Tree be gone!

The Sussex Tree Removal Service arrived this morning and took care of removing the tree in front of our house in just 50 minutes.  Helps to have the big machines and grinder.

....a lot of noise!

....grinding.......

Sorta back to normal as gutter still needs replacing.

After the storm

One of the first things we did when we returned home today was to check out our beach.  Since most of the beach is now covered with water, the lifeguards have placed their benches out in the ocean.

Waves looked pretty gentle today.

Looking from the ocean up at the dune which has been partially washed out.

Storm fencing has blown down.

Tree is still blocking our way in.  We had hoped that tree men would have been working today.

Jim made us an entrance through the branches of the tree.

IRENE

It hasn't been all bad.  We have had a great time with Will and his family and we have loved every minute!  Will doesn't know there is a hurricane going on and stays his sweet, little boy self, making this anxious time OK for us, despite roaring winds and rain and rain and rain.

Waiting out the storm, Pop and Will play dueling Angry Birds on their IPads!

Our morning walk in a very soggy park following the last of the rain from hurricane.

Beach evacuation

Just as we were settled into a nice beach time with Will, Larry and Jenni, along comes Hurricane Irene.  We had one nice beach day and then left town and followed the Ashleys home to Arlington, VA.  where we are hunkering down for whatever Irene gives to this area.

Will loves Ruthie's (Bakery)  famous sprinkle donuts.

This is the first time Larry has been able to get away to enjoy the beach this summer.  Glad we had one nice day.

Back in Arlington, we spent part of today in the National Air and Space Museum in Dulles.

Here Will and his buddy Tyler play at being air traffic controllers in the tower of the museum.

Tomato pie

Tried a recipe today to use up some of the many tomatoes our garden is producing now since we have begun having rain.  I found the recipe last year and kept it in my summer file.  Modified a bit, it turned out yummy!

Summer Tomato Pie

(serves 4 hungry people with a garden salad on the side)

Bake a Pillsbury pie shell for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Line the shell with a sliced tomato and use tomato wedges to fill in the spaces.

Cover with 1/3 cup chopped onion and 2 TBSP chopped basil.

Mix together 1/2 c mayo (Dukes is the best), 1/2 c grated parmesan cheese and 1 c grated cheddar cheese.

Put half this mixture over pie.

Layer with more tomatoes, onion and basil, then top with rest of mixture.

Decorate top of pie with more sliced tomatoes.

Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes.

New bathroom

Jim made a great renovation this week on one of Lisbeth's bathrooms.  Redone from floor to ceiling with new tilework, paint, light fixture, medicine cabinet and vanity.

Great job!

Ella at camp

Ella is attending Camp Wright this week while we are renovating her bathroom.  She is wearing the chef's hat she made for her outdoor cooking class (those are chocolate chip cookies decorating her hat).  Her older sisters are also at camp where they are spending a week away.

Frozen peaches

Today we picked peaches at Bennett Orchards.  The trees were so loaded that we picked over 15# in no time!  We came home and quickly turned these peaches into freezer bags waiting in the freezer for winter.

cobblers, pies, breads,   yummm!

Assateague

Today at Assateague National Seashore the ponies were out in great numbers...as many as six in a group, all nibbling on grass. Jack led us on a hike on the dunes trail.  Later we ate cupcakes at a friend's new cupcake shop in Berlin, then attended a concert on the Bethany bandstand.  Jack ate ice cream twice today!

The signs say to stay at least 10 feet away from the ponies.

Hanging with Jack

Since today was a cloudy day, we resorted to the activities we save for these days.  We spent some time in Playland on the Rehoboth boardwalk.

Jack loves arcade games.

We played miniature golf at Viking Golf in Fenwick where we each scored a hole in one!

I was really disappointed that the Fenwick Lighthouse was closed already for the day as I have that on my list of light houses to climb.

Getting ready for jam

I bought the best peaches in the world today.  They are from Bennett Orchards located not too far away.  They will turn into jam very soon.

Shark attack

In keeping with Shark Week we ate at Mangos tonight and bought Jack a drink in a Shark Attack fish bowl....64 0zs of Sprite!  He wants to put frogs in it after he drains it.

Like his shades?  Our bargain of the day.

Happy birthday, Kevin!

Today would have been Kevin's 35th birthday.  Red carnations remind us of him...the beautiful butterfly is from Jenni.  Jack and I were talking about what Kevin might be doing today.  We decided probably a long jet ski ride.

Jack week

It just so happens that Jack-week coincides with Shark Week on TV so we are all set for an adventuresome time!  Jack is here all week to play with his pop and beach it....what a duo they are!

Learning chess....quick study he is!