Golf carts – hot chocolate – cookies and sheet music – it’s that time to once again sing Christmas songs in the community!
This is the season to be festive – we all met in our driveway – Solo Stove ablaze – music from the garage – this actually is the second year gathering together – and it has grown to around 15 souls!
Hot chocolate and cookies – and it was not too chilly!
Sherry – Kathy our neighbor and Diane – our other neighbor.
People mingled about before starting out to sing – three golf carts to help carry people – the rest walked.
I volunteered to stay behind and tend to the fire in the SOLO STOVE! They wouldn’t want me to sing – like an old hound dog! They were gone about an hour before they came back – regrouped and went to another part of the neighborhood.
We hope to make this an annual event – meeting at the community center when it is opened and finished.
Even the golf cart was decorated! It was a nice way to talk to friends and neighbors
and there were so many happy neighbors who came outside and even joined in – taking pictures – CAMERON WOODS COMMUNITY – OCEAN ISLE BEACH – NORTH CAROLINA – traditions being started!
Papa’s World – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog fitztdf@aol.com
PAPA’S WORLD – It’s the most wonderful time of the year –
We have now lived here for 17 months – where did that go? Our home is most likely ( hoping) our last major move.
We decided on moving here – near the borders of N.C and S.C. because it was still within 61/2 hours and 8 hours of our families in NVA.
We have close friends who live about 33 miles away and more close friends who are building in that same area.
We enjoy our location for the close access to the beaches and major shopping and golf while still having that country feel.
While we do have the threat of Hurricanes – we are not in a flood zone. Having gone through category one – we have decided on anything past an category two – we most likely will leave.
We enjoy the 30- minute drives to shopping at the outlet mall and the many offerings of shows and entertainment of Alabama Theater and Carolin Opera!
Sunrise on OIB with boats racing for a fishing tournament – warm weather – ocean breezes in summer-time
lead to what locals call down here “THE SALT LIFE”!
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Stepping out the front door of our house in Cameron Woods to the morning sunrise!
We choose this lot because of the sunrise and sunset from our driveway!
You look right to the East and left to the West!
Looking out the front door to the West!
We have been here going on fifteen months – and have had numerous sunrise and sunset skies
that is absolutely beautiful!
This is us! No snow or ice!
View of the front and looking SW toward the ocean some 2 to 4 miles away!
We are in OIB but on the mainland side – six miles to Sunset Beach and four miles to OIB.
The sunrise from the backyard – all the tree line to the right is protected!
Our backyard borders a protected area – it can not be developed or cut down – the second reason we chose this lot to build our new home!
Looking out at the backyard and treeline.
As we progress into the future – we have carefully had the landscape done – replacing pine straw with stones and mulch – eventually going to all stones and borders.
We also wanted an open patio and a firepit – along with a place to grow our own organic veggies – which we have done now year round!
This is now our third harvest since early spring – and are going on our second harvest of cucumbers!
She finally talked me into purchasing a grill and we often grill out here – we have no gas and the house is all electric – and electric stove tops we have found are hard to keep clean – thus I grill! LOL
Our little flower garden next to the treeline – now if we can keep the deer from munching the leaves! LOL
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Sherry walking East and at the truck is where Diane lives.
After Diane joins us – we turn North and walk up the street.
The community center – pickleball courts and pool will be on our left at the top of the hill and our mailboxes will be on the right-hand side in a small cul-de-sac.
The unfinished Community Center building – slowly progressing – almost a year behind schedule!
What it is supposed to look like!
Inspections – material shortages – labor – One developer sold to another – numerous delays!
But when completed we can walk easily to it and it will be so nice –
the inside has been drywalled and painted in 80 % of the building –
the area to the right in the pictures has yet to be drywalled.
I have no idea why it was not done all the way through – but the drywall is sitting in there.
Inside are bathrooms – kitchen, meeting room, fireplace, workout area, lounging area, etc.
Behind us is the main road going north to the main gate.
Before the main gate in the upper right – we head to Waterway Woods – a cul-de-sac.
Here we will walk again West around a loop of this cul-de-sac.
