July 22nd, 2015

Day Tripping, Bethany Beach, Delaware, Chicks in A Limo, Atlantic Transportation Services, Beach and Bay Cottage Tour, July 22nd & 23rd, Fundraising Event, Friends of the South Coastal Library, Roosters Nest, Just Hooked, Restaurant, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware

It was that time of the year…for 24 years the Beach and Bay Cottage Tour has been taking place in July.  It is a fundraising event for the Friends of the South Coastal Library in Bethany Beach, Delaware.  It also has been probably that many years since a “true” cottage has been on the tour.  There are still a few of those left in town reminding us that life was much simpler then, at the beach.  The tour was today, July 22nd and tomorrow, July 23rd.

It is my second year joining this great group of women that only travel in style, thanks to our oganizer Sandy.  She is a gracious hostess and lunch at her house in between the touring of 10 magnificent homes was fantastic.

We have been traveling by limo.  Nothing but the best for the group.  Atlantic Transportation Services was going to be taking care of us.  Yes, we were the chicks in the limo!!  And, Ellyne Gale, one of the owners of Atlantic Transportation Services was our driver.  Please check http://www.atlanticlimode.com.

We arrived early, the tour was starting at 9:30 a.m. and we had 10 houses to visit.  Here is our group.  In the limo we had things to eat: champagne and wine!!  It was going to be a long day!!

Sorry, but no photos were allowed in any of the houses.  All the houses were interesting to say the least.  The largest one was 7,000 square feet.  The group of homes on this year’s tour had something that would appeal to every one that visited.  Thanks to the 400 volunteers that worked so hard to make this year’s tour a sensational event.  Great weather, as well!!  And, we toured all 10 houses!!

Stopping at Rooster’s Nest is always a must stop.  Rooster’s Nest is located west of Fenwick Island, Delaware, at the Bayville Shopping Center.  It is open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. every day.  Tel. 302-436-1848  This shop has home furnishings, home accessories, and so much more.

If you are a fan of Bossom Buddy Bags from Baltimore, Maryland, Rooster’s Nest has a nice collection of them.  These handbags are beautifully made:  “Handbags as extraordinary as the women who carry them.”  bossom buddy bags

Summer at the beaches can be a tricky time when you have a large group of people that are ready for dinner….Not all restaurants can handle big groups.  Thanks to Just Hooked because they made sure that all of us had a comfortable table with exceptional service.  Just Hooked is located at 1500 Coastal Hwy., Fenwick Island, DE 19944.  Tel. 302-581-0098  Website?  http://www.justhookedfi.com.

An order of fried calamari to wet our appetites.  Light and perfectly season, we passed them around the table.

There were a few specials….The Salmon was one of them.  I almost got it.  It had chutney, which I think adds so much to any dish.

Instead, I decided on the Softshell Crabs.  I do love them and Just Hooked was supposed to have delicious ones.  They did not disappointed.  They were light, sweet and oh, so good.

Someone ordered a salad with a filet.  Something light.

Fish n’ Chips…buttermilk battered cod, house fries, coleslaw and a remoulade.

Local Crab Cake with pickled carrot n’ peashoot salad, bacon fingerling frittes and classic remoulade.

Seared scallops, with pearl faro, spring peas, artichokes, chicory and pesto.  They looked beautiful.

Shrimp n’ Grits…cheesy grits, fried green beans, chorizo vinaigrette and chili threads.

No dessert was necessary after all this delicious food accompanied by wine and other spirits like Orange Crush!!

It was time to go home…”The most valuable live thing for me is when people look like they’re having a good time.”  grimes

We certainly did, ladies and until next time….I remain.

July 24th, 2014

Destination? Beach and Bay Cottage Tour, Bethany Beach, Delaware, Fundraising, Friends of the South Coastal Library, Delaware Beaches, Southern Delaware, Celebrating the 23rd Annual Beach and Bay Cottage Tour!!

It really is the only way to go……our own private Limo.  Making a day of touring the “cottages” in the Bethany Beach area.  It is the Quiet Resort and these owners open their doors under the care of the Friends of the South Coastal Library.

For 23 years this is an annual event, taking place the third Wednesday and Thursday in July.  It is always very well attended.  Many visitors and residents want to check out what others have done to their homes.  And it is held rain or shine.  When you tour the homes the brochure is your entry ticket and in it you will find every detail of the home, including the color palette, decorators, builders, and landscapers, as well as personal stories on the owners.  More info?  Please visit http://www.beachandbaycottagetour.com.

Our driver was Ty and he was great.  Took our photos, had lunch with us and took us from door to door.  On a hot day having a limo was just….priceless!  Inside the limo we got comfortable with snacks and bubbly.  Our group thanks Sandy, sitting on the left hand side, for making all the arrangements, including lunch at her home, which was quite a spread!

Many years ago, the “cottages” in Bethany Beach were summer places where many came to just relax….no air condition, just fans, and simple furnishings.  That has really changed with homes on this particular tour ranging from 1,400 square feet to 6,000 square feet.  For the visitors….booties were to be worn before going inside each home.

No photos were allowed inside the homes, but from the outside here are a few:

This house had an amazing view of the bay.  It was the largest home on the tour.  6,000 square feet with very open floor plans, a massive kitchen, and even a room for the dogs.  Multiple balconies overlooking the Assawoman Bay and a wide back porch and a bayside flagpole surrounded Adirondack chairs for sunset watching.  It was a New England style cedar shingle house.

Right on First Street in Bethany Beach this 2,500 square foot house was a Hamptons-style home.  The owners have been visiting Bethany Beach for 40 years.

This home in Sussex Shores was built after the owners had outgrown their cottage also in Sussex Shores.    It was a 4,100 square foot beach retreat, with open dining, kitchen, living areas, and great outdoor living space.  It had reclaimed white oak floors and the home was decorated with refurbished barn sale finds and the remnants from their old cottage.

We toured all 10 homes.  I found that the houses featured on this year’s tour were so completely different.  You were able to see the personality of the owners by the way their homes were decorated.  Accessories speak to the style of the family that lives in the home….and there were plenty.

A photo after we finished and were relaxing in the Sussex Shores’ home.

And, a last photo inside the limo, taken by Ty.

Oh no….the day was not over yet.  Our limo was gone but we all took off for shopping at Rooster’s Nest in Fenwick Island, on Rt. 54….a post in the making.

And an early dinner at The Lobster Shanty located on Rt. 54 in Fenwick Island, as well. View of the marsh, a breezy porch…orange crushes, mojitos, sangria, lobster and shrimp salad, lobster rolls, crabcakes, fish tacos, and lobster BLT!

It was dusk and I was driving over the Indian River Inlet Bridge.  The nigtht was clear and all I could think was how nice it was today.  The funny part was that some of the women knew each other but some, also, like me, only knew one person……new friends were made….and that’s a priceless, as well.