Wow! December has barely begun, and I miss November already. November is always a wonderful mix of family, food, and fun for Helen and me. For six years, we have started the month with two weeks of beachside camping in Edisto Beach State Park, about an hour south of Charleston, SC. Our son, Collin, and his family live in Charleston, and being close allows us to be with them before, during, and after our time in Edisto.
Our trip begins when we park Dora, our fifth-wheel trailer, in Collin’s driveway and open the mother-in-law’s suite. Several years ago, Collin installed a 50-amp outlet beside his garage door to provide electricity for us during our visits. The water connection is nearby, and once I have the antenna for Dish TV connected, we’re ready for family fun with minimal disruption to Collin’s household. It’s an excellent setup for us.
After a two-day visit, we drove to Edisto and were greeted with perfect weather. The temperatures hovered in the low 70s, with a light breeze coming in from the south. We have enjoyed good weather almost every year since we began this tradition—the exception was two years ago when cold, windy weather arrived early, and we spent much time around the campfire.
The popularity of this campground means that reservations for some of the better campsites can be difficult to obtain. Thirteen months out, to the day, I stay up until midnight to submit a request for a choice site for the following year’s visit, and I am usually successful. Our location for this year was lovely, overlooking the marsh. The sunsets were beautiful, and there were always waterbirds and songbirds in our view.
We spent our days walking the beach, looking for shells and shark teeth, and taking Mortimer for long walks at low tide. Mortimer seemed to enjoy the visit as much as we did. During our second week, Sandy and Tina, long-time friends from Knoxville, visited during their vacation at Kiawah Island. The remainder of our stay involved nothing more than pure relaxation, and it ended all too quickly.
We returned to Charleston for three days after our beach trip to spend time with our granddaughters and cheer them on during the James Island Invitational Soccer Tournament. Both girls play on competitive teams, and this tournament brought teams from throughout the south to compete for the championship.
Cason, our youngest, plays goalie for her team and plays well. I’m always impressed with her leadership and toughness. She does an excellent job of directing her teammates in front of her and blocking soccer balls headed her way. Unfortunately, the breaks did not go well for her team during the Saturday games, and they suffered two close losses. Cason was frustrated and angry, but a big win in the Sunday match erased some of the sting.
Our thirteen-year-old, Bennett, is an outstanding soccer player who plays on a team with an impressive championship record. Most of the girls on her team have played together since age seven and know each other’s playing strengths well. Ultimately, Bennett’s team fought hard and came away with another championship against some stiff competition. I enjoyed watching soccer as much as I enjoyed our time at the beach.
Thanksgiving with my family is always special. We’re blessed that my mother, at age 95 and going strong, is still around to celebrate with us. My brother, Jim, opened his lovely home to us, and his daughters came home from Washington, DC, and Southern California to join us. Emily, his oldest daughter, brought home a friend who fit right in and did more than her share of kitchen duty. A highlight at the dessert table was some Cocoa Crispy Turkey legs.
Our children did not make it home this year, but we enjoyed our time with our nieces and nephews. Including my Mom and my niece, there are three Helens among us, and I made sure to get a picture of them before we broke up. With the passing of each year, I continue to thank the Almighty for the blessing of a wonderful and loving family, both near and far.
Although I continue to say we’re just Easin’ Along, November blew by in much the same way all months seem to at this point in our lives. Thankfully, we have the time and the health to enjoy them. Nevertheless, I’m still wondering—where did November go? It was delightful.
What fabulous photos! Know Bennett & Cason were thrilled you could be at their Soccer Tournament. Edisto looks gorgeous and glad you had such excellent weather.
Love to Grandmother Helen.
Carolyn & Johnny
Carolyn,
We loved our time on the soccer field, and a lot of memories of those days with Justin and Collin came flooding back. Bennett plays well and Cason is tough and determined. They’re both fun to watch. All the best to you and Johnny for a blessed holiday season. Joe
I told Santa I want a new calendar with 15 months….
I want a copy! Great to hear from you. All our best to you both! Joe
Joe, I felt much the same about November as it seemed to fly by. You guys have developed a great formula for creating everyday joy, even when you are on the road. The photo of you and Mortimer having lunch together is priceless. He is hanging on your every word, or maybe just waiting for his next morsel.
I’m sure your mom will cherish the family photo at your brother’s home.
The showstopper of the post is your opening photo. I think you should call this one ‘Pie in the Sky’ as it takes the ‘rule of thirds’ to a whole new level. Awesome!
I hope the first week of December is treating you both well. Blessings.
