Island Life Photo Blog

Downtown Wilmington, NC

2009-12-10T11:44:00.001-05:00

Wordless Wednesday-Sunset at Carolina Beach State Park

2009-04-15T11:27:00.001-04:00

Breakfast with the Pelicans at Fort Fisher

2009-04-09T09:36:00.002-04:00

From Wildlife around the Island

Alone

2008-09-29T11:04:00.000-04:00

Entry for Moody Monday-this week's theme is ALONE.
Photo taken on the jetty that runs from Fort Fisher to Zeke's Island, NC.

"Hair" Shutterday Photo Challenge

2008-09-06T17:30:00.001-04:00

Ordinary-Photo Friday

2008-09-05T08:28:00.001-04:00

Taken in my back yard, Carolina Beach, NC, just an ordinary squirrell...submitted for Photo Friday.

"Grave" for Moody Monday Photo Challenge

2008-09-01T11:23:00.001-04:00

Located in the Old Smithfield Burying Grounds in Southport, NC.

Outdoors-Thursday Challenge

2008-08-20T15:15:00.002-04:00

This photo was taken at the Riverside Inn located in Stillwater Minnesota where I spent a glorious two days with family. Submitted for Thursday Challenge...Outdoors.

WINTER

2008-02-24T09:08:00.001-05:00

In Stillwater Minnisota this is their idea of a picnic on the lake....for the Thursday challenge: WINTER

HOT

2007-08-24T12:15:00.000-04:00

A hot hot August afternoon in Carolina Beach. Posted for Thursday Challenge~HOT.

ODDITY

2007-08-10T14:27:00.000-04:00

Carolina Beach State Park, driftwood washed up on the shore of the Cape Fear River. Submitted for Photo Friday-you can view the other entries at http://photofriday.com.

BEAUTIFUL

2007-07-21T10:28:00.000-04:00

Sunset over Snow's Cut in Carolina Beach, North Carolina.

Submitted for Thursday Challenge. Other entries for the Thursday Photo Challenge can be seen here:

http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

GARDEN

2007-07-14T11:21:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken at the Royal Summer Palace in Bangkok called Bang Pa-In Palace. Elephants walk the Royal Gardens. This photo was submitted to the Thursday Photo Challenge for Garden. You can see the other entries for Photo Thursday Challenge below: http://www.spunwithtears.com/thursday.html

BLUE

2007-06-23T13:23:00.000-04:00

For this Thursday Challenge-BLUE

ACTIVE

2007-06-17T00:15:00.000-04:00

This family is having a great time being active and enjoying the paddle boats at the Lake Park in Carolina Beach!

PEOPLE

2007-06-15T13:15:00.000-04:00

For the Thursday Challenge~People relaxing on the historic Boardwalk in Carolina Beach NC
You can see the other photos in this Thursday Challenge here

Texture

2007-06-07T21:27:00.000-04:00

For the Thursday Challenge I think this photo of hats for sale at a floating market in Thailand represent texture perfectly.

Heavenly

2007-06-03T17:29:00.000-04:00

The sun setting over the waterway in Carolina Beach State Park. This is a gorgeous place to watch the sun any evening. Right in front of the small Marina parking area is a place to walk just to the edge of the Snow's Cut. Another great seat is the top of the hill over looking the Park Marina, where you can also view the Painted Buntings.

How I See Myself~Photo Friday

2007-06-02T11:53:00.000-04:00

Having recently turned 40 years old I suddenly feel like a young girl again. I am full of possibilities for the future having just started my own business. Now, like then I feel like I am just on the cusp of something great, although what that thing is, I am not certain. I do not even know where this sudden burst of inspiration and determination came from. It just welled up inside and has finally broken free I guess. So, this is how I see myself now. Young at heart and full of life, but hopefully with a dash of wisdom added.

PEACEFUL

2007-05-30T19:51:00.000-04:00

When walking the trails at the Carolina Beach State Park at times I feel I have the world to myself. It is ultimately peaceful. The blues and greens of this picture also relay a feeling of calm and peace for me. For this Thursday Challenge this is my entry for "Peaceful".

FOOD

2007-05-23T19:56:00.000-04:00

This week's Thursday photo challenge is "food". This photo was taken at an outdoor market in Thailand. This particular market was set up beneath the cover of a train station. When the train comes through, the vendors literally pick up their wares and move from the tracks while the train passes. You can find the other entries for this challenge here.

~LARGE~Photo Friday

2007-05-20T19:41:00.000-04:00

A larger than life Buddha we caught on film in Thailand as we passed by on a canal.

A bike ride in Milan

2007-05-17T20:09:00.000-04:00

A local business man rides his bike back to the office. Taken on one of my favorite vacations so far, Italy. This was taken in Milan. This is my entry for Favorite Vacation Photo.

Motion-Thursday Challenge

2007-05-17T19:51:00.000-04:00

The waves are in motion as they crash to the shore and then recede while the men fishing from the pier continue to cast and recast their lines for the big catch~Life at the beach for the Thursday Photo Challenge

Amber~Photo Friday

2007-05-13T20:54:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken in the Carolina Beach State Park in front of the Marina. An Amber sunset.

Architecture-Thursday Photo Challenge

2007-05-10T19:51:00.000-04:00

"The Old Capitol"Another place of history and beauty in Thaliand.

Relaxation-Island Style

2007-04-28T13:30:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday~Relaxation~Sitting down for a cold drink and a laugh with a friend after a hard' day's work.

