While the Eldest was visiting us in July, I got to spend one on one time with my baby.
After we toured the Jewels of the Nile exhibit, we stopped for a late lunch at Panera. We both had the Pick Two Options. She had Mac and a Citrus Asian Crunch Salad. I can't remember what she had for her beverage. Papaya something? Between chips, a roll, or an apple. She made the healthier choice of an apple.
I had half of the Napa Chicken Salad Sandwich, a Strawberry Poppyseed Salad, a bag of chips, and an iced tea. I would have chosen an apple instead of the chips, but the only variety of apple they have is Red Delicious. I prefer tart apples like Granny Smith or MacIntosh.
We had a nice lunch and chat. Since she lives so far away, it's something I have missed.
One of the things I had wanted to do while she was visiting was to go to the beach. The ocean .I asked my friend, Teague if she'd like to go along, too.
Turns out ocean plans didn't happen. A lot of the public beaches have restricted parking. Residents in the areas have complained about traffic congestion. Parking spaces are put into a lottery and you have to sign up online. Not only that, but day long passes go so quickly and only two hour passes are available. It means if the weather isn't a great beach day, you're out of parking cash as there were no refunds.
From where we live, it takes 2 hours or so to get to any of the beaches in Maine, New Hampshire, The Cape, Rhode Island or Connecticut. Neither of us wanted to take a long drive to stay at the beach for such a short time.
The weather was with us as it was a perfect beach day for a Friday. We thought the park might have filled up early, but there was hardly anyone there. Everyone must have taken their kids down the road apiece to the Breezy Picnic Grounds and Waterslides. No complaints from us. We even found a spot under some trees so had shade the entire day.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj57PhIAjXr7Be2D-6NudpRRck9lWmrGi069yLBTwFQoeopsLOvXVSvhD8ODw9X4aIc-mMPQnlZ7LcfYXmuXs69Ex_oXva6hJsng6kJTKs8yZj2VbP07OQUl1B0F17ooBXS6MiaXs8KcHMyxhcWyfnsAb3R8MGLqwLd8_Dg977orNINXREjrlDn7pSQ/s320/IMG_1902.jpeg)
The water was so nice.
I was part way through lunch when I remembered I need a picture. Turkey, lettuce, tomato, and mustard on a bulkie roll, and an Arnold Palmer. Half lemonade and iced tea.
There was also fruit, chips, and oatmeal raisin cookies.
While wading through the water, I found a rock shaped like a heart. A souvenir of a perfect day
Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.
Nothing beats a picnic! :D
ReplyDeleteYeah, it does. Someone packing the picnic lunch for you and carrying all the stuff to the picnic 😺 - CJ
DeleteLooks like a good time with your eldest. The food sounds so good. A great find with the heart shape rock. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteWe had a very nice today. - CJ
DeleteI love your photos. Regine
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
😊 - CJ
DeleteThe beach parking situation sounds like it's too restrictive. If only the people who live at the beach have reliable access it's not really a public beach :( Your food looks tasty :) Happy T Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteSome people who live at/close to the beaches are NIMBYs and don’t want outsiders in “their” space
DeleteSounds like you had a great day with your baby, and made a fun day out of it. Love the heart shaped rock, so pretty. Happy T Day, Valerie
ReplyDeleteThe heart rock was the perfect souvenir to a perfect day
DeleteWe used to stop at Panera on the Ohio turnpike, but now the rest stops are either crowded or mostly closed, so you can't count on it. So we bring food with us. Your Panera lunch looks nice.
ReplyDeletebest... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
Panera was one of the places we went to for a girls’ day out.
DeleteWhat a wonderful day you had with your daughter. The beach is always nice, but sometimes fresh water is more refreshing because it might be easier to get into. Especially if the ocean water is its usual freezing. And that strawberry poppy seed salad is my favorite at Panera. YUM! Hope your staying cool today. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteToday, I’m in Ogunquit. The water is freezing and a stiff breeze picked up. 🥶CJ
DeleteSome one on one time is wonderful. I know you two must have both missed that. and a nice meal included was even better. Of course, the picnic on the beach and a beautiful heart souvenir even better. Thanks for sharing those lunches and various drinks with us for T this Tuesday, dear CJ.
ReplyDeleteIt has become a happy memory for me
DeleteCJ, I love your pretty water pictures, picnic, and heart rock. So glad you got to spend quality time with your daughter and got to be around stress free water - trips to the water should never involve time limits, too many people, parking lotteries, etc. Lovely post. Happy T-day. Hugz
ReplyDeleteSpending time around water is a perfect day
DeleteOne on one time with your daughter sounds lovely! I miss that a lot. Your public beaches sound very restrictive - not really "public". I wouldn't want to plan everything like that - what about spontaneity? We go to the ocean whenever we feel like it and seldom have a problem with parking. But then our coast is often quite chilly and is mostly crowded when it is really hot inland.
ReplyDeleteThese restrictions are rather knew and came about during Covid.
DeleteIt is great you had time with your daughter. I am envious. What a neat time and a great rock souvenir. Happy T Day.
ReplyDeleteThe rock was such a serendipitous find. - CJ
DeleteYum! Your salad looks delicious. A picnic at the beach sounds wonderful as does the Jewel of the Nile exhibit.
ReplyDeleteHappy Tea Day,
Kate
We enjoyed both - CJ
DeleteHow lovely to get some some with your eldest! Your meal looks great, as does your wonderful picnic! The view from under the trees(well done for finding shade) looks calm and peaceful. That heart shaped stone was waiting for you to find it! Belated Happy T Day, Chrisx
ReplyDeleteThat’s a sweet thought. Find the heart shaped stone was meant to be. - CJ
Delete2 Hours to a beach? Are you traveling by horse and carriage now?
ReplyDeleteI meant to a real beach. The ocean. Not Lake Quinsigamond. 😉
DeleteYour picnic outing looked fantastic. What a beautiful park. The lunch at Panera sounded good too.
ReplyDeleteThe day at the lake, the weather was perfect
DeleteWhat a lovely day, nice to catch up and have a nice lunch - looks delicious btw -too bad about the beach though. Love the heart rock! Sorry for my lateness, end of month is always a busy time for me. Happy T Day! Elle/EOTC xx
ReplyDeleteNo worries. Thanks for dropping by
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