Stormy Day at the Beach

I always find going to the beach in September extra sweet.

The children are back at school. The light is changing and you know

 that the number of beach days is growing smaller and smaller.

Yesterday we we greeted by the sight of wild waves. 

"They were much bigger yesterday," the life guard said. 

Such wonderful, crashing, disorganized waves. No chance of swimming. 

Hurricane Katia somewhere miles and miles away. 

I think the lifeguards have fun in their dune buggies.

 I think the lifeguards have fun in general.

Hurricane Irene had cut into the dunes making a little cliff.

Later on the biting flies came out.

A splendid day for being beside the sea

A small person on a large beach!

but no one was allowed in it

except the surfers.

Irene Aftermath/ Long Island

All state parks are closed so instead of going to the beach

 we went to visit a friend in Huntington

where lots of families are still without power, so the bagel shop was extra popular.

A big tree had fallen in Heckscher Park  -- one of a huge number of trees all over the place.

The guys sawing it up were pretty keen to have their photo taken.

On the village green the usual gaggle of Canada geese

wandering near toppled trees and fallen branches.

We passed by the little old house where our children grew up

and pondered the maple soaring above it.

ps Doesn't Irene Aftermath sound like a novelist who specializes in romance?

Wet

Hurricane Irene was not as terrifying as billed in the media.

I took the dog out this morning. Streets pretty much deserted except for another dog owner.

Wet, wet, wet, but not too much wind in Chelsea.

Bad phone photos since the real camera is sensitive to water.

So, I headed home

and looked at the wet sidewalk out of the window.

Some places are having awful flooding problems so we hope the wretched storm goes away soon. Thanks to everyone who sent good wishes!

An Afternoon Walk

Still waiting for Irene to arrive.

The corner diner is still open with the windows taped.

Only a few lemons left at the deli and the cat not really wanting to part with them either.

The vegetarian restaurant on 9th Avenue is taking this pretty seriously.

So is the nail parlor.

A glimpse of things to come......

and a parting view of the diner.