Since this summer’s been so packed, we opted to cut out our big trip, and take a family week at our beach houses on The Outer Banks.
This requires an insanely long, tedious drive so, as we did in the past, we add days coming and going for a more-or-less halfway stop at The Great Wolf Lodge in VA. It’s a fun, family place. This includes a big pool with fountains, an indoor water park, lots of activities and the very popular Magic Quest. You buy the wands, then follow the clues. A lot of up and down stairs, hunting from one end of those floors to the other.
Logan, at 20, remembers when I was his faithful Quest companion years ago, he didn’t defeat the dragon. This is his current mission.
The drive down indeed proved long and tedious, packed with traffic and delays. Ugh. Four and a half hours later, BW and I arrive. Jason, Kat and Griffin are already there, and the others arrive soon after.
Check in, dump stuff, and I head to the pool. And by pool, I mean the pool bar. I have earned a margarita, and it doesn’t disappoint.
I happily join the Quest—Griffin is into it! As is Colt, but I actually think Kat’s having the most fun. And when Kayla and JR get into it, I think Kat and JR vie for having the most fun. Others prep for water fun. I can’t remember why I headed back to the room, maybe to pull it together for dinner. While there, power goes out.
Not just the resort’s power, the power all over the region.
Well, huh.
We have a huge room, and that’s lucky, because the 11 of us end up in there. I have a penlight in my purse. Kat, being Kat, makes a lantern out of it. Staff hands out Glo-sticks, sets up free food. Since we also have a terrace, we’ve got places to gather and spread out as the rain rains and the lantern glows.
I play hide and seek with Griffin, then it’s early to bed.
Power’s back in the early am. Which means the music from the pool area blasts on. LOL!
We get breakfast and some Quest time in before we head out.
Another long, tedious drive, but we all arrive safe and sound.
We have two houses next door to each other, and we need them for this large group. Time to unpack, and for volunteers to head out to the grocery store with a list. Some head down to the beach for a quick minute between rain storms. Olympics on TV as they will be all week.
It will rain every single day we’re there. Every day.
But we have games—Kat’s put together a D&D game. Logan and Savanna brought a Scream game, and we have the Switch for video games. And, of course, a jigsaw puzzle. The gang does get a little beach time in here and there, and Logan’s Savanna proves to be a shell magnet. They find her!
BW gives Griffin a shovel, and apparently that’s the best thing ever.
We get in a girl shopping day, and that’s lots of fun—and Woo!—Christmas presents.
I’d planned to work a little, and end up working a lot because rain. I have the spare bedroom for morning workouts and work, so that did the job.
I did walk down to the beach one evening after dinner and before the next storm. Wild waves, a steel gray sky and sea on a mostly deserted beach.
The day we leave? Perfect beach weather under lovely skies. Oh well.
Back to TGWL—and there’s power. And margaritas. And the Quest.
Jason and family, Logan and Savanna and Colt are staying one more day. Kayla and JR left early as they have to pack up, head back to college as grad students.
BW and I face the long drive home. Not as much traffic, thank you God, and we arrive home to dogs that are so excited they’re on the edge of speech. Much joy, many rubs.
Unpack, whew! Pour some wine, check out the gardens. Looking pretty good for mid-August.
Not much time to recover and catch up with work as the following Sunday we’re having our big summer party. Could’ve timed this better, but it’s been a packed summer.
So the very next Saturday, it’s chopping, slicing, mixing, making countless cold summer dishes. I have Kat and Savanna, and couldn’t have pulled it off without them. While Jason and BW and Logan help set up the awnings and tables, ice chests and all of that outside.
Kat makes adorable fruit salad bowls out of watermelons, Savanna makes my great-grandmother’s bread pudding recipe. There are 3 dozen eggs to peel for deviling. Add potato salad, pasta salad, shrimp salad, etc, etc, etc. Both my fridges are packed by the end of the long day.
And in the morning, there’s more set up, food prep, house prep—and a quick pass through the garden for me to deadhead. A couple of hot dishes, baked beans, vegetarian Spanish beans and rice to add to the menu.
The forecast? All day rain, of course. But we lucked out there. With the grill smoking, crowds of people in and out of the house, we get only one brief storm—and we had plenty of cover. Once we have that crowd, I put on my mother’s huge Guardian pot and do spiced shrimp.
Nice to see everyone, so many I only see this once a year.
