July was filled with family and friends visiting us in Pine Beach (the shore) for fun, laughter, sun and yummy delights. With everything opening up, we all felt a need to get out of the house, visit with loved ones we haven’t seen in over a year and a half. So I decided to work out of the Beach HouseWho knew they all wanted to come to Jersey in July. So I decided to work out of The Chalet for the month and bring the girls.
Before the fourth Tiffany, Pete and Paloma join us for the weekend. Rocco was with his grandparents in Florida enjoying Legoland and other adventures. Paloma was a joy, who was quoted as saying “I’m living my best life.” The little things brought her such joy, sleeping in the same room with mom and dad, eating Aunt Ginger’s pumpkin bread, kayaking, riding her bike, and enjoying the rides at Seaside.
On July 4, mom enjoyed the parade at the Augustino’s; I didn’t arrive in time for it. But that night we went to Russ and Carol’s house, to watch the fireworks. It was a beautiful night. Rich and Wilma were there too so I got to see and catch up. I laughed hard with Wilma’s brother Bruce. And we just enjoyed each other’s company.
Our next guests were Erika and Matt, arriving on the 5th. Erika made us delicious Baja fish tacos and we went kayaking the next day. Night Tuesday and are included Turkey burgers on the grill. Young Russ invited us to a Blue Claws game. He had box seats with air conditioning so the four of us went and had a lovely evening, albeit very hot. They played the Wilmington blue rocks. And lost, but what fun. Erika and Matt tried some local beer; who knew Toms River had a brewery. We laughed until we peed our pants while playing Gestures. I’ll never forget mom’s version of ribs.
With the unexpected baseball game, Erika and Matt stayed an extra night, and Bowman and John arrived a night early. It’s been four years since our Thailand adventure together, so it was nice to have the overlap. For our foodie adventures with the Kell family, we tried a new lobster roll takeout, went to MJs, and grilled shrimp and steamed clams. We enjoyed an evening stroll, kayaking on the river, puzzling and just catching up. I’m hesitant to state that we also watched Christmas movies in July from the Hallmark channel but that was not my choice. When Bowman and John left, they drove from New Jersey to Washington state where they were spending the next 2+ months.
Our final guests, the Ahern’s, stayed a week. Ken joined us on Wednesday, and unfortunately Rachael had to work, and PJ didn’t come down until Thursday. While I was working Monday through Wednesday, Terri occupied herself by reading, sunbathing and photographing birds at Cattus Island. Over the last few months I haven’t seen them as much (Covid challenges, July at the shore) and regular Friday dinners have been disrupted. So just spending quality time catching up with what I needed. We went crabbing one day and it took us a while to catch 9 keepers. But it was a much cheaper way to get them then spending $150 for a bushel. For PJs birthday we celebrated with a seafood extravaganza. This was also the week where the blackberries were in season, so I made a blackberry crumble and a fun sheet pan blackberry, blueberry and strawberry pancake. We went fishing on the Norma K. We weren’t doing very well initially but eventually PJ and Calvin turned it around with two fluke and one Seabass keeper.
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