fountains

Papa’s World – Goal – to write positive blogs!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

The view from the lanai on the fourth floor –

From the condo we rented in Ocean Keyes-

North Myrtle Beach-

For nine months, while our new home was built –

In Cameron Woods Community!

It was only by chance that we found this!

I had been searching once we decided to sell our forever home!

It was during the Pandemic –

And our 401K took a major hit!

While all of a sudden –

The value of our home started to climb!

A POSITIVE MADE OUT OF A NEGATIVE!

We made our choice to build near this beach –

OCEAN ISLE BEACH-

In North Carolina –

On the mainland near the ICW!

Also – just a couple more miles is SUNSET BEACH-

With a similar causeway bridge-

Over the ICW!

ANOTHER POSITIVE IN OUR RETIREMENT LIFE!

We wanted to be near golf courses –

And these views are from Sea Trails –

The ending holes on the Jones course and the Byrd course!

We are in the middle of some 30 golf courses here in North Carolina-

Some eight miles to the border of South Carolina!

A BIG POSITIVE FOR US!

This view is what sold Sherry and me on renting this condo.

We did it for a couple of months at a time-

We were building a new home.

We had three bedrooms, a kitchen, and two bathrooms.

A living room and a dining area.

The lanai extended across the entire condo, facing the lake with fountains.

There are over 750 condos here –

Six swimming pools –

A basketball and tennis court.

Six fountains were going down the lake-

And a half-mile walk to the beach entrance.

Most of that was inside the security of Ocean Keyes.

Then, we could walk along North Myrtle Beach Main Street.

This was during the full-blown Pandemic.

We were almost the only people out and about while walking!

This became a negative, but turned into a positive for us!

Debby, her daughter,

and two of her three daughters visit and walk in the surf.

The WHY we decided to build near here.

When family visits –

They have access to two beaches.

A BIG POSITIVE FOR THEN AND US!

Today, while we no longer have that fantastic view of the lake and fountains of Ocean Keyes-

We have this from our front porch in the shade all day long!

This is Cameron Woods Community.

Ocean Isle Beach –

A ten-minute drive

and you are standing on the beach.

We have turned ONE POSITIVE into ANOTHER POSITIVE for us and our family and friends!

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TODAY – WRITING POSITIVE BLOGS!

Thanks for reading – PAPA’S WORLD!

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – A little golf with Bob and Pam!

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Sherry – Papa – Pam and Bob!

We did manage while visiting them at a campground just outside the Villages-

To drive some minutes away and get in a round of golf!

This course is perhaps the most landscaped and beautiful course I have ever played on.

I forget the name – but they told us –

You just show up – no tee times.

And they start you when the tee opens up.

It is 18 holes – we only played the front nine.

Not long which suits my senior game just right.

Everywhere you look is fantastic landscaping.

Flowers – shrubs – huge rocks and mulch.

Fountains and lakes full of greenery.

And the rough is great!

The story I was told –

A landscaper decided to develop land he had –

And put in an 18-hole golf course –

No tee times –

Not too expensive –

And use his landscaping experience-

to turn it into –

A lush – shrub – flower-filled oasis

with tons of water and water features!

AND A ISLAND GREEN that I hit in the middle and it rolled off into a sand trap.

I was amazed after being told by Bob and Pam-

just how beautiful it was.

And we just showed up around 2pm.-

and checked in and got right on!

And it was affordable.

A nice pro shop and they served food!

A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS!

A rock formation and a waterfall!

Fairways and roughs looked professionally groomed!

The greens were awesome and fast!

Spanish moss hanging from the trees-

Small and large palm trees throughout the course

and this was just the front nine!

Pam is ready to tee off –

Note how well-groomed the other parts of the course are!

Sherry already hit and I am waiting!

Notice how groomed the tee box is!

All the shrubs that I saw were all trimmed throughout the course.

An extraordinary amount of labor to make it so perfect!

There did not seem to be any leaves – dead branches –

or clippings on the course anywhere.

This was by far the best-kept course I have ever played on!

I wish I could remember the name –

It is somewhere around the Villages and Summerfield.

Thanks for reading –

PAPA’S WORLD-

My site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

http://www.sfitzsimmons.juiceplus.com

Papa’s World – Ocean Keyes- a nine-month rental!

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What started as a two- or three-month rental turned into nine months!

We had sold our home in NVA. and moved to North Myrtle Beach to this condo in Ocean Keyes-

Simply because after 6 weeks – we could not find anything we liked enough to purchase –

so we decided to build across the border of N.C. in Ocean Isle Beach in the community of Cameron Woods.

So – we extended the rental by three months and then another three months!

