
Hibiscus Flowers (aren't they gorgeous?)
If you haven’t already heard, my family and I have recently (3 weeks ago) moved from Idaho to North Carolina. You must understand that I have NEVER been to the East Coast…ever. I’m a Pacific Northwest girl…Washington, Oregon, Idaho. Those are my digs. I didn’t even get the opportunity to visit NC to check the place out before packing up everything and and having to move quickly, due to a job opportunity offered to my husband. To say that I’m a “fish out of water” would be an understatement, and a cruel irony, considering the extreme heat we’re currently experiencing.

View of Sandpoint, ID from Schweitzer
Not only is the climate a polar opposite from what I’m used to, but we’re from the small, artsy fartsy (in a good way) town of Sandpoint, ID. The very same Sandpoint that just got named the “most beautiful small town in the US” by Rand-McNally today. This, I already know, as I lived there for over 9 years. I have to tell you, moving from a town of around 8,000 people to a town of 35,000 is very strange. We chose to live in Apex, North Carolina, a town that is both large and small…as in, the town is very spread out, but it has a small historic downtown that gives it a certain small town “feel” to the locals. And, at first, all the highways scared me, but I’m slowly learning how they connect and I am VERY grateful to Honda for incorporating GPS into my car
Today, we ventured out to not just ANY farmer’s market, but a NC State Farmer’s Market in Raleigh, NC (about 15 min. from home). This is, by far, the largest farmer’s market I’ve ever seen! The flowers were absolutely gorgeous…did you know you can grow Hibiscus flowers here?! And they’re HUGE (see first photo). The market was quite an experience and, although I loved all the fresh produce and beautiful plants (who knew there were so many different colors of peppers?), a part of me missed the tiny farmer’s market in Sandpoint that everyone biked or walked to, where the local musicians sang, and where the people would just buy their baked goods and plop down in the grass with the kids to enjoy the shade and music.
I admit it. I miss Sandpoint. I miss my friends. I miss the hippie atmosphere.
I also admit that a potential exists to also enjoy Apex, NC. I like the sun. I like the people. I like the convenience. I’ll get there…everyone “adapts” and who knows where adaptation can take you








