The views I enjoy on my morning walks on Hilton Head Island, SC.
For the last couple of years, I’ve been preparing to move 1,000 miles away from the only home I’ve ever known. And eight days ago, I finally made it.
Well, WE made it. Couldn’t have done it without the support of my ride-or-die, Tiny.
Tiny is my ride-or-die
I’ve been unpacking, trying to re-start my regular workout schedule, getting feelers out for my future entrepreneurial venture, planning out the renovations I’ll be doing for my parents, and getting to know the area.
Busy, busy!
But I’ll have plenty of experiences to write about in the coming days, so consider this your warning. 😉
It’s been far too long since I updated my blog. No excuses other than I’ve been living a very boring existence the last few weeks. But now that I’m preparing to move to South Carolina on May 15, I knew I had to hit up some of Rhode Island’s treasures.
A life-long Rhode Islander, I had never heard of Stanley’s until I asked for burger recommendations a couple years ago on Facebook. (As much as people complain about their friends posting food photos and updates, I love hearing about good restaurants! And it sure beats angry political posts, n’est-ce pas?)
First things first: They have a parking lot. Having to find a place to park in an unfamiliar area stresses me out, so this was a bonus.
I walked in to find a retro-’60s-style diner restaurant. Amazing. And fitting, because the prices are also pretty retro.
Check out these prices!
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about new restaurants, it’s this: ASK THE WAIT STAFF.
Brittany was amazingly helpful. All burgers are made with grilled onions and pickles, unless otherwise requested. I’m no pickle fan, but I still got my burger the Stanley Way, and it was a good choice. The flavors all work well together.
Double mushroom cheeseburger, Quebec-style fries, and Henry’s grape hard soda.
This is my first taste of the very tasty Stanley burger.
If you’re heading into or out of Rhode Island, check out Stanley’s. I hear it gets pretty crowded, so be prepared to wait.
And don’t forget to get your coffee shake for dessert!
Don’t you just hate sitting around in waiting rooms? Whether it’s a doctor’s office, an auto repair shop, or the DMV, you are at their mercy. Are they ever on time?
And who doesn’t feel resentful about it? You have to take time out of work, which infuriates your employer, or you’re losing money or precious free time if you’re taking vacation or are self-employed.
We are constantly running around and sometimes that’s the only thing keeping us from falling apart – inertia.
But while I was on my walk through the woods yesterday, I spotted a snow-covered bench and thought, “Let me clear this off today so that if I want to take a rest on my walk tomorrow, I can.”
A clear spot for contemplation and reflection. Or just to sit my fat ass when I get tired. 😂
So I did. And today, I was grateful. The point is that we’re all going Mach 5, and we never have the time to breathe, nevermind to plan. My work environment was like that. It was unhealthy and counterproductive.
Humans need many things to thrive – not just survive. A tree may get plenty of water, but without the soil in which to plant its roots, one heavy wind can knock it over.
Everything looks fine on the outside… until, WHAM!
We’re all very fragile these days. Can we at least agree to try not to be someone else’s heavy wind?
Listen, I’m not trying to pretend I’m the Dalai Lama or Confucius or any philosopher capable of deep, brilliant thoughts…but something about being out in nature enables me to think differently about a myriad of things.
Go outside. Take a walk. Change your perspective. You’ll thank yourself.
Nature has answers to questions you didn’t know you had.
I have driven past this place hundreds of times and have wanted to stop in for a closer look.
So I finally did, because my new motto, as you may remember, is “why not?”
If you’ve driven by The Secret Garden on Rte 7 near D’Agostino Auto, you’ve probably done a double-take.
This T-Rex is a showstopper.
It’s almost impossible to miss this 8-foot metal, colorful sculpture of a tyrannosaurus rex in their front yard.
So… what’s the deal?
Husband and wife team Paul and Melanie have had their business there for 3 years. They call themselves a “family-run statuary” and mostly pour stone molds like these:
All kinds and breeds of dogs!Gargoyles and goblins…cool.Obligatory “Mary-of-the-Half-Shell” religious yard sculptures.
But the metal sculptures are imported from Mexican artisans.
I love the whimsy and color.
It’s a dalmatian lifting his leg. 😂There’s a grill in there. Puts a new spin on pig roast.This colorful turtle family would look amazing in a yard by a pool.Big red ants on bicycles. How fun!Yeah, there’s NO WAY I was leaving this sign behind. SOLD!Baby T-Rex was only 4 or 5 feet tall but fierce as heck.
If you’re looking for a yard decoration, I’d highly recommend stopping in to The Secret Garden on Rte 7. They’ve got something for everyone and are as friendly as can be. Check out their inventory on their website.
The Rhode Less Traveled 