Saw mostly women walking the beach this morning- enjoying a peaceful Mother’s Day moment.Â
Breakfast at Uncle Bill’s, text messages from my sons and daughters in law to wish me Happy Mother’s Day, and off to work…life is good!
Category: Life at the Shore
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Island Traditions
 Am I the only person who associates certain foods with summer?  Maybe we can form a support group!
Anyway…Springer’s Ice Cream in Stone Harbor opened today- I know this because I was disappointed to read the sign on their door last night when we walked into town craving ice cream.Â
Kohler’s Bakery in Avalon also opened today.  The 2 block walk from my office does not justify the cream donut…oh well…will work through it with the support group 😉
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We’re ready…
The beach groomers are back on duty, benches dug out from the drifts of sand, and trash cans are in position. All set for a big weekend.
After a long, gray winter (and endless days of rain), I am happy to report the return of color to the island . The lawns are bright green, and the trees and flowers are in full bloom.  Another sign of summer? Nuns.  At the Villa Maria Retreat House on the beach.Â
Enjoy the weekend 🙂
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Look, Up in the Sky!
 Could it be? The glare is somewhat familiar. After more than a week of rain, today’s hour of hazy sun was a welcome sight.  Hopefully, the sun will return at full level by the weekend.
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What’s Open?
As of this weekend, plenty of food options.Â
Just saw the banner outside of  Kohler’s Bakery http://www.kohlersbakery.com/ – “Celebrating 60 years in Avalon”. Opening Mother’s Day weekend-  I will be there!
Nemo’s Pizza from Avalon opened an additional restaurant in Stone Harbor- 98th and Third Avenue;  Mack’s Pizza at 83rd Street re-opens on May 15th for the season; and Circle Pizza in Avalon is back open after major renovations, too.
Quahogs on 97th Street was open last weekend- indoor and sheltered patio dining; and on the opposite corner, Black Fish (in the Henny’s location) is freshly painted and ready for their Mother’s Day weekend grand opening.
 Looks better in person- we haven’t seen sun for a few days :(  so the gray exterior just fades into the sky.  The owners are smart- they set the tables and left the interior lights on last weekend for people like me to snoop in the windows!
 Also hearing good things about Fuze- the new restaurant at 79th and Ocean Drive.Â
Can you tell we are ready for the season to begin??
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Sand and Real Estate
 Castles by the sand.Just returned from a quick trip to the west coast of Florida. In spite of their challenging real estate market, construction continues in the high end locations along the beach. The magnificent homes along Gulf Shore Blvd in Naples are comparable in size to the homes nestled in the Avalon dunes.
Like other coastal areas, the real estate values on our island are driven by the location of the “sand” under a house. The closer the sand is to the water…the better!
A weird aside- on the flight home last night, almost 1/2 of the passengers were wearing surgical masks. Very unsettling. Glad to be back in the fresh, salt air!
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May Weekend
 This is the weekend for the annual Stone Harbor Boat Show & Seafood Festival on 96th Street. The gray skies and drizzle should not stop the true boaters from shopping! -
Double Vision
 Seashore double vision- the bay front homes reflecting off of the calm water in the early morning sun. Took advantage of our summer like weather and kayaked for the 1st time this season.   Very peaceful…
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 No boat traffic or bugs…but the bay is still cold. I stay close to the docks in the event of an oops!
What an odd month- record rain fall, freezing temperatures, severe thunderstorms, a nor’easter or 2, and now a heat wave. Â
Celebrate May at the Stone Harbor Boat & Craft Show next weekend. All day Saturday and Sunday along 96th Street- food and music, too.
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Sights & Sounds of Summer
 Parking meters in the business district of Stone Harbor are in,  and will be operating as of May 1st (the 2 blinking traffic lights on the island will be turned on the same day- watch out!)What a weekend. It feels like July.
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 The distinct sound of  outside showers; hearing noise on our street while sleeping with the windows open (versus the silence of winter!); geese flying north; the return of the die-hard surfers (they call themselves the 110 Surf Crew); and defensive driving on my “commute” to work around the numerous walkers and bicyclists. All definite signs of summer 🙂 -
Dolphins Return to the Shore
Beautiful morning… and warmer temperatures expected this weekend 🙂The dophins were swimming by during my walk- glad to see them back for the season!
Unrelated info- I was driving behind a plumber’s truck today and loved their bold mission statement: “Our technicians smell good”- how funny…