Blue Heaven

The last week or so has been oppressively hot....temps in the 90s, high humidity, no rain...but that hasn't kept Jacqui and I from enjoying ourselves...or kept us from getting ready for the big day. Fishing, checkups, blueberry picking, and Eastern NC fried chicken sampling are some of the most notable events.

A quick 'exploratory' trip to Lake Phelps with fishing buddy Warren quenched our curiosity about the Carolina bay lake and will lead to numerous future visits. The gin clear water and hard packed sand bottom allowed for sight casting to pumpkinseed and largemouth bass. It felt like we were a hundred miles away stalking bonefish in the Florida Keys.

Pumpkinseed

Largemouth bass

Cypress trees

I also managed a last offshore trip. I don't think I'll be disappearing for a whole day until way after Lil Degan is born. This was a capture trip for red porgy. A biologist at our lab needed 75 fish for aquaculture research. Of course as with all fishing, there is a little by-catch....

Rance with his first Amberjack

Mahi By-catch!

Yum

The local blueberries have just come into season, and we jumped at the opportunity to head up to New Bern and pick to our hearts content.






Over the past two weeks, Jacqui has been privy to taste fried chicken from some of Eastern NC's bbq and chicken establishments. White and dark meat from King Chicken in Washington, Kings in Kinston, and Moore's in New Bern has crossed her lips. The sudden urge to down fried chicken has not been shocking, since we all know Jacqui loves meat. What's shocking is the regularity with which she craves. It's a beautiful thing.

"Don't even think about it dog"

Finally, we had a great home visit from our midwifes this past week. They checked out the house, and made sure we had everything in order and there wasn't anything we were missing from our birth kit. This was also the 36 week checkup...we've officially entered the land of no return... Once again, Jacqui and baby Degan checked out fantastic.




-- Brian