The North Carolina State Fair

On our last day in the South, Adam, Ethan, Laura and I spent the afternoon at the North Carolina State Fair. It was an afternoon full of craft fairs, rides, animals, and fried foods.

You know you're in the South when there is a tobacco stringing contest...

I made everyone go to the horse show for a bit. It was a blast!

Photo by Ethan

One of the rides. 

Video by Laura.

Yep. Adam and I did that one...

Keeper of the things

Photo by Laura

All the fried foods: fried Reese's wrapped in bacon, fried oreos, and fried cookie dough. Yum.

Photo by Laura

The inside of a fried Oreo.

Thank you, North Carolina, for treating us so well! It was a great week full of friends, food, and fun!

Beach Time

While visiting Ethan and Laura in North Carolina, we packed up the car and drove out to Oak Island for a couple of quiet days on the beach. Laura's aunt and uncle were extremely nice and let us stay at their house that was right between the beach and the sound. The weather was absolutely perfect the first day and a little overcast the other two, but it was probably a good thing because I was too sunburnt to go lie on the sand again...

How many college grads does it take to fill a tire with air?

The front of the house. 

We went to a restaurant called "Fishy Fishy" one night for dinner and sat on their pier overlooking this sunset.

We also ate an unbelievable amount of fried food at "Fishy Fishy" including Jalapeño Hush Puppies, Calamari, Buffalo Popcorn Shrimp, and a Bacon-wrapped Shrimp Platter. Yum.

Playing charades

Lots of puzzle time

Burgers and daiquiris on our last night

Thank you so much, Laura's family, for letting us crash your house and enjoy the surf and sun! Back in the day, my family would vacation in North Carolina, but normally in June. Going to the beach in October was perfect weather and temperature and a lot less crowded- we had the beach to ourselves almost every day!

A Trip Down South

I was very lucky this month to take a trip down to Durham, North Carolina to visit Ethan and Laura (they're both at Duke right now, studying Medical Physics and Nursing, respectively...). Adam flew down too, so it was a great week full of friends, food, sunshine, and good times. And more food.

Always up for a good game of Disc Golf

Found a bull statue.

I AM A BELIEVER. Chicken and Waffles. We went to Dame's, and it was phenomenal. I didn't think the combination of chicken on top of a waffle with syrup would be remotely delicious, but it was SO GOOD. I highly recommend them, especially from this restaurant. But, you need to get reservations!

So. Good.

We found a brussel sprout tree and decided to eat some.

And, after years of hearing about them, I finally tried a Cook Out Milkshake. It was heavenly. I wanted to go back every day for more. 

More pictures to come, including the beach and the NC State Fair!