Pbenjay's Blog

Wherever you spend the Fourth of July you are sure to be in the midst of a parade, fireworks and cook-outs OR on the beach, OR in an eating contest (UGH)!

Today IS the Fourth of July, however in Ocean Grove the annual parade was yesterday, Saturday.  I think they held then so more people would be around and not committed to a picnic somewhere else or maybe because in this town, they just don’t do those kind of things on a Sunday.

Leading the Pipers

Cruising Along Main Avenue

Red White and Blue Kazoo Band

Taylored2You

Our friends, Susan and Jim were in the parade promoting their unique business, Taylored2You – a concierge and house watch service.

I’m pretty sure the latter is the real reason because right now it is just about noon and it is 90 degrees BUT you can’t go on the beach yet because it doesn’t open till 12:30pm and I think you know why!!!   Just as well, since we were running around yesterday I never got to the blog, there was the Parade, there was the Ice Cream Social, then we went to an Open House with Susan and Jim and that was a nice way to meet some new people and see a gorgeous house on the beach block of Main Ave.  Then it was the Happy Birthday America free concert held at the Great Auditorium and that was very nice too.  And then we walked along the boardwalk towards Bradley Beach to watch their fireworks.  We did note that when we were growing up and even well into our earlier years, people used to ooooh and ahhhhh and WOW and clap over the fireworks but hardly a sound was heard until there was one giant white fountain of a firework, filling up the sky and pouring forth wave after wave of sparks and sparkles!

Bradley Beach fireworks

And then….we had mixed berry shortcake, sitting outside in our backyard with candles and lanterns.  The stars were out, the air was cooler and it was a lovely way to end the day!

Mixed Berry Shortcake