A Seaside Day

Mike and I can get used to this habit of scheduling a sloth day into our travels at certain destinations. Yesterday was such a day, and it was lovely. There were some "life intrudes" things accomplished, but mainly, we just chilled.

We spent our day sunbathing...

And snoopervising some things going on outside...birds, mainly.

Also, we got a start on Earlene...the last bag lady.

Y'all convinced me to put sunglasses on her, and it was a good choice. She's looking like a real cool customer there. If you're stitching along with us, know that the November linky party begins today. Link up with your current bag lady right here.

Life intruded a little bit in the form of changing and washing the sheets on the bed. Our little RV washer is too small to wash sheets and blankets, although it will handle towels for two. They have three laundry rooms here at this big park. Since the park is abandoned right now, there was no waiting.

It was a short walk to this little building. And see that sign I've indicated there?

This is what is says:

Obviously, this whole park was under water after the storm. Wow.

Well...just the idea of that wore us out and we took naps.

About mid-day I tried something new. It's an adaptation of one of Ina Garten's recipes. I'm calling mine Three Cheese Lobster Mac and Cheese. We've been so steeped in lobster here on the east coast, it seemed like a good idea. Ina Garten uses bacon in her macaroni and cheese, but I didn't see why frozen lobster (or even crab) couldn't be used, and so I gave it a try. It was the most delicious comfort food...not that we were uncomfortable.

It made enough for dinner for two nights, and two small bonus portions for lunch. Here's how I did it.
                   
Three Cheese Lobster Mac and Cheese
adapted from Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa)

Serves: 6   

4 cups elbow macaroni
3 cups milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
8 ounces  Gruyere cheese -- grated
6 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar cheese -- grated
4 ounces blue cheese, such as Roquefort -- crumbled
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
 large pinch nutmeg
5 oz. frozen cooked lobster meat -- thawed and large pieces chopped
4 slices sandwich bread (a good time to use heels)
4 tablespoons freshly chopped chives

Prepare macaroni according to the directions on the package, 9-11 minutes.  Drain well.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it.  Melt the butter in a medium pot and gradually add the flour.  Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, whisking constantly. Continuing to whisk, add the warm milk and cook for a minute or 2 more, until thickened and smooth.  Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, blue cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg.  Add the cooked macaroni and lobster meat and stir well.  Pour into six 16-oz. ramekins.

Place the bread slices in a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until you have coarse crumbs.  Add the chives and pulse just to combine.  Sprinkle the bread crumb mixture over the top of the pasta.  Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the topping is browned.

Enjoy.

After that dinner, our shadow selves needed to get out for a walk.

We walked out to the main road and crossed over to the sound side. There, we found this short pier with a gazebo at the end.

We wondered about who it belonged to and then noticed this sign.

Registered KOA Campers! That's us!!!

So we walked out to the end and watched the sun set. Mike was hoping to see the green flash.

As for me, I'm skeptical about this green flash business. I've never seen it, although I've watched for it many times with the Stanbro Men...all of whom claim to have seen it at one time or another. If you don't have any idea what I'm talking about then read about the green flash right here. It has its own Wikipedia entry, so it has to be true, right? And this being the Christmas season, I'm just gonna say, Bah! Humbug!

So, once again, I was pulled into this green flash watch...and we waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And guess what...nothing. I'd say "crickets," but actually, "geese" would be more appropriate.

Another sunset. No green flash. Bah! Humbug!

Turning around, we walked back to the RV, arguing all the way about whether the green flash is real.

Mike claims it is. I say no. What do you think?

Today we'll head South from the RV park. We expect to see the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, and there's also an associated museum. I'll say more about that in my next post.