Good morning friends! I’m so glad you stopped by. It’s been a while. Have a seat and I’ll get you a nice strong cup of French roast coffee or perhaps tea if you prefer. There is raspberry strudel or donuts so please help yourself. Here in Southern New Jersey we are still experiencing the season we refer to as “Hell’s Front Porch” so I’m thinking an indoor virtual visit would be advisable. 🙂 Tell me, what have you been up to? Have there been more “ups” than “downs” over the past few weeks? I hope so.
If we were having coffee…I would tell you that my family and I were lucky enough to spend a few days at the beach this week (or rather, down the shore, as we say around here.) The weather was hot, hot, hot but it was still so wonderful to be away, to be somewhere other than this house! My husband’s step mother owns a condo in a small shore town that she generously shares with the rest of the family and this week was our turn. The beach is only a block away and there is a lovely built in pool just steps from her front door. We were there during the middle of the week so it was quite empty. This worked out well for us because with the virus concerns, they are only allowing 12 people in the pool at a time. As it turned out, the four of us had it to ourselves for the most part. It was a wonderfully relaxing three days and we all came back feeling refreshed.
Have you been able to get away recently? What is your favorite vacation spot?
If we were having coffee…I would tell you that the progress on our new deck that I spoke of in my last coffee share post, had stalled for the time being. We needed to order covers for our existing rail posts and the company is unable to deliver until the second week of August. I’m actually quite happy with the delay because I would rather not have the D-Man and Mr D out there working in this heat. Maybe the weather will break by then. I surely hope so. I miss being able to take walks or work in the yard.
How is the weather in your part of the world?
If we were having coffee…I would fill you in on all the new baby news around here. In my opinion, new babies make everything better! Our neighbors recently welcomed a new granddaughter named Ellery (love this name!) She was born a few weeks early and needed to stay in the NICU for a bit till her weight came up but she is thankfully home now with Mom and Dad. They drove out to Ohio to meet her this week and are simply over the moon!
Baby number two, also a little girl named Lillian, was born to our friends who after years of infertility treatments and 26 hours of labor followed by an emergency C section, are finally able to experience the joys of parenthood. My heart warms with each photo I see if them with their new baby and I’m looking forward to meeting her in person.
Baby number three is actually a “baby to be.” One of Mr D’s best friends from High School and his wife are expecting their first and are a week overdue! We are all waiting anxiously for news. There is talk of inducing her this week. I hope so because the poor girl is looking very uncomfortable. I admit, I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around the idea of my son’s childhood friend becoming a father but they are both 25 now so I guess I should start getting used to the idea. Not quite ready to be a grandmother myself yet….
And the final baby is one that is in the works, not due till October but still a topic of discussion around here. My niece and her partner are expecting their second daughter. Older sister Juliana, age 6, is so excited! My sister is planning on throwing them a “sprinkle,” which is apparently a new type of shower that you have for a second baby?! Miss D and I have been enlisted to help with party theme and favors. All of this, of course depends on what the situation is virus wise in September.
Lots of babies, right?! How about you? Is your, or your extended family growing?
I guess that’s all the news for now. I do have some cleaning and laundry to do. I’m so glad you stopped by and I hope you will swing by Eclectic Ali, our host site and catch up with the other Coffee Share Posts.
Be well, stay safe and have a good week. ❤
The View from the Porch 
I am lucky to live near the ocean and a bay beach. I believe it to be the best place on earth. Enjoy.
I so agree. I find water to be incredibly calming. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t been anywhere so your beach photo is super exciting for me to see. If we were having coffee here we’d be staring into the woods, watching squirrels and birds, because we are not supposed to go anywhere. Plus it is super hot and humid here. It’s August, don’t you know?
