Yesterday was our first real foray to the beach for the summer. We've been a time or two this spring, but the real, regular beach-going with friends started yesterday. It seemed a near-thing at the start of the day. There are still big fires raging south of us and depending on how the wind blows (literally), we have a lot of smoke in the area. Yesterday morning was the worst. Even inside the house it smelled smoky. Still, by non the wind had shifted and we were off.

We stake a claim on our little slice of beach, crafting a landing pad out of towels, chairs, flip flops and juice boxes. A couple of us remarked that there's always a learning curve at the start of the summer. What toys and snacks we need to pack and take. Before we left, I spent too much time digging in the shed for my chair and looking for my beach cover up. Fortunately I remembered to pop a couple of water bottles in the freezer because I didn't even bring a cooler. I always envy the snacks that everyone else brings.

It wasn't long before I was remembering all the things we need to take. Chips (salt and vinegar are hands down the best beach chips) and Twizzlers are necessities. Callum will need Gatorade, and although I love to have an Izze or two packed, I can make do with water. I remembered that we have a soft-sided cooler somewhere, and then I remembered that we always need a snack and drink for the car ride home too. After just another trip or two, we'll have a beach bag by the door and shovels, boogie boards, towels and snacks ready to go at a moments' notice!

I was so happy just to be there. No humidity and a gentle breeze, I was content just to sit and let the conversations swirl around me...I'm sure the celebratory Hurricanes that Marianne brought (Thanks, Marianne!) had something to do with that supreme feeling of contentment...soaking up the sun and the smell of the sea and the laughter.

We ended up with eleven kids in all, and our only girl held her own quite well! Every so often one of us would lift her head and do a quick count, and at one point someone commented, "Callum never emerges from the water, does he?" That's summer for you. For us, at least.

Oh, but sometimes I'm clever! We made a late trip yesterday (usually we're unpacked, toes in the sand, by ten) because Shoshana's kids had swim lessons, and as we were headed home late in the day, I dreaded thinking about what to make for dinner. Then I remembered, I already made dinner! I used the extra time in the morning to make us a whopping big Israeli couscous salad. Israeli couscous: my new favorite grain. I pretty much winged it. Roasted some asparagus in olive oil and garlic (I think I'd steam it next time.), and popped open a bag of frozen roasted corn from Trader Joe's (arduous work, that). Mixed that with the couscous, some feta and a quick dressing of olive oil and pear-infused balsamic vinegar.

I topped it with some broiled (because for poor Neel, "Our grill is dead to me." at present) chicken sausage, and it was the perfect dinner after a day with the sand and the sun. I see more of these (the beach and the salads) in our future.