Freedom Park picnic for four.

In elementary school, I had an hour long bus ride. I would always fall asleep and wake up just as we were coming around the bend off I-277. As we would pass this huge oak tree, I knew we only had a few more minutes before making it to school. We would also pass the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club, with a giant wave on the side of the building. I used to think that wave was a scary sea-monster.

Now I pass that same tree and sea-monster on my way to work everyday. Everything is the same and yet everything is different.

I remember taking field trips to Freedom Park. A picnic in the park seemed like the only option on such a beautiful day like today. After lunch, we went to the nature museum because that's what we do - visit all sorts of nature preserves. I think we've walked along every board walk you can find in the south. This one had a butterfly garden. Let me just tell you how difficult it is to photograph a butterfly...

Wildlife Center

The Oatland Island Wildlife Center reminded me of this place. The boardwalk was my favorite part. As we walked around, we saw a cougar, turtles, bison, wolves, owls, eagles, one alligator... and lots of mosquitos.

Highlights Reel:

The highlight of Bud's trip? Feeding the alligator - aka throwing fish food at it's head.

Georgia's peach of a beach.

The beach is always a good idea. I've grown to like the smell of pluff mud. Sun-kissed skin. Kite flying. Lots of balcony sitting, especially during the nightly thunderstorms. More than one seafood dinner. Deviled crab, oysters, hush puppies, and fried shrimp.

 
Thanks to the real world that I've been living in for the past half-year, I am slowly becoming a morning person. I actually like the thought of being a morning person. Morning light warms my soul as it bleeds through the curtains. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Hot tea is usually my beverage of choice. The thought of a clean slate - a brand new day - is refreshing.

Each morning, I woke up by 6:20am to ensure that I would catch the sunrise coming up over the water. My vacation-brain would quickly remind me that vacations were, in fact, for sleeping in. 9am sounded better. 9am is very early for this girl, even if the sun doesn't think so.



Something ironic - our beach vacations always seem to fall during Shark Week, which does nothing but confirm my hesitation towards walking out into the water further than ankle-deep.

Tybee Island Light Station

We went to Ireland when I was in 8th grade - the land before elevators. It's also the land of old castles and winding staircases carved from slick stone. Needless to say, my sister and I do not like staircases. Especially the kind with space between each step. We do love lighthouses though, so we sucked it up, took deep breaths and climbed 178 steps to the very top. Mom and Caroline stayed inside. I braved the wind and wobbly balcony long enough to snap a photo or two. Bud practically ran laps around the thing.

Sav.

Oh, Savannah. Charleston's "sister city" - that's probably why I feel such a connection with it. It was our first stop on the way to Tybee, and our last stop before heading back home. I'm a perfectionist that like things perfectly imperfect, if that makes sense? That's how I think of Savannah. Perfectly imperfect. It oozes charm, without trying too hard. It doesn't have to.

This weekend was wonderful - especially because Friday and Monday were considered part of it. Bud and I have had unsynchronized schedules for the past few months, so I was happy to have been able to spend a full 4 days with him. I'll admit - I could have bypassed the beach altogether, and stayed in the heart of the historic district. Forevah. What is summer time without the beach though? Tybee is great, because alot of people haven't discovered it yet.

hellogoodbyesummer.

For those that don't follow me on instagram....

Speaking of instagram, I've completely neglected my real camera - hence, my lack of posts. That, and my love/hate relationship with technology. In April, I attempted writing a post about a wedding that I was in. Things got complicated, and I broke up with my blog.

*Yes, April. It is now mid-August. Huh?!

Let's try this again.

We are heading to Tybee Island tomorrow! My beloved camera will be around my neck all weekend, and I'll be in full-blown tourist mode.