Vacation or something resembling it..

This week I am on vacation. You can call it a vacation as we are not home but on Cape Cod. We will go to fun destinations...but.... when we arrived, I mopped the floors, cleaned toilets, wiped counters, grocery shopped, vacuumed and cooked dinner! Do we mothers ever really go on a vacation?? I do count myself lucky to have a friend who loans me her summer house free of charge that sits right on a lake and is close to my family.

Today we got to spend the afternoon with my mom, my sister, my sister in law and 2 of her children. Of the 4 kids, 3 enjoyed the beach, went swimming, ate lunch and sunbathed (or should I say sunburned!) while one of hers, who hates the beach, complained most of the time we sat there. The day was warm with a constant breeze (which created small sand storms that were annoying so I don't blame J for wanting to go home!).

After a day on the beach, we went home and awaited the arrival of M's best friend who will spend a few days with us. I grilled some chicken and after dinner and clean up, we hit the road and went to the Sandwich boardwalk. What a beautiful night! I enjoyed walking along combing the shore as the kids walked and talked. Sam and I enjoyed playing with our cameras and taking photos of various plants, rocks, people and birds. It was a relaxing way to spend the end of the day.

The Sandwich boardwalk

Meri and her best friend Grace
Sam taking a photo of some local fauna.

I love playing with my camera and getting interesting shots.

Bird houses on the marsh.

On the way out back to the car, we noticed a large group of people had arrived at the beginning of the boardwalk. I noticed them partaking in a favorite activity I recall with fondness from my earlier life on living on Cape Cod. The tide had come in creating a wonderful deep area to jump into from the bridge. Kids and adults jumped into the cold water's of the marsh while many stopped to watch. As a young teen, my friends and I loved this summer activity and often jumped off the side of a small overpass in Barnstable harbor. The major difference from this place was ours had a rip current that would drag you out into the marsh where known eels lived. You didn't want to tangle with one of those! And it had rocks covered in barnacles that you had to climb out onto...no 'water shoes' back then...just cut up legs and feet! So we had a rope that dangled under the overpass to grab hold of. At one point one man retrieved a member of his group and carried her over his shoulder to the bridge.

You could hear the members of his family talking "Oh he's just teasing, he won't throw her in" and others, "I hope he throws her in!".

All eyes were on this man and his daughter/niece/close friend?? as he walked to the middle of the bridge, then jumped with her in his arms into the water! The look on her face was priceless.

We all agreed that this was a great adventure out.

I then stopped at a local bakery/ice creamery to the delight of my charges. Yes, I got a slice of pie enjoyed every bite! Tomorrow its supposed to rain.... I have a few thoughts as to where we will go...one idea may involve go carts!