The busiest weekend of the summer…and the biggest event of the summer: The Arts & Crafts Festival at the 80th Street field.
The white tents are up and ready for the vendors to descend tomorrow. The crowds will follow starting early Saturday morning. Parking and driving in the immediate vicinity will be difficult- Third Avenue/Ocean Drive will be the best option for north to south travel!
The Press of Atlantic City featured an article today about the International Space Station and Endeavour passing in front of the moon tonight at 8:42pm.  So I sat on my deck, facing the half lit moon and waited.  Sure enough, a faint light (I would have thought it was an airplane otherwise) slowly crossed the sky heading east. Very cool! Big night at the shore 🙂
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I am proud to support:Â
Brendan Borek High Tides Memorial Fund is a true local charity- all money raised helps families in Cape May County. Visit the web site for details and calendar of upcoming August events.Â
The 14th Annual Nun’s Beach Surf Contest is scheduled for Saturday, September 12th. All proceeds support the upkeep of Villa Maria by the Sea retreat house on 111th Street in Stone Harbor. This property is a beautiful landmark for our community, and enjoyed all summer long by the visiting Immaculate Heart of Mary Sisters. For more information, contact Sister James Dolores, IHM at 609-368-5290, or stop by their garage “store” to purchase popular Nun’s Beach attire!
Bikes, beach chairs, beach toys, strollers, scooters, bathing suits on the line…a busy rental house for sure!
A southwest breeze today: the unique combination of oven hot air and humidity! It was a bit cooler along the ocean’s edge as I walked this morning. Good day for a beach chair in the water!
The Jersey Shore attracts a variety of visitors from all over.   We turn our heads when we hear a foreign language or see a fancy car. But the vacationing Amish families create a different level of fascination.
The other day, 2 young women in their “plain” dresses passed me on roller blades. I knew it would be disrespectful to take a picture- but it was tempting!
The Amish enjoy an ordinary seashore experience – going to the beach, eating at a local deli, and riding bikes around the island. We only notice because their clothes and hairstyles are different.
I find it reassuring that a simple way of life still exists (not that our life at the beach is so complicated ;)Â Â And, it’s a positive reminder to appreciate other cultures and their traditions.
 The ocean was rough yesterday- the guards appreciated the extra help :)Â
Ideal weather and water temperatures-Â enjoy the weekend!
P.S. Heard praises today for the actions of the lifeguards last week. 2 different tenants commented on the quick response to rip tides and rough water.  The 1st case- the children didn’t even sense they were in trouble, but a guard saw them drifting out and created a chain to pull them back in. The second incident was an adult swimmer who grabbed on to a boogie board of a nearby swimmer because she felt the tug of the tide. Within seconds, a guard was at her side to help her back in.
I see the young men and women on the stands and admire their willingness to take on such responsibility . Obviously, they are well trained and conscientious about their job.
 So many great pictures from our son’s wedding in June- this one is especially fitting for my blog!
 If you know anyone planning a wedding in the area, I highly recommend: John Dimaio Photography
http://www.johndimaioweddings.com/RecentWeddings/
http://www.johndimaioweddings.com/Beaches/
It must be summer. 8:30 on a Sunday night: the line for Springer’s Ice Cream is at least 1 block long; the 96th Street shopping area is packed; and the ATM at Sturdy Bank is out of cash!
I was (according to my family) one of the last people on earth to get an ATM card. Hey, I live and work within walking distance to my bank…and I still only use it from time to time. So, of course, this would be the night that they run out of money?? I’m too cheap to pay the fee for the machine in WaWa…I’ll just wait until the bank opens tomorrow 🙂
The manly ritual of digging a giant hole on the beach-Â a long standing seashore tradition.
The sand architects try to out smart high tide with elaborate barrier walls. The kids just want the water to rush in to create a muddy pool!
The lifeguards ask that the holes be filled in at the end of the day for safety reasons.
Happy digging…and enjoy the weekend!
 I have always admired the collections of sea glass in local properties- thinking that it couldn’t all be from our local beaches.  Wouldn’t I have noticed that much glass under foot??
A friend’s display in a vase on her kitchen counter prompted me to toss the few pieces I had into a glass container and add to it over time.
Now that I’m looking, I find a few pieces each time I walk…and my container is 3/4 full.Â
I joke that the dolphins know my morning routine and join me for my walk…but now that I’m scanning the sand, they aren’t getting my full attention. Plus, my pace is slower and I wonder why my neck has a twinge 😉