It’s clean up time, and break it all down time the next day. I can’t count the number of dishes Kat washed!
Back to work and routine—ah, routine—for a week. And this weekend is for more routine. I’ve worked out, fed my sour dough, tidied what needed it, and now write this blog. After, maybe a little gardening as the sun! The sun’s shining.
Then, before it’s time to start dinner, I may just plop down with a book.
September’s right around the corner, so I’m going to squeeze every last ounce out of summer.
Nora
THIS JUST IN: Jason reports Colt, Logan, and Savanna slayed the dragon. -Laura
Did Logan, or anyone else, slay the Dragon on the Quest?
I’m waiting on that answer. Have been sick this week and my fact-checking ability was set on low.
Laura
Hope you are feeling wel again 🌷🌷
Hope you’ve made a speedy recovery.
Thanks for the update, Laura, and hope you’re feeling better. Will wait eagerly to hear the results of the dragon quest.
I have the answer! Jason reports that
Colt, Logan, and Savanna slayed the dragon. -Laura
YAY!
Seems to be a rainy summer. We had a week in the Faroe Islands for a photography trip, and had rain, fog, and mist every day. There, the weather changes on a dime. Enter a tunnel in the sunshine and emerge in the rain.
Your pictures were great! Would it not be awesome to do that all the time!
Do you ever share recipes? Would love the spiced shrimp recipe.
Loved “we arrived home to dogs that are so excited they are on the edge of speech” PS my kindle is a great candle when the power is out. Counting down the days to “The Mirrors”!
Great post, I love Nora’s updates. My daughter (now 17 and just got dropped off at college) used to love the MagiQuest in Pigeon Forge. At the time she was a little bit too young to get the dragon, but I bet she could now. ❤️
Getting ready to take the long drive from Dawsonville Georgia to Orlando this coming weekend. Gail planned a night midway at a b and b. First time for a stop, so whew! Mom’s 97th birthday in lakeland florida on the 31st and Gail’s 67th on the 3rd. I am surrounded by Virgos! Gail’s 3rd of September is same date as my Grandmother. So all the major loves of my life Virgos!
Enjoyed reading your escapades…but then I love reading anything you write!
Fall is in the air and Gail’s time of the year. Me being a 72 year old april fool’s Aries—-summer is my favorite love for time of year…but being an Aries I love it all!
Currently reading “Shelter in Place” at our cabin on the Cartecay River in Ellijay Georgia, and “Remember When” J.D. Robb up next before the travel.
Look forward to something luscious of yours to read while on vacay/birthday trip so plan on visiting the library Thursday.
Warm smiles to you and LMRall!😀🌷🌷
What a packed vacation! The big party looks like it continued that. Admiration! The food sounds fabulous. Routines are definitely welcome after all that. Especially love the seagull photo.
I am glad you had a good time
Wondering…my Amazon list of books has an In Death book listed as 60 of 60. Just wondering if this is the end of this series?
No. That’s just an Amazon thing. Nora’s already written #61. -Laura
Thank Goodness!!! Love the series. I’m a little behind on reading it. This being my vacation week. I’m gonna catch up!! 😁. Glad Nora had a good time on hers
Thank you once again for sharing the fun (and rain 😄) with us, Nora. I too am wondering about that dragon. That pic of the rate sunset is beautiful. What a painting that would make! Or even framed and displayed as the awesome photo it is.
Laura, I hope you feel better very soon.
Nora, you’re just the best to share these parts of your life with us. There’s nothing like family & grandchildren especially are the most precious people. Thank you. And, Laura, hope you are well now.
Always fun to read about your vacations with family etc. sorry about the rain. Enjoy rest of summer.
What a lovely way to wrap up summer! I love it that you enjoy your family and friends so much! So important! The memories you will all have and treasure!
What a summer you all have had. Sounds like everyone had a great summer and so nice to make all these family memories! Enjoy what’s left of summer.
Always enjoy reading about your adventures.
Looks like a wonderful time! Thanks for shyour beautiful photographs!
Sounds like a wonderful time – aside from traffic. I love the “beach light” photo. All the other photos are terrific, too. Thank you for sharing.
I live north of Baltimore and I have always refused to go to the outer banks (I also have two young boys 3 and 5) because of the drive. But breaking it up with GWL is such a great idea! Sounds like a fun summer. 😊