me?  Are you the owner?” “Yes, I am.” “We are early risers.  This morning at about 6 a.m. we saw a reflection on your house that we couldn’t explain.   We took a picture and would like to email it to you.  We looked all a...

Published on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 by Katherine Ahhhh, Earl.  Your name rolls off the tip of my tongue like a salt and vinegar cricket.  You are something I really don’t want but apparently just might taste. Here in Hampton Roads we are watching Hurricane Earl with great interest.  Will it hit us?  Will it not?  And even worse… THE BEACH HOUSE.  My mother’s house in the Outer Banks.  The one with ...

Published on Saturday, July 3, 2010 by Katherine We are back, for better or worse. In the seven days we were at the beach house we could only swim TWO DAYS.  After these two glorious days, the wind came offshore which dropped the ocean temperature TWENTY DEGREES.  Try putting anything but your toes in 53 degree water and YOWSA!  The day the water warmed up we couldn’t swim due to thunder storms.  THEN ...

Published on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 by Katherine I’m back!  Did you miss me, because I sure missed you!  No internet this weekend – the beach house totally unplugged.  I cheated a little bit tweeting from my phone, but other than that it was complete (and much needed) downtime. What a different beach house weekend, too.  My daughter had her first friend there, my middle son didn’t come and my mother w...

Published on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 by Katherine Just in case any of you question the deep respect my teenage sons have for me: Let it be known that all previously unsuspecting drivers traveling from the Outer Banks to Virginia Beach yesterday were duly warned....

Published on Sunday, April 4, 2010 by Katherine Today was our first full day at the beach house and as always, things were wonderful and completely unpredictable. The morning hours brought forth thick fog that held an amazing taste of the ocean’s salt.  Surprisingly, the early afternoon sun didn’t burn it off, leaving our beach walks a little bit creepy, fun and certainly adventurous.  The air was so thick...

Published on Friday, April 2, 2010 by Katherine Today is THE DAY.  After a full day of work, I will be going home, loading up the van and hauling three teens and my daughter to the Outer Banks.  No doubt I will need a Java Monster to keep me awake on the road.  We will be meeting Mom at the beach house for three full days and four nights of glorious peace over Easter break.  This is our first trip of the year a...

Published on Sunday, August 16, 2009 by Katherine My heaven is in Corolla.  Do you have a heaven? In the last few weeks, times have become hard.  School is approaching, which inevitably brings work, stress and more work.  School physicals. Medications.  Doctor's prescriptions.  New uniforms.  New high school clothes.   All three kids need two pairs of shoes.  Haircuts for the boys.  A few hundred in scho...

Published on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 by Katherine This weekend, we were at my mother's in the Outer Banks.  Our home away from home.  Paradise.  My children were raised on this beach.  We have had ups and downs there, just as one has at home.  From many a stomach flu to many moments of hysterical laughter... from spotting deer and fox behind the house to watching fireworks shot directly above us... from huge dou...