December is definitely our transition month.Â
Fewer hours of daylight. Cooler northwest winds. Quiet streets.Â
Yet, with the dunes blocking the wind, and a determined sun rising over the ocean…a beach walk still warms my soul.
Category: Life at the Shore
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Wildlife & Technology
 Okay- he (or she) did not cooperate with the camera, but an adorable little sea otter greeted me as I walked along the 8th Street jetty.Â
Why was I on the jetty in the pouring rain? Well, I received a tweet from a fellow beach walker in Cape May, who read a tweet from a bird watcher posting from Avalon regarding a whale sighting!Â
I was directed to the location of spouts from the humpback whale by 2 men who joined me on the jetty. They had serious binoculars and LL Bean clothing…so they had to know what they were talking about 🙂
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December?
 Another mild December day at the shore.  The merchants in Avalon and Stone Harbor are making it easy to shop locally. Great selections, service, and SALES!
Harbor Holiday Wrap! 12-6PM
(as posted on the Stone Harbor Chamber of Commerce web site)
12/10/2011 – Holiday shoppers can enjoy secret Santa specials and progressive holiday cheer while ‘wrapping up’ that shopping in downtown Stone Harbor on Saturday, December 10 when 17 exceptional shops participate in the 2nd annual ‘Harbor Holiday Wrap.’ Rediscover the joy of local shopping with a personal touch as these shops offer free gifts, refreshments and even gift wrapping from 12 Noon until 6PM. Begin on the south side of 96th St. where Trendz, Hoy’s 5 & 10, and Pete Smith’s Surf Shop serve up treats and specials from 12 Noon until 1PM. Next, from 1 – 2PM move to the south end of Third Ave for happy holiday shopping and more at Eco Alley, Rip Tide East, The Harry Hunt and Paint Studio and Gallery. Still hungry for treats and bargains? Visit the shops of the North end of Third Ave. where Onni, Paisley Christmas Shoppe, Just Bead It, and Barrie Shoes will fill your belly and your shopping bags from 2-3PM. But that’s not all; turn the corner back onto the North side of 96th St. for visits to Global Pursuit, Seashore Ace, Bellanova, Talk of the Walk and Mimi Shop and Sun Catcher (at 95th and Second Ave) from 3-4PM. All shops will Shops will remain open from Noon to 6PM. What a perfect opportunity to ‘think outside the mall!’
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Christmas in the Mountains
Back at sea level after spending a few days visiting family in North Carolina.The mountains are really beautiful; and the air is crisp and clear.
Yet…as soon as I stepped out of the car last night, the first thing I noticed was the smell of the ocean. Ahhh…
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Benefits
Planned ahead, and brought practical walking shoes to work (yes, different from the practical shoes I WEAR to work). Knew I needed to check 2 houses and take new pictures for our rental site…so I walked there by way of the beach.Â
The 48th Street beach path pictured was my exit ramp on the “commute”!
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Fishing!
According to the local fishing experts…the stripers are running!Â
I originally tweeted this morning about the “fishermen”…then amended my description to include this skilled “fisherwoman”!
Results!
Fun to watch as I walked the beach before work. Another incredible day.
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Encouragement
Do you need motivati0n to purchase a shore home? Oh, okay…
Ready? Great! Contact me to discuss :)       ann@anndelaney.com
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4,000 Tweets?
Over Thanksgiving dinner, I tried to explain my obsession with Twitter to family members.This is a tech savvy group- with plenty of smart phones, tablets, Kindles, and Facebook accounts between all 3 generations. Yet my 4,000+ tweets seem bizarre (and admittedly, some are).
I recently posted how I relied on Twitter during the hurricane : https://anndelaney.com/2011/08/29/technology-during-irene/ and the blizzard of 2010. It’s been a great way to instantly communicate with property owners and others who just love the shore. I “share” my beach walks with others…even in the middle of winter!
But the surprise bonus of Twitter is the amazing connections. I read first hand accounts as events take place…a completely different perspective.
For example, shortly after the devastating tsunami, I started following a Japanese woman who works in Tokyo for the New York Times. She traveled to the villages and posted heart breaking reports.Â
On the 10 year anniversary of 9/11, I followed a young woman whose sister died on Flight 93 in Shanksville, PA.  It was as if I was sitting next to her at the memorial services. Her comments were respectful and incredibly honest. Another woman tweeted about her experience of living in New York City, and the days spent searching for her friends. Emotional storytelling, 140 characters at a time.Â
On the lighter side, there are posts that make me laugh out loud- I follow some smart, witty people!
If you would like to follow along: http://twitter.com/AnnDelaneyBeach
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Colorful Skies
Have you noticed the brilliant colors just before sunrise, and after sunset?The best views are by the water (beach or bay).  This morning, the clouds were a soft pink over the beach front homes. So pretty!
The island events continue today- shopping, music, food, etc. And, a comfortable night to watch the annual Christmas Parade: north along Third Avenue from 104th Street to 96th Street, then right on 96th Street toward Second Avenue…starting at 6:30pm.