Suzanne,
Mortimer and I were having a discussion about his latest “Book of the Month Club” selection ;-). It got deep at times. We’re blessed that Mom is still with us. She really enjoys Thanksgiving with the family. So glad you liked the photo, especially since you are so skilled with a camera. Helen and I send you and Malcolm sincere wishes for a blessed Christmas season. Joe
Sounds like a wonderful time spent with family. Love that campsite. Well worth the extra effort to secure the reservation. All the best to you and Helen.😊
Good afternoon, Ingrid,
November did blow by, but it was a wonderful month, nevertheless. We have already booked next years trip to Edisto. Although I hit the send button within seconds of midnight, we lost out on that campsite, but we were successful with our second choice. You and Al would love it. Hope the Christmas season is everything you hope it to be. Enjoy that grandchild and keep the camera handy! Joe
What a wonderful November you all had, Joe! Great idea to camp in your son’s driveway (we’ve done that in San Diego), it is nice to have your own space and still be close. Great weather for camping at Edisto, wow! Those cocoa-crispy turkey legs look delish! Have a great week, happy December!
Hi, Terri,
Camping in Collin’s driveway is the way to go. Otherwise, one of the girls would have to give up her bedroom, and that doesn’t go over very well ((I can’t fault them for that). We had a fantastic time in Edisto this year, and always look forward to going. Those two weeks are pure relaxation. All the best to you and Hans for a great start to December. Please post lots of snow pictures. Joe
Your Mom looks great!
Hi, Ann,
Mom is doing well. She’s as sharp as ever, but her knees aren’t as good. We’re so grateful she’s still around, and she loves Thanksgiving with family. Have a great week and please stay in touch. Joe
What a lovely November! I have to agree…where did it go? I am always shocked how early you need to book ANY reservations, even dinner, anymore. It looks like your diligence paid off!
Good morning, Marian,
Campground reservations can be a tough ticket, especially for places like Florida and Arizona in the winter. We usually travel in the fall an spring when school is in session, but still have to book campsites six months (or more) out. Fortunately, we live in an area with plenty of excellent restaurants so dinner reservations are not a problem. Country music concerts…that’s another story. Have a great week, and thanks for checking in. Joe
Hi, Joe – Your November looks absolutely delightful. Such wonderful time with family! As with you, our November also whipped by at record speed. Ironically, I recently read a study on this (i.e. why time seems to go by faster as we age). The conclusion was that “Time is content for kids. As we grow up, time becomes more of a currency. When people steal our time, we feel they are stealing money from us.” Definitely food for thought! 😀
Donna,
I agree with the conclusion. Because I am unable to put any of that currency in the bank, I am very protective of it…and that’s hard to do in December. Best wishes to you in Richard for a fabulous start to the holiday season. Always great to hear from you. Joe
Family, friends and favorite campsites in special places – life is good, isn’t it, Joe? We just returned home from a quick trip to Florida to celebrate Alan’s uncle’s 100th birthday. The two of them share a November 28th birthday, and Alan really wanted to be there for the milestone event. His cousins were amazed that we made the trip for that single reason, but we know that time with family and friends is limited and precious. The “Book of the Month Club selection” – you’re too funny. Love that photo of you and Mortimer!
Good morning, Mary,
Mortimer and I get into some deep conversations at times–he’s such good company, and we understand each other ;-). Good for you both to help Alan’s uncle celebrate his 100th. I hope you had time to enjoy Florida as well. We’re heading there in mid-January for six-weeks of fun in the sun, providing we make it through a very busy December. As always, it’s great to hear from you. Have a great week! Joe
I’m not surprised you’re missing November – it sounded like it was a fantastic month. Here’s to more of the same in December. Thanks for linking up with us.
Good morning, Jo,
December is looking to be just as busy, but aren’t they always? Nevertheless, it seems that the older I get, the more I appreciate busy times with friends and family. Thanks very much for stopping by, and here’s wishing you a fabulous Holiday season. Joe
What a lovely family oriented time you had during November, lots of fun and beautiful weather can’t beat that.
Your mum is looking well, my mum is a sprightly 85 and still lives on her own and although lonely at times, she makes the most of her time. We’re all having Christmas together at the beach in Queensland, so it’s something to look forward to for everyone. Thanks for joining us and sharing your month. Best wishes for December being a good month too.
Hi, Debbie,
Thanks so much for stopping by. Christmas at the beach sounds lovely, and I would look forward to it as well. My Mom is very sharp for 95, but arthritis has taken a toll on her knees and ankles. Nevertheless, she has a great attitude and loves being around her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will join us or Christmas and talks about it daily. Christmas in our East Tennessee Mountains is always lovely and we can usually see snow on our mountaintops. Best wishes for a blessed holiday season and I hope you will come back. Joe
Joe, What a beautiful November you had; time with family and blue sky weather. Precious family photos, awesome photo of Edisto beach and priceless photo of Mortimer and you. Wishing you and your family a joyful holiday season!
Good morning, Natalie,
We were blessed with a beautiful month in every way possible. We don’t get as much time with our children and grandchildren as we would like, so we try to make the most of it at every opportunity. Time with my Mom is a blessing as well. Thanks so much for stopping by…I hope you’ll come back. Joe