It’s Memorial weekend already, and I’m sitting here on the computer. All is good in the household, little stretched financially but I think everyone is in that tug boat right now. I have decided to gain yet another place of employment (part-time), to compensate for some up coming issues that may or may not happen. My full-time job takes precedence over any other job of course, needless to say, but it’s going to be a rough road ahead if it all comes down to the government taking money that’s not theirs in the first place. You have to love it, they wait until you are ahead and on your feet, just to knock you down a few notches. By no means am I alone on this one, others will be affected as well, my kids, their dad, ect. 
Anyway on a good note, I took the girls to Ocracoke yesterday for a day trip. Of course I couldn’t afford to stay but maybe next time. I think I enjoyed it more than the girls, just walking around everywhere and taking in the sites. I haven’t been there in years, and not much has changed except for the new ferries. The new ferry line is great, spacious, clean and very comfortable. It seems much bigger then what I had remembered.
We left Swansboro at 4:45am and arrived at Cedar Island at about 6:25am, just in time to buy our tickets.We walked on so we didn’t have to have a reservation and it was only $1 for each of us. The day started off pretty cold, we all had to wear jackets or sweat shirts, especially on the ferry. The ferry ride was about 2hrs and 15 minutes long and very rough. Julia and Michelle loved it but I could have done away with the constant rocking back and forth and feeling like I was tipsy on my toes, without the side affects of the drink. 
Wet made it to Ocracoke at 9:15 am, where we pulled into Silver Lake to dock. It was busy and bustling as soon as we hit the pavement, people everywhere. We ventured around on foot to the local shops, and stopped at Candy Land for a bite to eat. They had picnic tables so we pulled up a seat and had PB&Js for lunch. Teach’s Hole was right across the street so we walked over after we ate to check it out. It was pretty interesting, girls liked it. Julia forgot that Blackbeard’s ship was found off the shores of Beaufort NC. It was off to Sweet Tooth, which was right around the corner. Make sure you bring lots of money for this shop, $2.25 for ONE truffle…… Just saying..
By the time 12:00 rolled around we had walked to the Lighthouse, through Springer’s Point Reserve and back up toward the Jolly Roger. We planned on taking the 4pm ferry back and I still wanted to hit Howard’s’ Pub. So I decided to rent a golf cart for a couple of hours. I swear I felt like I was the Flintstones, people on bicycles were going faster than we were. It was hilarious and the girls of course not having to walk anymore, loved it. We hopped on our little 20mph roadster and set out for Howard’s Pub. The pub wasn’t that busy and we had our fill of pub fries, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. By 2:30 we jumped back into our ride and putted back to base camp to turn in the golf cart and head to the ferry. All in all it was a great day, a few arguments and threats to go back home, but nothing that a family hasn’t been there done that before. 
The ferry set out at 4:30, which was the last one out until 8pm whew… Glad we made it on that one. We made landfall once again around 6:45pm and jumped in the car and flew home (faster than 20mph mind you). Pulling into the drive way at home Michelle turns to me and says, “Mom I’m bored what can we do now”? I just looked at her and said, “Really”, honey I’m going to bed. LOL.. They are at their dads today and tomorrow, so I’m relaxing and enjoying some peace and quite. I’m going to hang out at home, cook out on my make shift deck and have a few than call it a night.
Not much to do when you are strapped for cash, but been there done that and I can do it again if this road I’m on leads that way. The good Lord will provide and I will not give up. Here are a few more photos from our Ocracoke excursion.
Happy Memorial Day to Everyone…… God Bless.
Shannon's World of Photography 