The main entrance – gated – is to the right.
Walking a cul-de-sac – one of many that have no houses on them.
Now we have walked Waterway Woods cul-de-sac and are heading back toward the community center.
On the Waterway Cul-de-sac.
Once back on Waterway road – it is straight back to the house –
or you can choose to do five other cul-de-sacs – some with houses most are vacant.
Or walk the road to the pond – to the end of the cul-de-sac or go to the new construction area and walk.
If you choose to walk everything in Cameron Woods plus the garden homes –
it would be close to seven or eight miles!
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SHERRY Betsie Diane – heading the last one half mile South on Waterway road, Cameron Woods Community!
When we walk – we can go in two directions – this walk is to the East – and the Pond.
E Lindley Lane, S.W.
Here we turn right and walk down the street – there are maybe six houses down here that are still in construction – and all are at the end of this road and then onto the cul-de-sac that winds around to the back of our house through the woods.
But before you get to that other street – the entrance to the trail that walks all the way around the pond – is on the left. Past the only two true story homes in the entire development.
Here you see my wife Sherry starting on the path and the pond is to her right – and in the middle, some 100 feet away is a somewhat raised portion – almost like an old farm road.
This is where WOODIE – THE GATOR – likes to sunbathe!
When the temps rise and the sun comes out – most times you can find WOODIE!
Although I have only ever seen one gator in here – neighbors have seen TWO – both this size!
I would estimate it is 6 plus feet long!
Maybe seven feet!
These neighbors who live on the pond have also seen Otters – lots of Turtles – and have caught a big mouth bass out of here!
The next blog will be “ENTERING THE WOODS” where I am on watch for snakes!
We have seen one rather large Black Snake laying on the path before you go into the woods –
As the day begins at the condo – the build of our new home begins some six-teen miles away – in Cameron Woods at Ocean Isle Beach – N.C. We searched and searched – but all in vain as the cost to buy was equal or more than to build what we wanted!
Our view here I shall always remember – in all we will be here for nine months!
I captured this shot as a flock of geese were coming right at me before
rising up over the lanai and roof.
We decided to build – that way we would have everything we wanted
A single story – no stairs – covered front porch – screened in covered lanai.
Close to the beach ( four miles) in the country!
Close to golfing ( over 20 courses near by)
And with in 6 1/2 hours to travel back home
or family to travel here!
Materials for the new home – ground is ready – all utilities in and inspected – waiting for pour of concrete!Forms and moisture barrierSome view in one direction of neighborhood – I think in total maybe fifty homes will be here.When done – a two car garage with pull down stairs and finished storage overhead.
We will have around 1900 sf. of heated space –
in addition to a 140 sf covered and screened in lanai
and a open 10 x 14 concrete patio.
There will be a covered front porch
and views of the neighborhood.
The back will be woods with no one building there
as it will be a conservation area.
We will be four miles to Ocean Isle Beach and six miles to Sunset Beach
A thirty minute drive back to North Myrtle Beach
and a fifthteen minute drive to Calabash
and a fifthteen minute drive to Shallotte.
All this in the middle of some twenty golf courses we will be playing!
The concrete is poured – and rain is now slowing up everything!
But – all the inspections have been completed
and our contractor calls us every Monday to give updates
and answer any questions!
The forms are out – concrete is in – framing will be next!View of the garage and the woods behind the new build.
We drive over every Sunday – no one is working!
That way – if it is not raining – we can get out and look it over!
This will be our third house together building.
All three were unique and we have input on all of them.
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Welcome to CAMERON WOODS – OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C. 28469
Sitting off Old Georgetown road – just past the back entrance to Ocean Ridge Plantation –
sits a brand new community – about four years old.
Amongst the tall N.C. pine trees and the live oaks.
It is a gated community – and will be somewhere in the neighborhood of 150 homes when completed.
The last phase is set to be started with the roads and infrastructure have been completed in half of it.
Sunset in Cameron Woods from our back patio.
Beyond these woods will be the final construction – there are no roads in there yet except one access road – and a very large pond – although all the trees have been cleared.
