JULY 4th IN SURF CITY

that July is almost over, and I am back on my computer in Colorado, I am posting a few photos from early this month.

Our neighborhood July 4th festivities in Surf City are a 40+ year tradition. All ages participate in the parade around the block.


Following the parada all gather on the beach for games for the children and some of the adults.



The finale is always a pie eating contest - this year a chocolate cream pie, enjoyed by all.

STILL RAINING IN NEW JERSEY

It is still raining in New Jersey, so my thoughts turn to Colorado where our home there is now on the market. We hope very much to sell it this summer so that we can downsize to a very nice town house we have found - but we also realize thtat in this economy it might not happen this year. I still decided to put a few pictures of our home there on my blog.

The mountain views are spectaclar, from all sides.


This is our main living room downstairs with my collection of antique tools displayed on the stairway.

The kitchen is a joy to work in, and has wonderful views of the mountains.

And the views from the upstairs sitting room, and our bedroom , are spectacular, as are the ones from our main deck.

Whatever happens this summer we look forward to returning for several weeks when the wildflowers are in bloom to enjoy this special place, and our friends who live there.

CHILDREN'S MEMORIAL GARDEN IN TOM'S RIVER

There is this wonderful garden on the edge of Winding River State Park outside of Tom's River that was initiated by a family after the death of their teenage daughter. All of the materials used and work to establish and care for it is donated by volunteers. There is also a building where counseling is available for bereaved families. The children from the local schools arrived by bus on several days to plant the many flats of flowers this spring, and I felt honored to be a part of it one day.





I must return soon as I am sure that is it a beautiful, inspiring place now that the flowers are in bloom. Thank you to the Lakehurst Rotary Club for all their wonderful work.

IT'S STILL RAINING

Since I haven't taken a picture here for a long time, I decided to post a couple of my earlier ones before the monsoons hit. A couple of walks on the beach earlier reminded me of how nice it could be when the crowds have not yet arrived and the weather is clear.

The City was still working on the beach when we arrived this year. Pumping in all of the sand from off shore to build up the beach a year ago caused a lot of unwelcome problems and WWI munitions. The first big storm and Nature will most likely put it all back the way it was.


We encountered, on our walk, a group of young people examining a dead horse-shoe crab on the beach. This was the time on the year they are plentiful as it is the mating & egg laying season, though our beach is not a usual place for this activity.

BACK IN NJ

It has been a long time since I have gotten back to my blog. Energy has been low, diversions many, and damp weather almost continuous. I am still awaiting summer weather to again enjoy the beach and all the NJ shore has to offer. My camera is still in the backpack that brought it to NJ, so I hope the mood strikes me soon. We have gotten out for a few bike rides on the island, South under the causeway bridge to Brant Beach -and North to Barnegat Light.


Unlike some of my younger friends who are doing centennial rides for their 60th birthday, and "Ride the Rockies" trips in Colorado, this is just a start to what I hope will be a leisurely bike trip to Spain in November.

HOME IN COLORADO FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Back in Colorado, winter had arrived, 100+ inches during the time I had been gone, plus many wonderful Christmas cards from friends. One of the most memorable was this photo of Chuck's boat, decorated by his "crew". Though the tuna weren't plentiful last summer, the fun and comradeship remained high for my husband.

The winter cold made our Colorado cats, Misty and Smokey seek the warmth of the blankets on the sofa.

Snowy, our "almost resident" fox curled up in the snow on our deck.

Our grandsons, Chris and Michael from California have become very good skiers during their post Christmas visits, as here they work their way down the Horseshoe run.

My photo of the run was taken later, but not from the mid point.

Our son Keith and the boys encountered a surprise intruder at the bottom of a ski run, who probably felt the samae way about them.

BACK HOME IN COLORADO

Having been away from my blog since Thanksgiving, and it is now the beginning of January, I decided it was time to catch up. We started our yearly drive back to our Western home with Charcoal unhappily in her cat cage.

The number of Wind Mills in Kansas had increased since our trip East in the spring.

The first view of the foothills of the Rockies in Colorado rose above the valley fog,

And it was obvious we were back in cattle country.

The mountains show the first signs of winter, and the more than 100 inches of snow that was about to fall on Crested Butte in the next few weeks.

The sunset from our home was a welcome end to our long drive.