Baby Gators!!!

When we're in Hilton Head, we keep our eyes peeled for gators EVERYWHERE we go.  It never gets old to find one or two in a pond or lagoon.  In fact, when I get back to Charlotte, I find myself looking in bodies of water for gators and it takes me a while to get out of the habit.

On this trip to Hilton Head, we got exceptionally lucky.  Why?  We found two ponds with baby gators (a first for all of us!).  We were thrilled!

I bravely stepped out of the car to take some photos.

In the above photo, can you see the adorable baby gator up on the grass with Momma Gator guarding below from the water?

Um yeah.

I took this one from across the pond.  I am no fool. 

The baby's mouth was wide open.

I headed to a pond located on the other side of the drive.  This cute baby was there waiting.

I couldn't find the Mom on this side so I was a little on guard.

Oh, but they were SO CUTE.  I couldn't believe our luck.

A few of them were even swimming.  As we would do with human babies, we were oohing and aahing over their every move.

It's nice to know that there should be gators for many years to come.  We will always look forward to finding them and I'll always look forward to taking gator photos!!!

Gardener in Training....

This week I've been working in the garden a little bit....planting some onions, garlic and leeks.

Being in the garden, I suppose, has prompted Clara to ask me about 50 times a day....

"Where the 'matos go?"

"Where the strawberries go?"

Even when we're away from home, at completely random moments, she'll ask,

"Where the 'matos go?"

I love this.  I tell her they're sleeping underground and they'll be back next year.  Clara seems to like this explanation.

Where the 'matos go?  Every time I think of it, I can't stop smiling.

This is one of those things that I don't want to forget.  Hence this post.

(These photos have nothing to do with this post but they're nice and Fall-like.  They're part of my sprucing up of Hubbell's Garden.)

Matching Suits

For my entire life, I found it so annoying when other people dressed their children alike.  Seriously, not a fan.

YET, we were in a store recently and Sophie found her exact bathing suit in Clara's size. Both girls screamed and begged and jumped up and down and went CRAZY until I agreed to buy it.

I am so glad I did.

When Alain and I saw the girls sitting by the pool in their matching suits, our hearts completely melted. Thank goodness Alain was so quick and captured this moment.

When I'm 90 years old (should I be so lucky!), I will be sitting in the retirement home still thinking about when my two girls were little and wore the matching green and white striped bathing suits.

PS ~ I've been guilty of this before!

The Beach, Nature & Creativity

Welcome to my favorite beach.  

Calibogue Beach.  In our family, we call it Land's End or South Beach.  It's never crowded (not that I've experienced).  This might be because there isn't any parking so you have to walk or bike a good distance to get there.  It could be because there are no amenities. No restrooms, no snack bar, no lifeguards, no umbrella or beach chair rentals.  It might be because there's very little actual beach, especially at high tide.  I wouldn't necessarily recommend swimming here because it's where the Calibogue Sound meets the Atlantic Ocean.  This means heavy currents and sharks (I understand that it's a hot spot for shark fishing but don't take my word on this ~ I may just be overprotective).  What may deter others are the things I love about this beach.  The nature here is CRAZY, there are tons of dolphins and it's the best spot for sunsets.

What thrills me is that Sophie loves it as much as I do.  On Friday AND Saturday, while Clara was napping, this is where she asked to come.  Not to play mini golf, ride horses at the stable, swim at the pool or visit the crowded beach, but HERE. While we hung out and I watched her play, it occurred to me that it's probably my favorite spot/activity for nurturing her creativity.  

For example, just take a look at this sandcastle.

We only brought a couple of shovels and buckets with us.  You can only fit so many things in a bike basket and backpack!  Sophie used those items to make the skeleton of the castle but then collected all kinds of natural items ~ pine cones, shells, driftwood, feathers ~ to decorate it.

My favorite part was the bridge she made out of sticks. I love her imagination.  I don't know that I ever would've thought of that!

 Throughout our visit, items would get added to this lovely castle.....

.....and this was the final view before we left the beach for the day.

Then there's all the digging.  Here Sophie told me she was digging a tunnel.