We are lucky to have a family member with a beach house otherwise we wouldn’t have left home. We just moved our little bubble 90 miles East for a few days. Otherwise, we haven’t been anywhere either. A lot of our time has also been spend watching the squirrels and birds. In fact, my daughter had “adopted” a squirrel that comes frequently to our door looking for food. She’s named him Wallace although to be honest, we aren’t sure if it’s a he or a she! Stuck at home for 5 months, you have to get your entertainment where you can, right!? Stay safe. Thanks for stopping by.
lets see havent been able to go anywhere except to the shops to get groceries our lockdown restrictions are stupid crazy and despite that the rates are high key going up, for now though Karma seems to be making sure mostly the government officials are succumbing to it, well the older folk are more susceptible and well the top government officials are mostly over 65 and refusing to retire… maybe we COVID might just bring about the revolution we are waiting for hahaha its a morbid thought I know but I am just tired.
as for the weather winter is almost over and now we slowly shifting to the windy hot dry season and during lockdown I have been working out, summer bodies are made in winter whoop whoop
~B
I feel very lucky that we had a safe place to get away for a few days. Being trapped inside is very overwhelming at times and our restrictions aren’t nearly as strict as yours. I hope it all starts paying off in your area soon. I would say that working out and burning up that adrenaline is the best therapy there is. We try to do that too although I don’t think at my age I can count on developing any kind of “summer body!” 🙂
Sounds like you had a great beach visit. Babies are so cute but boy, they’re a lot of work and the new parents will be exhausted for a while. I’ve been going to lake beaches where I live. I go on weekdays when there is no crowd. Thank yuo for the coffee share. Have a wonderful week ahead!
Lakes are so relaxing! I wish we had more natural ones in our area. The few we have close by are man-made and are mostly just playgrounds and picnic areas! Thanks for stopping by. Have a good week.
Sounds like a great beach visit! The beaches here on Cape Cod have been packed. I did stop by Thursday at 4 (found a quiet corner) and Friday at 6 (still a lot of people), but I heard today t would have been impossible to socially distance. I hope you get some cool weather (perhaps after the storm passes) and have a great week ahead 🙂
It would have been impossible to social distance on some of our beaches too. We picked a quiet one and visited in the morning. Our afternoon was spent at the pool. I’m sure it was more crowded by then. We are getting some of the tropical storm as well. Rain would be good. Our grass is pretty brown! Thanks for stopping by.
Looks like the new projected path of the storm has it missing us, at least on Cape Cod, though i may get hit by it in New Hampshire…
I know I’m something of a misfit with the topic of babies, but I too love ’em.
I thought all the prep was fun but wow – when your first born arrives, the whole world changes on you. Things you thought you were ready for fail like a badly fit diaper, but I loved all of it.
Nancy if you really enjoy babies so much you ought to check out the stories of my kids births. We have 3, so I have 3 stories.
For surprises: our first born was the most fun.
~~~ https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/welcoming-our-first-born/
For the “awww” factor: my daughter gave me one of my favorite memories.
~~~ https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/favorite-memory-of-a-baby-girl/
For shear chaos: Our third was the game changer and 25 years later, I’m still laughing about it.
~~~ https://garyawilsonstories.wordpress.com/my-childbirth-deception-stunt/
Each story is less than 10 minutes, but you will be smiling or laughing at me most of the time.
Feel free to share the first one with your new parent friends and family. There’s stuff there they need to know.
The weather here is hot and covid is keeping this old guy buttoned down so I’m up early to draw in as much cold morning air as possible before settling down for the day drinking as much fizzy water as possible. Your beach looks sooo good.
Anyway, I’m glad you’re back. It’s a better weekend when you stop by.
Blessings.
Thanks, George! Parenthood is an adventure, that’s for sure. We started out thinking we wanted four children but stopped at two because we couldn’t handle the sleep deprivation! I’ll certainly check out your “baby tales!” Have a good week.
The beach looks divine. I have not gotten away anywhere due to Covid-19. We are allowed to travel, but are strongly encouraged not too. I’ve had a blast walking in the forests, and by the lakes here at home though. This is the last week of my summer vacation, and I am going back to work on Monday. Everything considered, it’s been a great summer, we end it happy and healthy. I mean its not ended yet, just the vacation 🙂 enjoy your weekend! Thank you for the coffee 🙂
Good luck with the start of your school year. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Thank you 🙂