sunrise reflection during the off color vacation

“There is, I have heard, a little thing called sunrise, in which the sun reverses the process we all viewed the night before. You might assume such a thing as mythical as those beasts that guard the corners of the earth, but I have it on the finest authority, and have, indeed, from time to time, regarded it with my own eyes.” 
― Lauren Willig, The Garden Intrigue

The off color family vacation continues with all our antics as usual.

This morning, Big Daddy and I awoke while the moon was still on the horizon.  Big Daddy made us some coffee, donned his "orange on orange" outfit--as the off color children call it.  He also has a blue on blue and a green on green.  Sometimes he mingles them together.  He told me not to be taking his picture this morning because it seem that every time I have my camera--he is in his "orange on orange".   He said, "Everyone will think you took the pictures all in one day."  I think to myself, "Duh, I don't think so.  They will think you only had one outfit."

So far the trip has been just the right mix in weather, sleep, walking and off-color family time.

As I sit here, reflecting...

the ocean continues to splash, crash on the shoreline and roll back out to where ever it comes from....

the birds sing songs I don't hear in my native Ky land

and the warmth of the sun is beginning to heat up the air.

It has rained alot here at the beach.  I don't mind the rain.  It makes for great sleeping weather or

"bed time weather" if you know what I mean. I have taken advantage of it when ever I could.

One day the girls and I walked on the beach in the rain

where we found great treasures and gifts deposited just for us by the god's of sea....starfish,

sand dollars, hermit crabs and so many whelks (Atlantic conch) that it kept us walking for hours.

Hannahtard, the fearless one in the group, walked through the tide pools and held up things for us to see before throwing them back to the sea.  We walked so far and for so long, we knew we would not make it home in time for Big Daddy's grill smorgasbord.  We had walked so far on the island that there was no beach access.  Once we finally got a cell signal, we phoned Big Daddy and asked him to meet us at the first area that had beach access--still two miles away.

By this time, the girls were hungry and whining and tired and their feet were hurting and .....wha wha...

I personally enjoyed every tranquil minute of the day.

Off color son says that he enjoys the moonlight strolls the best.  By the time the boys are up and going for the day...I am ready for my first nap.  I have not made the midnight stroll just yet, but I do  have a couple more days.

The world has stopped for just a few minutes,

slowed down so I can breath and for that I am thankful.

The walking and the sound of waves and the feel of warm sand between my toes,

has cleared my head

and

I find that I am filled with a deep peace and gratitude which I suppose one could say

encompasses blessed JOY.

Now an off color vacation could not be complete without one off color story...don't you agree?

Last night after going for a drive on the island with off color daughter who did get her permit just last week.  She said she pretended to be dumb and that helped her not over think her questions. 

Anyway, we are finally convincing her to start to learn to drive. Now by the time off-color son was driving he was already so cocky and sure of himself, we had to make him slowdown.  I swear riding with him was like sitting on the backseat of an evil Knievel motorcycle.  Off Color daughter is very precautious and is just learning the difference between the gas and the break.  She did break the 20 mph speed limit last night. She does a bit better everytime she tries. I'm sure she thinks she is already better than me...they all say I am a horrible driver---which is not true--I just like looking at things as I do it.

As dusk set in, the girls, Big Daddy and I headed to the beach for an episode of

"off color family" plays Frisbee.

We were actually pretty good...I mean we could throw it and we could catch it without hurting ourselves or anyone else.

All was well until I saw it happen....Off Color daughter got a twinkle in her eye and the next thing I knew, she was bending over making sure that her shirt was up and her shorts were down enough to make it look like she had a huge "plumber crack".  Well that started the contest of who was the most brave...Big Daddy, Off color daughter or Hannah-tard.  I tried to hang with the mooning and plumber cracking antics...but I promise...they are better at off color than I am.

People were laughing....except for the one dad who was next to us with his children and

I swear sir...I'm sorry for the behavior of my family, but I really have no control over it.

As off color daughter said, as she placed her hair in a bun and parted her long bangs in the middle looking sexy hot, she quoted Foxy Cleopatra from Austin Powers:

"Well, the future better get ready for me. 'Cause I'm Foxxy Cleopatra, and I'm a WHOLE LOTTA WOMAN. "

Well she is right about that one....she's a whole lotta off color daughter

and

a whole lotta woman----since she is from the sexy hot mama gene pool....

she is a Foxxy Cleopatra and she's gonna be a whole lotta woman for some off color in law to be...that is for sure.

Have a great day,

Blessings

The radical rambler

from the beaches of North Carolina

hugs