I love the 4th of July! I love the parades and most especially the fireworks. I also love knowing that I’m in a country that where I have freedom and rights I would not have had in the country of my birth. It’s why I get choked up every time I hear the national anthem or God Bless America. I know I am the one who is blessed. For today, some photos of the fireworks from the Jersey Shore. Nothing is more fun than sitting on the beach and watching all the different fireworks shows. If you’re in the area, here’s a link to a list of fireworks in NJ: https://bestofnj.com/jersey-shore-fireworks.
Spring is here! Goodbye snow! Oh wait, today’s throwback is to December 2010 and the blizzard that hit most of the Northeast. You don’t usually see snow accumulate on the sand, so it was an unusual sight. We easily had 3 to 4 feet of snow with higher drifts in spots.
I love the beach at any time of day or season. There is just something that calls to me, maybe because I am a Pisces. One of my fav times at the beach is at dusk after all the summer crowds have gone home. This photo is from a night just like that when it was quiet and the moon was just coming up!
But it could get worse! I took a spill nearly a month ago on some wet subway grates and my butt and knee are still hurting! Today was almost another spill on the subway, but luckily I righted myself. Even a little snow can make things rough, but at least it’s not like the 2011 snowstorm we had right around New Year’s. This photo was taken on the sand in Bradley Beach. We easily had over three feet of snow with even higher drifts.
I live for the summer! It’s my favorite time of year for so many reasons. The weather for starters, although I’m not a fan of 90 degree days. The beach. Reading on the beach. Napping on the beach. Writing on my balcony. The flowers. Fresh tomatoes right off the vine. Parades and fireworks. Concerts on the boardwalk. So many many things! I wish summer could last all year long, but then it wouldn’t be so special, would it?
As for writing, I get tons of writing done during the summer months as I sit on my balcony in the early morning quiet. Just love it!
Enjoy the first day of summer and some photos of my fav summer things!
Good morning and Happy Hump Day! I’ve shared some other inspiration for Sea Kiss, the fictional Jersey Shore town in the At the Shore Contemporary Romance series. Today I’m sharing another one of the towns, Bradley Beach, that inspired some elements in the story, like the gazebos behind the Pierce and Sinclair mansions.
I love Bradley Beach and spending time there. It’s a quiet family kind of town with a lovely paved boardwalk, gardens along the ocean block, a lovely fountain and of course, its signature gazebos. Some of the highlights of the summer there for me include their Memorial Day parade with an assortment of bands as well as the fabulous 4th of July fireworks. I just love fireworks and was so happy to see some on the cover of One Summer Night.
So for today’s Write Wednesday, a short video with highlights from Bradley Beach!
I took a day off to go to the spa with my daughter. Fate intervened and instead, we had a lovely girls day down the Jersey Shore. We watched a Korean drama, we biked to have a fabulous vegan lunch (no I’m a certified meat eater and the lunch was a delicious surprise), and we relaxed before doing dinner and some retail therapy. In the midst of all that, we also took time to just sit on the beach and enjoy a truly fabulous summer-like day. There were even people in bathing suits soaking up the sun.
My daughter and I sat there and just took a few moments to breathe and then did some work on our respective stories. My daughter is an aspiring author and has journals full of stories. She self-published her first work, FOLLOWING JANE, in 2013 and is busy working on other stories.
I just finished Book 1 in the Jersey Girl Bridesmaids series and am now busy plotting #2. Having lots of fun with it and I think it’ll be a truly amazing story! The tentative title of that one is WE DANCED ALL NIGHT although if they had, we wouldn’t have the unexpected surprise that will force two people to face their past and the kind of future they could have together.
Anyway, I’m sharing a photo from our writing on the beach and some peaceful waves, sand, and sun with you!
