if you have a few minutes won’t you join me for a little more day dreaming on Ocracoke Island…
stands to reason that after spending a couple of weeks there we have quite a few photographs (you probably already know that you can click once or twice on the photos for a closer look if you are interested)…
posting here on my blog serves as a visual journal for Mr Magpie and myself (I find I go back and refer to my links now and then for information or helping determine “when” something happened)…
we made an exciting discovery along the beach of tree branches trapped in the sand that had a few shells washed up at its base which inspired us to gather seashells and bits of beach treasure to add to the branches each time we visited…
about midway through our vacation we noticed that other people were adding shells and even some extra precious things like necklaces and charms which moved us to call it “the Spirit Tree” (shells with holes in them were perfect for hanging and made special clicking sounds in the breeze)…
who knows if it will be there next year when we return…
walking back and forth to the beach on two separate occasions enjoying the sand between our toes we encountered some good sized ghost crabs (the “frown”on this one’s face might be because of the fright of almost being stepped on…try to imagine the look on my face and how high that close call made me jump)…
we did get some nice photos of them as they froze in the sand for a bit…
if you are still with me let’s head for our home away from home on Silver Lake Harbor so I can share some T treats with you (marked by two seashells above since I couldn’t find an arrow to add to the photo) …
would it surprise you to know that I only had tea one day out of the fourteen we were away…
the days we did not make coffee at home in the morning I enjoyed a cappuccino from the local Ocracoke Coffee Company (I am a cheap date and one cup of half caff usually does the trick)… we discovered some scrumptious Fig Cake at the Ocracoke Seafood Market of all places on our last day on the island (there are lots of fig trees on the island)…
each day was pure delight with time in between to slow down and just be…
not easy to leave…
here’s wishing you a happy T day along with everyone over at Elizabeth and Bleubeard’s oxo
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
dear Patty-we truly are such kindred spirits-I am SO still with you at the beach-and we even both delighted in getting some nice shots and a visit from a ghost crab:):) Gorgeous sunrise/sunset photos. My hubby took ours and I have yet to get some of them on my computer-so many photos is right! here’s to extending our beach time a wee bit longer…happy T day!
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Patty, fantastic photos, they are so inspirational, I loved that footsteps in the sand, wow!
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Oh what a lovely holiday – I did enjoy my speed holiday here, it looks and sounds like a marvellous place.
Love all the blues in your photographs.
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Oh Patty, what a wonderful post, I enjoyed each and every picture. I love the “Spirit” tree story and the tea/coffee mugs are gorgeous.
I would absolutely love to visit here someday. Thanks for sharing your adventures and for visiting my blog this week.
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What a beautiful place to visit, and so many chilled cats too. My idea of heaven.
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I feel like I just had a mini vacation with you!! Your :spirit tree” is beautiful as well as inspirational. I love that people were adding fun things to it as time went on.
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What an amazing place this is… and your photos are just GORGEOUS dear Patty! It’s a beautiful post!
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You have captured all the things, in this wonderful world, that I love 🙂
Thanks so much for that and also the beautiful saying in the last photo ….. I’m grateful for all of my yesterdays 🙂
Happy T day and thank you for visiting my blog 🙂
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It is a little paradise where you made your holidays. I can see on your photos that time goes a little bit slowlier there. Such nice photos you shared with us, thank you so much. Looking at your photos is like making a journey by myself. Excellent your shot of the big crab. Most I like your shell photos and the spirit tree.
Have a good week.
Dearest Greetings
Sabine
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What a FABULOUS place Patty…..just my cup of tea (no pun intended). Beautifull photos….but I wondered what all the ducks were doing around the buoy.
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I love the photos you posted today. Thank you
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OMGosh! What a wonderful place to spend a couple weeks! Loved all the photos. Thanks for taking us along…ghost crabs and all. 😉
Happy T-Day! 🙂
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I always enjoy your beach photos, and this year is no different. I’m impressed that you always get the same room/suite each time you visit. And you truly have a lovely view both within and out.
I was especially taken by the Spirit tree and the way you started something that others could add to. I also like Mr. Magpie’s sunrise, sunset collage. I’ve never heard of a ghost crab before, but they looked a bit scary to me. Of course, Bleubeard was impressed that you found so many cats to take photos of. But perhaps my favorite photo was the laugh out loud one of the girl and dog on the bike. That one was FUN and FUNNY.
Thanks for sharing more of your time at the beach with us for T this Tuesday.
