Unfortunately there were no horses to be found on any beach, at least not the one that we were on- the one clearly advertised with wild horses. We did find a couple nibbling on some shrubs at a nearby beach house. That would have to suffice. (You may remember the photo below from a couple weeks ago.)

And when they say 4WD required, they aren't kidding. You see, for even the chance to see the wild horses you have to go into this section of the beach that is filled with rugged, deep grooves and then be prepared to play chicken with the oncoming vehicle in your set of grooves. Our little Acura SUV didn't seem to cut it. About half way through our horse hunt the undercarriage of our MDX fell off. Literally. Hubs stopped and picked it up and did later manage to clip it all back on for the 21 hour drive home. But it certainly added some unexpected adventure. I so wish I would have snapped a pic of that hunk of car just lying there in the sand.
(Note to self: Take the guided jeep tour next time.)
But after we had driven all the way to the Virginia border on that rocky ride it seemed a waste to not get out and at least snap a few pics to document this momentous occasion.

But Pokey wasn't having it. She had one thing on her brain- to catch a sand crab. And that was it!

I persevered and snapped anyways. And with or without her cooperation I managed to capture a few sweet pics of her playing on the beach in her cute outfit. (Thanks to my SIL for the adorable headband.)


Then once she got the sand crab accomplished, she was finally willing to pose for a few.


Such a beautiful setting for photo ops. How could I resist?

The end.
I'm not sure how ya'll are doing it, but it seems summer and blogging just don't mix well for me. I'm doing my best, but between vacationing, showings, open houses, photo shoots, entertaining kiddos, and all the other stuff I'm failing to mention-- I'm wiped. By the way, I'm currently headed home from 2 fun-filled days in Chicago. (This post was scheduled. I'll do my best upon my return to make visits.)
Feel free to join Kristi (of Live and Love out Loud) and I for the Crazy Days of Summer Photo Challenge this Friday, July 29th, for our new theme- BUBBLES. You can also find the new list of August themes here.

