For the Memorial Day weekend, hubby and I were invited to our friend Becky's beach house in Duck at the Outer Banks. Duck has all the beauty and serenity of your typical North Carolina beach but has the added bonus of picturesque villages, biking trails, and lush magnolia trees, mulberry bushes, and honeysuckle.

Feather on the beach

Great Dane on the beach. He was so friendly and made me miss Paxton the dog who was back home in Durham staying the weekend at the kennel.

Giant Great Dane paw prints.

The Great Dane paw prints beside a normal dog's paw prints.

One of the small shopping villages of Duck overlooking the sound.

The marsh at the sound.

Sun setting over the water at the sound.

Chocolate ice cream being eaten by a pregnant woman at the sound.

Pregnant woman's husband eating ice cream along with her so she doesn't feel as guilty.

Another sunset photo taken at the sound.

Some of our fellow beach goers (there were 9 of us total).

Mark and hubby staking out a prime piece of real estate for the giant sandcastle I wanted to build.

The giant sandcastle in its completed state.

Hubby and I proudly standing in front of our masterpiece.

The boys (Mark, Micah, hubby).

The girls (Aimee, Hannah, Katherine, Meredith, me, Becky).

Hubby and I before dinner.

Hannah, Katherine and Micah.

Splashing waves at sunrise.

Goodbye beach...