Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Photos from Topsail Island, NC

I've already told you all how much we loved Topsail Island. We had such a great time, and we're sorry to have our vacation behind us. But. We have wonderful memories, and lots of terrific pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

Enjoy.



My Favorite Picture - Kinda says it all, doesn't it?





Harley says "Welcome to Topsail!"




Here's our house










We had some gorgeous, sunny days . . .

and we had some rainy days, which were still pretty gorgeous . . .



our kitchen - LOVED our little kitchen, didn't use it much, but I loved it


We had great beach walking days . . .






















and great shopping days! I discovered a new favorite North Carolina artist by the name of Ivey Hayes








We had fun days to drive around and just explore and admire beautiful beach houses








And we had days to just sit very very still on our deck and watch pretty amazing sunrises




and some evenings to watch some pretty spectacular sunsets.










And when it was time to leave, our little deck buddy popped out to say goodbye.


and Harley was sad.





And then. On the way home, we pulled off the expressway for a little rest stop and saw this - just what we needed to make us chuckle and get over those "time to leave the beach blues."


and life is good.

June 2010.
Sadly - there's a postscript I'd like for you all to know about.
Skip ahead a year to May, 2010.
We were scheduled to come back to Topsail, but my Donald suffered a heart attack.  He's now doing well, thank you, but we, of course, had to cancel our trip.
The morning we were to leave for Topsail, Donald was airlifted by helicopter from Boone to Asheville Mission Memorial Hospital and was there for five days.
And because of the way we were treated by the owners of the house we had rented and paid for in full, we're unsure as to whether we'll be back.  We will not, for sure, ever be staying at this house again.  The owners were unable to find it in their hearts to allow us to reschedule our vacation; a near fatal heart attack notwithstanding. They said if we had bought rental insurance it would have been a different story, but they stuck to the contract.  No refund/No rescheduled stay.  I've written about it here: 

9 comments:

The Stiletto Gang said...

I love your photos - thanks for sharing. Makes me want to find a beach somewhere and just sit on it!

Anonymous said...

Kaye,

Your photos are just gorgeous. Oh, how I envy you! If your house had been any closer to the beach it would have been in the water. Your kitchen looks like mine, only yours is prettier -- nicer colors.

Well, Harley looks like he's in beach heaven in your opening photo. (-: And your last photo is so cute -- you ought to enter it in a contest somewhere.

Thanks for sharing. Hugs from here in landlocked Oklahoma --

Pat Browning

Carol Murdock said...

Wonderful pictures Kaye! I think what I need is a week at the beach!

Kaye Wilkinson Barley - Meanderings and Muses said...

Hi Guys - Welcome!!!

I sing the praises of beaches loudly. They restoreth the soul. (and make little dogs filthy and happy).

Pat - funny you should say that about the house being almost in the water. the last day we were there, Donald was chatting with someone he had met who lives there. There was a bad storm last year which wiped out about 150 homes, and left many sitting right at the ocean's edge. A federal grant was given to Topsail to pay for trucking in MANY loads of sand to restore the beach. I remain puzzled as to why someone would build, or buy, a house that close to the water. They obviously have way more money than Donald and I.

Shirley Wetzel said...

Beautiful, Kaye. Wish I'd been there, but it looks like you & your loves had plenty of fun without me!

Vicki Lane said...

Wonderful pictures, Kaye -- waves and skies and sunsets, oh my!

Alexandra Sokoloff said...

Oh my God, these photos are staggering. I must go there. Today.

You must know Diane Chamberlain, Kaye - this whole Topsail thing....

Plus you are goddesses of the highest order.

Jen Forbus said...

Boy! Harley sure looks like he loved the water. That would be my babies, too. So glad he could enjoy the beach with you both! Glad it was a wonderful time for you, Kaye.

Earl Staggs said...

Hi, Kaye Darlin'. Carol and I watched a movie yesterday with scenes in Delaware and that reminded her of Maryland, which reminded her of Ocean City and all the times we went there and she said, "I miss those days." I said I missed them, too. Well, this morning, I scrolled through your pix of the beach at Topsail and missed those days even more. I won't get over it till the day comes when the four of us meet in OC and walk the surf, then plop in the sand and laugh out tails off.