Oct 16 2007
Carolina in Mind
North Carolina provided the perfect getaway spot. Close enough to Maryland for a drive (about 5.5 hours), yet far enough away to feel “away from it all” - with the added bonus of seeing my sisters!
Hiking through the Croatan National Forest
[More photos on Kris's blog]
I have been to the National Forest on each trip - it is an amazing attraction. There are some good hiking trails, and with the weather, there were a number of wildlife sightings. We saw bottle nose dolphins in the brackish river water (this is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, and the water at this point is very high in salt) jumping in and out. They almost seemed to put on a little show for us! We also spotted some amazing water fowl, and even a bald eagle. The eagle swooped down about 30 feet from me and caught a fish in the river. It was an amazing sight. I only wish my fingers had been quick enough to capture a photograph.
The other highlight of the weekend was a one-hour phone call with my brother-in-law in Iraq. He has been there for 10 months, and will be returning home in December. We set up the webcam and were able to see him there. It was extra special because Saturday was his birthday.
On Sunday, we attended New Bern’s street festival, Mum Fest.
Before leaving on Sunday evening, the light was just right for a sisters photo shoot.
Now we just need to figure out which one is best for framing!
Looks & sounds like it was a lovely weekend! As for the sisters pic - I vote for the top one.
Wow. Such gorgeous pictures!!!
Looks like a great weekend (I’ve been to the Carolinas once, and I can’t wait to go back one day).
I really like the top photo of you and your sisters.
I vote for the top one too!
Your pictures from your hike are beautiful!!! Glad you had a good trip.
I vote for the top pic too! You look like you are having a blast being with your sisters!
how can you choose, they’re both sensational. love the nature shots too, the colors are so vibrant.
Your photography skills are really amazing these days, L! Beautiful. And I love your sisters photo so much… your new haircut still looks fabulous!
i like the second picture! beautiful photos!
What great photos. The picture of you and your sisters is great. Frame both of them:)
I like both of the photos. How lovely you all look together. You look much better with shorter hair too.
Beautiful photos, Lolly! I like the top sisters photo better too.
soooo cute! I’d fram both, you three have the same smile and they are just awesome!!
giggle. I was at Mumfest earlier in the week….
did you go to the knitting store and meet Marilyn???
I absolutely ADORE the first picture!
What a wonderful treasure.
Great pictures!
Beautiful photos, Lolly! As for the sisters photos, I like the bottom one just a tiny bit better but honestly, why not frame ‘em both?
Your photos are lovely, Lolly!
Such wonderful shots of you and your sisters. We are in SC now, heading out for NC tomorrow. . . made me even more excited about the trek. Thank you.
If you are taking a vote, I would go with the second picture for the frame. You all look more natural and relaxed. You are all beautiful! happy sisters.
aw, you and your sisters are just gorgeous
Beautiful photos. You look stunning.
Frame the first one! Glad you had such a great time with your sisters. I miss mine!
Beautiful photos as usual, Lolly. Is the blue on the log in the first photo accurate? That’s so neat? Is it some sort of mold or growth?
And you and your sisters are so cute. I think either photo would be more than suitable for framing. So interesting that your coloring is slightly different too (a blonde, a brunette, and a strawberry blond/sandy haired).
what a wonderful trip!!!
Sounds like a fantastic visit with the family! I think it’s too close to call with the pictures. They’re both great for framing
Sounds like you had a fantastic trip. The National Park looks beautiful!
Your pictures are fabulous. You look like happy sisters;-)
Just stunning photography. I’d definitely frame both sisters pics, impossible to choose cause they’re both great.
- I also just wanted to say I love your Noro striped socks, they’re too fun! I’ve got some SG lite stashed just for such a pair, and yours have got my needles twitching.
What a lovely weekend!
My vote is the top photos - very frame worthy.
: )
beautiful photos……..
i like the first one of you and your sisters…..
beautiful girls!
did you guys plan the color palate in your sisters shot? So nice! I like the first one, too.
I grew up in NC, but have never been to the Croatan National Forest - looks like a cool place!
