Welcome to JOYFUL REFLECTIONS. Also welcome to MARCH!!!! My header picture this month is a photo I took of the pretty Crocus blooms in our yard... The Crocuses and Daffodils are the first signs of spring here in Tennessee. I am definitely ready for SPRING...

Monday, May 9, 2011

A "Fantabulous" Week

George and I just returned from another terrific trip to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina....  We couldn't have picked a better week to be there since there was NOT one drop of RAIN all week... Yeah!!!!!  It was warm and breezy --but not hot and humid.  There were very few people around --so we had the place to ourselves most of the week.  We soaked in the sun on the beach,  caught up with our reading and relaxing,  got some sleep and naps,  did some walking,  took lots of pictures,  and best of all--had some delicious seafood....  Couldn't have been better!!!!

On the way to the beach we stopped in South Carolina to check out Bull Sluice..  I will show some pictures of that in another blog.  Then,  on the way home,  we made a quick stop at Biltmore --to see if they had any new flowers blooming...   YES--they DID!!!!! WOW....   Like I said,  it was a fantastic week!!!!  BUT--it's nice to be home!

As you can imagine,  we took lots of pictures off and on during the trip..  Today,  I'll show you a few from the beach,  from Biltmore ----and our yard when we got home.

Above is a picture showing the Islander Inn where we stayed.  Our room was in Building Two (2nd from right --above the gazebo) --and we were in the top room on the left.   We absolutely love being RIGHT on the beach.  We leave our door opened all night --so that we can hear the waves.  It's awesome!!!!  Below are a few more.




See those chairs out there (on the right)??? That is our 'set-up'.... We spent quite a bit of time out there --both mornings and afternoons..  NICE!!!




Here's a gorgeous view of the ocean from our balcony.  That is the fishing pier on the left.  George has some great pictures taken in and around that pier.




Guess what we saw when we got to Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, NC??????   Lots of ROSES.....  You can only imagine what a Happy Camper George was checking them all out.  Come to find out that we have quite a few of their Hybrid Teas and Grandafloras in our yard!!!  How 'bout that?????  Above is a photo of just SOME of their many, many rose bushes at Biltmore.




Not only did we see beautiful Roses at Biltmore,  but we also saw many fabulous Rhododendron bushes.




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But---after seeing all of the beauty at the beach and at Biltmore,  we headed home...  To our great surprise,  look what was smiling at us when we pulled in the driveway...  Our two pink Azaleas in the front yard were putting on a show ---just for our return,  I'm sure.... ha




And this  is our big 'road' flowerbed --also putting on a show.  The Irises are beautiful and we have LOTS of Roses blooming now.... YEAH!!!!!!!  There will be many more pictures to come --not only from our yard, but also from Biltmore and from the beach...

Hope all of you had a good week and a blessed Mother's Day yesterday.  I talked to all three of my wonderful sons, and my Sweetheart brought four gorgeous Roses inside for me to enjoy... Life is good --what else can I say?????

Hugs,