Hannah

Hannah is gone. Good bye, sweet girl. You will always be in my heart.

Words cannot do my feelings justice.

Hannah through the years August 5, 1994 - March 15, 2011

Wilmington YMCA Sprint photos

Sign from Two Wheeler Dealer, a local bike shop in
Wilmington that hosted packet pickup

Photo of the swim course. I took this picture from
Sea Path, the swim finish. The swim started at
Blockade Runner. Note the arrow pointing to the start.

My awesome support team!

More Biltmore photos

Hannah and Emma had a great time at Biltmore. I took a lot of photos -- more than were appropriate for yesterday's post.

Spring flowers

Yesterday I went to the arboretum and took some pictures of the flowers. Thunderstorms are predicted for the weekend and I thought there was a good chance that it would be the last opportunity to take pictures of the magnolia blooms and the cherry blossoms.

The first there photos are of the Yunnan crabapple tree near the entrance

This next set is of various magnolia trees on the grounds: The Lilliputian saucer magnolia, the Galaxy magnolia, the Jon Jon Gresham hybrid magnolia and the yellow lantern yellow magnolia.

Finally, there was a new looking bird's nest near one of the walkways.

Dance of the Marching Flowers

Flowering quince


Loebner magnolia


ruby giant crocus


winter flowering iris


Loebner magnolia


Pyrus 'Edgedell' Edgewood™


Pyrus 'Edgedell' Edgewood™


Lenten Rose


Lenten Rose

February flowers

A few photos from a February 10th visit to the arboretum.

Groundhog's Day at the Arboretum

Today at lunch I walked through the NCSU Arboretum to see what was going on.

The holly trees were still sporting their winter berries  and the February Gold daffodils were not yet golden

The miniature daffodils were just starting to poke out of the ground and the lenten roses were in bloom.

The winter flowering iris was in bloom and the winter honeysuckle was just starting to flower but the fragrence was already heavy in the air around it.

Rainbow Connection

One day last week, DH and I were driving home after a thunderstorm and we saw a rainbow. As soon as we got home even though it was already starting to fad, I took some pictures.

More Outer Banks photos

As always, our trip to the Outer Banks produced a plethora of photos.


The excitement for NC 12. NC 12 is the road that runs along the Outer Banks. The island is so narrow that there is room for only one road along a good part of the area. In fact, is is not unusual to see the ocean on one side and the sound on the other side. On Saturday, I biked NC 12 from Rodanthe to just south of Avon and then biked back. This photo was taken on the way back.


Above, Emma (front) and Hannah (back) play in the ocean near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Below is a photo of me with Hannah and Emma. (I like the picture despite the fact that comments have been made about the party hat coming out of Emma's head. What can I say? (1) Emma is a party girl and (2) I was not the photographer!)


Above, Emma running on the beach and generally looking happy. Below, Emma and Hannah with the lighthouse behind them.



Sunset over the Pamlico Sound near Rodanthe, NC.

Outer Banks vacation

For the past several years we have spent a weekend in May "camping" in Rodanthe on the North Carolina Outer Banks with Hannah and Emma. We walk on the beach and play with the girls and eat seafood. We visit Outer Barks and generally relax and recharge.

Last Friday we drove to Manteo and had lunch at a the Full Moon Cafe. We ate outside and the waitress brought a bowl of water for the girls. Unfortunately, a brief downpour occurred while I was trying to eat my salad with one hand (the other hand occupied by dog leashes). The umbrella was large enough that we were only moderately wet.

Above: Emma at Full Moon Cafe

Above: Hannah with the Sir Walter Raleigh roses in Manteo

After a brief walk around Manteo, we headed to Coquina Beach near the Bodie Island Lighthouse where the girls had their first beach outing of the year. The retrieving was cut short but some lightning. We were able to get to the car before the heaviest rain started to fall.

Above: DH with Hannah and Emma

Above: Hannah, after some fun in the water

Above: Emma looks happy after a run on the beach

From there, we headed south to Rodanthe and our campground. We played on the beach for a while there and then DH suggested that Lone Cedar would be a good place to have dinner so we were off toward Nags Head again.

Above, DH at Lone Cedar

Above: Hatchlings near Lone Cedar in the Roanoke Sound

On Saturday I rode my bike for a few hours and made it to just south of Avon before turning to come back. While I was riding, DH did some kayak surfing. After a picnic lunch under the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and walk on the beach there, we went to Outer Barks with the girls.

We went to Awful Arthur's for dinner -- the food is good, the service indifferent. We've learned to eat at the bar.

On Sunday, the weather was cooler. I rode but needed arm warmers. This time I went north through the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge to the Bonner Bridge and then turned to head back. While I was riding, DH and the girls played in the ocean for a bit and packed up. We then headed up to Corrolla for a picnic and then went home. It rained during the ride home so our timing was pretty good.

I really love going to the Outer Banks with DH and the girls. We always have a relaxing time. What fun!

I'll post photos from Saturday and Sunday in the days to come.