Had a fabulous time in Avalon. I won't go day-by-day writing about it; suffice it to say (these old saws keep popping into my head!) that it included walking on the mile-long boardwalk, going down the beach, enjoying the children (ages almost two and almost one), eating breakfast and lunch out (we met nephew Tim on Tuesday and ate Mexican), talking and laughing a lot, and having great fun. The huge, beautiful house is right on the beach and has seven bedrooms, each with its own bath (the civilized way to live, it seems to me--every bedroom should have its own bath), and the accommodations were similar to a luxury hotel. Big, big kitchen with a large, two-level island, granite counter tops, two sinks, a hidden refrig (the outside looks like cabinets), plus a "cold locker," a large, deep drawer in the island which was also a refrigerator, a wine cellar, a six-burner stove, and a light system that covered the hanging lights, high tops, and others.
They weren't needed during the day because it was wonderfully sunny most of the time and, as all the houses in Avalon seem to, it had big, big windows facing the ocean. There was also an up-to-day electronic system, so intricate only Susan could figure it out. It governed the three gigantic T.V.'s and one cunning small one (about 4 by 6 inches) that sat on the counter. That one--fascinating!--displayed up-to-the-minute temperatures and could be programmed to carry news, live cams, movies and, for all I know, anything you could get on television.
Anyway, great time. Loved being with brother Frank, his Marybeth, Susan's parents, Charlie and Lee, his sister, Diana, her sister, Oony, and the two adorable babies. Nephew Patrick, the host, didn't arrive back from Morocco until Thursday night; Susan had preceded him on Wednesday morning. Oh, didn't I mention they were in Morocco? More on that incredible story tomorrow. For now, I want to settle back into my usual routine after a wonderful, mini-vacation.