August 2, 2008
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Babies at the Beach
The weather has been unbearably hot here in South. So hot, in fact, that unless you’re in water, there is no other good reason to be outside. This summer I couldn’t believe how hot and humid it is (last summer we were in PA, so this is my first summer in the South). So I asked the other women I know around here what they do in the summer – surely they must just get used to it and be outside a lot, as I remember being outside all day long as a child and swimming every day? But no, almost each and every one who lives here has told me that in the summer, you and your children just stay inside. The combination of heat/humidity and BUGS like you wouldn’t believe force you inside all summer long, unless you have a pool to go to. [My husband is the exception. For some reason, he rarely gets bitten, and he seems to love to have rivetts of sweat run down his body. He's the exception. There aren't many people like him that I know of.]
So, what to do when the baby is sooo much happier outside, but it’s too hot/humid, and she’ll be bitten every time within 10 minutes by fire ants, or mosquitos, or have about 20 gnats flying around her eyes??! I have been sooo clausterphobic inside these days! And since Walmart is the only shopping within an hour, there is no mall closeby to just go walk at…
My friend, Linda, and I were talking, and trying desperately to figure out a place that we could at least go swimming. Get the babies (and us!) in some cool water, get out of the house a bit (and she’s living in a pull-behind camper until their house is finished being built!)… But alas, in all of the South as we know it there was no pool to be found that was either open or available for wanna-be swimmers such as us. We were desperate. And I was beginning to get grouchy from being inside sooooo much!
We decided on the beach! Yes, it’s an hour drive, and yes, it was a little stretch for the babies to be in their seats in the middle of the day like that, but OH SO FUN when we were there!
It was hot at the beach too, but there was a breeze, and the babies had ever so much fun!!
Zoe’ and Roland – splashing and laughing and having a great time!
The Little Man
They had a blast eating sea shells.
For some reason, the sand was very muddy that day… But Zoe’ thought it tasted perfectly fine anyway!
I LOVE this picture.
And this I had to put in just to show his adorable little tummy!
Our afternoon was cut shorter than we expected because of a huge thunderstorm that rolled in very suddenly. If I would have known everything, I wouldn’t have been snapping pictures – I would have been running for the car! But I thought it was just a little rain shower…
The wind was blowing the sand in cool patterns all over the beach. Reminded me of being in an airplane and and seeing the whispy clouds underneath me.
Photo with grain texture
Photo with play on the lighting (it was actually very dark and stormy looking)
Linda and I ended up RUNNING to the little beach house and staying there for almost a half hour because of the thunderstorm!
But what a fun day! Fun for babies, mothers, and friendships! And thank the Lord for lovely places to go to get wet in the heat of the summer…
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I’ve had a fettish for basil and new recipes of late – and after I uploaded these pictures I noticed other people do too! My latest new thing was making a grilled pizza… I had heard about these things but never tried them myself. My first attempt didn’t turn out perfect, in fact, part of the crust crumbled when I was turning it over on the grill, but it was absolutely DELISH!
I used a Pampered Chef recipe, called Italian Grilled Pizza. Instead of the traditional pepperoni and pizza sauce, this called for olive oil, fresh garlic, fresh tomatoes, black olives, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. It was wonderful! Even Ben declared it a winner.He said it tasted very authentic Italian – and it does, with all those fresh ingredients… He’s such a brave husband, I’m constantly trying new recipes… Some are wonderful, and some, well, he doesn’t comment on much.
Italian Grilled Pizza
Comments (13)
that is so funny that you post that about the pizza. i did that exact same recipe this week. Really good, except i think i scorched my crust jus a bit. I have to get the heat thing figured out. I think i might try putting it onto the pizza stone inside the grill partway through to keep it from getting too crispy. next time. awesome recipe though!