Beautiful pictures! Frame them both, in identical frames, and then put them on the wall one over the other
That’s one thing I miss about MD, being about a 5-6 hour drive from my family…
I like both photos of you and your sisters. Although the bottom photo is the more natural looking of the two.
Your trip sounds like fun and so nice to have been able to talk to your brother. We have a friend in Kandahar right now. Being able to hear from them makes all the difference.
Both pictures are beautiful. I think I like the second one slightly better. I just love good times with sisters!
Gorgeous photos. I like the first one of you and your sisters - very pretty. I’m sure you’ll get so many different opinions that you’ll just have to decide for yourself.
Wow!!! Beautiful photos! What kind of camera do you have?
Second one since it’s closer!
It’s great that there’s such a wonderful wilderness resource for you to enjoy when you visit. I hope your sisters are doing well, especially Mimi with her husband away. December is so soon!
You and your sisters look great together - you are beautiful women. You have some good genes, girl! xoxo
Yay! Sisters! You guys are so cute. Both pics are very frame-worthy, but I think I like the second one a little better.
What a great sister pic! I love number one, but they are both great. I also love the color scheme of the log in the forest- I simply must find yarn with those colors! Perhaps it’s time to break out the dye pots again…
Gorgeous pictures, as always. I like both of the pics of you and your sisters, but I think the first one is really fun!
gorgeous photos, gorgeous bunch of sisters. i aw print and frame all the shots. they’re divine.
I like the first picture of you gals the best. I think it’s adorable that there is a blonde, brunette and redhead but yet you can certainly tell you’re sisters.
Awww… both sister photos are so pretty. I think I might like the second one better, though. But either one would be lovely framed.
What a great weekend; lovely photos as ever. Love the SG socks too.
I’ve been stalking you(r site) for a while…. I like the top picture best. You all look so good and I love that each of you has a different hair color.
Sounds like a great trip! The photos of you with your sisters are beautiful! I can feel the love.
Definately the top picture for framing, though both are great. I love your hair short, it looks so cute!
The three of you are so beautiful!
Lovely photos! I really like the first one of you three. Frame both of them they are both great:)
I like the first sisters photo best - you all have the same exact smile!
Great sisters pictures! Yay for a fun getaway!
Haha red head….I love it!!!
Wonderful pictures! It looks like you had a great trip!
Lovely pictures! My brother liven in NC for several years but, sadly, I never made it out there to see him. I wanted to, but I’m all the way on the other side of the country. What pretty sister pics. I can’t decide which I like better!
So cute! I like the first picture - it has a posed-but not-posed look to it.
You and your sisters looks so beautiful!
Beautiful nature, beautiful sisters! I think I like the top one best.
What are those amazing purple berries?? I was just marvelling over some in a garden today…
So glad you had such a wonderful time, and got to enjoy your sisters! Siblings are precious, aren’t they. I love the top picture!! You all have a magic in your eyes that is priceless. Wonderful photography!
Oh my gosh Lolly - what gorgeous photos!! I like the top one, personally - but hey why not get both framed and put them in different rooms of the house!?
Gorgeous photos, especially the mushrooms. And what a family of stunners!
I agree with everyone else: gorgeous photos! Sounds like a beautiful place!
Beautiful sisters….both photos are worthy of framing. Ummm your dark-haired sister, I am sure, has been told she looks like “Charlotte Yorke” aka Kristen Davis (Sex & the City)!!
How cute are you and your sisters?! I have 2 sisters also and seeing this picture made me miss them!
You are all so beautiful! I like the branches of wood down by the water like that.
Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend. Gorgeous photos.
Hi,
I come from Singapore, and I happen to chance upon your blog.
I’m an avid reader of Nicholas Sparks novels, and i’ve read all about North Carolina from his books.
I was thinking of taking a vacation at NC sometime soon.
Is it a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life?
Could you tell me more about NC including New Bern? Not about shopping…but more about it’s geography, nature or something?
Would be looking forward for a reply.
Appreciate it if you could drop me a mail
Thank you for your time.
Cheers,
Bernice.