"Grow Your Blog" Party!

Hello, readers, new and old ~ Welcome to Oriental! Today is the annual "Grow Your Blog" Party. Hundreds of bloggers are sharing their lives, opening wide the front doors of their online homes and welcoming in many new friends. This party is organized by Vicki at "2 Bags Full."

I'm M.K., and I live in Oriental, North Carolina, U.S. It's the sailing capitol of North Carolina, and (some say) the cruising capitol of the east coast. Oriental is a beautiful, relaxing village on a seven-mile-wide river, on a 30-mile-wide sound, just off the Atlantic Ocean.

My husband Adam is a pastor here at a cute little Presbyterian church just outside of town.

We have four great kids; three of them are out of the house and living college and post-college lives.

Oriental is a small village that invites everyone to be active and involved. Lots of sailing happens here, of course.

my daughter in the sunfish

That's me, all bundled up last winter!

And my hubby Adam, sailing last fall

What do I do? I homeschool child #4 each day. And I have a small home business -- I make artisan soaps, hand lotion and lip balm.

 I knit and crochet a lot, and sell all these wares at our small local farmers market each Saturday morning.

I also write. You can read some of my books, short stories, and poetry right here on my blog. (See the tabs along the top.)
Residents of Oriental tend to walk, bike, and visit around town every day, with their dogs in tow. If it's raining, they just don their foul-weather gear and go out anyway! Adam loves being a pastor in a town like this; it's easy to meet everyone. He also keeps bees a little. (Note the bee page among the tabs.)

He teaches a class on making telescopes too, and teaches chess at a local school. I participate in a prayer shawl ministry, direct a hand-chime choir, and teach piano lessons. We've been on a weight-loss journey this year. Together, we've lost 80 lbs. thus far. We feel so much better! This year, Adam hopes to be a rower on a dragon boat in the town's annual race ~

Yes, we do. We have dragon boat races ... I kid you not :)
Most of all, we feel very blessed that God has planted us here in this spot. It's full of beauty.

Smith Creek at sunset

the Neuse River, late afternoon in winter

sunset over the big bridge

sunrise over the Neuse

In addition to these activities, we love to read, cook and bake, occasionally visit B-and-Bs, and brag about our dogs, Sandy and Beau.

Beau, last fall -- he's fluffier now

Sandy

We both love to study the Bible with our dear friends at church, and sometimes I write about those things too.
Thank you for stopping by! Please come back anytime. Leave a comment before you go ~ I'd love to hear from you :)