Brilliant colors at sunrise before the dreary weather arrived. Â No snow at the beach though!
Category: Life at the Shore
-
2020 Beach Tags
One of our favorite annual gifts from my mother- Christmas beach tags. Â Will attach them to my beach bag soon!
This year’s design is sentimental for our family: Â Villa Maria by the Sea in Stone Harbor.
My mother’s sister was an IHM. “Aunt Kathryn” spent numerous summers in the retreat house. Â As children, we had the opportunity to hang out with the wonderful Sisters in Villa Maria and at the beach. Certainly a unique perspective of religious life!
2020 will be a year of big changes for the Sisters and their retreat house. Â I am sad to lose the stately landmark in our community (as well as the memories associated with the property), yet I understand their need to make practical decisions for the order.
-
The REAL Seashore Santa
This entry was originally posted Christmas 2008.  The post and Santa were both updated in 2018!
Thanks for
Santa– the life size plywood cut out version- has been an important part of Christmas for as long as I can remember.
Santa began his life of service in the early 1960s at my parents’ first house in Avalon. He was surrounded by big, multi-colored bulbs on the newly planted shrubs. Inside that modest Golden Home rancher, 4 little girls hung their stockings on a cardboard fireplace with a plug in red bulb that magically turned the metal wheel to create “fire†.
In the 1970s, Santa moved with our family 5 blocks south in Avalon to a larger, 2 story home with a real wood fireplace. The colorful exterior lights were eventually replaced with more subtle white bulbs, but the spot light literally remained on Santa.
In the off season, Santa hung proudly on the garage wall- watching us all come and go. Those little girls grew up and moved out, bringing back grandchildren for days on the beach. In the 1980s, my young sons were fascinated by Santa, and maybe a bit intimidated based on our attempts to use him for improved behavior!
When my parents downsized to a townhouse in the early 1990s, my father asked if I wanted Santa for our home. Of course, I was thrilled- and Santa didn’t complain as he was forced to leave Avalon and move “off shoreâ€.
Santa loyally followed us on each move- knowing that he would be given a prominent position (with a flood light) at Christmas.  Years later, he gratefully moved back to the island to become a Stone Harbor resident!
Now coasting past his mid-50s, Santa was showing signs of wear (aren’t we all).
For several years, I thought about arranging a touch up, but it just didn’t feel right.  Thankfully, our niece offered her artistic talents - a perfect fit!
So the newly refreshed Santa is back in his designated spot in front of our home- ready to face another 50+ years by the beach 😎
-
Time to Plan?
Take advantage of the holiday downtime to search for your 2020 vacation home!
For local sale information: Â MLS SearchÂ
For vacation rental information: Summer Rentals
I appreciate the opportunity to help with your plans (609) 967-7950 Â or ann.delaney@timkerrsir.com
“A Lifetime of Experience”
-
Thanksgiving at the Beach
So many wonderful events scheduled for the weekend after Thanksgiving.
In Avalon: Â Chamber of Commerce events in downtown Avalon NJ
In Stone Harbor: Â Island Holiday events in downtown Stone Harbor NJ