Thanks for stopping by! Link your photo(s) below. And make sure to check out some of these other fab WWs!
Beautiful shots - don't feel like you have to respond. Just stopping by to say hey!
ReplyDeleteVery sweet shots... gorgeous as usual. :)
ReplyDeleteStill crushing on your photos!! I always look forward to your WW posts!
ReplyDeleteTammi
My Organized Chaos
Oh, how I love your WW pics each week. Gorgeous setting, beautiful girl & I adore her headband! :)
ReplyDeleteBernadette
I know what you're saying about busy summer schedules! It's difficult to keep up on reading all the blogs I like to visit:) Between keeping the kids busy, little vacation trips, beach days and next week, BlogHER11 to look forward to, my schedule is full! LOVE your beach shots...as always you're such an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou were in Chicago and didn't tell me! We totally could have had coffee (i'm sure in reality you were crazy busy though, lol)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos :)
Great shots as always and your model is lovely.
ReplyDeletePhotos are beautiful. Enjoy all there is to do and have fun along the way -- making memories to keep.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting,
http://kidswonderart.blogspot.com
Beautiful Photos of a beautiful girl :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots, but I have to say the last one is my favorite. Love the angle and the colors!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful pictures. I so wish my kids would pose for me at all. Usually they run when I pull out the camera. I keep hoping that when they get older....
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, as always!
ReplyDeleteYour model is a lovely young lady! Looks like a great time.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! She is so beautiful! Your not the only one slacking on blogging either...Summer is just too much fun!
ReplyDeleteThese are so great! Sometimes the best photos come from those moments when are kids are just totally unwilling to pose. She's lovely. :)
ReplyDeleteShe is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLike a model. A beautiful sweet faces girl model - actually I think in these pics she looks a lot like her mommy.
xx
great shots and a gorgeous model :)
ReplyDeletegosh, Pokey looks so much older in these pix...she's a beautiful young lady. Hope you had fun in Chicago!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! Your daughter is beautiful she looks just like you.
ReplyDeleteI have always said I wanted to visit OBX........
ReplyDeleteOne day...
Love the photos until then :)
I love the coloring of these photos!
ReplyDeleteShe is so pretty! I love that cute headband she's sporting!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous beach shots!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful day! Can NOT believe you totally lost the underside! So crazy. LOL Can't believe you didn't get a photo. It has been one of those summers. I'm working more than I have in 20 years! I miss my summer!
ReplyDelete~Mimi
She was born to be in front of the camera and you were born to take amazing photos! And soon, these roles might turn more often.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots.. love your gal's hairpiece..
ReplyDeleteToo bad you didn't find wild horses, I would have loved to see the pictures... O-well. Your daughter is a beautiful model!!
ReplyDeleteAloha! Mrs. Marine
& the Tiny Troops
I look forward to your WW every week. You are an amazing photographer!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos this week! Love the story about the car. We got stuck on the beach mother's day wknd and had to get pulled out. OH MY ... these are the things that make wonderful memories.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you Alicia on no time. Totally there. Enjoy your couple days in Chicago and enjoy some down time. Love the beach shots. Pokey is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteSorry you did not get your vision of horses on the beach, but you got a series of beautiful portraits on the beach!
ReplyDeleteOhh as always, your pictures are fabulous. I'm taking a blogging break to prepare mine for middle school, but I might revamp an old WW post or two.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures!! And that headband is seriously adorable!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos in a gorgeous location!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures. I thought I was viewing a GAP ad actually! Thanks for the linky! Link up over at my blog anytime!
ReplyDeleteGreat pics as usual! I agree with Kristi, definately a Gap ad!
ReplyDeleteI completely relate to the blogging situation right now. Overwhelming this time of year. I honestly don't know how you do it all -- I struggle with the farm business, but no human kids to deal with. :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful girl and photos.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos! That's sad that you spent all that trouble chasing wild horses without seeing them :( But it looks like the journey was beautiful!
ReplyDelete-->We only live 90 minutes from the OBX but it's mandatory that we go 4-wheeling in Carova when we go down. There is a link from my post today of pictures I took last year of the horses.
ReplyDeleteDeb @ WebSavvyMom.com
Im still learning how to take half decent pictures with my own camera, and i do have a lot to learn but I'm really enjoying it a lot. Richard from the Amish community of Lebanon,Pa
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, what a great location.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shots! Love the headband!
ReplyDeletethose are wonderful shots. Photo ops are a blast, I usually tell hubby "stop" and run out of the truck when I see one.
ReplyDeleteWe have wild mustangs where we love and they are beautiful.
Happy WW.
LOVE THIS! I grew up in the OBX so this makes me homesick--in a good way! :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a bummer you didn't get to see the wild horses, especially since your Acura made such a sacrifice! ;) Glad you took advantage of all the amazing photo ops, though! :)
ReplyDeleteWW: Cave Dwelling
Love that headband...I wonder if I could get my girls to wear one...
ReplyDeletewow you are having a great vacation or summer. Lots of activities and adventures.
ReplyDeleteHope you found some A/c during your visit to chicago.
Wow, that sounds like one wild and crazy adventure!! Sorry it wasn't more successful!
ReplyDeleteYour photo's make me want to go to the beach!
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are beautiful! Love the headband! Don't feel so bad, I haven't been posting a lot online either. I have my niece for one more week before I bring her back to my dad's so I'm trying to spend all the time I can with her. :) Happy Wednesday!
ReplyDelete-Samantha
www.kreativekaring.com
What an adventure you have had! WOW- the kids will sure have some AWESOME stories to tell when they go back to school. Beautiful photos of your daughter- you inspire me to keep picking up the camera
ReplyDeletelove these so fun.
ReplyDeleteWow, those are absolutely GORGEOUS photos. LOVE her headband. And I am now feeling very inspired to make my photos better!
ReplyDeleteThose are phenomenal. My son does the same thing now with posing — a groan when he sees the camera, and then finally he falls into line. ;) And I have to say — I want that headband!!
ReplyDeleteI love it when kids finally participate, haha. These turned out great. And I'm with ya... summer and blogging, and fast paced life in general are tough to maintain!!
ReplyDeleteyour daughter is quite lovely.. beautiful captures..
ReplyDeleteAs always beautiful photos. I really like the headband as well.
ReplyDeleteFantabulosa shots as usual loved em :-)
ReplyDeleteHave a good WW! & week
Happy Wednesday! These pictures are beautiful! I am linking up for the first time in a million years! Trying to get back into the bloggy world :) I love the new(or not so new) look of your blog!
ReplyDeleteCute outfit, I especially love her hair accessory.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and beautiful girl! One of these days I'm going to open my manual and learn to use my camera.
ReplyDeleteLove that headband....super cute!!! Lovely images.
ReplyDeleteWild horses roaming the beach?! Man, that is so cool! I would have love to have seen that or any wild horse.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are stunning! I love the softness of these. My daughters are the same when they have catching critters on the brain. They won't cooperate.
I don't know how other bloggers are doing it either! Summer is kicking my bloggy butt with the kids home.
Love the ocean side photos!!! I so miss living near the coast.
ReplyDeleteHave I been here before? Because if I haven't then shame on me! Your work is BEAUTIFUL and I am going to add you to my reader. The processing on your photos (this post) is that your own action? Can you share? So pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour newest fan,
Mindy
I don't know how you are keeping up but you are doing it beautifully! gorgeous photos and interesting post!
ReplyDeleteJust to share with you folks, i have a new post today on Amish Stories from the Terre Hill days even that was just held in Lancaster Pennsylvania. It was a very hot day but i was able to get i think a few good images from this event. The town is populated with a mix of Amish and old order Mennonites which only adds to its charm. They even have what has become famous in Terre Hill their "outhouse race". The town sits on a hill so it overlooks Lancaster farmland in almost all directions. This is one of my favorite towns to visit because its free from commercialism, so if you are looking for a really all American kind of town with the added bonus of seeing its Amish and Mennonite residents at work and play, then this town is for you. Thanks folks. Richard from Amish Stories.
ReplyDeleteWonderful images by the way. Richard
ReplyDelete