2015-07-28 - Tuesday - Fishing

Tuesday a bunch of us went flounder fishing on the Duke o' Fluke. It's a tradition that we've kept up for at least 15 years. We usually don't catch a keeper (since NJ says it has to be 18 inches long), but it's still a fun four hour trip.

On this day I caught 8 flounder, 2 sea robins, and a sea bass, but no keepers. It was a good day with lots of action.

This year was a little different as nephews Justin and Ryan went, and also Adam (niece Audrey's beau) and Brett (Stephanie's beau).

Afterwards we went to Uncle Bill's for a Texas Tommy. Good stuff.

Brett, Adam, Justin (Ryan was at the stern)

Adam, Brett, Justin.
We all got Texas Tommys except Brett
who just couldn't pass up the pecan pancakes.

.

2015-07-27 - Monday - Rest and wildlife

Monday we continued doing our shore things and having lots of fun. In the words of Elmer Fudd, "west and wewaxation". Oh, and long walks on the beach.

Stephanie and Karen on the balcony.

Pop-pop chowing down.

Approaching sunset.

Whenever we visit another beach I miss all the wildlife I see in Ocean City. Whether we're at Rehoboth, DE, Destin, FL, or Myrtle Beach, SC I never see the creatures I encounter in NJ. As an example all along the beach there are baby clam beds like the one below.

Baby clams in the surf.

As soon as the wave leaves, they burrow back into the sand.

They may all look white in this video, but they are several pastel colors.

.

2015-07-26 - Sunday - Beach and moon

Sunday was our first full day at the shore. We did all the shore things like cook, eat, nap, etc. Time goes more quickly at the shore and you don't want to blink too much, but those naps are mighty nice.

Clouds and dunes.

There's a moon up there.

There it is.

In the background you can see the sand reclamation platform.

Ryan checking his phone.
There's always a lot of that.

.

2015-07-25 - Saturday - Ocean City, NJ

We arrived in Ocean City, NJ for our annual beach sojourn on Saturday. Things have changed quite a bit since hurricane Sandy. The first thing I noticed was the old pier ruins are gone.

.

2015-07-23 - Thursday - Doe, a deer, a female deer

I was leaving on Thursday evening and stopped to photograph this doe in my neighbor's backyard. She was very calm and waited for me to get my cell phone out and start the camera app. After I took this she waited patiently while I climbed in my van, turned it around and went out of the driveway. During my three-point turn she started grazing again, so I guess I was dismissed as a threat.

The deer population has ballooned in Charlotte in recent years. If I would have waited fifteen more minutes there would probably be five or six more in the photo. They own the place; apparently we're just visiting.

For some reason that fence rail I replaced has gone swayback. I'm going to have to flip it and/or replace it.

.

2015-07-22 - Wednesday - Migas

Lately I've been making different variations of migas. Here is the beginning of today's dish with corn tortilla, red bell pepper, and baby spinach. To that I added scrambled eggs with taco seasoning and shredded cheese. Once it's finished I top it off with some Cholula sauce and slide half an avocado onto the plate. It makes me very happy.

Some days I use onions and leftover peas, sometimes some tomatoes, whatever I have handy. It's all good.

.

2015-07-21 - Tuesday - Pots

Tuesday I threw some new pots at Clayworks. I made a couple of one-piece pots and a two-piece snorkel pot using craggy crunch. I like the large amount of grog in craggy crunch because it makes it very pliable.

.