Quarantine and chill and kindness chatty clubhouse: Jump in and join the conversation! All is welcome!

[PollyannaMom]

QOTD: Favorite Beach Memory

My favorite beach memories are of taking DS when he was younger. He's always loved the beach, at every stage from baby to adult. As a kid, he liked to swim, build castles, find hermit crabs, and (of course) get ice cream!

Getting to new beaches was also one of the things that forced me out of my driving comfort zone after I moved here from someplace much more rural (and beach-less). For a long time, I had a shell on my key chain to remind me of that.

 

[tazdev3225]

Morning all.

Not sure what the streets are like outside but I did catch a glimpse of the weather and the weekend will be dry.

I had nightmares all night which happens when I am planning a change. The dumpster comes tomorrow and the kitchen is getting demolished. My neighbor was very nice about letting us have the space in front of the houses. This has been an ongoing fight with them for 30+ years. Even though we have driveways they want that spot. It doesn't bother me anymore especially since they did not complain for 6 months when my husbands truck sat there when he had the surgery and strokes. I tend to worry over all the little details and whether or not this is just to big a project for my grandson. He is very confidant so I need to have faith but I'm a worrier.

QOTD I LOVE the beach. It's only about a 2 hour drive, traffic is a killer, to the Jersey Shore and I do it often.

My favorite memories involve my Grandmother. Every year she took me down the shore for a long weekend or for a whole week. We stayed at the same little place and the smell of that old brown Lysol still makes me smile as does frying bacon and coffee We would head to the beach early, by 9 AM because I was very fair and sunburned easily. I was NEVER allowed in the ocean past my knees. As I got older that annoyed me a but but I listened to her. The afternoon was chilling at the rooming house/apartment with a book or going to see a matinee on the Boardwalk, I still remember seeing Bye Bye Birdie and the Sound of Music. Dinner was always at our favorite restaurant and I always ordered the same thing - even as an adult - Roast Beef, Mashed Potatoes and Corn with pudding for dessert, although the dessert changed when I was an adult. After dinner we would walk the boards and I could go on some rides or we would play games of chance. I was always lucky with Gram. One year I was about 7 and I won on the wheel. I wanted a doll that was at the very top and it was the only one the man had. My Gram made him stop the game and climb to the very top to get me that doll because it was what I wanted. Another time I won a Gigantic St. Bernard dog, it was the size of a small child. She let me get that even though we had to take a Greyhound Bus back home because she never learned how to drive. We ran into my grandfather's sisters and their daughters one trip and we had so much fun but Gram would not let me go on any rides with them. I was only allowed on the little kids rides. Even my aunts couldn't convince her to let me go on them. Years later I asked her about our trips and why she was so over protective. She explained that there were a couple reason. A) She loved me to much to risk me being hurt; and B) she didn't want to face my dad if I got hurt. I asked her why she let my cousin who was much younger than me do all the things I wasn't allowed and she was quite blunt. My aunt wouldn't care and my cousin would throw temper tantrums and she was to old to deal with them.

As I look back I understand her reasoning as I worry when I see my grandkids taking some risks in the ocean, especially when I don't have one of their parents with me. Usually one of my daughters goes with me though. I also realize how much this cost my grandmother who really didn't have the money but she created such wonderful memories for me that no amount of money could ever buy. My first trip to the shore after she passed away we were with friends and went to the restaurant I always went with my Gram. I left in tears because I felt her presence so strongly and I missed her so much that I was overwhelmed, we also were seated at a table that my Gram loved because we could people watch. Another lesson she taught me. Sadly over the years the shore town we went to has changed and the restaurant changed hands a few years ago. Every trip I take with my grandkids now we roll down the windows to smell the ocean as we approach the city, we park on the same street where I stayed with Gram and I feel her walking beside me smiling on us holding my hand, and I see the Boardwalk of my childhood for just a second. I was lucky to have my grandmother with me til I was in my 40's and she got to meet her 1st great-great grandchild. Gram lived to be just shy of 95.

