I feel like today was our last day because 1) The forecast is calling for rain tomorrow and 2) The husband is leaving tomorrow with Karen + Andrew to head back to Charlotte in time for a 3am work shift on Tuesday morning. I am staying one more day with my parents to soak up all of the vacation I can before the semester starts with a bang.
Early this afternoon we took a family walk over to Old Baldy Lighthouse and make the climb to the top –
Midway up!
Panoramic top view!
Most of the island is preserved marshlands –
The Harbor village
Then we all headed to see an open house (one of our favorite family outings) and lastly, went to a sparkling wine + Champagne tasting at the market! I had 3 tiny glasses
A marsh visit. Bald Head is perhaps my dad’s favorite place on earth –
We made it back just in time to watch the sunset –
And of course for cocktail hour. I enjoyed a delicious bottle of Virginia white wine that we brought form our wine rack –
And we had the rest of the cheese + crackers (needless to remind you how much we love cheese + crackers)
The husband and I set to work again on a Chef Younger + Monson dinner.
On the menu: Cioppino.
We used this Cooking Light recipe as our inspiration and followed it pretty much to a T, although we were not able to use clams or mussels ( 😥 ) and we seared all the seafood before adding it to the pot for more browning flavor: Mother’s Cioppino. It was a great recipe full of flavor! Oh yeah, and we added 2 chicken sausages that were leftover from lunch and used 4 cups of kale instead of 2 cups of spinach.
This home-baked sourdough loaf the husband made on Xmas morning was also the centerpiece
Cook’s drinks – (more wine, some sips of Moosehead, which I love!! Yay Canadians!!)
Dinner glass –
Seconds!
After an hour of socializing I was about to go to bed when my parents came back from a walk and we decided to have sundaes again. Definitely a reason to come back down!
Tonight’s was a little smaller than last night’s – with hot fudge.
I am feeling parched right now despite having chugged 24 oz + of water since dinner. Guess I drank too much wine. 2 rounds is too much for me. I think everyone drank too much tonight and we’re all ready to get back to normalcy.
G’night guys!
Oh She Glows says
Umm wow so much awesomeness in this post I don’t know what to comment on!
The picture of the sunset is amazing, looks like it should be in a magazine!
The Mother’s Cioppino looks delicious…Ive never heard of it before but the ingredients look right up my alley.
Angela
www.ohsheglows.com
Victoria says
Those are some gorgeous photos. Dinner looks great. Thanks for the recipe link and recommendation.
Oh She Glows says
I meant to ask you Kath, when you did the run and raised money for charity, how did you do it?
I am trying to find a way that I can raise money for my chosen charity for my half marathon race.
I don’t want to go with the charities that the marathon org is putting on, because I think they take a cut of the total donations raised.
Any ideas?
Angela
jas says
great scenery. and u loook gorgeous as usual!
cheers,
jaslyn
melissa says
I liked Get Smart, the show was one of my favs as a child. My little old soul watching GS and dragnet on nick at night.
Anne Hathaway was truly amazing in Rachel Getting Married, which I really enjoyed too.
ashley (sweet & natural) says
I love the outdoorsy pictures. The Carolinas are on my list of favorite places to visit b/c of the beautiful scenery.
Jen says
Too funny – I am actually drinking a Moosehead as I read your blog! Enjoy the rest of your time off before school starts!
Nancy says
Hi Kath,
I want to tell you what an inspiration you are. I really have learned a lot as I watch you handle holidays, parties, and vacations. You don’t deprive yourself, but you practice moderation and make sure you get in some (a lot!! for me anyway) exercise. I have always overindulged on these occasions and really felt a failure. It has been great to see in detail how you manage to balance it all. It is because of you that I am, for the first time in years, not throwing in the towel until January 1st. Instead, December 26th I went back to sensible eating, understanding that Christmas was a holiDAY, not a holiMONTH! So, THANK YOU! You have helped me tremendously and continue to be an inspiration.
Enjoy the rest of your time off from school!
Andrea says
you look SO pretty in the first picture!!!! what a fun way to spend the day – a hike, wine, and a lovely dessert 😉
Madison says
wow you two are awesome cooks~
thepinkpeppercorn says
What a day!!! Your walk looks like so much fun! What a neat place, I certainly wouldn’t argue with your Dad about that 🙂 And then the day just got yummy and yummier. mmmmm! Cioppino looks tasty without the mussels or clams, it has such beautiful colours. And the sourdough?!!! WOW!
polly says
Kath, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, friend! Your pictures are beautiful and you and Matt… need your OWN cooking show. Seriously, call Food Network!! 🙂
I still check your blog at least once perday (usually more!) and even when I don’t write to say, I’m here saying hi! 😉 Love ya!
Happy oatmeal when you get home. Nothing says home like OATS. 😉
Katie says
Oh wow, that cioppino looks insanely fabulous! As well as that sourdough! I loooove sourdough.
Nate says
Hey Kath,
What kind of heart rate monitor do you have?
(just kidding)
Can’t believe the blue skies in your pictures. Charlotte has been rainy and gross the last few days.
Adi says
Love the shoutout to Canadians! 😀
Your dinner looks absolutely delicious.
VeggieGirl says
Stunning views from the lighthouse!!
Love the Christmas tree lights behind the sundae 🙂
zestycook says
Kath, WOW The pictures look amazing! Looks like you had a ball. The sourdough bread looks killer. I love it. Great post
Zesty
Maureen says
I definitely agree about the yay Canadians part. Also… yay vacations!! It sounds like you’re way more relaxed than you were 2 weeks ago. I hope the serenity lasts well into your next semester!
runjess says
What a gorgeous vacation, and I love cioppino.
Kath says
Oh She Glows,
I just used Race for the Cure’s fundraiser. I’m not sure of any third party sites you can use for that. I would just use the one that takes a small cut – it’s just for the organization of the site and I think it’s worth it if you get more money in the long run raised because it’s easy for people to donate.
Thanks Nancy 🙂
polly ,
Hi – and thanks!!
Nate ,
LOL!! I think you sent your rain here!
Kath
Oh She Glows says
Thanks for your help with my charity question! I think you are right about going with the way that will be easiest for people to donate. I am still waiting to hear back from the marathon org. about how much of a cut they take because I am curious.
Angela 🙂
Missy (Missy Maintains) says
Beautiful pictures! Looks like you are having fun! Much better than my vacation!
www.missymaintains.blogspot.com
Marianne says
Awesome looking Cioppino – I’ve only had it once at a restaurant and loved it, never tried making it myself. Thanks for linking to the recipe 🙂