Oh Honey, (using the southern lingo) you really must remember that de north and de south are two different cultures and really just can’t be compared
Small towns have their benefits along with the “not so nice” things. Sometime it would be fun to try to get together with you. Enjoy your summer….I wish that the beach was a little closer to us..:( ~Dorcas
Love the pictures! That tummy….seems to just get bigger and bigger! I love the ones of Zoe eating sand too! (: What a fun day..the t-storm just added to the good memories.(:
I’ll have to get that recipe from you! I am all into basil right now too, seems like a need a dash (or maybe more like a handful) in everything I eat!(: I think it’s all the wonderfully fresh tomatoes that makes me so hungry for the taste.
Hey, we like live in Dublin, so its not too far away.
babies on the beach…just the cutest thing! :O)
Ooohh . . . looks like so much fun–at the beach that is–the heat and bugs don’t appeal to me much! =) And the pizza looks delicious too. I sure am enjoying *your* old stompin’ grounds (PA & pool), but am ACHING for you to be here to enjoy it with me. I almost feel guilty when I’m at your parent’s place enjoying talking to your mom, swimming, etc. and knowing that you’d love to be there too! I’d give a lot to have you near by, esp. right now. MISS you.
awww! looks like so much fun!
Oh the heat of the south!!! I too an a southern transplant, originally from upstate NY, to DE, and now to AL!! I moved here end of last JUly so I was here for record breaking temps in Aug last year, but man it gets HOT!! I’ve said already that I think the heat down here is as bad as the cold up north!!! But then I did love playing in the snow when I was younger up north(do u ever miss the snow or get a little jealous when it gets dumped on? We got a dusting of snow last winter but not much, it is AL after all!!) And of course there are the red ants!!! We do have the advantage of a pool closeby if we want to use it as our neighbors have an inground pool and have told us to come over and use it whenever (although the liner got tore and is just now getting fixed!!). DOn’t get me wrong, the south is great, but yea, mom and dad are up north on vacation right now and mom told me the other day, “THe summers up here are nice!”
oh i’m soooo sorry that you don’t have anywhere to go swimming!!!! I know how you feel cuz you either need to be at the pool or definitely in the air condition. Although lots of days i do take adam outside cuz that is just where he wants to be. But of course we-well i-don’t last long. Adam’s usually throwing a fit as i take him back inside. I’m convinced he could live outside!!! Back to the pool thing-i’ve been here 4 years and there was one summer that i felt like you do-there was nowhere to go cuz there are no nice public pools and i didn’t really know of anyone that had a pool or i felt bad to ask cuz i didn’t know them that well yet! The next year i found out there’s a little sandy beach area at the lake for swimmers-we only went there with the boat-and that was wonderful-only 20 minutes away. Last year i had a friend’s pool that i went to lots and now this year i’m blessed-2 of my friends have one and i got to know my neighbors better and so i got enough nerve to ask and they said sure anytime BUT i’ve only been at the pool about twice this summer cuz Adam loves it too much and has no scare and tries to jump right in-it’s just easier for me not to go. But i know your pain.
Ok enough of that! I saw your sister this weekend at the BMA thing! i was babysitting so didn’t get to see many people but she came up and talked to me today! Wish you would’ve come up to hang out with them! Well hope you enjoy the rest of the summer!
Okay, I’m one of those weird people who LOVES hot summers. I even have a post written (in my head) and we’ll see if it makes it online.
Glad you and Linda had a fun day together.
So cute! Looks like they are enjoying it! And yes, the summers are quite hot. Water makes the heat bearable and I haven’t even been to the beach once this summer yet. Got to fit that in somewhere!!! See ya!
Oh, yeah and I forgot to say, that pizza looks delicious!!!!!
the pizza looks smashing! i wondered though how you grill on both sides with out the toppings falling off?
nothing like babies at a beach! you make me long for the water… mmm, zoe is beautiful as always– i love her suit.
oh, was funny, when we were in PA I went walking alone one day. Walked past what I am sure is your old home place. Your mom was working outside. thought that was kinda cool…