This photograph was taken by granddaughter Sophia. It’s sunrise in Kure Beach, N.C., near Wilmington. Kure Beach and neighboring Carolina Beach form what some people call the Redneck Riviera, perhaps not as nice as the Outer Banks, but only about two hours from Raleigh, so much easier to get to.

We took the granddaughters there for four days after Christmas. The weather was unseasonably warm (temperatures reached 80) and although rain was forecast, we only had a little. The girls had a blast.

We went to the North Carolina Aquarium, where we saw lots of fish and other wildlife, including a bald eagle. We were also near Fort Fisher, site of a Civil War battle, but we never got around to touring it. Maybe next time.