Island Heights {semi} Wordless Wednesday

Lazy afternoon in Island Heights...feeding ducks and watching sailboats. Just another peek back at the Summer of '11.

Summer Winds

are apparently still around, cause it's downright sultry around here! Ok...so my foray back into Semi~Wordless Wednesdays is not wordless at all, but they aren't my words, they're Franks.

The summer wind, came blowin' in - from across the seaIt lingered there, to touch your hair- and walk with meAll summer long, we sang a song - and then we strolled that golden sandTwo sweethearts, and the summer wind

Like painted kites, those days and nights - they went flyin' byThe world was new, beneath a blue - umbrella skyThen softer than, a piper man - one day it called to youAnd I lost you, i lost you to the summer wind

The autumn wind, and the winter winds - they have come and goneAnd still the days, those lonely days - they go on and onAnd guess who sighs his lullabies - through nights that never endMy fickle friend, the summer wind

the summer wind

warm summer wind mmm the summer wind

Photos courtesy of my In-Laws back yard (at the beach lucky ducks!) and lyrics courtesy of Frank Sinatra (but then you knew that...)

I did not fall off the face of the earth...

Just kinda had the wind knocked out of me (pun intended)

We prepped the house and yard for the storm, knowing full well that storms that pass near the Jersey Shore never cause much damage. Winter Nor'Easters are more dangerous to us. So away went the outdoor furniture, plants & pots, ice was made, flashlights and lanterns were gathered. Hurricane party food & drinks were being planned...I almost want to say it was festive?!

My in-laws live on a thin strip of barrier island between the Barnegat Bay and the mighty Atlantic...they were under a mandatory evacuation, so they came to us about 5 miles inland. When all was said & done, they lost a screen off a window.

On the other hand....We lost 3 trees, a shed (that was atrocious anyway), fence, our flag pole. The storm winds dislodged our chimney off of the house allowing water to seep in and flood our living room. We also have a leakage issue in our dining room...not sure what caused that one.

My former house was a 1915 bungalow about 400 feet from the bay and with ancient trees, was spared during every above-mentioned Nor'Easter and/or trop storm. This newer home (30 years), not so lucky (they don't make em' like they used to...)

But, everyone was ok and that is all that counts. "stuff" can be fixed & replaced. So we are going through that process now. We are still dealing with insurance claims & adjusters, but when all is said and done, I will have some projects to plan. That makes me happy :)

My neighbors home was under contract when this tree fell on it. Thank the lord it was vacant. Needless to say, it is back on the market.

PS ~ I miss blogging. I miss my blog friends. I have lots to share over the next few weeks...just trying to get my groove back. Thank you for stopping by xoxox Traci

Friends that Fish...

God bless them! On the Thursday before July 4th weekend, our friend Jeffrey not only came over to help hubby replace our pool filter, he brought us fresh caught Bluefin Tuna... Don't know why my pics are lopsided (thanks blogger)?!
So while the menfolk were doing men things, I just whipped up a quick marinade of brown sugar and soy sauce.

soaked for a bit, crusted fillets with fresh-cracked black pepper, a quick turn on the grill and voila...

Dinner. Or so I thought. Just as i took these off the grill, Brennan spiked a fever of 104* and off to the hospital we went. I don't take chances with fevers. So after a diagnosis of "something viral" and a broken fever, we returned home at 10:30pm with a soundly sleeping toddler.

Dinner was even tastier chilled, late-nite and on the couch!

thank you

Thank you for all of your kind words over the last few days
I'm thrilled with my new followers and plan on visiting everyone after the holiday weekend...

Lots of love to my "veterans" as well xoxo!

I am hoping this weekend finds you all surrounded by family & friends, good food, sun and fireworks. God Bless you all & God Bless America!

xoxo Traci

All images courtesy of Pinterest

Hats Off...to a fine weekend!

My Sister-in-Law's bridal shower was this weekend. It was an afternoon tea in Chadds Ford, PA. Hats required, gloves optional. So I "crafted" this beauty from an old beach hat found in the archives.
I'm NOT crafty. I get by in all other facets of life...cooking, gardening, furniture placement, etc...but I'm not crafty. I don't think I did too, too bad! I made a Mardi-Gras style hat in the hopes that I'll break this baby out in February for a party or two...
Ribbons, and feathers and hot glue guns, oh my!
Maybe this will inspire me to be more creative 'round the house?
All from a cast off...

