Sunday and Monday October 20th and 21st we celebrated Sue's birthday with a special Sunday dinner, and then on Monday: off to walk along the ocean shore at a couple of her favorite beaches.

We had a great time Sunday sipping some wine and fixing an interesting dinner I worked up of seared fresh rosemary pork chops with a side of oven baked squash accompanied by a very nice bottle of J. Lohr Cab.

And then on Monday, we left the house late morning to head for Bass Beach in Rye, NH. I sat on the rocks while Sue walked the beach looking for interesting sea stones. The weather was so nice, people had come down and were sun bathing, and even venturing into the water - though I think that was really pushing it for late October....

After spending a little over an hour combing through the sand at Bass Beach, Sue was ready to head north to Odiorne Point State Park.

Odiorne covers a big area, and I knew that she was ramped up to power walk along the shore. So, I dropped her at the northern trail and then drove over to the southern end parking area. It's just beautiful with so many places to walk or sit overlooking the ocean.

I changed spots several times, each one with a little different view. It was a beautiful warm day, very warm for October, actually. I got a call from her after an hour or so that she was heading my way. On the way home we stopped off at the 110 Grill in Rochester for a nice dinner on their outside patio.

Beautiful October Sunday morning at home on the mountain.

I got all of the stuff I'd need to fix dinner out and at the ready early.

Searing the Pork chops over fresh rosemary sprigs.

Dinner's up, and I'm just about to pour out the final glasses of the J. Lohr cab, which turned out to be a really nice complement for the pork.

Monday early afternoon at Bass Beach in Rye, NH.

I love this shot of the flowers I had bought for Sue flanked by out small table pumpkin.

Sue peaking through the tall grasses just off the shore by the Odiorne Point State Park, Seacoast Science Center.

View from the last of the 3 spots I sat at while waiting for Sue to power walk her way to, though I think she more just ambled along enjoying everything today!