Sunday, August 28, 2011

Irene Precautions: Some People Listened. Flowers Continue to Bloom Regardless!


I rode my trusty Fuji racing bicycle today along the beach roads. I was surprised at how many homes were not boarded up. These houses are all beachfront, or directly across the small road from the water. The homes that were properly boarded up look oddly forlorn with the addition of plain plywood window coverings. I think it will prove to be the smarter thing to do, though. I'm not sure who lives in this beautiful vintage home, but they seem to be a lovely older couple and they always have the most beautiful hibiscus, perennials and beach roses.

Meanwhile, a bit further down the street is this newer home. Once an older home is razed, the new one must meet much more stringent building codes for shoreline properties. As a result, they're all much taller than their surrounding, older neighbors. Most of them are huge—as large a house as is possible on their property. A lovely hibiscus anchors the front gardens here.

This huge home has direct water views, but is a bit further inland along this salt water marsh. Every window was covered with plywood. Some owners only covered their largest, full-plate windows.

In soft focus, the homeowner of this three-story waterfront home can be seen on the porch roof. He and his son were installing wooden shutters over the larger plate glass windows. In contrast is this sharply focused beach rose—part of a lengthy stretch of them climbing along a split rail fence. Long Island Sound is just to the right of this photo.

A nicely updated turn-of-the-century beach cottage with its front windows boarded up. The "wave" petunias on the porch are just stunning in person. I love the stone pillars, a reminder of the home's lengthy past.

I'm in love with this shingled home. It's across the street from the Sound, but has water views. The style of the home reminds me so much of the graceful past it most likely has had. Across the street is a mega mansion built in the last 10 years, not my style at all.

A row of smaller, older beach homes, some boarded up, some not. Just a few hundred fee further down the shoreline, homes like this are razed every year and McWater Mansions are built. Nice as they are, and I'm sure they're quite stunning inside, they lack the character of these shingled homes which have seen so many Nor-Easters, hurricanes, Fourths of July, Labor Days and many generations of family fun.

Not quite completely finished yet, he new Madison Beach Hotel. This is next to the older homes in the photo directly above. A lovely, and beloved, turn-of-the-century hotel, The Wharf, was torn down two years ago to make way for this new, much bigger building. I'm not sure how I feel about it. The hotel is about a year late in opening, and has lost funding at least once. The old Wharf had a fun bar with lots of period fishing/waterfront type items, old signs etc. This one will probably be much more upscale in a modern way, not my taste in other words. 

Not coincidentally, I managed to capture a lovely brand new Volvo S60 sedan, in black. As good as it looks in photos, in person, this new medium-sized Volvo is stunning.

Several kayaks had yet to be taken away. I would have thought they would be the first to go. These will become projectiles if the winds are even half as strong as they are supposed to be.

Tuxis Island, a small island just off my town. This is where the annual Fourth of July fireworks are sent off from. Today was rainy and foggy, but I managed to take a nice bike ride and snap these photos for the blog. I could have used windshield wipers on my glasses though!

My trusty ride today, my 1982 Fuji 12-speed racing bike. I'm down to one working brake caliper, the rear one, and I have to hold the gear selector for any gear except for the highest, lol. I'll have it tuned up in the spring. It's still a great bike. Compared to my also-trusty Schwinn mountain bike I use for my daily chores, this one rides like the proverbial Cadillac. It's smooth and so much easier to work up to speed. I use it for all of my longer rides.

A L S O  S E E N  O N  M Y  R I D E  T O D A Y

A closeup of a beautiful pink Hibiscus.

Late summer phlox looked great in front of those latticed porch screens.

I think I photographed, and posted in this blog last year, this seaside garage, but it's so nicely landscaped and designed I had to shoot it again today. 

A closer view of the Hibiscus in front of the garage perennial garden. Several homes along the beach road have Hibiscus plants this year. more than I've ever seen.

Also in front of the garage's picket fence was this beautiful purple Aster.

Another view of the garage perennial garden. The flowers vary all summer long, but there are several plants blooming the entire season.

The beach rose "fence" mentioned above. I really hope we don't get the 80 mph winds forecast for us. I can't imagine these plants looking like this if we do. Long Island Sound is to the left and behind those hedges. These homes are on the opposite side of the little road in this area. Each house has its own private beach and old-fashioned wooden-planked boardwalk leading to their beach and cabanas.

18 comments:

  1. Thanks for capturing all those lovely pics for us today. I love the sea when it is stormy...maybe not hurricane force... lol

    When it come to houses, my favorite to live in would be a small cottage with a water view. I really like the one you show with the stone pillars.

    If they ever post a "live in caretaker needed" sign, please let me know, I'd be there in no time.

    Thanks again.

