Hird Island

So, this post is one I've been really excited to share with you! And tonight, at Clark St. Starbucks with Neal studying across the table from me, I think I've got the perfect evening for it. We're sitting at a big window that opens right out to the bustling city street, with the city buses pulling in for their scheduled stops every so often. People coming, people going, and I find myself glancing up to see all the diversity passing by. That has to be one of the things I love most about the city... it's hard to be in my own little world, because the fact that there is a great, big, diverse world out there is right in my face every single day.

I love new places and the energy of exploring a part of the world new to me, don't you?

A few weeks ago, on our way back from FL, Neal and I got the chance to do just that. We are so grateful to the Staley's, parents of Neal's good college friend Jamie, for inviting us to visit them at their vacation home off the southeast coast of Georgia. They are such kind, hospitable people and showed us all around the beautiful and unique Hird Island.

I'll try to send you there to take it all in, through my pictures. There's lots, so grab a cup of coffee, and scroll down...

{The Marina}
Where we were picked up by boat

{Boat ride to the island}
A 15-min. ride through the water passage ways of the swampland

{Our ride to the island was nearly at sunset, so beautiful!}

{The House on Hird Island}
The island is 2 miles long, and has about 30 houses on it.
No roads, no stores, no mail.

{The Porch}
Read, write, journal, chat, nap, eat...
The possibilities are endless for this gorgeous haven

{The Trees}
These trees covered the island, making it feel enchanted

{Catching Crab}

{Boat ride out to the Atlantic Ocean}

{An Unforgettable Afternoon}
This island that we boated to has the open waters of the Atlantic washing up to its shores

{Our view as we explored and enjoyed the afternoon}
Not a person in sight for miles

It was absolutely sublime.

Time to close up shop at Starbucks, hop on the Vespa, and go home!

A Locket Around My Neck

Pulling out the Florida scrapbook again. I've already scrapped the long, lazy beach days, the delicious pool days, and the road trip. I think all I have left to "glue in" are these beautiful evenings at the beach with ocean sunsets. I'd have to say that our quiet evenings were as enjoyable as our days, except on those couple nights when the bugs were biting!

We rode our bikes along the berm, brought 5 Guys burgers and fries out to the beach to watch the sunset, walked the shoreline, ate at our favorite beach restaurants, collected shells, and then watched the Home & Garden channel every night when we crawled into bed.

As far as favorites go, my favorite evening was the night we pulled up chairs on the spot on the beach where we got engaged. While we sat and watched the sun sink into the ocean, it was really, really special to sit right where Neal went down on one knee and to remember our engagement, laugh, cry, process our life, pray, talk of hopes, and be so, so thankful. And the beach was nearly as private as it was the night Neal proposed! These quiet, private beaches have ruined me forever to all other beaches.

All that to say, if I could wear in a locket around my neck all my memories with Neal from Pelican Bay, I would.

{As I said, ruined}