These two pictures were the views we had from our large lanai on the top fourth floor with two

elevators – three bedrooms and two baths.

A kitchen – dining room and living room and this huge lanai with two glass sliding doors –

one from the living room and one from the master bedroom.

There was a table and chairs – four rocking chairs and “THE VIEW” of a lake

with six water fountains – and we could not see the end of the lake.

We had two swans that would be all over the lake.

There were 750 condos and six swimming pools in the gated community –

a tennis court and a workout building.

walking through the community –

in one-half mile we were standing on the sand of NMB – and right on the main street.

The Swans were on the lake every day and there were times they took off and flew straight at us and zoomed at the last moment right over our lanai.

I could stand up on the lanai and look straight down and see huge fish –

there were otters and ducks and geese.

Never saw any gators and was told they had removed them as this at one time was a golf course.

At the far end toward the Ocean out of sight of our condo – a bench – three white ducks – always together-

and I named them HUEY – DEWIE and LOUIE!

Where one went the other two followed.

Often I would walk here from the condo and sit and watch the Swans and Ducks and Geese –

a couple times I observed small water snakes – and tons of little ducks and geese.

One of the two fountains I could not see from our lanai – small ducks and large ones –

thanks for reading PAPA’S WORLD – my site: livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

PAPA’S WORLD – OCEAN KEYES – A NINE-MONTH CONDO RENTAL – NORTH MYRTLE BEACH!

Papa’s World – Finally the two Swans returned – by themselves – no babies!

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They have been missing for about five weeks – I would catch a glimpse of them to the left of the lanai

Around the bend and through the shrubs and trees – once in a while

Sometimes I would mistake them for the lone swan –

But then I would see it futher down the lake.

Thought maybe they had a nest and were nesting little ones back in the marsh.

The two mated swans are in the top left of the picture while the lone swan is in the middle right of the picture – the first time I had seen all three in over a month!

But – there were no babies and the geese have tons of babies –

So – I do not know why they disappeared and seemed to glimpse them every once in a while through the trees.

That part of the lake is undeveloped and is marsh – swamp – trees and water – not the type of place you want to wade

through or even boat in there – at least I wouldn’t!

I was disappointed in no baby swans but happy in that the were back!

They still would have nothing to do with the lone swan.

This is as close as they would let it come!

Then – last week – a man showed up in a small skiff – he comes once in a while to fix the fountains –

the one we see that is close to us in the middle of the lake – gets clogged up and quits –

I have watched him a half dozen times come in and go to it and unclog it!

This time as he was coming down the lake – I watched the two swans take flight –

beating their wings against the water and become airborne –

they circled around and headed over the houses to the left –

There is another lake over there – I think they went there as they were frightened by the man and boat.

After that we went for a walk on the beach – and have not seen the two swans since!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World – the one swan remains – mingling in with the ducks – mallards and geese.

I have seen turtles by the hundreds – a otter – some very large fish – a eagle several times -osprey – cranes – herons – egrets – storks –

And the three swans when all here.

A place that when you wake up with the sliding glass doors open – you hear the songs of the birds.

PAPA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog email fitztdf@aol.com

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Papa’s World – morning sunrise – blue skies – late afternoon – thunder – lightening – RAIN!

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Morning sunrise – calm – warm – partial clouds – then blue skies – a start of a beautiful day!

It started out with sunshine and we walked the beach – and the neighborhood –

But – the storm was out there – coming up from the South – West!

We did get all our steps in and had dinner – a beautiful day here in S.C. North Myrtle Beach – Ocean Keyes!

Our beach walk in the morning – on Ocean Isle Beach – N.C.
And then 12 hours later – it blew in and it started to rain!

The sky turned from blue to gray – clouds were rolling in – thunder and lightening!

The wind picked up – Sherry started to go out the front door – the side of the condo the storm was coming from!

She had a hard time holding the door so she closed it!

The lightening was bad and the thunder shook us.

This was the first real storm in the day light we have had since being here!

I have to admit – it got a little bit scary!

The wind just whipped the rain almost sideways!

This went on for a couple hours – and lightening on and off!

I do like a good storm to fall asleep with – lightening – thunder and rain – but can do without the wind!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World –

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FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

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SHERRY – the next morning – return to normal – walking the beach!

SHERRY: CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH

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BUSINESS CONTACT: ssherrylynn49@aol.com

PAPA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – random pictures – kids – golf – and a rainbow in the fountain on the lake.

/ Tom / Leave a comment
Today – I post some pictures – just random pictures – but ones I have close to my heart!
Taylor holding MorMor’s hand – in turn MorMor also holding Bode’s hand.

