USA 🇺🇸 ~North Carolina “From Spring thru Summer 2025”

• April 19, 2026
• By Pen
• 0 Comment

Spring Thru Summer 2025

Moving into Spring through Summer time, as we live our lives, stationary in The Whale, while we enjoy time with our grandchildren……

The perfect way to kick off the pool opening at the campground, as we enjoy summer weather, during Memorial Day Weekend!

We had fun at the Potluck and Pool Day. Chelsie and the kiddos came and we had such a great family afternoon!

I thanked my daughter for her service and she got a little tear in her eyes…..I truly thank all who have served our country. Without y’all, I cannot imagine where we would be, today!

#onceamarinewaysamarine

Pictures from the weekend Potluck and Pool Time!

I ❤️ my family!

McKenzie and friend, Emma
Luke and Rylan

BIRDS NESTING !!!!

At Chelsies house, the family are enjoying two different nesting birds; one nest is built amongst her cactus plants on their patio; just on the other side of their sliding glass door. The viewing opportunities have been amazing!

These are Northern Mockingbirds. Both Mom and Dad are active in the egg sitting and rearing.

Also, in their large back yard, a Killdeer Bird has her second nesting of the year going on, in the same place. Also, both Mom and Dad are involved.

A defense mechanism of the Killdeer, since they are ground nesters, is to draw attention to themselves, acting like they are injured, and move away, to draw intruders away from their ground nest/eggs or babies.

And finally, there was a Black Bear citing near town hall in Swansboro, just yesterday….. we have a healthy black bear population in the area….

More Critters

This little cutie is “Splooting.”

We are honored to provide a safe environment, for critters to rest, drink, bathe and just relax….

“Splooting” is a cooling behavior squirrels use during extreme heat by lying on their stomachs with their legs spread out on a cool surface. It’s similar to finding the cool side of a pillow to fall asleep. Squirrels sploot to regulate their body temperature because they can’t cool down by sweating, unlike humans and some other animals. Instead, they conserve energy and seek cool places.”

…..In other news, we have two Minks that visit our camp spot, often (at night). I’m a light sleeper, so if I wake up, I check out the window and see them, regularly. They like the peanuts in the shells, though I doubt it’s their normal diet.

Finally, Daryl, who is not a light sleeper, did wake up and noticed me missing and came looking for me. He got to see the Minks, too! That was fun!

We have a critter cam, but we aren’t any good at getting it operational……there is very low-light at night, so no pictures, yet.

I provided a few photos from the net, though…

“Minks (Mustela vison) are found throughout North Carolina, especially in wetland areas like coastal marshes and swamps. They are semi-aquatic and known for their excellent swimming and hunting abilities, though they are rarely seen due to their mostly nocturnal and secretive

This Was Quite Special!

We enjoy watching a mating pair of Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, who visit our camp, regularly. Today, we got to see their baby! We assume there is just the one baby, and it’s pretty big…..

The male has a vibrant red head. We call him Big Boy. The female has a vibrant, red, back-of-the-head. The baby doesn’t have any red, yet.

Daddy fed the baby and is obviously teaching it the ropes.

We actually put out shelled peanut pieces, which Mr and Mrs Big Boy love, but we also have Starlings who are giant pigs and they eat up all the peanuts, while the Woodpeckers are not pigs and only take some, when they get a chance. The Starlings also have babies they feed, too.

Our resident Red-Bellied Woodpecker family has a baby that has left the nest. Daddy showed it the ropes over here at the food buffet…

All on its own now, it discovered sugar water from the hummingbird feeder.

Bunny

One of our seven regulars, hanging out in the rainstorm, next to the groceries.

….. Definitely not a dumb Bunny

Emerald Isle, North Carolina 🇺🇸

Today with my Granddaughter. Everybody should be so lucky to have one like McKenzie …..❤️

Today is Prime Rib Day!

Feeling celebratory; not on a holiday, but just a special day …. Just for love ❤️ of family and appreciation for the things that are right in this world.

Happy Anniversary to Us!

We had a fun afternoon, AND The prime rib was perfect, along with the sides. YUM!

For added fun, I made sure to have a “mud and worm pie,” ready to assemble for the grands. All I put down was the “mud;” (pudding) the dirt layer was crushed Oreos and of course burying the worms (gummies) was the most fun! It was a smashing success!!! A neighbour stopped by with his puppy who was a big hit!

And here we are a few days later; The last day of school for the kids…. Looking forward to the summer!

#LifeIsGood

School Time Again

Before we knew it, summer felt like it was wrapping up, when McKenzie started her College-High School on August 5th, and not long after, the boys; Luke and Rylan started their school year, end of August.

This year, Chelsie has three kiddos, in three different schools. The boys have busses to catch, that begin before its light out, and McKenzie, being in her new college-high school program, there are no busses provided, so mom and dad are the ones who take care of that transportation need, there, and MeMa as back up when needed!

Chelsie and I decided to begin attending the First Baptist Church in Swansboro. I did not think I was interested in going to church again, after the covid changes occurred, but both Chels and I felt very moved by a pastor who did the funeral service for somebody we knew; a young woman who passed away, suddenly. So now the family enjoys church services, when we can make it happen.

Soccer Season Begins

Rylan and Luke continue to play soccer on a team that is outside of the school system. This means all the games are played on the weekends; sometimes two games, each. It keeps us all hopping!!!!