Vacation, Bloggers Meet.

On our journey south, we stopped at Angola’s rest station in New York State and had lunch. I wanted a coffee so went to a coffee bar there and asked for a large decaf. $3.58. I nearly flipped. A ridiculous price, I still paid it, I wanted a drink for the next part of our trip.
I am not sure how far along, I could see what I thought were a couple of dogs crossing the hiway. Turned out it was a mother deer and her baby. I had never realised they were so small. Bit later I was looking at a flock of hawks in the sky, couldn’t believe there were so many then I noticed some parachutes in the same area, there were quite a few of them. We figured there was some kind of air show in the area. Then we saw a bi-plane doing loops etc. Not sure where the show was. A few minutes later, saw a large hawk at the side of the road enjoying a meal. He really was a big bird. It all made the trip more interesting.

Friday night we spent at a Super 8 in Winchester, VA. we went next door to the Chinese restaurant where we had eaten before. The food was still as good, but the ambience was gone. Matt didn’t like the place at all this time. I had some Hot and Sour soup, very good. Then garden rolls which were shrimp and veg wrapped in rice paper, and some dumplings. Deeeelicious. I forgot to take my camera of course. I really am a lousy photographer. Our second day on the road was pretty uneventful. Once we had unloaded the car we went to a nearby restaurant and had a lovely fresh flounder. Afterwards we headed for the grocery store

On Monday afternoon on we went for a walk along Bogue Pier, one of our favourite places to be. Nobody was catching much but pinfish and the odd blue. Blues are delicious to eat, but pinfish are all bones and best used for bait. I took a few pix which somehow didn’t register in my camera, I have no idea what happened. Pity because we came across a game on the beach which was being played by four guys tossing bags at a board with a hole in it, a bit like horseshoes. They had a board either end. I took some shots of it from the pier and then someone asked if we had ever seen the game before, we said no and so she explained it to us. It is apparently called Cornhole. Looks fun, I was never any good at horseshoes as the shoes were too heavy. These were like small bean bags. Maybe everyone knows the game, but we had certainly never seen it before. I am not sure what was wrong with my camera, but when I checked it out the date wasn’t set, I don’t know if that makes a difference. I took a pic and that seemed to come out OK so I am puzzled.

Monday evening we had dinner with friends we hadn’t seen in 12 years which was a fun event. So nice to see them both.

Tuesday was the great day, we went to MacDaddy’s in Cape Carteret and there we met Jeff Hargett. I had so been looking forward to this meeting.  Much to my delight all three of us seemed to get on so well. I don’t think Jeff and I ever stopped talking. We had lunch and then went in to bowl. Father Dragon had declared that the winner would be awarded the dwarf tossing championship due to the lack of dwarves in this area of North Carolina. To our shame, Matt beat the pair of us making him the new champion. Part of the way through the first game a woman came up to us – I looked at her and said I know you, but who are you. She looked at me as though she thought I had gone bonkers. I had, it was L. Diane Wolfe – idiot that I was, I had assumed she wasn’t going to make it and didn’t click when she arrived. I was delighted to meet her as well. Her husband hadn’t been very keen on her coming because not being internet savvy, he had thought we were murderers and rapists. Diane took photos of us to prove we weren’t like that at all. I didn’t get any pictures myself, camera in the car this time.  Diane was unable to stay very long, so we carried on bowling and it turned out that Matt won, I couldn’t bowl at all, worst I have ever done at 10-pin. Bowling again on Thursday, hope I do better.

We then decided to go to the Golfin’ Dolphin which is part of the same complex, and play miniature Golf. Matt and I have played there a number of times over the years. It was there quite a long time before the MacDaddy’s building was erected. This time Jeff won, Matt came second, and there I was, last again. Not my day at all. We then decided to take Jeff over to Bogue Inlet Pier which is one of our favourite spots. He agreed and found it very peaceful sitting there in the sun. Sadly it was getting latish and Jeff wanted to be back at his rental before it got dark so we said our goodbyes and off he went. Such a pity we couldn’t have met up one more time, but he is only at the coast for a week. By the way, the fishing was still bad at the pier as there were still sharks swimming around.

It was really great meeting these two blogging friends and I’m only sorry it wasn’t possible for us to have more bloggers there. I am only waiting for them to post their pictures.

I love crèpes or what we English call pancakes, I would eat them a lot more but…. I am doing enough damage to my weight now I think. I’m not sure what classifies these as Swedish, they are the same as the pancakes I have been making all my life. Never eaten lingonberries, but I imagine any berries would be equally delicious. I, by the way, would use cream.

Swedish Pancakes

Source: Taste of Home
20 pancakes

Served with lingonberries, these super-thin pancakes are truly elegant.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups milk
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Lingonberries or raspberries
Seedless raspberry jam or fruit spread, warmed
Whipped topping

DIRECTIONS
In a blender, combine the first six ingredients. Cover and process until blended. Heat a lightly greased 8-in. nonstick skillet; pour 1/4 cup batter into center of skillet. Lift and tilt pan to evenly coat bottom. Cook until top appears dry; turn and cook 15-20 seconds longer. Repeat with remaining batter, adding oil to skillet as needed. Stack pancakes with waxed paper or paper towels in between. Reheat in the microwave if desired.
Fold pancakes into quarters; serve with berries, raspberry jam and whipped topping.

Have a great day.