Tuesday, July 29, 2025

Lighting Up The Skies...

 Here at the Jersey Shore, fireworks are a big deal, a really big deal
and not just on holidays.
Every Thursday night, Point Pleasant Boardwalk lights up the sky with a very impressive display!
We went on Thursday, we usually watch from the parking lot because the boardwalk is so crouded,
but we decided to take our life in our hands, go up on the boardwalk and watch from there.
We found a great spot and wow, what a show.









Ice cream followed, it was a big night for us!

Sunday, July 27, 2025

Saturday, July 26, 2025

Saturday Critters #606

All summer long my hummingbird feeder has been seeing a lot of action and the hubs helps me keep it filled with sweet, fresh, water. 
I have been casual about getting pictures because they are just so quick.
By the time I get the camera turned on, get the window open and get the lens focused and zoomed...
they are always gone.
The harder I tried, the more difficult it became...and the pictures were not very good.
So, I am going to do something I never do....I am sharing images, taken by me, during past summers.

These are much better than what I have been getting and are not worthy of sharing...

- the first 3 are male -



- female -

- female -

- male -


- two females -


Fun Facts About Hummingbirds

1. Hummingbirds can fly forward, backward, shift sideways, and stop in Mid - Air.
2. An average hummingbird consumes at least 1/2 of its weight in nectar each day. 
3. The Hummingbird is the smallest bird in the world.
4. A Hummingbird can reach speeds up to 60 mph.
5. A Hummingbirds wings beat up to 78 times, per second.
6. A Female Hummingbirds tongue is longer that the male.
7. Hummingbirds do not have a sense of smell.
8. Hummingbirds eat about every ten minutes.

Sharing today's images with Eileen at 
Viewing Nature With Eileen 
for Saturdays Critters

Friday, July 25, 2025

Join Us For A Game Of Mini Golf

Castaway Cove Adventure Golf
Right out of the gate, in my need to be upfront and transparent,
the hubs cheats at Putt-Putt!
His need to win compromises his ability to be honest.
There were two courses we could follow, we chose The Crowsnest, the easier of the two.
We played all 18 holes of this amazing course, 
the props and scenery were remarkable.


An interesting read...


It had a shipwreck, pirate theme...



The hubs picked the blue ball, me...purple of course.


The first hole...


some of us take the game a little too seriously and we have a good laugh at ourselves.

I actually got off to a really good start.

The woman who was weeding the gardens offered to take this picture for us,
- so sweet -


This waterfall was quite refreshing and was a great spot to cool off, we lingered a while,
the course was not crowded.





 
We really had so much fun, on this Tuesday afternoon, 
it was supposed to be a lot cooler on Tuesday, but for me, it wasn't...
 still we had a really nice afternoon.


I won...I'm not really sure how but the score was 46 - 49, with me coming out on top!


The Point Pleasant Beach Boardwalk, where the golf course was,
 was celebrating Christmas in July,
with lots of fun things to do for the young and the young at heart!
The hubs dared me to pick his nose.



We had dinner at a local seafood shack, it looks a little scary but the food is amazing.
We both had cod fish and a ceasar salad, it is our go to seafood restaurant in the Point Pleasant area.

Thursday, July 24, 2025

Thunder Road Books

 I have been looking for new books to help me with my watercolor painting journey.
I ordered two books online, 
books I thought to be the same as what I had been using and enjoying, but with different themes.
When they came I realized
they were both "copycats" of the books I have been using, they have different paper.
Not watercolor paper, but white shiny paper, that was not conducive to watercolor paint.


I went to
A really cute, new bookstore in Spring Lake, here at the shore.


I did a little research on the name of the book store and it's connection to Bruce Springsteen's song
  - Thunder Road -
While not owned by Bruce the name clearly references his work, making the connection through the song.
Bruce grew up here in Monmouth County, where the store is located, 
close to where he spent his teen years.


So nice and cozy, I really loved the vibe of the store.
If you are ever in the area, stop by and support this local shop and the other small stores nearby.



There, I found the 2 authentic books I wanted...what I thought I had ordered, and would be receiving.
These have the right quality paper..

I am excited to start painting in the birds book...as of right now, I have only painted flowers.


This is one of the two books I received from my online purchase. 
You can see that the paper is a glossy white paper, not heavy, watercolor paper.


If you decide to try one of these books, (they are all over IG and Amazon),
I recommend buying one at a local bookstore, where you can feel the pages.
I was told at Thunder Road books, there are 4 "copycats companies" making and selling these books.
The two I ordered online can not be returned and cannot be used with watercolor paints. 
I am going to try using colored pencils rather than throwing them out!

What hobby are you favoring right now during these dog days of summer.
- It is nice to have a hobby that keeps you happy indoors -

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

The Elusive Monarchs

  When I started this post, I had only seen one Monarch Butterfly so far this summer.
Publishings I read say they are on the decline, I agree, how sad.

For several years we planted Milkweed to help attract them, 
but it didn't work so I didn't plant any this year.


Fast forward to yesterday, when I was working at my desk and I saw one flutter by my window, 
heading right toward my butterfly bush...
ooooh the excitement.


I hurried as fast as I could, out the door and there it was, 
it found and landed on one of my many beautiful butterfly bushes I have.

This butterfly bush is my favorite...it is huge and I love the color, magenta. 


This is the best time of summer to reap the benefits from pruning your butterfly bushes.
The bush blooms a second full bloom, if it is pruned after the first flowers die off.


This little book is definitely worth reading...
Gift from the Sea
by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, this is the 70th Anniversary Edition.

I pruned my Hydrangea bushes also and they have started to provide additional new blooms,
as always, I like to bring some inside to enjoy!!