Ann Delaney Beach Blog

Category: Life at the Shore

  • Southern Beaches

    TybeeIslandBack from a one week vacation from work (and the computer).

    This picture was taken on Tybee Island, GA (outside Savannah).  The colorful pole warns residents and visitors of the potential flood level associated with a hurricane.  Even a moderate category 2 hurricane showed a flood surge over my head! Yikes.

    sealoftsOn to unusual real estate (of course I have to study the market in other beach communities):  on Hilton Head Island, there is a small bridge to Deer Island- with free standing “Sea Lofts” along the marsh.  Very different!

     

    HiltonHeadHilton Head Island is beautiful.  Bike riding is the preferred means of transportation (including along the hard sand on the beach- a real treat with the wind at your back!)

    The homes are built to complement the wooded environment- earth tones and natural building materials. 

    Driving to work today, I realized the biggest difference between Avalon/ Stone Harbor and Hilton Head Island – the sky.  The trees on HHI block the hot summer sun, but also make it darker on a cloudy day.  I really appreciated the open feel as I drove along Dune Drive this morning.  Good to be back!

  • A Seashore Vacation

    You’ve heard the travel agency commercial-  “The Shore Without the Chore” -promoting Caribbean family vacations.  As someone who handles summer rentals at the shore…and also loves to travel, here’s my opinion of that statement:

    Most of our tenants live within a reasonable driving distance.  They pack up their car and kids, and drive 2 hours to check in.  Some even go back and forth if renting for several weeks.  Although no daily maid service, a rental home allows for easy meal preparation (saving $$) and space to spread out on a rainy day.

    The Caribbean vacation, however requires a bit more planning.  The drive to the airport, parking fees, luggage limitations (weight and number of bags), security lines, and then the 4 hour plane ride.

    And as much as I enjoy seeing new areas of the world, there is something to be said for going back to a place where you feel comfortable.  You know the best restaurants and stores.  You have your favorite bakery and coffee shop.  The older children can safely ride their bikes to Hoy’s or the playground.  Everyone quickly falls into their vacation routine…and all is good!

  • Snow?

    treesAva The strong winds are blowing the white blooms off of the Bradford Pear trees lining Dune Drive in Avalon– it looks like snow flakes swirling around!

  • April Seal

    AprilsealA bonus on my morning walk- saw a small seal playing near the water’s edge.  I tried to take a picture, but he ducked under the waves.

    This is the 2nd seal encounter for me- in February, I walked by a seal sunning on the snow! 

     https://anndelaney.com/2010/02/03/its-a-beach-day/

    Who says we don’t have excitement at the shore in the off season???

  • April Sunset

    AprilsunsetEnough daylight for a walk along the beach after dinner.

    When people ask what it’s like to live here year round…this is the answer  🙂

  • Feeling Blue

    blueAprilIn a good way.  The monochromatic grays of winter have been replaced with the brilliant blues of spring.

     

     

     

    OceanAprilIt looks like a summer day with the sun reflecting off of the ocean.

    Schedule a walk on the beach soon…

  • Count Down to Summer

    springersA new sign and freshly painted trim at Springer’s Ice Cream in Stone Harbor.   By next month, the front porch will be lined with happy customers.

  • Beach Dancing

    Aprilbeach A new reality series- Dancing at the Beach??  Thankfully, no-  just an entertaining night out in Avalon.

    Two sisters- I will refer to them as Kathy and Ann for the sake of the story- have husbands who cooperated with dance lessons.   The older sister and her husband premiered their new talent at a family wedding last year…encouraging the younger sister and her husband to sign up for classes at the local high school.

    With the beginners class certificate in hand, they were ready for some friendly sibling rivalry. 

    The sisters grew up in Avalon (along with 2 younger sisters), and therefore spent countless hours at the Avalon Community Hall….often hiding from the “mean girls” who hung out in the girl’s restroom.  Now they were walking in to the Hall for a Big Band Dance- feeling as awkward as they did in their teen years!

    Dressing in similar clothes is common for sisters.  In this case, it meant sensible low healed shoes, wool socks (did I just hear their youngest sister cry out in disgust??), black pants, and sweaters.  How were they to know that real dancers wear shorted bridesmaid dresses that float up when they spin (the husbands took notice)…and fancy high healed shoes?

    On the plus side, the 2 couples were able to practice their new found skill.   The crowd on the dance floor didn’t seem to mind the mistakes and discussions needed to remember the steps.  And the sisters agreed that the humiliation was worth it for the laughs  🙂

  • Sunday Sights

    treesWashington, D.C. is famous for cherry blossoms…while Avalon has the beautiful Bradford Pear trees!

    The business district along Dune Drive is lined with trees in full bloom.   The white flowers are short lived- and will blow around like snow flakes on the next windy day.  But in the meantime, it’s a very pretty sight as you drive toward town.

  • Snow Fencing

    fenceIt’s odd that we call this “snow fencing”.  Not sure where the name originated, since we rarely have snow on the beach…oh, except for this year  😉

    The Borough of Stone Harbor is replacing the damaged fencing along the edge of the sand dunes.