The Beach
I finally made it out to the beach this morning. Weather wasn’t the best, but it felt so good to get out of my little writing cubby here in our room. I hobbled around for about an hour and it was exactly what I needed to refill the well.
I can’t believe that this is our last full day here! The time’s flown by and of course, I didn’t get nearly as much done as I’d hoped. But I did fairly well. I’ve even been writing in my head at night while trying to fall asleep. I finally get up and start typing in the darkness so I don’t wake John up. The photographers have been getting up at 5:30 and going until late at night, so I don’t want to disturb his sleep. I think they’re all having a good time, but I’m definitely living in my own little world here. You can see where I’ve been spending most of my time: the daybed in our room in this lovely old inn. I’ve become one with the daybed. I’ll miss it when we go.
Last night, I had dinner at Kelly’s, which has always been a favorite restaurant of mine down here. I was by myself, of course. Just me and my notepad. 🙂 I didn’t really care what I had for an entree as long as the waitress brought me a big basket of their sweet potato biscuits. How have I survived the past three years without those biscuits?? I got the recipe this time, and was a bit stunned, as well as thrilled, to see that it’s a cheater: Bisquick! You’ve got to try these.
Kelly’s Sweet Potato Biscuits
1 lb cooked sweet potatoes, steamed or boiled
1 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup water
2 1/4 cups Bisquick (or other biscuit mix)
Cool and peel the sweet potatoes. Mix them together with the remaining ingredients. It will be a very moist dough. (I overheard a waitress say it should be chilled at this point.) Dust the table with flour. Roll mixture to 1/2 ” thickness. Cut with a 2 1/2 ” cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake in preheated oven at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes. They won’t rise very much. Serve with loads of butter. Yield 1 1/2 dozen.
Which will not be enough, I guarantee you! I had two at dinner, and asked for three to bring back to John. But somehow I only made it to the inn with two in the bag. And by the time John got to them this afternoon, there was only one left. Diet starts in November.
We still have a full day here tomorrow, so I should be able to get some more work done. Then home to the pups tomorrow night. The sitter reports they have been little angels. Maybe she’s been staying at the wrong house??
How have I survived leaving the ocean? I miss it so much… Love your room.
Sounds like John is as dedicated as you are-perhaps that’s what makes it work. Don’t you love having your “ME TIME” sometimes?
It would be hard for me to live much farther from the ocean, Brenda, which is probably evident from my books.
Yes, John’s every bit as dedicated as I am. I just had dinner with him and the other two instructors and they are tuckered out, but still rarin’ to go for the last day of the workshop tomorrow.
It’s hard to remember to find that “me time” when you’re dedicated to your work, as you well know. I don’t know when you squeeze it in to your crazy schedule.
Right now I wish I was at a beach……….
Diane, in all the years we have been going to the outer banks we have never eaten at Kelly’s. I think we will go there next vacation. In the meantime I will definitely try the biscuits. They sound wonderful. I made your brownie recipe and it was a real hit. In August when I was at Emerald Isle with my sisters we made the brownies more than once!!! Bad girls!!! Diets don’t work at the beach.
Diane, with Thanksgiving a few weeks away and then X-mas, I wouldn’t start that diet your talking about! Ann’s right, dieting is a no no at the beach! Your trip sounds wonderful and makes me long for the seashore. One of the things I love about your books is that most of them take place by the sea and make me feel like I’m right there. LOVE these photos…especially the ocean. (-:
Krysia, how is your haunted house??
Ann, glad you and yours enjoyed the brownies.
Margo, hmm. Good point about the diet.
We’re home as of last night. Back to work today, then a quick 2-day trip to Baltimore tomorrow. Then I hope I can hold still for a good long while!
I know that I’m not the only one who see’s things here at night. My boyfriend came down last Sunday and he saw things in the same place I did. Made me feel a little more at ease.
K-tell us more…I am intriqued
Yes, Krysia, I agree with Brenda – we want to know more!!
Well I have a really long living room. At one end is my tv and chair and the other a makeshift desk and the stuff I haven’t put away yet. Well when you sit in the chair, off to the left I always see dark shadows moving ( I’m a paranoia freak and see shadows in the dark which is why I don’t go out at night even though I am sure they are a figment of my imagination). They are always quick but it feels like something is there. Dan (the boyfriend) was here last weekend and he was sitting in the chair. He kept looking to the left and I asked what was wrong. He kept saying I swear I saw something move. I told him I always do too when I’m sitting there. And last night, or the night before I came into the spare bedroom (which has origional hardwood floors) and I could hear loud scratching. First I thought mice, but then decided that if it were mice scratching on my floor I didn’t want to know how big they were. It was too loud to be behind the wall on paneling. I turned on the light and it quit (if it were mice they’d kept going). I haven’t heard it since but again my imagination goes wild. When he was here we went into the basement (my dryer vent was down there and I refused to go down there alone) and we noticed that the foundation to the house is about gone, crumbled into the middle of the good ol’ dirt basement. So that explains a few of the noises (the house is probably gonna cave in one of these days) but doesn’t explain things falling from the counters when it’s not near the edge or me finding things ont he floor that weren’t there to begin with. I’ve gotten to the point I sleep with the tv on in the other room. I just keep counting down….335 more days to go…..
Krysia, you are spooking me out!!!
Krysia, could be a FRIENDLY ghost! I’m the kind of person who would probably sit in that chair for hours and try to make contact with whatever is there. This kind of stuff fascinates me! (-:
K
Why are you there for a certain number of days?
I must have missed one of your emails.
Creepy. Probably a friendly ghost…I agree, Margo
B
I am in a 1 year lease unless someone buys this place.
lol, K. I hope you don’t have to give a sales pitch to potential buyers. i admit to loving this kind of stuff. . . especially when someone else is experiencing it. happy halloween!
Just wanted to thank you for the sweet potato biscuit recipe!! I lost my copy and your site came up on a search!! I haven’t been to the Outer Banks in a couple of years, but I loved going to Kelly’s for these biscuits. Your picture of the beach reminds me of how much I miss the Outer Banks!!
Laura, so glad I could help! I haven’t tried making the biscuits yet, but I bought the sweet potatoes so it won’t be long.