Wildlife-Thursday photo challenge

2007-04-21T16:45:00.000-04:00

Deer on the side of the road in Carolina Beach State Park in Carolina Beach NC March 2007 by bella~

~The Country~

2007-04-20T18:03:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday, April 20, 2007. My parent's farm in Rockwell, NC in the country~by bella

~Happiness~

2007-04-08T13:10:00.000-04:00

Taken in a moment of sheer glee from a tour bus window while exploring the Italian countryside.

~Blessing~

2007-04-08T13:05:00.000-04:00

A Buddhist altar in Thailand. Those who leave these offerings of lotus flowers, eggs, blossoms and water pray for blessings.

Seagulls in flight

2007-04-04T19:59:00.000-04:00

This photo was taken on the Ferry from Fort Fisher to Southport, NC in April 2007. The ferry ride takes about 1/2 hour each way. It is a great day trip to take the ferry and explore
Southport for the afternoon. Southport has beautiful antique shops and great waterfront dining. Yacht Basin Provisions Co. is a local favorite. The Franklin Art Gallery in the park shows local artists. There are water colors, oil paintings and a wide selection of pottery for sale.

GROWTH~

2007-04-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

The bumble bees love the wisteria in my back yard. Spring 2007, Carolina Beach NC

Wild Azaleas

2007-03-26T19:30:00.000-04:00

These wild azaleas are growing beautifully in my back yard. Nature is in full force here, I do nothing to help them along. It is just a week before the 60th Annual Azalea Festival in Wilmington NC and they are blooming everywhere. The azaleas come in so many colors-white, coral, hot pink, red-one more beautiful reason why I love living in coastal NC.

Come sail away with me~

2007-03-26T00:47:00.000-04:00

A gorgeous afternoon in Snow's Cut Park in Wilmington NC. Just across the bridge from Carolina Beach.

Boating on the Cape Fear River

2007-03-26T00:29:00.000-04:00

Just an afternoon of boat watching for me. They were out in full force today with the great weather.

Gazebo at Snow's Cut Park

2007-03-25T17:03:00.000-04:00

The gazebo makes a great vantage point for photo taking at the park.

Pleasure Island Seafood Blues & Jazz Festival

2007-02-21T21:02:00.000-05:00

Pleasure Island Seafood Blues & Jazz Festival
October 13-15, 2007

If you are looking for a reason to come to the beach, this is it. The Pleasure Island Seafood Blues & Jazz festival is a great time. 2007 will be the 14th annual, and it just gets better each year.

It falls in October, after the heat of the summer, but still warm enough for shorts and Rainbows during the day. There are three stages of music for two days. The fun begins early on Saturday and ends on Sunday evening. It is a showcase of many local artists on the side stages with a big name headliner on the main stage.

There are numerous artists selling their wares; everything from bracelets, pottery, paintings to furniture. Of course there is some of the best seafood around and being in North Carolina, plenty of Barbeque and hushpuppies too.

The venue for this festival is the Fort Fisher Military Base in Kure Beach. It is right on the Cape Fear River. The grounds are beautiful with a shaded picnic area and a wide green festival lawn to park your blankets and chairs.

I can see myself now with a belly full of food and drinks, lying back in my lawn chair. The blues will be wailing through the air as the sun sets into the river. A moment too magical to miss.

The Bridge

2007-02-18T19:43:00.000-05:00

Separated from the mainland by a half mile bridge, it feels a world away. It is no surprise that this island, Pleasure Island, has been a favorite beach destination since the 1920s. Coming to Carolina Beach is like stepping back in time. Things move a little slower here. The style of life is laid back and casual; most business conducted in Rainbow flip flops and a polo shirt, the favored mode of transportation a Beach Cruiser bicycle.
There are no billboards, neon lights or high rises to ruin the natural beauty. It is a very small place, most of the businesses here are locally owned and operated. The motels are "mom and pops" as are the best restaurants. Run by the same families, multi generational passed down from one to the next. There is a feeling of roots here.
It is no wonder the people who settle here do not move on. The beaches are beautiful, wide, clean and un-crowded. On any given day you can watch the pelicans swoop down into the ocean or the dolphins jumping just off shore. There are great parks, bike trails and piers. There is bird watching and nature hikes at Carolina Beach state park, home to the Venus Fly Trap. Even the lake has a token alligator. Everywhere nature abounds.
On my first trip here, what really stole my heart though was the North End of Carolina Beach. With the pick up truck in four wheel drive we headed for the very end of the island. We picked our spot right beside ocean and parked it. Settled into the beach chairs for a wondrous sight. Surrounded on three sides by water, so easy to be lulled into a state of deep relaxation by the lapping waves. The sunset though was the main attraction. A sky of orange, pink, purple and blue colliding. A look backward revealed the rising moon. As the sun set the sky afire in a riot of colors before my eyes, it had also decorated the moon in a deep orange red as it rose from the ocean. Yes this is one of my most amazing evenings ever.
That sunset inspired me to make Pleasure Island my home. Life is better on this side of the bridge. And every time I return to the island and cross Snow's Cut bridge I let out a sigh of pure joy and contentment, because there is simply no place like home.

I am blessed!

2006-11-15T10:42:00.000-05:00

It is a week before Thanksgiving Day and I am still wearing my flip-flops from summer! If I owned the business that I run, I would lock the doors today and play hookey for a bit just to walk down to the pier for a corndog. The hectic summer pace of tourist traffic has packed up for the season leaving just the fishermen and me on the shore with sand between toes and breeze blowing gently. Wow, what a day! At least I can dream a bit today while working, just some painting.