Early this evening I prepared a small crock pot full of chicken taco soup, using the ingredients left on hand at our beach house in North Carolina. I brought fresh garlic, onions, sour cream, cheese and chicken from home, but all of the other ingredients were tucked away in the pantry waiting to be cracked open.
We packed the crock pot, napkins, two bowls and spoons and a small cooler full of beer and limes and headed for the beach. We bought backpack beach chairs earlier this year and they were absolutely perfect for leaving our hands free to carry the food.
We found the perfect spot on a nearly vacant beach on a gorgeous, seventy degree day in October. We set up our chairs, pulled out the crock pot and ate dinner all alone. The beach was nearly empty and only one person walked past us during our stay. We arrived about an hour before sunset and stayed until well after the sun vanished over the dune.
These simple, quiet moments with my husband are the ones I treasure most. Such a tiny, inexpensive moment fills my spirit with tremendous joy.
That sounds so perfect and I think that is something that I wish I could do with my wife right now. It's been a stressful year so a lovely meal on the beach would be insurance for our sanity. If we don't do something nice soon like that it may lead to a minor breakdown.
Jerry
Jerry – I'm sorry to hear things have been stressful. Sometimes just a few minutes together after a long day is all my husband and I need to relieve stress. Try something new like lighting candles at the dinner table or sipping hot cocoa outside on your porch or front steps.
My sister and I used to take dinner to the park… we'd just take whatever we had cooked for dinner, pack up the kids in our respective vehicles and meet at a park central to both our homes. I have some of the best memories from those times.
I'm commenting on this post because it was the first one I found regarding the beach. (My emails doesn't seem to be working.) I don't know if you read the blog Confessions of a CF Husband. It's about a family whoes wife/mom has cystic fibrosis. Anyway, they live on the OBX and the husband is a good photographer. He's got some amazing pictures of ice on the sound in yesterday's (Jan 6) postings. Scroll down below the photos of his daugher. I thought you would enjoy seeing them.Stay warm!
@Renee — Thanks so much for posting the link to Confessions of a CF Husband. I absolutely loved the pics and his story is unbelievably heartwarming.