San Onofre #95

Camping at San Onofre with Uncle Robert and Aunt Gina was a delight! The boys surfed Saturday (3 times) and early Sunday morning. We met Chloe and while the boys surfed, Gina, Chloe and I played around the campsite, went for beach walks and collected some rocks (white quartz...very cool) and shells. The campfire under the stars was awesome and the morning pancakes were delicious! Thanks to Robert and Gina for an amazing weekend!

A surf day at Bolsa Chica

The Junior Guards went on a field trip to Bolsa Chica beach in Orange County today. The boys like to get there early to catch some waves, so we left the Portofino at 6:00 am. We drove south down Pacific Coast Hiway. Shauna, Cole and I dropped off the surfers and headed into Huntington Beach to the Sugar Shack for a little Sunshine Special (2 eggs, hash browns and toast) and no this did not help to bring the sun out. It has been foggy most of our stay this summer. We did a little antique shopping and then back to the beach for a little reading and beachcombing until the gang was ready for transport back to Redondo.

High Tide Low Tide

I love the ebb and flow of the ocean. The constant motion of the tides is beauty at its finest. Tonight riding back to the Portofino on my bicycle (#9) I noticed the high tide with the waves crashing up on the beach. The salt air jumps around and splashes me as I ride along the bike path. Even though the fog is thick and cold, the salt air feels warm.

Beauty Morning with Jean!

Today I visited Jean Broese at Flavio's School of Beauty for a pedicure! Jean did a fantastic job of it!

Vintage Redondo Beach

We're staying at the Portofino Hotel which is located in King Harbor! I found these vintage images of the old horse shoe shaped Pier!

Catalina Island Adventure

Mama can stand up paddleboard!

Fun at the AVP

It never rains in California?

The boys had regional competition today for JG's at Dockweiler Beach and to our surprise, the rain started coming down! A little midwest rainstorm for southern California! The boys both competed in the ocean swim with hopes of making the L.A. county team for regionals.

KHYC

Had a wonderful evening with Pam and Jim at the KHYC tonight! The moon was just a sliver over the ocean!

number 33

How can I choose just one favorite, when I have so many to choose from? Number 9, you are a dream to pedal...getting me from the Portofino to the Village Garden is just a snap, but number 33 cannot be beat! Especially with a white basket on the front to hold the groceries from Trader Joes!

Sun sun sunny day in Redondo

I say mus and you say stache!

Mus.stache, Mus.stache!

I can't wait to see the official "A" and "AA" Redondo Beach AM junior lifeguard group photo. They used black zinc to make a mustache on a few kids for the photo and the next thing you know, all 50 kids (including the girls) have a mustache! Jack Pollard even has a beard!

Hennessey's Paddleboard

Today the boys competed in the Hennessey's Paddleboard race.

Navy Seal Lifeguard Day

Today I went on a nice bike ride along the strand in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach with dear friends Jemma and Shauna. After a nice cup of coffee, we headed back to Redondo Beach to see the Navy Seal Challenge...So fun to see these kids working hard on the beach.

2 4 1

That is two for one breakfast or two for one burgers at Hennessey's I had the breakfast variety today with Shauna...mmmgood. We went to Hermosa and then did a little window shopping on Pier Avenue after.

Three Cheers for the Red White and Blue

We're going on a photo walk today around the beach cities, taking photos of things that are red, white and blue!

Happy 4th to you.

Summer of Color

The lifeguard towers of the South Bay have an entire new look this summer...and do they look outrageous.

Summer of Color is the largest public art project in the U.S., and also one of the largest civic efforts in the world. For five months beginning in May, the LA County lifeguard towers – on 31 miles of beach -- will be transformed into a collective work of art, a span that includes: Zuma, Point Dume, Malibu, Will Rogers, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Playa Del Rey, Dockweiler, El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Torrance, Palos Verdes, and San Pedro.

stories of summer

I'm just loving Ali Edwards Stories of Summer posts. Especially this post by Molly Irwin. I love her use of water colors to create the title pages and the theme of water, sun, plants...perfect and simple and I can even try to capture that here in Redondo Beach while the boys are busy in the water, sun and sand. I like how she records her memories through senses also:

Seeing: boys on bikes heading off to junior guards daily

Hearing: waves crashing and seals barking

Tasting: chef salads, yougurt and fruit, tea with milk

Smelling: salty sea water and clean sheets in our rented apartment

Feeling: so lucky to be here in our old stomping grounds with good friends

On the strand with Jemma

Today Jemma and I took a nice beach cruiser ride down to Manhattan Beach and had a nice cup of tea with cinamon bread at the end of the Manhattan Beach Pier. The fog was thick, but the tea warmed us up!