To the right of this – that section has paved roads and infrastructure!
It is to the far right that the roads are in – and another beautiful sunset!
We are getting to know the neighbors – as they move in.
Our close friends Steve and Diane are actually from back in WNY and know our old stomping
grounds there.
We have abundant wildlife here – turkeys – deer – raccoons – gators – and some say a bobcat.
It is at the end of this street where the final phase of construction is!
If the sky is somewhat clear – and most times it is – we can see the sunset from the end of the driveway
to the back patio each night – and then do stargazing – as the view is clear.
View of the beginning of sunset over our home.
In the mornings from the opposite view here – we see the sunrises!
So we have the perfect sunrise and sunsets each day and night!
SUNSET FROM OUR FRONT EDGE OF THE DRIVEWAY!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World – there are a lot of lots left to build on –
COME ON IN – we would love to meet new residents!
CAMERON WOODS – OCEAN ISLE BEACH, N.C.
Four plus miles to OIB and seven-plus miles to SUNSET BEACH!
SHALLOTTE seven miles away and CALABASH six miles away.
Just a little over a month later from our New Years Eve beach gathering and toast to 2021
We once again were back to see the sunset – only it was windy and cold –
far from the 65 degrees of NYE!
The approaching sunset peeking through the trees!
Papa – Diane and Sherry
We first parked and walked to the end of the street – here the last of the end of the houses –
and this then begins Bird Island – marshland protected and wide-open beach.
Our neighbor Diane
The tide was going out!
Here you see the last of the houses on the marsh and bayside – with the tide going out – This is the end of Sunset Beach and the beginning of Bird Island.
Sun setting – time to go to the beach.
This is where we gathered for NYE and drank a toast to 2021!
The pier and people walking the beach.
Sherry – braving the wind chill – it was cold.
As we looked out on the ocean – to think we can do this every night if we want to –
and there still is Ocean Isle Beach – living our dream.
One final look before we returned home – Sunset at SUNSET BEACH, N.C.
I seem to be the person if it is going to happen – it will happen to me.
This is very RARE here this close to the ocean so I am told.
And to be fair – within an hour or so – it was gone!
Looking out the lanai at the snow on the ground and swirling in the air.
Now – really – I could care less if I ever see snow again – some people think that is nuts –
but I just do not like the snow-ice and cold – and I lived in WNY & NWPA for 50 years!
So I know all about blizzards – running my van up and down the driveway to pack it down –
Shoveling – chipping ice – burning 21 cords of wood hand carried inside and to the basement for the woodstove – that stove kept us warm through one week without electricity – and power –
that plus the living room fireplace –
going to work at 5am. through unplowed roads and a foot of fresh snow and another foot on the way.
The Tower Garden all covered up and survived all the ice – snow and cold.
I think it is so pretty coming down – covering in white – but that is my extent of liking it.
Back North – we would go cross-country skiing – in the Alleghany National Park on groomed trails.
As a kid, we were always outside sledding – building forts and snowball fights.
My memories are in the past – my present is NO SNOW! LOL
Lonely birdfeeder with no birds in the snow.
As I said – it was over in an hour – sunshine and no snow anywhere – the WHY we moved South.
The Sun is back – the air still cool – the roads dry – NO ICE – NO SNOW!
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Diane – Sherry, and Papa – walking after the snow – in the sunshine and cool air!
After walking through the paved road area where the infrastructure is already installed –
We decided to walk the access road beyond the huge mound of dirt to the pond.
Diane Sherry and Betsey waiting for me to come down off the mound of dirt.
We now are on the access road – through the cleared area walking to the large pond!
Sherry and Diane walking the road with a huge drainage ditch on the left – I call this the “GATOR HIGHWAY”
Yes – we have seen a small gator in this pond – but as Sherry says – “WHERE’S THE MOTHER”?
This is the old access road that they put in to make the pond and clear the land.
This old access road runs right behind our house – the tree line here is protected –
That is the back of our home in the picture – these woods will not be cut or cleared and this old road is blocked off – where another new home has been built.
I hope they make this part of the already trail system we have that goes around the other pond.
