We just returned from our annual family beach week. Through the years our family always sets aside this special week to gather together. No matter how old we are, we are beach people. From the grands to our children and finally ourselves we must have salt water running through our veins. My parents were the same.
I had never seen this photo of my parents until after they had passed away. I'm pretty sure it was taken before I was born. Being at the beach always reminds me of my parents. This same beach week was observed with them until they left this earth. There is something special about beaches to my parents and now me and my children and grands.
Find us a beach and we are happy to be there. We don't need fancy, just a chair and an umbrella and the beautiful ocean spreading before us. Our weather was gorgeous during our special week. One afternoon we had threatening clouds with a little rain, so we retreated to work on a puzzle our son-in-law gifted Grayden.
Here is the M&M 1,000 piece puzzle put together. I never knew there were so many different kinds of M&Ms!
Getting up early the last morning to see our daughter and son-in-law off we were treated to a gorgeous sunrise. Seeing the sunrise over the ocean never grows old for this old gal.
Boy you look like your Mom. Great photo of your folks.
ReplyDeleteI grew up on the coast so I do have a special place in my heart for the beach however, I'm now living in the north central valley of California where the mountain forests are 30 minutes away. I have grown in the 16 years we have lived here, to love the mountains and the trees. Unfortunately, where I grew up and lived, the beaches are way too touristy. When I was a kid, it was just us locals. I don't feel as comfortable as I used to. So much has changed.
You know, Debby, I've never thought I looked like my Mama. I really think I look more like my Daddy. Thank you for the compliment, though. I love the mountains as well. We can reach the mountains in an hour and the beach in three hours. Going to the mountains in the fall is a must for us! Thank you for stopping and leaving a comment.
DeleteI am most definitely under the spell of the sea I have long said, where as many privileged are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, I was born with a fish hook! I spent many years working on the sea in our family business. both on shore as office manager, and as crew member on the boats itself. I have always felt completely at home on the ocean.
ReplyDeleteWhat's an adorable picture of your parents? You are so like your dear mama. What a treasure to find it though, Such a lovely photo with their beautiful smiling faces.
Have a wonderful rest of the week!
Deb, I knew you were under the spell of the sea. Living where you do and working the sea must have been great! How could you not love the sea? My nephew had this photo of my parents and shared it just a few years ago. You know those big boxes of photos that folks threw them all in? This treasure was discovered in one. Enjoy the rest of your week, my friend!
DeleteWhat a treasured photo of your mom and dad, Martha Ellen, and an attractive couple. You had such a nice week with your family at the ocean. That M&M's puzzle looks like a fun one, and looks like it may have take awhile to put together. Wow, I never knew there were that many flavors of M&M's either, but I'll take them all. I love M&M's, peanut being my favorite. What a beautiful gift of the rainbow you received. Can't say that I'm under the spell of the ocean, but I am in awe with the mountains and the pines and the smell of the mountain air and fresh water to drink. I always have been, ever since my mother-in-law built her house in the mountains and we would visit often. This is a dear photo of the grandchildren, and a lovely sunrise to greet you. : )
ReplyDelete~Sheri
Hi Sheri, that puzzle did take a while to put together. With everyone working on it, it was solved by the end of the day. I love the mountains as well, my friend! And you live in them. Thank you for commenting on our little week at the beach. Enjoy your week!
DeleteWe have vacationed as a family at a wonderful beach house on the Chesapeake, but now we have too many in our family to be allowed to rent it! Where do you go? Do you rent the same place every year? I love sunrises over the water, too.
ReplyDeleteCathy, we have two timeshare apartments in Va Beach that we have owned for over 30 years. The first week of August we all gather together to enjoy the beach. I have been going here every since I was a young teen. The two apartments each have two bedrooms ,a kitchen and a living room. We all gather for our meals together trading cooking duties.
DeleteThat sunrise is amazing. Would be proper to eat m&ms while doing that puzzle. We do enjoy the beach especially in the winter walking in the early morning. We are not close to the Pacific ocean anymore. I'd like to plan a week at the beach with our grands and kids. Sweet photo of your parents!
ReplyDeleteThe sunrises over the ocean are amazing, Ellen. It's nice to hear you enjoy winter walks at the beach, as we do as well. We have walked many miles along the sandy oceanfront enjoying every special moment. Have a lovely day.