The Tea Party was lovely, despite the GPS sending a carload of shore-girls into the Pennsylvania wild, getting lost and arriving almost an hour late. Thankfully the trip home was smoother. Shortly after I was deposited into my bff's back yard to play with kids, family and her newly purchased Margarita machine ;-)

I'm yery excited about the upcoming Independence Day weekend; 4 days off from work and praying for tons of SUN! Hope everyone had a FABULOUS weekend!

On the Waterfront {Semi} Wordless Wednesday

As the sign states, this weekend was the 10th Annual BTB Mako Rodeo. BTB stands for my husbands friend Brett who was killed on September 11th. I did not know Bill back then, but it is evident from this event how much Brett was loved by his friends and family...http://btbmakorodeo.com/

This is the boat that Bill fishes on with his best and lifelong friends. They didn't place this year, but a coupla days of fishing with friends was the perfect start to the Fathers Day weekend. I spent less time at the docks this year than I ever have, but when i am there i am perched here: http://www.yelp.com/biz/union-landing-restaurant-brielle or here http://www.brielleriverhouse.com/.

Some more shots from the marina

I'll take Moondancer ;-)

Joining Daphne for {Semi} Wordless Wednesday. Thanks for stopping by!

More MDW {Semi} Wordless Wednesday

Brennan, Collin, Kelsey, Kayla, Tyler, Liz, Emily, Kate & James Kids had a 24-hour scavenger hunt. it was a pretty extensive list of items; 4-leaf clover, literature from the campground, dirty socks (ewww), marshmallows, pine cones, 3 types of flowers, a headlamp, and so much more. A headlamp?! For Collin we tied his flashlight to a band of fabric around his head...it's all about being creative.
After the kids go to bed...Card games & cocktails for the adults!


Some shenanigan's by the boys for our friends who arrived later than we did...Yes they look like grown men, but they are really 12.

Monkey boys....

Collin sitting in a drag race car at a track up the street from the campground. A whole bunch of fun in itself...http://www.maplegroveraceway.com/blog/

Memorial Day weekend digs

Our Memorial Day weekend was spent in the cabins at Sun Valley Campground in Bowmansville, PA.The cabins were heavenly for a long holiday weekend(with perfect weather). We had a group of about 20, 3 cabins and my godparents in their own RV. Our cabin housed the 4 of us, 2 pillow pets and my mom. The pack and play fit perfectly in our room.

Collin had the double bed in the loft to himself; which was good cause' most of us are clausterphobic and afraid of heights...

Shower, toilet, table for 4, full-size fridge, fan, small cable tv, kitchenette and coffee maker (Most Important).

See my "picnic pal". Formerly a 6-pack of beer, refashioned to hold ketchup, mustard, S&P, relish and hot sauce (or malt vinegar depending on the guests). Fill everything up and stick in the fridge and you are ready for an instant bbq! Bill drank a 6-pack of Land Shark Lager to get me my summer holder ;-D

I was super-impressed by the actually woodwork in this cabin. I was expecting paneled walls and drop ceilings and it wasn't. Chunky, solid, honey-colored...it was really beautiful.

If you are in the northeast, I highly recommend this place. We live at the shore, so this was a great alternative for our kids who see beach all the time. They also have a pool, stocked lake for fishing, playgrounds, karaoke and bands, campstore, ice cream counter, etc....and it is reasonably priced and clean. Really reasonably priced. Check it out here: http://www.sunvalleycamping.com/

Coming Soon ~ I won a fabulous giveaway and I'll be showing it off later this week!!

Summer Mantel

Our Summer Mantel 2011 Although I'm not digging it as a whole, it is comprised of things I love. That does NOT include the pumpkin accent wall that was a late pregnancy decision or the brassy yucky doors. Note: the birdcage was my 1st ever Pottery Barn purchase circa 1995 :)
The FAB silver votives were a recent Tuesday Morning purchase and the brass propeller was a gift to me from an elderly neighbor (rip Mrs. Krowicky); it was from her husbands little boat from the 30's, it's near & dear to my heart...

A poster purchased on Ebay, years ago, beautifully framed by a friend.

Starfish on a Stick from a local shoppe, the Dancing Crab in Normandy Beach. An embossed mercury glass vase and some faux cattails round it out...

Lastly, my {pitiful} palm in a pot that I love from Compass Rose in Kill Devil Hills and a wrought iron bobble-bird from Tuesday Morning (my newly discovered, favorite store ~ if you can see past the junk!)

Thank you for stopping by...and Happy Summer!

“Sun is shining. Weather is sweet. Make you wanna move your dancing feet.” Bob Marley