This now seems to be where they dump and storm drains – pipes, etc.
This area will be the last to be done in the next phase – suppose to be according to map site plans
A third pond somewhere to the right of this picture eventually.
The second pond – looks to be as big as the other one or larger.
We have seen many tracks of deer around here as well as other tracks.
People have said they have seen Bobcat tracks and coming home one night –
I saw something bigger than a normal cat on the main highway – ?????
I took this picture a couple months ago – right behind the new community center.
Betsey – Diane and Sherry – heading back up the road away from the pond.
There are five houses to be completed in our phase – and then they are done there- I was told the construction will commence here in the finished area with paved roads sometime in March.
They are selling the lots now – LENNAR is the builder now – new designs and new elevations will be the difference from what we had to choose from.
We shall see what this all looks like a year from now as aI think it is a two-year build-out or more.
PAPA’S WORLD – livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
CAMERON WOODS – off Old Georgetown Road – Ocean Isle Beach – across from the back entrance to Ocean Ridge Plantation – home of the BIG CATS golf courses.
Phase one completed – Phase two is almost done – no idea what phase the garden homes are in –
they are conjoined town home-condos across from this entrance but part of our development.
There are numerous homes there completed but looks like less than halfway done.
We walk almost daily weather permitting.
Phase three – all the infrastructure is already in – and two of the roads are paved.
The lots are ready and have numbers on them.
I assume that some have already been sold as I was told construction is supposed to start in March.
It is hard to tell now but they look similar in size to our lots – perhaps a little bit bigger.
The far tree line to the right has a cul-de-sac behind it and I assume will not be cut down.
The neighborhood in Phase two that is complete
In this picture, we live beyond this view to the right.
Behind these homes is where the community center is to the right.
This was all woods when we purchased our lot.
I stand where a huge hill of dirt has been piled up – separating the sites here from the clearings behind it. I think this mound of the earth will be pushed back to cover the cleared space or used as a fill when they put in the remaining infrastructure.
According to the site maps – one more pond is yet to be added to the right somewhere in the trees.
This is the cleared area behind the mound and already a very large pond is there to the left and one more is to be added according to the site maps.
There already is an access road right back to the pond which is either the same size as the one completed at the end of our road or bigger.
Diane and Sherry walk up the mound of earth.
If you could continue to walk – straight ahead of them is our new home through the woods.
A view from our back yard through the protected trees to the cleared land beyond the mound of earth.
To the right beyond those trees is the mound of dirt.
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The next blog will be THE WALK CONTINUED through the cleared area to the pond.
I have always been a history buff – ancient history – but also family history.
My sister and brother were fifteen and ten years older than me.
So when I came along I had missed the family fishing trips to Canada each year.
And my sister became the family photo taker and camera buff.
All the family history was passed down to my sister’s daughter and then suddenly she passed away.
Unknown to me – a friend of their family cleaned out everything and threw it away.
Everything was gone except the few pictures I had and my brother had.
I decided that what happened there would not happen for me and my family.
So – by being encouraged by my wife Sherry – we set up this blog – where all the family history and pictures can be in one place for all to see and read.
Sherry and Papa ( Tom)
She has encouraged me to write it down along with pictures for future generations to look back on.
Our family before Bode
I have two sons from a previous marriage – Troy and Shawn who still live back in NWPA.
Shawn runs an energy company contracting out to the state and large power companies.
Running state audits and working through state grants to insulate senior citizens’ homes from the harsh winters.
He covers the entire western part of Pa.
Troy – built homes from the ground up – anything you wanted he could do.
After years of doing this ( he was in high demand) Shawn talked him into coming to work for him –
His business has grown to almost seven days a week.
Troy runs the insulation and energy side while Shawn concentrates on the Audit side.
Troy is learning that side and taking tests and courses to also step in and help.
I am very proud of both these boys and trying to talk them into taking a break and coming down for a visit.
Shawn and Trisha ( our daughter-in-law)
Winterizing homes in Eastern USA for the elderly has become big business – conserving energy
on the power grid for major corporations in order to provide heat and electricity –
He has tapped into a business that for him is seven days a week.