DeleteThe beach scenes are lovely, the sunset stunning! That’s a sweet photo of your beautiful mom and handsome dad. I love to be at the beach when it’s in the cooler weather and less crowds, sit on the sand and just stare out to sea. In that sense I am under its spell. I love the mountains so my ideal home would be ocean in the front of me and mountains behind me. Sounds like you had wonderful weather except for a few sprinkles. Sweet photo of your family sitting in front of all those puzzle M & M’s. I didn’t know there were so many either. Jigsaw Puzzles are fun, a thoughtful gift from your son-in-law. A great quote from Jacques Cousteau. I used to love his shows back in the day. Have a wonderful Friday and weekend Martha Ellen.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments, Denise. That would be amazing to have the ocean in front of us and the mountains behind. At the beach we spend our days under an umbrella feeling the breeze from the ocean front. I can't belive I used to sit in the sun all those years ago! Jacques Cousteau was the first person I remember that wanted us to protect the environment, particularly the ocean. Enjoy your Friday and weekend too!
ReplyDeleteI'm a beach person too, so I completely understand why you feel the way you do. That photo of your parents is lovely -- they look like loving and very happy people. Your family is a handsome one and I'm so glad you can all be together. Good weather, glorius skies, even a rainbow, which makes a shower more palatable. That puzzle would make me crazy!
ReplyDeleteThat puzzle did drive me crazy, Jeanie. Most of the other puzzle solvers seemed to enjoy the challenge more than others. It was a fun diversion for a rainy afternoon.
DeleteWhat a beautiful sunrise that is.
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy being by water ... the sea, a lake or river, even a meandering stream is calming and good for the soul.
All the best Jan
PS That puzzle looks a good one.
Jan, thank you for all of your lovely comments, my friend. I agree, there is something about water that brings peace to our souls. Have a happy week.
DeleteWe love ocean beaches, but for us, just the remote secluded ones. Just the waves lapping on the shore and gulls overhead. So peaceful.
ReplyDeleteRemote beaches are great. The older I get the more that appeals to me. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate it!
DeleteOh my, what a puzzle to put together. It looks like a hard one with so many colors and pieces. Grand picture of grandchildren on sofa. Lovely picture of Dad and Mom. I see resemblance of you in both of them. It is so nice that you have the tradition carried on with family beach time. I never can get mine together like that. I wish I could.
ReplyDeleteI love the beach more now than ever. A calming sound of waves thrashing to shore, just watching them gives me a peaceful feeling. We go often to Colonial beach because it's a little closer to our home with a chair, coffee and book. Park in the sand and just enjoy. I guess a spell it does cast over both my husband and me.
I like going to Va. beach in fall and winter for a few days. The waves are stronger then. It's the sound and sky that time of year.
Betsy, that puzzle was a doozey for sure, but so much fun to have it for all of us to work together that rainy afternoon. These beach weeks mean the world to our family, especially Grayden and I. Colonial Beach is a lovely little beach that is quite close to us. We go there occassionally. Parking in the sand with a drink and a book sounds lovely. Going to Va Beach anytime of the year is wonderful to me. Just being near water is always peaceful to me, Betsy! Have a great weekend.
DeleteDoesn't matter what the weather, a day at the beach is still a day at the beach. I don't know who coined that phrase, but I like it. Rain today and tomorrow, feels so good. Have a good night and great week ahead.
DeleteI love the beach although I never went as a child. But, the peace it brings me can't be replicated anywhere. Your parents look so young, so happy. I know you miss them.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right Latane. The peace the beach brings can't be replicated anywhere. I do miss my parents. Surely there is a beach in heaven for them!
DeleteWhat a wonderful tradition, Martha Ellen! We have taken a few family vacations over the years with expended family, but everyone's work schedules makes it hard to do every year. That puzzle looked fun to complete!
ReplyDeletePat, this is one tradition that our whole family enjoys so we set the date early every year. It is harder to get everyone together now that all of our grands are in college. We have been making several puzzles lately as the weather has been so hot and humid.
DeleteI grew up living at the ocean in New England so it is much loved! We live in a rural mountain village now, in Vermont. I miss the sea. We are not able to visit as often as we would like. I love your idea of having the family all get together at the sea! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteGrowing up at the ocean sounds so wonderful, Mrs. White! I'm sure you cherish those memories and now have many to cherish living in the mountains.
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