Queen of the Castle

A Mother's Day hello from the Marathonettes, S&S 

Pace Rabbit

I spied a fleeting bunny beside the road on the way to S's this am.

Then we see this one dart across our path as we are doing a easy walk/jog along the sound. And a bonus third one a few feet farther along.

It's a sign we say. We're getting faster and we're on track.

On the Trail

It was a scavenger day. We found a dead snake, a snapping turtle crossing a dirt road, a whole street of very cool 'new' old nags head style homes (all for weekly rental), and this marker telling us we were on the right path.

To polish off our day of accomplishments we signed up ourselves and Lewis and Sarah for the Nags Head Woods 5K run.

We clocked 20 miles in 5 hours, not too shabby for our mode of stopping to take pictures and chat with folks, as well as jogging at a nice clip a goodly amount of the time, walk breaks included.

Turtle Pace

We both felt about as quick as this turtle today. Four miles seemed like forty.

We did do some hills with a pretty decent slope. We were aiming for six good runs up and over but two got rained out.

We were not disappointed. 

My House

Here's my house complete with Donny's Hummer. It over looks the bay. S's house is around to the right. 

S's Dream House

In our wanderings we found an awesome dead end street that overlooks Kitty Hawk Bay from a high enough bluff that high water should not be a problem. And it just happens to have two of the prettiest houses on the OBX by our standards. S picked this one (it's actually for sale). It even has a small barn in the back.

Jockey's Ridge SP

It's a 15.5 mile day, half of which is through soft sand, by choice, mostly.

On our way back at about mile 13 we are ready to be done. But we are stuck in an industrial park which we can only zigzap out of, the miles are piling up.

Finally we get into a neighborhood close to our cars and salvation, but not that close. We're not lost but the streets are unfamiliar. Then we spy a house we've seen before. We try to orient ourselves. Like I said we're not lost, just tired. I remember passing this house S says. Which way did we go then I ask. I don't remember says S. I remember it too say I. Which way did we go? When were we here? Ummm, yesterday.

Run Girl Run

S and I are training for the OBX Marathon. We decide to make a photo log of sights we run (haha) into.

Last week we found a really cool dune system behind the FF schools and new retirement (aka DisneyWorld for seniors) community. I thought it might be Run Hill SP but was unsure.

Later that same day, after a break to help the Queen with wardrobe, we found the front of our dune and laugh to realize that it is indeed RH the irony of which goes completely over my head until S points out what better name could there be for the Marathonettes' training ground.

PaPa & Lydia

 

Martin

The whiz kid five year old. Preceeded by equally whizzy 2 year old Lydia. GeekNanny is in for a roller coaster ride! 

Lydia

Until GeekNanny publishes photos of said babies here they are. 

One More Christmas Picture

 

Happy New Year 2006

Jess got off of work just in time to celebrate with Lewis. After a double shift at the Brewing Station she was mostly ready to collapse. But she made it to the Colington Cafe to join us for dessert. A creme brulee with espresso compliments of Carlen revived her. And off they went to ring in the New Year with the Clarks.

The Neighbors

Hey Lewis, look it's another red couch. 

Another Web

More alternate housing from Spider Villa, which may become the new name of our house. Firstly and actually still named is Bayside. But borrowing this name from one of the Unpainted Aristocracy originals is pretty tempting. 

Winn in Action

 

OBX sunset

 

Lovely Lydia

Lydia is a go-go hula girl 

Sunny Ireland

Cliffs of Knockadoon.

Tide pool

Irish sealife in a tide pool.

Lobstering

Irish lobsterboat gets hauled up and out in a quite practical boat trailer. 

New friends

Mary, in the middle, and her husband Paul have openly invited Donny & myself to visit their summer home anytime. It is on Bear Island in western County Cork. Accessible only by ferry. The group went to their home for a lovely buffet one evening. Their youngest daughter and her friends entertained us with a short play. The oldest daughter, 18, played the piano for us. On the right is our good friend Marian the librarian. She lives in County Waterford. Her husband, Patrick, is a dairy farmer. Marian is our fashion maven. Her inlaws have a decaying castle on their property in County Waterford.

Irish surf

Becki, me & Bill playing in the surf

At Myrtle Grove

Donny & I on the grounds of Myrtle Grove, Raleigh's Youghal town house. 

Hi Youghal

Breeda, one of our hostesses, and me in my new Irish sweater bought in Youghal but made in Turkey. All the Youghal gals were surprised that I found something so cool right under their noses.