Farm fresh eggs just happen to one of my favorite foods. When we lived on our farm in Canada, we had own hens.

My Aunt Molly got some "biddies" each spring. She always supplied my Mother with wonderful eggs. Having a flock of hens is an old southern tradition.

Since we have moved to the coast on the western side of Carteret County, we have been looking for a source of fresh eggs.

Not long ago my wife and oldest daughter discovered the White House at 3346 Freedom Way (Highway 24) in Hubert, NC not far from Swansboro.

On Friday we took a trip over so I could meet the hens. I have never seen happier hens. I had no idea that pine straw is the ultimate scratching material for hens.

We took home lots of beautiful eggs. They are as nice as the Malu Aina Farm eggs that we used to enjoy in Roanoke with our perfect Saturday morning breakfast.

I never made it inside to see all the neat decorative items for beach homes that I suspect is the real business of the White House. I stayed outside and watched the hens who are far more entertainment than television.

All I can say is that if the decorative items are as high quality as the eggs, they must be very good.

You can give the guys at the White House a ring for more info at 910 326 3049. They are open Tuesday - Sunday: 11am - 6pm

Tags: farming

Yesterday after we finished our pine straw project, I decided to go kayaking.

I figured that doing 51 bales of pine straw entitled me to a little relaxation.

Even if it did take a couple of days to get it done, I worked hard spraying and handling those bales.

Anyway it was a good excuse to get out in the kayak. Except the wind seemed to be blowing a lot.

In fact one of my friends saw me getting ready to stick the kayak in the water and yelled that he thought it was too windy out in the river.

The White Oak is a big wide river and can have whitecaps so I was mindful of his warning.

However, I told him that I was going stay in the inlet. It didn't turn out that way.

The temperature was nearly perfect as I paddled out. In fact I did not have to paddle the whole way.

Once I got my kayak positioned right, the wind carried me along as I took pictures and fished.

My big surprise was when I got out to where the inlet meets the river, there was hardly any wind. That's where I took the picture at the beginning of the post.

Of course I just kept on paddling into the river.

While it wasn't as glassy as the water by the inlet, it still wasn't bad.

I fished a while with no bites.

As the wind turned I let it blow me back towards Bluewater Cove. It was a perfect afternoon to relax on the water.

As I got down to the Bluewater Clubhouse, I realized that I had been out on the water nearly two hours.

I knew that I would be in trouble with my wife, but the time on the water was well worth it. It certainly did not turn out to be as windy as it was at our home.

Tags: kayaking

This morning was one of those days that begs for you to get on the water. I had a few things which had to be done, and a lot more which needed some of my time.

I thought carefully about all the options and then I decided to go kayaking.

I once read something that helped me immensely with my decision making. It said to always choose that activity which you will find easiest to remember in ten years.

Would I remember spraying weeds or writing a post on a blog that might even be gone in ten years? The answer is no.

However, I will remember this warm, blue sky day when the winds softly carried me out Bluewater Cove towards the White Oak. I will also remember catching a nice flounder for lunch and just getting back in time to clean the flounder as the first raindrops from the afternoon storms started falling.

I made some memories today. For that I am thankful.

We made more great memories this past weekend when we visited Tryon Palace with our oldest daughter. We had a magical time, and I have posted pictures of the outside of the palace, the flowers, and the magnificent vegetable gardens.

It is well worth a visit.

Tags: fishing

Well there are finally some signs of green on the Tideland Trail.

Unfortunately the green is an explosion of poison ivy.

I would recommend that anyone dogs be very careful. The poison ivy is growing along some of the rails and is close to being in the trail in places.

Even as a hiker, you have to be careful since the poison ivy seems to be everywhere. It is pretty easy to get poison ivy from touching your pet after they have rubbed fresh poison ivy.

My wife often got it from one of our casts.

I am hoping the park folks get to work soon and knock back the evil poison ivy.

Going to the beach was a pleasure after watching each step to make certain we did not brush any juicy poison ivy.

Tags: Plants, Hiking