    Later.

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  2. I'll keep an eye out for a sign like that, lol.

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  3. ME TOO, ME TOO, I DON'T DO DISHES OR COOK. FLOWERS ARE MY LOVE. YOU AND I COULD PLAY WHILE YOUR PAL ANNIE CLEANS, COOK ETC. GIGGLE, GIGGLE. THANKS FOR ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL PICTURES. JUST SO PRICELESS. IT'S SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT WITH ALL THE WIND THAT NATURE ALLOWED THE FLOWERS TO SMILE TODAY. GREAT BIG HUGS CASEY. YOU MUST BE FEELING BETTER WHICH I SAY IS THE FIREST BLESSING OF MY DAY.

    GRANNY

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  4. Nice neighborhood.

    Barry

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  5. ARE THE FLOWERS SMILING TODAY? WHAT ABOUT FLOODING? DID YOUR TOWN GET MUCH DAMAGE?THE NEWS WE'RE GETTING ARE PICTURES OF ALOT OF FLOODINGEVERYWHERE. KATIE HASN'T BEEN ON TODAY SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT HER SITUATION COULD BE LIKE. SHE DIDN'T SEEM TO WORRIED SO SHE MUST BE IN A SAFE AREA.[NJ] I'M JUST SO GLAD THIS ONE BYPASSED US. THEN IT'S ON TO THE NEXT ONE. LET US KNOW HOW THINGS ARE AT YOUR PLACE.

    GRANNY

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  6. Yes, let us know you're OK.

    Barry

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  7. Now I know exactly why Casey lives in this part of the country, the landscape and houses are just spectacular looking.

    I also get to see what lays north of where I live, across the L. I. Sound, lol Bayville would be the closet pt. on the map.

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  8. You know I've lived in Florida for 40 years and during that time have experienced my fair share of hurricanes. I find it amazing just how either people are over prepared or under prepared. Never a middle ground. I live in the heart of the state, north of Orlando, and have never had a direct hit. 2004 was the worst year with four side swipes, but never so bad to board up. I love the winds though even with how scary they can be. The flowers continue to bloom no matter what and will survive to show their beauty again. Great pics as always!

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  9. Hope Casey gets up and running soon:

    http://outage.cl-p.com/outage/outagemap.aspx

    I'm sure all the ice has melted by now. I hear if you drink warm beer for more than seven days you turn into an Englishman. (not that there's anything wrong with that) :|

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  10. But, Annie, that's what coolers and store-bought bags of ice are for! LOL

    Worrying about Casey. Checking back here a lot. Hope the power's not out long, Casey!

    Katie

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  11. Outage Map STILL showing Madison with 88% of customers without power. CT really got hit with the power outage.

    Hoping to see Casey back online soon.

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  12. Thanks for the update June. Good to hear you all are OK. Hope the power is back on soon.

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  13. Have some friends in CT that just got their power back. Hope to hear from Casey soon.

    Barry

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  14. SO GLAD YOUR OK CASEY. I LAUGH AT HOW SOME PEOPLE TOOK THIS STORM SO LIGHTLY. I GUESS WHEN YOUR NOT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT EVERYTHINGS SEEMS OK. THE NEWS WE'VE BEEN GETTING SHOWS TERRIBLE DAMAGE ESPECIALLY FROM THE FLOODING. GRANNY

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  15. Estimated restoration time from CT Power:

    MADISON Tuesday, 9/6, 11:00 PM

    I guess we will have to be patient a bit longer for our Casey's return...

    Bummer :(

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  16. Thanks for the update, Annie. Wow. Poor Casey! I have been so worried. Appreciate your post!

    Katie

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  17. I AM BACK, lol. Friday, Sept 2, the power just came back on. I have tons of photos to download and will try to get a new post up tomorrow. Thanks for all the "cards and letters" lol. We lost some trees, but Pink Gardens is just fine. The beach area is a bit worse for wear though.

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  18. PRAISE GOD YOUR OK. YOU MAYBE AN INVISABLE FRIEND BUT YOU ARE A FRIEND AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT YOU. WE KNOW WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING THIS FALL.CHOPPING TREES INTO FIREWOOD.THE GULF COAST WILL BE HEAVY RAIN AND RUIN THE LONG WEEKEND FOR SOME. NEW ORLEANS THEY SAY WILL BE HARD HIT WITH WATER FALLING FROM THE SKY. TROPICAL STORMS ARE SOMETIMES JUST AS BAD AS A HURRICANE. THE WEATHERMEN ARE WATCHING THIS STORM VERY CAREFUL. THE SUN IS SHINNING HERE TODAY.MAYBE BECAUSE YOUR DOING JUST FINE. JUST A GRANNY THAT CARES.

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