Isle of Palms, wrapping up

I have taken far too long in blogging about our beach trip. So without further delay, I'll do my best to wrap up and move on. : )

I had wanted to be sure and see some sunrises with Karen, but also I thought it would be special to walk the beach by the full moon. And the timing was just right. The moon reached it's peak while we were there.

Saying 'hello' and 'goodnight' to the moon as it begins it's journey across the sky...

Saying 'hello' and 'good morning' to the sun.

Finished this huge puzzle the last evening. It's our tradition to assemble at least one puzzle. A wonderful way to relax and to encourage conversation. Well, we don't really need help in that area...

Natalie-Rose loves her Uncle Tony. Getting some snuggle-time in before heading down to the beach for the morning.

Karen had to get in there too.

Later that morning, down at the beach...

I love those bikes and being able to ride on the beach. I could go on for ever, if only the wind stayed at my back.

Nathan finally warmed up to the cold ocean and even did some boogie-boarding! I'm proud of him!

It helped that daddy got out there too... I did go swimming, but unfortunately, no one got proof.

Natalie didn't eat her sandwich, so I thought it would be fun to throw it to the two seagulls hanging around... Well, two turned into 20 or maybe 40 in the next 3 minutes! AH!

"Sunny? Am I okay?"

A beach scene...

The drip-method for sand castle building. Very elegant.

Sweet picture of daddy and daughter.

Heading back to the beach house for the last time.

So hard to go!

                                        

Good-bye Isle of Palms! You've been just as wonderful as I remember! See you next year!

Isle of Palms, Day 3

So, on day three, we got up early, decided our plans for the day over breakfast and went down to the beach once again.

Karen and I took off on the bikes and went all over. We went over to the restaurant we were planning to go to for lunch, the Banana Cabana, and checked out the specials for the day.

That place makes the best fries!!! So after getting back and getting ready, we went for lunch.

After lunch, Charleston!

Natalie was so sweet as she waited for her chicken fingers

"Where's my food?"

Nathan, Tony, and Karen

Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of our plates once they came...I know mom got her usual, fried shrimp, I got a shrimp, mushroom, artichoke quesadilla, Nathan got a personal pizza, Karen got grilled Mahi Mahi...I don't remember the rest. But we all thoroughly enjoyed our meal. The neat thing was we were able to walk to the restaurant. So we "earned" our special lunch ; )

Next, we all loaded up and headed across the bridge into Charleston.

(Yeah, old picture, I know, same bridge though)

Didn't have anything, really, on the agenda. Well, I wanted to go to "Cupcake", a place that sells all kinds of cupcakes, but that didn't work out too well. It was too far away!

Anyways, we saw the beautiful, historic homes, covered in Jasmine. It smelled so wonderful!

Can you smell the Jasmine?

Everyone had beautiful window boxes on display

Look at all that Rosemary! I ran my hand across the length of it to release it's scent.

This is what they used to use to step out of the carriages. I guess it would've been right on the curb, instead of behind a tree. Interesting little piece of history.

All the Jasmine. What a good way to leave in the morning and come home in the evening!

I love the roses and the real gas lamps are so romantic.

Makes you want to see what's back there, does it not?

How about this one? This makes me think of heaven...we just have to get through the bars and were free...

This gorgeous gate was at a teahouse. It is incredible how realistic it is. Look like bronzed Fuschia.

Ballast stones from the merchant ships make up this road. Neat!

More pretty flowers...

and more...

Argh! So spooky! I was carefully aiming my camera, waiting for this thing to move on me, like in The Christmas Carol, and Nathan comes up from behind and grabs me, making me jump out of my skin!

Daddy says, "Do you see that?" I say, "What?"

What I took for a building was actually a cruise ship!

And after getting some gelato and free salt-water taffy samples...

home again, home again, jiggity jog.

Back at the beach...

Sweet little beach-peach...

Sunset on Day 2

The very best place to go see the sunset is at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island.

( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Moultrie ) This has been another tradition for us. I don't know how my Aunt and Uncle first found out about it, but it's wonderful.

So, we thought, "Maybe we should get there in plenty of time, since word's probably gotten around about that place." So we got there a little after 6:30, with the sun setting at 7:30.

You see how high it still is in the sky. So we were going to walk around...but it was soooo windy, and chilly, that we were looking for anywhere to get out of the wind!

Nate looking introspective...

We found a dead Puffer Fish!

Karen and Tony got back in their car to wait for the sunset, so did mom and Nate.

Daddy, Natalie and I braved the chilling winds and it was actually lovely.

As we watched, huge container ships went by. It's something to think that those containers are the trailers you see on the interstate! I wonder what they're carrying and where they're going?

Storm clouds began to gather over Charleston...

as we watched...

and continued to build...

as we watched and waited...

we could see rain falling on Charleston, as the sun dropped behind the huge storm cloud.

It almost looks as though Charleston is burning! (which has happened before)

Those clouds were massive and angry!

This was so picturesque...this is actually someone's back yard furniture! Imagine eating dinner as you watch the sun sink beneath the horizon...ah...

Photo-op! Sunny with the sun!

And as we were hoping, the sun finally popped out through the clouds and shined down on the Charleston skyline.

I love how the light was reflecting on the waves rolling in...

Karen and Tony came out of the shelter of their car to see the sunset and to get a picture.

Family picture...you can see how windy and cold it was! My dad's face...

Thinking about how incredible it is that God breathed that very sun into existence so long ago!