Points of Interest

On our off-the-beach walk yesterday, we found several points of interest - well, interesting to us at least.

Just across the street from our condo, we discovered a wooded area that seems to have Northern Cardinals nesting there. We don't get Northern Cardinals in the area where we live, so this is a great find for us. I took a photo of these female Northern Cardinals and when I downloaded it, discovered there were three of them - I didn't notice the one in the background at the time.


Also when taking this female Northern Cardinal in the hedge, I didn't notice the male Cardinal (to the right) until I downloaded this photo - bonus! I think I need to be more observant.

This is one of my favourite houses on the beach. I just love the style and colour.

These feathery grasses are very common here in this area of South Carolina. I just love to watch them blow in the wind.

Most of the beach houses here have a name plate. I thought Recovery Zone was quite fitting. You can surely recover from most things here at the beach, or at least relax and try. Another name plate that I saw, but didn't photo, was Vitamin Sea.

Another day in our simple life.

A New Year....

When your clock strikes midnight,

may you look forward to a good year

ahead filled with peace, health, friendship and happiness.

Happy 2011

Our Christmas Dinner

As I said in my previous blog, the table was set awaiting the Christmas dinner. This year it was just the two of us for Christmas and we had a lovely day.


Well cooking in another person's kitchen is not the same as being at home, but I did manage. We bought a new roasting pan at the Corelle Factory Outlet which came in very handy as there was no other pan large enough at the condo to cook our chicken in. Yes, we opted for a chicken this year, although turkeys were selling for $0.69 a pound in the supermarkets in Surfside. The problem was the smallest one we could find was about 30 pounds! Doesn't that chicken look yummy?



For some reason I don't cook a turkey but I do cook a chicken and Paul will cook a turkey, but not a chicken. Paul is able to carve either though, as you can see!

Here's a toast to our first Christmas dinner in Surfside Beach. We hope the first of many...

Now this is the gal serving (chicken, mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and Newfoundland stuffing)...

And here is the guy serving. I shouldn't tell this, but the guy had seconds!

Note the little smile on this cute face. Paul had been waiting all day for this moment.

I guess this empty plate means the wait was worth it!

Paul and I would like to wish you peace, love, health and happiness for the New Year.

Happy 2011

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning in Surfside Beach was a new experience for Paul and I. I awoke this morning to an awesome sunrise over the ocean (no photo though as I was too cozy), Christmas music playing in the bedroom and a cute guy. A perfect Christmas to me.

Although it was not as warm as we would have liked, the sun was shining and the wind was minimal, so we dressed warmly and had our omelettes and coffee on the deck. Watching the waves roll in to the sound of Christmas music was really nice.

The ocean was quite lovely to watch this morning with the rolling waves crashing on the beach.

Another treat this morning was seeing several blue birds flying about in the grasses on the dunes.

Although Paul and I feel that giving to the less fortunate is the best gift giving approach to Christmas for us, my friend Irm did gift me with this beautiful angel she made from shells. I will certainly treasure this thoughtful gift. Irm's art with shells is amazing.

Well, our table is set for our Christmas dinner this evening and our chicken will be stuffed and in the oven within the hour. I know one person who can hardly wait!

Merry Christmas from our home to yours.

The Boardwalk & Piers, Myrtle Beach

Earlier this week Paul and I spent an afternoon on the new boardwalk in Myrtle Beach. The construction started just before we left here last spring. We parked at 2nd Avenue Pier where the boardwalk begins and walked north to 14th Avenue Pier, where it ends. Although called a boardwalk, some of the pathway is concrete.

I did a little shopping at The Gay Dolphin. When I was in Myrtle Beach in the '80s with my sister, we stayed at a hotel in this area and we often popped into this shop to browse. If one is looking for "sea related" items such as shells, candles, pictures, etc., this shop just might have what you want. I would just hate to have to do inventory in this shop!

There is such a nice view of the ocean and dunes along the walkway.

The new 2nd Avenue Pier has a restaurant and bar so we went in to see what they offered, other than a great view. When I asked for the drinks menu I was shown a surfboard on the wall. We stayed for a beer and enjoyed the view before stepping out on the deck to take a few pictures. With such a nice deck, we look forward to another visit when it is warm enough to sit outside.

A view of north Myrtle Beach from the Pier deck.

The view south towards Surfside Beach.

An Evening Sky

While I was busy in the kitchen cooking our dinner, Paul went outside to take these photos of the evening sky over Surfside Beach. Why is it we never tire of watching sunrises and sunsets?

Paul also saw a couple of guys with their boards in the surf.

But not for long.


I think they may have agreed with us that it was rather cool to be playing in the water today.

Surfside Beach Santa Parada

This afternoon the Surfside Santa Parade went along our street. Paul and I enjoyed watching the marching bands and floats go by, as well as wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

We are still getting used to Christmas events with palm trees.

And here comes Santa....

Another fun part was picking up all the treats being thrown out along the parade route. We have a plastic necklace, a small football, some bubble solution and...

...this large tray of candy in our condo. We collected all this from our location on the route.