They adore Sherry – whom they call MorMor – Swede for Mothers Mother!

When we walk with all three – it usually is Taylor who loses out to the other two in holding her hands.

This time it was Cassidy – who with each passing day – is becoming more and more independent.

These two are coming closer and closer together as they grow up.

They are twins – but had to come early as Taylor was taking all the nutrients.

Taylor is going to be really tall – close to six foot while Cassidy will be like her mother 5’6″.

Taylor loves to ride horses – Cassidy has a variety of interests –

but will sit for hours drawing off her computer and is really good!

I thought this to be funny – it brought a smile to my face!

We moved south to find more time to golf – warmer weather and being close to our friends!

Sherry and Cindy – we have been friends with the McBrides for almost 35 years.

They moved about 25 or 26 years to the Wilmington N.C. area – and we would spend time with them once or twice a year.

Then we moved to NVA and they would do the same.

Now – we are building a new home about 40 miles away from them –

and if the weather is nice – we golf once a week with them –

always on a new course – could be on the weekend or a week day.

They can and do stay with us and we do the same with them.

If our new home is not done on time and we have to give up the condo – they have offered us a place to stay.

FRIENDS! GOOD TIMES! LAUGHS!

This is what we have wanted to do for a very long time – it was too expensive in NVA and down here so many courses to choose from.

We both have a love to golf – one of Sherry’s highlights in golfing came with the day she broke 50 –

and it was a day she was golfing with her father!

A memory she shall always carry with her on the course. Now – she beats me! LOL

The view we have almost every morning when we wake up – the master bedroom has a big glass sliding door on her side of the bed – where all she has to do each morning is open her eyes and see this.

I see it each morning also – but I always am up before the dawn – have been that way all my life.

My favorite time of the day – writing my blog – sipping my coffee and watching the sun rise –

listening to the sounds of nature and just enjoying morning time.

Now the sun shines – causing a rainbow in the mist of the water fountain!
A peaceful setting we shall miss when we leave – but we have had by the end – nine months.

A memory we shall carry forward into the new home.

You can hear the pounding surf a half mile away –

We walk there almost every day –

the water fowl – geese – ducks – mallards – swans – otter – turtles – snakes

and really huge fish we can see when we look down onto the water.

Storms blowing in and out – rain and wind – nature at its best.

It would of been nice to have lived to the left of the picture – single family homes!

But – they were way too expensive – and the condos here – not enough space and no garage.

We have a storage unit – not a lot – but enough so that it would not fit.

The town houses here besides the condo’s – were out of our price range –

plus the one we looked at – needed a lot of work.

This is a beautiful area – one I shall remember –

We were blessed to have spent time here – but it also was expensive!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

PAPA and SHERRY MY SITE : PAPA’S WORLD

MY BLOG: livinglifedoingitmyway

EMAIL: fitztdf@aol.com

SHERRY CERTIFIED HEALTH COACH HOME BUSINESS The Juice Plus Company

WEBSITE: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com

EMAIL: ssherrylynn49@aol.com

PAPA’S WORLD livinglifedoingitmyway.blog

Papa’s World – took a little walk to the beach on my way back ran into Huey-Dewey-Louie!

/ Tom / Leave a comment
Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – S.C.

In this picture at the bottom of the lake – is a four story condo –

that is where we are renting until the end of June – 2021! TOP FLOOR !

We are in the middle with a full view of the lake!

There is a road way among the condo’s to the right – that is where we walk to the beach!

This would be the view only from the first floor condo – we are on the top floor.
Here you can see the map of Ocean Keyes – we are a short walk to the real estate office and once we exit on Ocean side Drive – it is two blocks to the sand and water!

We walk this area over to main street – Duffy main street seafood and many other stores.

The tennis courts and Pickle ball courts!

A short walk for us and right across the way from here is one of six pools!

There are six pools with bathrooms in this development and 780 condo units and town houses!
These are the town homes on the far side of the lake near the Hillside drive entrance.

We would of loved to buy one of these – but first there is a waiting list to buy

and second they were out of our price range!

We actually looked at one – it was well used as a second home and had to be completely redone on the inside

and did not have a view of anything other than some trees and bushes.

Walking – taking pictures – looking – where am I going? LOL
Some of the many condo buildings you walk past on the way to the Hillside Drive gated entrance!
Town homes and our condo in the far end of the lake! Top floor with the wide lanai to the left!
On my way back from the beach – just after you enter the gate from Hillside Drive –

I have named the three white ducks – for my own amusement –

HUEY DEWEY LOUIE!

They are together constantly – where one goes – so do the other two – all across the lake.

I have never seen them up on our end.