She was very busy and so quiet (and trust me, she's never very quiet).  Maybe that's another reason I love this beach so much....it captures her imagination as much as mine.

 Then it was on to writing and drawing in the sand with feathers.  Oh, this is so addictive.  Every single member of our family wrote in the sand with a feather tip.

I was happy to receive two love letters.....one being this....

 Be still my beating heart.

 In another moment, Sophie was working quietly in the sand.  I asked what she was doing and she told me she'd made a garden and she was watering it. 

A quick filling of the water bucket. 

And then a sprinkling on her row of plants.

Swoon.

At some point a couple came out with their kayak, promptly got in the water and paddled away.

(I was only slightly jealous!)

Shortly thereafter Sophie found a reed tucked into the sand. She told me she was going to use it as a paddle.  Then she hopped up onto this log and started paddling away.

(I think she was slightly jealous too!)

What could be more perfect?  I'd rather spend a few hours here than just about anywhere else I know.  

(photo taken by Sophie)

See, I told you my girls would turn me into a beach person!!!!  Maybe not the type of beach most people think of (I don't even swim or sunbathe when I'm there!) but a beach all the same!

(this photo reminds me of this one)

Sophie and I.....the beach provided a perfect outlet for our creative energy (mine in the form of these pictures and this blog post!) but, as the saying goes....

.....we took only pictures and memories and left behind only our footprints.

Lone Eagle

Alain, Sophie, Clara & I spent the last four days in Hilton Head.  I am still trying to decide which photos to share and what blog posts to create.....but one thing is too good to keep to myself for any longer than is necessary!

This morning Sophie & I went on a long bike ride and she took her notebook along to make some nature journal entries.  We'd ride our bikes until she saw something interesting and asked to stop. It was a nice surprise to turn a curve and come across this fellow....

We parked our bikes and sat down on the hillside so Sophie could draw.  It was fairly quiet and peaceful and, as she drew, I looked around.  After some time, I noticed a massive bird flying above us.  There was something about it that was just different.  I kept watching.  It flew fast in massive circles above us.  Could it be?  I pulled up the camera.

As soon as I saw the bird through my viewfinder, I just knew.

I THINK I'M SEEING MY FIRST WILD EAGLE.

The white head and tail.  The very yellow beak. The massive size.

I didn't want to get too excited in case I was wrong.

I just kept taking pictures.  This bird was fast and it wasn't easy.

Tonight, as I transferred the photos from my camera to my computer, I started researching. And I showed the pictures to Alain.  "That's a bald eagle!", he replied immediately.  It appears from my research that it is indeed a bald eagle.  It's hard to describe how high he was flying and I feel so thankful for my camera and that I just happened to have my large lens on. A bald eagle, I can't believe it.

My very first one.  What a happy day!!!

CULTIVATE A BETTER WORLD!

That is the slogan of Chipotle.  My favorite place to eat.  For many reasons.  Their new video came across my desk and I was AMAZED.  It's a true piece of art and way too good not to share.  

Have you seen it?

I really do wish people would be smarter about what they eat (I'm nowhere near perfect but I do try hard.  I try so hard!). I love this ADORABLE Scarecrow for trying to spread that message.  A message really close to my heart.  

PS ~ Ever seen this oldie but goodie?

PPS ~ This post reminded me of my Instagram entry from 2 weeks ago!

PPPS ~ I purchased the songs from both of these videos.  Aren't they amazing?

The Lure of Sunflowers....

On this particular day, there was something about this patch of sunflowers that made me drive to the next exit of the highway, turn around, drive back several miles and turn around again.  All I knew is that I had to take some photos of these sunflowers. They just spoke to me.

 

Sunflowers are so beautiful and the sight of so many just lifts my heart. Yet there's also something sad about them.  The sun is shining so brightly and yet they struggle to lift their faces completely.  This is what drew me to them today.  I love these pictures....

(Kudos to the NC Wildflower Program ~ this stretch of highway is overwhelming in its beauty!)

PS ~ I've loved many of my header photos over the years but I think this one just might take the cake for me.  It's going to take me a LONG time to replace it!