Remember tripping on the Third of July?

I don't know about you, but I always thought the night before a holiday was the best part. Christmas Eve, the night before Easter, last minute preps on Oct. 30th. Once the holiday arrives, it's over. All that work, and it flies by in a few hours. Thats why I love the 3rd of July celebration the Cape May Lewis Ferry throws for the neighborhood down here in North Cape May. Every year DRBA (Delaware River Bay Authority) tows a barge out into the bay behind my house. The beach drive is closed to traffic and amusement companies set up rides and carnival games. Being on the bay(right above where it meets the ocean) the sunsets here are spectacular. After the sun goes down, the sky is a rosy palette of purple and orange. As it fades to violet, the first rockets go off. They always send a couple up, and then give people about 10 minutes to walk up from their homes. People are parked and double parked up and down the streets leading to beach drive, but we just stroll around the block.Everyone along the beach block decorates their house. I live one block off the beach, lots of other people around us decorate too. Almost every house has a huge party going on, we tease each other the next day about who's party was better, based on who was out the latest. We DID NOT win this year. As soon as the beach road is closed , at around 3, we head up to check out the houses.The afternoon breeze kicks up and we stroll along greeting people we really only talk once a year.This year the walk took longer, everyone was interested in seeing the twins for the first time.It's funny how many people ask if they're identical, even though they are obviously different sexes.

I got a real late start this year, only had a day to prepare. The first job is making sure I have enough beds. This year I had 13 people crash here.My little cottage has 2 tiny bedrooms and a futon in the living room. Our solution is the bring down our camper and park it in the back yard. Then we have an extra bathroom and 8 more beds. Setting up the camper is a real bear for me, It was just me , with little O , and It was HOT. I never did get the whole lawn cut, and I was still decorating on the morning of the 3rd. I got finished in time, and was able to cook up all the food (except the brownies, K is the queen of the brownies) Finally I was ready to relax, The beach was jamming (our beach is usually deserted, it's one of those "best kept secrets")

We watched the Ferry go out one more time and then we greeted our guests.

My sister came over with her family of 4, also her stepdaughter, hubby, and her granddaughter, Avi. G's dad and some friends stopped by too. We always have a hysterical time when G's dad shows up.Dinner was simple, Fillet Mignon on the BBQ, Pot salad, Mac salad, pot skins, coleslaw, asst fruit, corn. and blueberry pie, blueberry cookies for dessert (and of course those brownies) My husband and I cracked open a magnum of White Star (our favorite champange)

We drank and ate and partied like it was the 4th of July. (but it was Independence Eve)

Here we are, enjoying our private holiday.Finally, the sun sets and we head up to the beach, laughing at the people fighting over parking spaces.

O is old enough this year to enjoy the show.There is a breeze blowing and that means NO MOSQUITOES tonight. The show is real long, even the finale is 10 minutes long.Then we get to stroll on home. Sit in the yard and party while people sit in their cars and wait till traffic thins.It was a LONGGGGGGG Day, so we didn't win the latest going party award this year. Those with kids, left by midnight. I just had to wait for a turn in the shower, I never made it. Now it is Independence Day, We'll can relax on the beach, or just hang in the yard. There's a pool next door, that we have an open invitation to. There's bikes in the shed. We'll just have dogs and burgers tonight, Easy.......plus there's plenty of left overs.I love the July 4th at my little shore house, because it's 2 days long (and I can nap during the second one) Tonight we'll head up to our now empty beach and shoot off our own fireworks over the water. Happy 4th!!!!!!Are you shooting off any rockets today???