This day they were napping by the water

And within twenty feet – was the LONE SWAN!

I think this is a male as the other two will have nothing to do with it!
He too is napping!
The LONE SWAN!

I have decided to name him – for my own amusement – ” DARTH VADER”!

He cruises the lake by himself –

and when he comes near – they scatter away from him.

He is a lonely white swan.

The other two will have nothing to do with him and will chase him away!

Even he will take off and fly away from them!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World – my walk back from the beach – Huey Dewey Louie and DARTH VADER!

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FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

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Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – S.C. just google them – there are rentals and places to buy! 601 Hillside Drive

Papa’s World – ever changing life – Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach , SC – #2

/ Tom / Leave a comment
When the day begins with a splash – each day break is different! Ocean Keyes – North Myrtle Beach – SC!

This is the view I saw in the ad for this rental!

This view sold us and we jumped on it right away!

Each morning is different!

Our view of the small lake –

Water fowl flying in and out!

There are six fountains that we can see!

Each at night is lit up!

The moon and fountains light the water !

This never gets old.

I will miss this when we move into our new house.

But – we will have enjoyed it for nine months!

We are social distancing from here – in the condo!

We knew when we moved in October 1st. that we would be mostly alone-

that we would not be able to eat out –

but what we have here is the ability to walk!

Every day – we can walk different routes and still end up at the beach!

One half mile walk brings us to this! If you want information on this place – just contact us here or through my wife’s web site: http://www.sf.juiceplus.com and we will answer.

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

The view from our living room through the screened in Lanai – plus you get this same view from the master bedroom!

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Papa,s World – Brook Green – Night of 1000 candles – near Pawley’s Island-S.C.

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The night before we came back home to N.VA. – we drove 45 minutes South

Near Pawley’s Island S.C

to “BROOK GREEN”!

( and we will go back in warmer weather – to see it again in daylight!)

Huge Oak trees – with hanging lights – almost from the top!
Reflections in the water of lights!

The whole place – hundreds of acres – is dressed up in colored themes –

and over 1000 candles lit by hand!

Bronze statues are everywhere!

Some of the 1000 candles lit by hand!
Candles and lights – everywhere we went – a different theme – and colorful lights!
There were food trucks and a tent set up with drinks – hot chocolate – coffee and tea as well as water – soft drinks and beer!
So many different areas lit up – hard to capture them all!
You had to stay on the paths – and after dark – you could easily get lost in the maze of light!
Hanging moss lit up!
Paper lanterns lit in red and white colors!
Like fire flies in the sunset!
Sculptures with light reflecting on the water!

There must be a lot of volunteers to do all of this!

And – we only saw part of the park –

there also is a zoo here but was closed!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS!

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WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Papa’s World – When Swans come for a visit!

/ Tom / Leave a comment

I saw a child in a stroller – sitting and gazing

Her mother had stopped

and they were watching the White Swans

as we drove our car through the gate

of the beach side entrance.

You can see the Swans – Mallards and in the top right corner – the wheel of the stroller

We talked to the mother as that child gazed entranced

sitting motionless

watching the graceful three Swans

Suddenly a big Mallard came too close to one of the females

The Big male Swan rose up and beat its wings as its

head and neck came quickly forward toward the Mallard.

The baby never flinched – just watched in awe as the Mallard

turned and swan away.

The big male watching over the other two

The mother somehow knew how the Swans just appeared overnight!

She said the state runs a wildlife management program

Where Swans are placed into a enviroment

conducive to their lives.

This is what happened here

They were placed and now they cruise from one end to the other

One half mile in one direction.

Here they are just outside our top floor Lanai

Our condo sits in the opposite direction of where we saw the mother.

I have seen them going back and forth all day long.

People are watching them paddle about –

some are feeding them bread

Sherry looked it up and it said this was okay

it was better if it were a bit soggy

also lettuce leaves

They graze the pond bottoms near the shore lines.

I have watched them swim toward this fountain

and all of a sudden they start flapping their huge wings

and a very loud noise erupts as they tread water

and take off in flight

never going much higher than 10 or 15 feet

above the water – to gracefully cruise into the

bay where we saw the mother and child.

For now they are here

I hope they remain

I hope they mate and hatch little ones

just as the little child gazed at their graceful

floating in the water.

I can imagine a line of little ones following these three.

WHEN SWANS COME FOR A VISIT!

Thank you for reading Papa’s World

WHERE FRIENDS MEET THE FAMILY

FAMILY MEETS FRIENDS

SHERRY ( MorMor – Mothers Mother) and PAPA ( Tom)

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MORMOR’S SITE: http://www.jp.juiceplus.com

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