He constantly is looking to hire people and train as auditors.
Troy started working for him a couple years ago.
If anyone is looking for a career out there – contact me – fitztdf@aol.com and I will put you in contact with him – he travels the whole western part of Pa. North to South.
Shawn ( young one ) and Troy – my sons back in NWPA!
For them I write – post pictures and give them memories that I still have in my head.
Ryan – our oldest grandson
Ryan lives in Tenn. and we have stayed in touch with him – he manages a hotel
and recently opened a bar – restaurant business with two other partners.
We attended his wedding a few years ago in Nashville, Tenn.
He has visited us once a few years ago – he served his country
and is like his father(Shawn) making his own way in the business world.
Dylan Shawns youngest son
He just spent four years in the service and is now out – living with his mother or in that area.
He reminds me so much of Shawn.
While we do not often get to see either one – both are in our memories and hearts.
Hoping they can come and stay with us in the future.
Bode – the youngest grandchild from Tammy – is the only boy with five granddaughters.
He is all boy – cars – trucks – bikes – and always without shoes and socks – even in winter! LOL
Bode’s parents and sisters and their puppy Marley.
Debby and Mike and their three daughters – Ella – Sarah and Maddy
This is my “WHY” for writing this blog – my memories put forth in words and pictures for all these grandkids and our children to read in the future.
Life in pictures in words – memories – past – present and future to come.
I want to thank my wife who is the driving force behind this blog.
SMILES – LAUGHTER – PEACE – HARMONY and POSITIVE THOUGHTS!
That is WHAT PAPA’S WORLD is all about.
THANKS FOR READING and being member of PAPA’S WORLD: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
In Cameron Woods Community – Ocean Isle Beach – N.C. – there will be a lot of firsts!
COCKTAILS in the driveway – lunch at Riversedge golf course – picnic at the park.
The new book readers club and in the future the free book exchange library!
And now a new developer!
We have been sold to LENNAR – the number two developer in the country!
Things have changed and they are known for building spec homes – you get limited choices!
Different elevations – and one price has it all!
Whereas we were able to select almost everything! ( we are happy to have already built!)
We are hoping by Easter the community center is done! At least the main building!
Our new community center – slowly being built – the curbs have just been laid – pickleball courts are paved – and the pool has been in the ground for months – waiting to be finished!
It will be here that we will all come together as a community of neighbors – meetings – lunches and dinners. The free book library will be out front by the road somewhere I presume for access to exchange the books. We can walk to this easily! A workout room and kitchen and bathrooms.
And this year for the very first time – three families got together on Thanksgiving day – to walk!
8:30 AM. = we all met at the intersection of Waterway and Lindley – it was cool but bright sunshine –
led to a warm 3.7-mile walk!
The very first TURKEY TROT WALK-RUN!
A big thank you to Rob – who organized it by simply announcing it on the Community Facebook page!
And YES – the picture of the TURKEYS are from the neighborhood – on the cul-de-sac behind the
new community center -taken a few days before by Sherry!
The Zimmermans – the Sopers – and Fitzsimmons families!
We have heard from others who were away and could not join us in the first neighborhood
THANKSGIVING TURKEY TROT!
But – will walk next year!
We are a transit community – many people have this as a second home awaiting retirement.
A lot of people are here but working from home.
And a few of us old-timers ( us) are retired!
I think Sherry and myself are more the Grandma and Grandpa of the neighborhood! LOL
It is a community of many FIRSTS – waiting to be completed in a couple years.
CAMERON WOODS COMMUNITY – OCEAN ISLE BEACH – come and join us – either if you already own here or want to build in the new Phase Three!
Cocktails in the driveway – picnic at the park – lunch meet and greet at the golf course
and now the first TURKEY-TROT-WALK!
Chrismas caroling is in the works and who knows what else is being talked about!
Thanks for reading Papa’s World –
my blog site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog
my email: fitztdf@aol.com
PAPA’S WORLD – CAMERON WOODS COMMUNITY – OCEAN ISLE BEACH – N.C.
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