 

[easyas123]

QOTD: Favorite Beach Memory

Great question!
I've got some odd answers...
As some of you know, I live (and work) within close proximity to the DE & MD beaches...however they are very much NOT my cup of tea. Most of my "beach" memories are family memories. I've not mentioned this before, but my parents lived for a long time in the Bahamas, but not your usual straw market/cruise ship/tourist type area. The out islands/Abacos. No cruise ships (although Moorings has a base there) just guys fishing and sailboats, dicey airport (as a small child I recall flying in there and it was a three sided shed on a dirt runway!) that is better now, electric that went out a lot and a lot of empty space. Heaven! We spent a lot of time down there, as did our kids. Remote- Awesome.
I've also lived on a boat as a kid-and since I grew up in South Jersey, spent a fair bit of time on the Jersey Shore as well, as a little kid.
My grandparents and one great grand were all buried at sea in the BVI's at different times, so always an excuse to go down and "visit" them! And my grandmother passed away on the second night of a 2 week Outer Banks trip we were all on … that was a interesting time. She was a fun old broad, and so we did what she would have wanted, spent the rest of the time enjoying the beach house and celebrating her life. We had her cremated while we were down there (we don't do "regular" funerals in our family) and she sat on the dining room table in the middle of everything for the remainder of the trip! She would have loved it! Later that year we took her to the BVI's as well! She passed in her sleep, peacefully so couldn't ask for more for her.
So, yeah - we've got some great beach type memories, just not every day ones!!

My car and the driveway was a ice covered mess this AM. Took me a while to get ice off of my car, and I had a bit of a time getting out of the driveway, but eventually did and got on my way. Once I got off side roads it was fine. Gotta take husband to pick up his truck from garage which is about 45 minutes away this afternoon, and then on to a 2X a month meeting near one of the above mentioned DE beach towns. Weather is crap, so they may not be working which means no meeting - time will tell I guess.

Absolutely noting on my plate this weekend. I'm thinking of expanding Carols lent idea of setting aside one item per day for 40 days to pass on to those who might need it - I'm contemplating cleaning out my closet. Like emptying it completely, and really culling a lot of stuff I don't need or wear. Wish me luck!

 

[easyas123]

Yippee! It's looking very likely that my Friday afternoon meeting has been postponed until Monday.
I hate to put stuff off, but between us -I wasn't really feeling the long drive this afternoon.

In other news, I've booked my long awaited cruise. It's coming to me in the form of a new fenced backyard I hemmed & hawed, and really -we needed the fence and we can't take the trip. Might as well do something responsible. So now I'm going to try to refund my vacation account slowly thru some belt tightening. Maybe I can find some treasures during my proposed closet clean out to sell on ebay haha, I doubt it!

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Good morning.

Mixed sleet and snow this morning. I had a recheck doctor's appointment at 9:30. I tried to call yesterday to reschedule but they were closed. Called as soon as they opened this morning and easily rescheduled to Tuesday. Not planning on going anywhere today.

@tazdev3225, your parking story reminded me of when I lived in the first home I owned. Bought it in my late 20's as a single woman. Anyway, it was an 18 foot wide older row home. So, parking was tight. Mostly everyone was respectful, except one family, who we all knick-named "the pricks", who lived on the corner of 2 roads and had the entrance to the alley behind them. This gave them significantly more curb area around their house. They parked their 3-4 cars with a half car length between each so no one else could park there. If they took out one car, they immediately moved another in. If by chance, there was an empty spot on the corner and we had the opportunity to park there, we would leave our car there as long as we could to tick them off. Childish I know, but they were a pain.

QOTD: Favorite Beach Memory This is hard for me because we went to the ocean for as long as I can remember starting with my parents taking the family to Virginia Beach for two weeks as a child. It was before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and we took a ferry across the bay.

Once I was married, DH and I took the kids to the Outer Banks every summer for a week. My brother would come down with his family for a week also, and rent a nearby house so the cousins could play together.

Probably my favorite trips have been the ones in 2013, 2018, and 2020 with both kids, the SOs who became spouses, and then the added grandkids

And I can't even count how many times we've taken a daytrip to the Delaware beach.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Good Morning All

Many Friday prayers this weekend brings some and warmer, safer weather all-around.

