What I’ve been up to lately
If you saw Friday’s post (click HERE) then you know that I’ve been doing some clothing shopping with my sister-in-law lately but that wasn’t the only way we spent the majority of our time together.
We spent two weeks in Avalon during which I honestly couldn’t find the time to blog. I also didn’t have much to blog about which is ok too. In the previous years, I drove around in the mornings to take photos of all the beautiful homes (click HERE to see some of them) so I could share them with you. I originally had planned to do the same again. We did so much indulging in food and beverages that I made sure I’d get my running time in instead and if I wasn’t running I tried to spend time with my little niece, brother and sister-in-law. There is always just a small window between naps. To me it all was time well spent.
Black windows and shutters trend
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I did get some photos though. in the past year or two a lot of the new construction homes have started to use black windows and pop-up shutters and I’m obsessed with the look. The following home wasn’t finished yet last year so I had to snap a photo this year.
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Isn’t it beautiful? At the top you can see the shutters.
This below bayside home garage, yup that’s a garage has them as well.
I love the blue exterior of the below bayside home too with the pretty window boxes but I’m definitely drawn more to the black and white look. You know me!!!
And then while going for a walk and drive, I couldn’t help but focus on the old Avalon and Stone Harbor homes. Everyone is trying to upstage the next home here at the Jersey Shore. It’s sometimes even nauseating. I just can’t believe all the wealth and urge to be bigger, better and more expensive than the next one.
The below home is what the shore means to me. I love the weathered wood, tiny porch and light blue shutters. Memories have been made there for a long time and you just can’t deny the charm.
Small Jersey shore home prices
But the truth for us is that even such a small, old and charming home isn’t affordable down here. Let me show you.
This little one bedroom and one bath home is $399,000
$979,000 for the next one.
This below little one is $1,250,000
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 Below home is $3,100,000
Really insane, right? It’s  absolutely crazy so if you see the prices for those old little charmers then you can imagine how much the new giant stunners cost, right?
When I wander and ponder the streets like that I always wonder if people actually know how lucky they are or if they are really just always striving for the next bigger and better thing. To me they are really fortunate to be able to own such an amazing piece of the Jersey Shore.
The last night we sat at the bayside and watched the turtle heads bobbing in the little ripples of the water. It’s the cutest and most calming thing to see.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Before we went to the beach we went back to the foster and picked up Willy again because she couldn’t keep them for that long. I don’t know if you saw that already on Facebook and Instagram. I had figured it was better than having him passed around from foster to foster or maybe shelter until we got back from Germany to get home. And I was totally right because him and Maya have become great friends. Willy follows her around and plays with her all day long now. It’s so cute to see and totally what Maya needed. She now leaves the old cats alone and is much happier.
My kids were thrilled and Willy was obviously happy too. Look how he snuggled in with my daughter on the ride back home.
He’s grown so much.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Now, it breaks my heart to see my Lilly cat go down hill fast. When we came back from the beach I noticed that she had become a skeleton in only two weeks with eyes sunken in her head. I took her to the vet immediately. She had lost 2 pounds and now only weighs 5 pounds. After some bloodwork we determined that her time has come. At 19 years old she is a rarity with her thyroid condition. With her meds she isn’t hungry anymore. If she’s not on her meds she’s hungry again but losing weight.
I can’t say much more about my poor baby. I’ll leave it at that for now. It’s just upsetting me so much.
I’ll talk to you soon, ok?
Tschüß
(Youleeya)
oh julia, i am so sorry about lily! i know how much you love her.
i am glad to hear that maya and willy have become great friends though!!! and let’s buy one of those beach shacks… with a few other friends because i can’t afford it at all or even close!
Thanks Cassie, buying a house with friends like you would be the only option in acquiring one 😉
I’m so sorry about Lily, Julia. It’s very sad and even knowing that she’s a very old lady doesn’t make it any easier. Good thing that sweet little Willy brings you some joy. I’m very happy for him and for you that you keep him and that he and Maya get along so well. The little ones grow up so fast, don’t they? It looks like we keep all four kittens. There are just too many available and not enough people who are interested in adopting one. Almost every day I read new messages about kittens found in the trash etc. It’s just awful.
There are a lot of gorgeous homes in that town. I remember the stunning ones you showed us last year. Most lots are really small though. Even if I had the money I wouldn’t want to have neighbors so close by. Annoying neighbors can ruin everything.
Thanks Julia. Willy is the cutest and him and Maya distract us from the sadness. I’m so glad you are keeping all 4 kittens because I agree that there are just way too many kittens and cats out there that nobody wants. It’s awful.
I certainly would want a house down there even if the lots are closer together. A lot of the lots aren’t even that small but the houses on them are so big that they make the lots look smaller. It’s a very friendly community so I really wouldn’t mind being that close to people during vacation season. After all in hotels you are even closer to your neighbor 😉
sending you and your family hugs and sympathy for Lily – what a fantastic cat Mom you are though, for her to get to such an age with her health condition.
Thanks Catherine, she had a good long life for sure and that comforts us.
Sending you purrs and hugs from all of us.
Linda, Hershey,Bear, Princess Fiona Fuzzy Paws, Fluffy, Mia, Alexandra and the Fosters
Thanks Linda
It is so hard each and every time. I have had several cats with the thyroid problem and it is heartbreaking because the meds really don’t cure them. I hope the younger kitties bring you some comfort.
Oh no Debra. Several cats with thyroid issues? That’s awful. The younger cats certainly do give us a nice welcome distraction from the sadness.
Sadly, beach shacks are a dying breed here in Oz. They’re viewed as prime real estate for a ‘certain’ affluent market, whose sole intent and purpose in life is to snap them up, demolish them and replace them with their Mac Mansions! Those shack owners who resist sale, invariably find themselves jammed in between giant mausoleums on either side, completely overshadowed or over-looked. The same thing happens when developers buy up a series of shacks in the same road, and build large apartment dwellings around the shack whose owner refuses to budge, thus making it untenable and unbearable to live there. It’s a ploy to shift out the ‘undesirables’, and replace them with an elite market who appear to be the only ones in the world worthy of a view. Watch out America – this growing trend could be heading your way!
Ugh I know! The trend is here too. There is something so romantic and special about a street or even town full of these little weathered places. It’s sad that at some point it will only be a distant memory for older people.
I’m so sorry to hear about Lilly. Thinking of you.
Love all these beautiful homes – and I’m definitely smitten with the black windows and those shutters. Perfectly beachy. Now we just need to win the lotto.
Thanks Kim, it’s been tough with her. And I’ve been dreaming about winning the lottery. It’s so sad that normal people can’t afford a slice of beach anymore.