Ann Delaney Beach Blog

Category: Life at the Shore

  • Happy Mother’s Day

    Happy Mother’s Day to my mother, sisters, daughter in law, and women friends.

    Our unwavering support for each other…and a healthy sense of humor, are essential to surviving the job of motherhood  🙂

  • View From a Beach Chair

    Yesterday, my beach chair spent 2 hours in the sand (near the dunes to block the cool wind).

    Pleasant weather again today for the Avalon Yard Sale and Stone Harbor Sail Into Summer event.

    Busy real estate day, too.   Thankful for the return of buyers and renters to the shore!

  • Do You Fish?

    The State of New Jersey requires recreational salt water “fisher-people” to register with the state.

    Registration is free, and the data obtained is used to comply with NOAA (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Association)  guidelines.

    Forms are available online:  

    http://www.nj.gov/dep/saltwaterregistry/index.html

  • Peaceful

    The colors of the ocean and sky appeared different to me this morning. 

    The reality of world events reinforces how fortunate we are to live in a simple, peaceful place.

  • Fishing

    The “Real Ospreys of New Jersey” had some human competition this morning while fishing for their breakfast.

    A beautiful day at the beach!

    Follow the ospreys on their Twitter site: http://twitter.com/wetlandsshnj  and on their live web cam: http://wetlandsinstitute.org/education/osprey-camera/

  • Island Wear

    Island wear has a different definition in the spring. 

    If the weather report mentions 80 degrees, we know that doesn’t necessarily apply here.  With the strong sea breeze and heavy fog, we might be lucky to break 60.

    And, when traveling “off shore”- island speak for going to the mainland- we know to dress differently:  shorts and flip flops for a trip to the Acme in Cape May Court House…versus jeans and a sweatshirt for a walk along 96th Street in Stone Harbor!

  • Easter Weekend

    A rainy start on Saturday, but thankfully, clearing skies by the afternoon, and a beautiful day yesterday.

    This was the view at the end of the Easter Sunrise service on the 88th Street pavilion in Stone Harbor.

    Another warm one today…and many owners/visitors still in town to enjoy a beach day 🙂

  • Dreary Saturday

    A dreary start to Easter weekend at the shore.

    The bright spots?  The glow of lights in the many businesses now open for the season…and the flowering trees! 

    By the way, heard that there will be yet another new owner taking over the bar and restaurant at the former Henny’s location in Stone Harbor.   And, they will return to a more casual (guessing that means less expensive) format.  Will update when an official opening date is announced.

  • Open Crawl Space Vents

    I posted this last fall, and decided to re-post after working through yet another sale with mold in the crawl space.  Tips to avoid an expensive remediation:

    Our beautiful “Seven Mile” island…surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, tidal creeks, and back bay.  There are many days when we can actually SEE the moisture in the air.

    This unique environment requires homes to be properly vented to prevent damage from moisture and mold. 

    1) Crawl Space: Open the foundation vents in the spring and replace the crawl space door with a screened door (Richardson’s Screen on 39th and Ocean Drive will make one to fit).  Or, replace the old aluminum vents with Smart Vents for even better air flow (and often lower flood insurance cost).

    Remove any debris in the crawl- especially wood products.  Left over decking is “lunch” for termites.  Unless your ground regularly floods, a vapor barrier is recommended (basically, a thick plastic cover for the dirt).  Close the vents/ crawl door in the fall to protect exposed water pipes during the cold months.

    2) Attic: The soffit vents (around the perimeter of the house) need to be clear of insulation.  Newer homes have ridge vents to help with air flow.

    3) Drainage:  Most newer homes do not have gutters.  This drives the home inspectors crazy!  Make sure water does not flow toward the house (and into the crawl space) after a heavy rain.  Also check the water flow from the outside shower- proper grading will help.  Trim landscaping away from foundation vents.  And, remember the old landscaping design with raised beds and railroad ties?  This is a termite and moisture combination that will ultimately cause major problems.

  • Beach Church

    The churches of Avalon and Stone Harbor, NJ participate in an annual Easter sunrise service by the beach.

    This year, the community service will be held at the 88th Street beach pavilion in Stone Harbor at 6am.