QOTD: Favorite Beach Memory, I love the beach and have not been for years I feel such peace and extra Presence of God walking quietly along the shore. When I lived in small town Northern, CA I would often visit a more rural small beach that was just so tranquil. One time I went up to Oregon and went to (I think) Pt. St George where there were tons of seashells. I have come to enjoy through books and some of your own shares on here, reading stories of beach houses and vacations.

 

[apirateslifeforme]

Stopping in while Josh is doing his online phonics class...(or rather, while he sits here playing with a fidget spinner, ignoring me every time I tell him to put it away and pay attention, while his class has phonics... )

We were able to go to Josh's gymnastics class, as the roads were just wet when we left. I stayed in the car - only 1 spectator allowed per student - and while I sat there, it didn't look like anything else was coming down and the car didn't get covered, it was just wet. But as we drove home, there was a thin "crunchy" layer on the roads. We had to go slow but we got home fine. When we got up this morning, it looked the same as it did when we went to bed, but we'd all received a message that the schools were full remote today. The town open forum was reporting that we only got 1.9 inches here. It did start to snow a little after DH left for work, and it's raining/sleeting again now, but still not accumulating.

QOTD: Beach memories...

This will always be one of my favorites - 18-month-old Josh (February 2017) at Sand Key Park, Clearwater, FL. His first time at the beach AND in the Gulf of Mexico!



The following year, our vacation overlapped a few days with my BIL and his family's trip. We met them for a day at Clearwater Beach. Josh went down to the water, but when he bent over, a wave came up and splashed him in the face, which he didn't like. So he refused to go back near the water. He spent the entire day digging in the sand...he covered Daddy's feet and legs, then mine. His uncle and cousins left for a while and came back with snacks, which he noticed; he didn't like cousin Charlotte's salt-and-vinegar chips, but cousin Lilah had to share her chili cheese Fritos with him.

Also, a somewhat strange moment...as I was standing in the water, taking photos of my kid digging in the sand, this random young lady strolled by and asked me to take a photo of her and send it to her, "So I can prove to myself that I was really here." While it was rather weird, I didn't get a bad vibe from her, so I did it. She did take a really nice photo, I have to admit. I was a little nervous about a stranger having my phone number, but aside from the usual spam calls, I've never had anything happen with it.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Here is a good memory from 4 years ago today at Cape Henlopen, DE. It was one of those abnormally warm February days, and the day before DD was being induced for DGD.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

What adorable pictures, Apirateslifeforme, thank you for sharing How odd that someone would want to prove to themselves they were somewhere unless it was simply to help them remember? It was kind of you to take the picture

Your post snuck in just ahead of mine, Carol. Great photo! Cute dogs, too

I watched part of a Touched by an Angel episode on Start Tv this morning. I should get my DVD's out sometime. Refreshing and touching show. I watched parts of All for Love on Hallmark last night. The end was very sweet. The rest? Lol the parts I did watch were okay. Still haven't truly loved any of the Winter movies except Winter in Vail was a good one!

Wishing all of you a good afternoon!

 

[sparkle78]

Thank you all for sharing some heartfelt beach memories.
later, when i was 12 my mom , and us 3 girls ( 12, 10, 6) , along with my aunt and her 3 daughters 5, 4, and 2 drove 20 + hours to Jacksonville, FL. Oh the memories - “ i want to see palm trees !!” My 4 year old cousin Would yell at every rest stop. We stayed with another aunt and uncle and her 3 kids on the naval base . Being in the ocean and looking up at the huge naval ship was quite impressive. We also got to to the Jacksonville Zoo and see elephants and other animals our small town zoo didn’t have

keep the stories coming

 

[lynxstch]

QOTD favorite beach memory. I don't have many from childhood as we never went to the beach

My favorite has to be our wedding. We were married at sunrise, literally on the beach, in Myrtle Beach SC. It was a beautiful morning, the waves were gently lapping onto the shore, and the sun was just coming up,,it was so beautiful.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

I just watched Penguin Bloom on Netflix. It is based on a true story of a woman who gets paralyzed while on vacation with her family and how an orphaned bird helps her and her family adjust to a new life. I really enjoyed it.

