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!

I promised a finished knit photo shoot and I deliver! My sister and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon at a small beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina; it was a perfect backdrop for her birthday scarf’s debut! Mimi was a great model!

Pattern: Interweave Knits, Summer 2007
Yarn: Blue Heron Mercerized Cotton Laceweight
Needles: Size US 7

Simple lace with a dramatic effect. It is a great stashbusting piece too. I bought this yarn about three years ago and since I am not much of a lace knitter, it lingered in the stash. This pattern came along, and Mimi dropped some serious hints about wanting a wrap/scarf for her upcoming birthday, so it seemed like it was time to cast on with the lovely yarn. I doubled the yarn for the entire scarf, and I used approximately 600 yards of the 1100 yard hank. It is about six feet long, enough to double over around the neck, or to wear as a shoulder wrap like Mimi shows in the pictures. Happy birthday, sweet sister!

It was a warm weekend, but I had great light for some picture-taking. I have not uploaded all of my photos yet, but you can see most of them on my Flickr page.

I will be driving south this afternoon for a long weekend
with my little sister, Mimi. 

She lives in a very quaint little town on the coast of North Carolina. We have plans to hike and bike some of the areas we discovered during my last trip, and explore more of the historic parts of the town.  I am hoping for some nice photography weather… because I have a secret finished knit to photograph on its intended recipient!

My Whiby socks are making the trip with me… and I will spend my drive contemplating my next sweater project… I am a little disallusioned with the camisole I recently started (the row gauge is drastically off)  and for some reason, my mind is thinking about warm wooly stashbusting projects.

I have the yarn for all of these… which one should I pick? 
Click to see details and yarn choices!

Kris and I took the scenic route to the beach.  The weather was pristine, and there were plenty of worthy diversions:  the roadside farmers’ markets and the small lakes, in particular.   I just love the spontaneity of vacations:  we passed a sign for a state park on the highway, we looked at each other, and then we turned.  We had our bikes, and we had time.  Rarely do we have the opportunity to do something that pops up just like that… with no planning or time constraints.  Liberty!

Trap Pond State Park, Delaware

The state park offered about 12 miles of trails, and we had a great time riding them and exploring the small cypress groves around the lake.  The weather was mild and beautiful; so perfect for these outdoor activities.

We were lucky to enjoy the same mild weather at the beach.  The hottest and most humid day was the day that we left.  Various family members joined us on Friday evening at the beach house, and we planned our activities. 

Niece K and I went to the bayside docks and watched the guys fish and crab. 

The next day, we took K and her sister M to the beach to fly their new kites.

…they got a little tired of the kites and decided to play in the sand…

Our final morning at the beach, Kris and I took K on a walk through the sand. 

It simply went by too fast~

Kris and I are off to the Maryland and Delaware beaches today! Packed amongst my towels and sunscreen, I have some great knitting, and a good book to keep me busy…

…and this great new hat!

~See you next week~