Happy New Year


Well we are in the last few hours of 2005. For many tonight will be a time of celebrating and partying for others like myself there will be work taking care of the people who celebrated and partied perhaps a bit too much. So Happy New Year , be careful and enjoy.

Manteo Waterfront

It’s hard to believe the new year will be here in just 1 more day. I had to go to Roanoke Island today to pay the taxes (yuck) so I thoutht the weather is nice, temperatures in the 50’s and minimal wind, I'm in Manteo so I might as well check out the waterfront. I love this time of year on the Outer Banks.

Merry Christmas

photos of christmas 1989

my 2 boys Christmas 1989

The weather this Christmas day here on the Outer Banks is rainy with a temperature in the 60’s. Warm weather on Christmas is not unusual on the Outer Banks, in fact cold weather is the exception. Looking back on the 25 Christmases that I have spent here on the Outer Banks I can only find one truly white Christmas. There have been cold Christmases. One year the chimney from the wood stove was blown across the frozen Pamlico Sound. That was a cold Christmas spent in a bedroom with a space heater and an infant son. In 1989 we had a truly white Christmas. It snowed the night of the 23rd and all of Christmas Eve. Christmas day was white and cold. . Children played in the snow and meals became impromptu gatherings of neighbors trapped by Mother Nature. Those of us who lived in Colington could not get off the Island. Snowdrifts had frozen a foot deep on the roads and Dare county not having a real need for snow removal equipment had to let mother nature do her work. By the 27th the snow and Ice were gone as too were the coats and gloves.

Last night, Christmas Eve, the boys my mother and I enjoyed good cheer and a “simple” meal of meat, vegetables, bread and pie (the 4 food groups). Movies were watched and all and all Christmas Eve was a great time spent with family.

This morning, Christmas, we broke from tradition still full from or “simple” Christmas Eve meal and by a vote of 4 to 1 we skipped the breakfast at The Jolly Roger. After remembering why Christmas is celebrated, presents were opened hug’s were given and the house was happy. By 10am my oldest announced that he was ready to go back to his house and get some sleep. The middle son wanted to go visit friends. The youngest son wanted to try out his new video games and my mother nicely announced that she to wanted to go home and rest (I think she just wanted to go home and play with her stuff). Per moms request I took her home.

At this time the boys are at their father’s house and will be there for the rest of the day. I’m sitting down at the computer writing to my blog. The house is quiet, the dogs are at my feet and music plays quietly in the background, all is good on this Christmas day

Today is the last day I have to get everything ready for Christmas, I work Thursday and Friday night so Saturday morning will be lost time. We will be having our big Christmas Dinner on Christmas Eve this year because the boys will be at their dad’s Christmas evening. Christmas dinner is always a “simple” we will have prime rib, ham, green beans, broccoli, mashed potatoes, fresh bread, fruit salad and pumpkin pie (The only kind pie the guys will eat). My mother will do a lot of the cooking while I sleep but the prime rib is my baby. Christmas morning we will open presents then as we have been doing for many years we will go out for a breakfast feast at the Jolly Roger restaurant. There is always a tinge of gilt associated with the restaurant thing. People are waiting on us instead of being with their families so we compensate them well.
In the evening the boys will go to their dads and I will take mom home. The end of the day will find the dogs and me at home by our selves, the house quiet. I love Christmas.

and the winner is

*And the winner of the “Al be home for Christmas” presented by the NBC Today show goes to the Poulos family right here on the Outer Banks and they deserve it. Their holiday decorations entertained my children when they were young. I have not been by to see it in a few years and my has it grown. I’m going to go by again Tuesday night to see it in all its glory.

*Only one more week till Christmas, I haven’t wrapped the first gift unless you count the ones I sent to my niece’s kids. This last week I usually watch my holiday movies, you know the traditional ones, “It’s a wonderful life”, “The Grinch that stole Christmas”, “Miracle on 34th St.”, “National Lampoons Christmas Vacation” “Die Hard”, while watching these movies I wrap presents and finish any other jobs that need to be done. Come Christmas morning if “its” not done, “its” not going to get done.

*To any who read this have and to those who don’t, have a Great Holiday.

Today is carrot cake day. From theses humble ingredients I make a cake that I must say is quite good. I have had more than one friend say “You are giving out cakes this year, aren’t you?” It makes me feel good to know that something I enjoy doing this time of year, is enjoyed by the people I do it for.

gift of nature

found this December rose in the yard this morning.

*It’s December 11th just two weeks until Christmas. My house is decked out in lights, red bows and a wreath. The Christmas tree is decorated, the porcelain nativity and the lighted porcelain Christmas village are out to be seen. Christmas music plays while I bake cookies, brownies and cakes, my gifts to my friends, neighbors and associates. While baking these gifts is something I enjoy doing, this year its saddens me a little, you see three of my dearest friends and neighbors moved this fall and I sorely miss them.


*While listening to a “Prairie Home Companion” last night, folks you have to turn off the TV it’s a public broadcast radio show, the host was talking about New York and Minnesota winters it brought to mind a story told by one of the ladies I work with;

• My coworker’s sister moved to Minnesota in late October and she went to visit her for the thanksgiving holiday. Well just before my coworker got to Minnesota the weather turned very cold. At the airport the coworkers sister commented the ground must really freeze and effect the plumbing because everyone had outhouses in their yard. Well my coworker found this puzzling until her sister pointed out one of the “outhouses”; it was an ice-fishing house.

Moving day

On my way out of the development I live in this morning I noticed at least 5 police cars with lights on. After quickly checking my speed, inspection sticker and anything else I could think of that could possible get me a ticket, and realizing I was OK I looked for what the problem could be. With that many cops and no firemen it could have been anything. Driving further down the road I noticed a house on the side of the road then it hit me. A friend of mine had bought a house that was going to be demolished and today was moving day. The house was supposed to be moved last week but something happened and I guess today became the day.

Now my friend got a good deal on this house. The house is only 10 years old and cost around $15,000 she spent another $15,000 or so to move it and $20,000 for foundation and other incidentals. So for around $50,000 she gets a house that would cost at least a $100,000 to build. The former owner gets make $15,000 instead of spending god only knows how much on demolishing it and sending it to an already stressed land fill which is better for the environment. It this case my friend wins, the former owner wins, and the environment wins. (of course the former owner is getting ready to build a "McMansion" house on a not so "McMansion" piece of property so we will have to think about the environment thing)