Beach Chairs On The Bay by Adele Downs #photography
Except for my signature, this photo is unaltered.
Photo copyright Adele Downs 2018.
Archive for the ‘Living At The Beach’ Category
Alone At The Beach by Adele Downs #photography
Except for my signature, this photo is unaltered.
Photo copyright Adele Downs 2018.
Little Library At The Beach
Greetings from the beach! I moved from my family home in Pennsylvania to my vacation home in Delaware full-time and dove straight into summer. As part of my new routine, I’m taking early morning walks on the boardwalk along the ocean. The air at dawn is cool and refreshing, and I’m learning to appreciate rising early to work out. By 8 AM, the sun starts to get hot, and my enthusiasm for exercise declines with every uptick of the thermometer.
Near the end of my route, a sign for a Book Box takes me a few yards off the boardwalk to an adorable little free library. Book Boxes are popping up all over the country, and book lovers and authors like me are thrilled by the trend. The process is easy–take a book, give a book. No library card or membership of any kind is needed and you can borrow or donate at any time.
There might be a little Book Box or two in your community. If not, maybe you and an organization close to your heart can start one in your neighborhood. Reading is fun!
Happy summer!
How could I resist taking a look?
Following Ms. Bunny to the Book Box.
Built by the Village Improvement Association.
Take a book. Donate a book. Easy.
I’ll be glad to donate signed copies of my books.
**
Photos copyright Adele Downs 2018.
It’s Freezing Cold, Dark, and Gloomy #HappyNewYear2018 #NewYear
It’s dangerously cold here on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic coast, and even the beach looks dark and gloomy this holiday weekend. Polar Bear Plunge fundraising swims have been cancelled in several beach communities due to concerns about public safety, and a news story reported that sharks are freezing in the frigid waters. I’m blowing the dust off my treadmill to exercise inside, since it’s waaaay too cold to take a walk on the boardwalk or around the park.
I’ll spend New Year’s Eve with Netflix, a cozy fire in the fireplace, and a glass of wine. Have I mentioned that I hate winter?
Stay warm, everyone! Happy New Year! Wishing you the best in 2018.
Photo copyright Adele Downs, 2017.
Santa’s House on The Boardwalk – #Christmas #ChristmasSpirit
I took these pictures of Santa’s House on the Rehoboth, Delaware boardwalk, where children visit Santa every weekend from Thanksgiving ’til Christmas. My three-year old grandson is just beginning to grasp the concept of Santa Claus, especially the part about him bringing toys to good children, and his excitement has filled me with Christmas spirit. There’s nothing like having a small child around to better appreciate the holidays.
Merry Christmas!
Mornings By The Bay: #HurricaneJose2017, Donating Royalties to #AmericanRedCross
(Photo: Hours before Hurricane Jose moved along the Mid-Atlantic U.S. east coast.)
My husband and I decided to spend most of September at the beach to squeeze out every last ray of summer sunshine, and to finish the DIY bathroom remodel from hell. (More about that later.) For days the weather forecasters told us not to be concerned about Hurricane Jose’s path toward the Delaware peninsula; the storm would probably blow out to sea before it reached us. Because of these forecasts, we decided to stay in our Delaware house on the bay instead of returning home to Pennsylvania when Hurricane Jose moved up the east coast. Then the path changed and New Jersey, New York, and New England became targets of the hurricane, though Delaware would experience high winds and torrential rain. We’d ridden out tropical storms in the past without incident, and remained cautiously optimistic as we headed to the store for supplies.
It seemed as if everyone in town went shopping at once, because the stores were mobbed, and people were stocking up on food and cases of bottled water. We filled our Jeep’s gas tank to enable us to flee at a moment’s notice if Mother Nature changed direction and turned against us. We also expected another gas price hike after the hurricane blew by. Afterward, I made a trip to my favorite bookstore to buy a paperback and a magazine in case of a power outage. Then the weather forecast changed again, and the conditions for Delaware were expected to improve, with the exception of some beach erosion and areas of coastal flooding. We were relieved we wouldn’t live to regret our decision to remain in our house.
As it turned out, we were very lucky, because the Category 1 hurricane that brushed our peninsula from 200 miles offshore remained the weakest of the summer storms. When I think about the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the impact of Jose on states further north, and Maria’s destruction to our neighbors to the south, I’m thankful we were spared. I’m sending prayers and all possible good wishes to those negatively affected by the Hurricanes of 2017.
P.S. I will donate 100% of my royalties for my western romance KISSING HER COWBOY, set in Houston, Texas to the American Red Cross when you purchase the book between now and October 31. This is one of my most popular stories and was an Amazon Top 100 seller in three categories. Since the book costs only .99 and my portion of the sale is much smaller than a dollar, I will match every royalty I receive from my publisher in my quarterly check with a personal donation. You get the book for entertainment and the proceeds go to charity. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Here are the links to buy KISSING HER COWBOY.
Amazon https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSFV2UC/
Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/396388
Boroughs Publishing Group http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/kissing-her-cowboy