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Such beautiful photos! It does make me want to go back. It’s been so many years since I was last there. Thanks for sharing your trip 🙂
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It is a sweet and magical place with just the one village and less than about 850 year round residents on the island.
There is a lady who caters to the ducks and she owns a shop called Mermaid’s Folly.
The buoy is in her parking lot and the ducks like congregating there.
Each evening the ducks would stop traffic on the one main road through the island and head to the water to see the sunset.
Their quacking often sounded like hilarious laughter and made everyone smile.
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Gorgeous photos! Seeing your spirit tree made me think of the ones I’ve seen that are created from old sneakers – people just nail their shoes onto a dead tree and pretty soon the whole tree is covered. Rather cool!
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Really beautiful, peaceful photos! I loved every one, but my favourites have to be of the spirit tree. I think it was so lovely that you kind of created your own sacred place and that others brought their gifts to the tree too. Oh yes, and my daughter is crazy about that crab: I knew she would be! 🙂 xxx
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wonderful travelog! I’ve never seen a ghost crab
One T day is better than none!
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I could dawdle in your beach photos for a long time…so many wonderful discoveries and treats! your photography is wonderful- you captured your special seaside time!
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Wow those are BEAUTIFUL pictures. Really makes me want to go visit. Less than 850 people … nice and peaceful!
Happy T-Day!
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Great photos…it looks like a great place to visit.
I love the footprints in the sand.
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thanks for sharing all those precious photos, patty! i enjoyed the crab´s face, haha. love the animal photos and the footprints also… so much wonderful stuff!
i will be at the shore of southern denmark next week, but i´m sure i won´t find that much… but i can´t wait to get the smell of the sea and feel the wind in my hair.
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What a wonderful visual reminder of your holiday Patty! xxx
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From the kitty pictures at the beginning to the bike surfing dog and dunes at the end, your posting has so much to see and enjoy. I love the idea of a spirit tree and how it inspired others to leave a token as well. Places like Ocracoke are few and far between and are special treasures for those who know how to appreciate them – like you do.
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I love, love, love the spirit tree. Yes, who knows if it can survive the winds and sands of even one year, but I hope it does. What a beautiful and special place (and yes, the Marmelade Gypsy has a dual purpose as visual journal, too!)
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Hello Patti, I came back for another breath of your holiday air and another look at your wonderful photo album..
I love your pictures of cats at the top, we did that once on holiday, took pictures of cats enjoying the sun.
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always love your gorgeous photos…it looks so serene there on the beach. Loved the driftwood branches & shells! ♥
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Patty,
What an absolute treat it was to take this stroll with you but yikes, I didn’t expect to see a ghost crab during the stroll along the beach, it is a wonder I have any toes left!
I have never ever seen a ghost crab and although it should be scary, that frown it is wearing does make me want to LOL, it is so comical.
Wishes
Lynne
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These photos are so lovely! I love the shells, the sunsets – and of course the cats!! These images show how beautiful it is by the sea – my favorite place anyway!
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It looks like a perfect end of summer retreat … and what a lovely blue and watery place – it’s like looking through crystal
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I love the name you have given the tree The Spirit Tree and your photos- ahhh I could look at them all day and dream I am there! Love the ghost crab and the dog on a bike! Priceless!! xo
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Hi Patty, your photos and collages are gorgeous. I hope you are doing well, it’s been very busy here. Hugs, Shirleyxx
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What a great vacation!!! And I’m sooo glad you didn’t step on that crab! woo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!! Lovely photos! I know you are still missing it…..
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How lovely to watch your beautiful photoes again, my sweet friend.
There are so many wonderful situations hidden here ,that you can re-see and re-experience , and for me it was especially wonderful to re-see them as fantastic collages !! so beautiful put together ,like little stories !! How did you live without tee for so long ? lol!!
Patty I love the qoute you have on the last picture…only our memory can handle that distance ,for us !!!
Hugs to you- xx
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wow what a collection of beautiful memories!! Now I know why I have always wanted to go to that area of the country again. I just caught up on you blog…beautiful work and thanks for the inspiration to get me going now that I am back in civilization:) Hope all is well with you and yours…
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You have such good fun. Love your photography. A picture says so much. I enjoyed looking through them. Thank you for taking the time to share. xx
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Oh Patty , the tree with Jos lovely name , i wish that i also van make such a beauty .
Love from Rini
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Pingback: Shell Tea… | Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz
Lord how I love the Outter Banks. Your crab shots are impressive, they were too fast for me.
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