 

[AuntieMe3]

I love the beach even if we don't get to it as often as I'd like. It's just peaceful and relaxing.
We lived only 30-45 mins from the beach when I was growing up but we didn't go all the time so when we did it was great. Some days my mom would take us out of school early and we'd go to the beach. We'd get there fairly early and stay there all day ending the night with a bonfire. I don't think many CA beaches have them anymore because of the air quality but they used to have fire pits scattered around the beach for anyone to us. We would set up near one and we would have lunch and then for dinner, we'd do hot dogs and smores on the fire pit. Usually we got to see the fireworks from Knotts Berry Farm, which is not to far away from the beach we went to.

We also went to Baja California, Mexico a lot when we were younger. My dad used to race dirtbikes and a lot of the races, we'd camp at the beach and spend our day in the sand and swimming while my dad raced. OMG it was the best. I remember the water was so much warmer and calmer than the beaches farther north. We would swim way out past the waves and there would be sandbars we could walk around on....it was just so cool.

 

[easyas123]

Good afternoon/evening everyone! Hope all had good day-
After my last post my day took a turn and I ended up being on the road after all. It was snowing and sleeting most of the way but the roads were ok and the trees were beautiful, covered in ice and white.
Dinner tonight is shrimp I’ve just finished sautéing w/ a salad & some crusty sourdough.

 

[lynxstch]

Good afternoon/evening everyone! Hope all had good day-
After my last post my day took a turn and I ended up being on the road after all. It was snowing and sleeting most of the way but the roads were ok and the trees were beautiful, covered in ice and white.
Dinner tonight is shrimp I’ve just finished sautéing w/ a salad & some crusty sourdough.

Glad you had a nice drive and made it there and home safely.
I took the leftover pork we had from the other nite and made a batch of fried rice. Also sauteed some butter shrimp we had in the freezer to round out the meal.
I have a horrible headache all of a sudden,,not sure if it's the weather , or that I am just tired of 'everything'

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Love all the beach memory shares!

Glad you are home Easyas!

Hugs, Lynxstch, this is such a hard and emotional time!

Friday extra gratitude: When I went to move my car this morning, I wasn't freezing just a little cold at first since I am not used to being outside. Both mail and packages came today. A few friend check-ins.

 

[Kirby]

Hallelujah! It got above freezing today!!!!!! It was 37 degrees, little wind and sunny. Perfect to walk around outside a bit. Back down to 19 overnight but things are looking up. DH is still out making repairs. He has a full weekend ahead of him. A friend of mine finally got power this morning, it had been out since Sunday.

Favorite beach memory is my first time to ever go to the beach. Growing up, every year we would take a two week vacation to visit my mom's three sisters and their families. When I was 13, we went with the two of the sisters that lived in West Virginia and Maryland to Delaware and rented a beach house in Rehoboth Beach. We had the best time playing in the water, walking to town with my older cousins, going to the little beachside carnival. That's where I ate fresh crab straight out of the shell for the first time and loved it. I experience fresh clams too dipped in butter and loved them too. My dad went fishing and caught a scuba diver. He got teased about that a lot. I'll never forget that trip.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Gratitude - my neighbor, who was in the hospital for 3 weeks with COVID, came home today.

 

[sweetpeama]

QOTD
Favorite Beach Memory.
I have only been to the beach once in my life during the daytime and once at night which I have told about in the story of my first Disney Trip. My experiences with land and water meeting are more of a going to a lake variety.

 

[lynxstch]

QUACK and good morning! Wow, it's warm outside..NOT! Its 21 now and we will go up all the way to 23? Brrrr. I will have to go out and start the car and let it run for awhile this morning. Down to 20 tonite,,then a warm up starts, and gradually will go into the 40's and then 50's by Wed. There is a sign of light at the end of the Winter tunnel! Hooray!

No exciting plans for the weekend, but what else is new. Retirement is boring during a pandemic-lol!

Have a good morning all!