It felt great to get back out on the mower yesterday. It was our only window without rain so I really had to hit it hard. As usual, there’s always something that throws a monkey wrench in the works. This time it was a dead battery on the tractor. We need to buy another one but we didn’t have the time yesterday. We’ll get one when we get back from the beach. In the meantime, I couldn’t let it stop or Mr. FixIt had to drive the truck out to where I was and use the jumper cables. He had to do that three times…bless his heart.

I carved out several pollinator gardens for this year. I lost count, actually. I’m even trying a couple in the near field. It doesn’t have the nice grass like the far field, so I may end up mowing over it if it doesn’t grow well. By the time I finished, I was exhausted. It’s the first time I’ve really worked outside this year so I’m sure I’ll be sore today. The reward is…it looks like a golf course out here.

Mr. FixIt started packing the truck. I started cleaning the camper. I’ll strip the sheets and wash them today. I started the refrigerator. It takes a day or two to get to ideal temperature and I want to put frozen meats in there before we head out tomorrow. We have two trunks that we use as a kitchen…one for foodstuffs, and one for utensils and cleaning products. We both have our clothes hanging on the rod in the back seat of the truck. All we need to do is put our baskets of clothes and toiletries on the shelves over the bed and we can head out bright and early. 

The campground where we always stay overnight on our way down and back from the OBX has a checkin from 3:00 to 7:30. If you are late, they will lock the gate and you cannot get in…whether you paid or not. The first time we stayed there, we were a little late and sure enough…we were locked out. Fortunately, the tennis pro asked one of the campers if we could come in right behind her. If not, we were facing a night in the parking lot. We learned out lesson. Now we leave earlier so we are sure to get our spot.

I didn’t think I would like going to the same beach over and over. I like variety. Then I realized, I came home to WV from Colorado nearly every year of the 40 I lived there. Mr. FixIt has only missed one of the last 65 or so years visiting the Outer Banks. I’ve learned to love going there, too. I especially love to see what that place does to my sweetheart. You can see the tension drop off him like scales and he’s relaxed and happy. And that makes ME happy.

It may seem like this vacation is an extravagance while I’m trying to be frugal. Really, the only pricey thing will be the fuel and we have cards for discounts at several places. We’re bringing most of the food from home. And the camping was only $23 a night, with amenities like shower houses and water/electric at the campsite. You can’t get a hotel room for anywhere near that. So, we’re going to go and enjoy ourselves camping, fishing, sightseeing, and cooking outside!

🩵🌷🩵

“They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone. The young women will dance for joy, and the men—old and young—will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

***Gratitude Journal***   
Today I am grateful to live in the lush, green paradise that is West Virginia. I am grateful for the gifts God has entrusted us with.