One of our family's favorite things to do is mosey down to a private beach that we happen to have access to here in Seattle.
Yesterday we had a particularly low tide (-3.6) that left all sorts of critters in its wake. J. and the kids love to troll the rocks, lift them gently and find seastars, crabs, anemones, snails and any other aquatic creature so inclined to show its face. Or its legs.
I like to snap a few pictures of their discoveries. Then I get bored and stroll down the beach looking for sea glass. I have a huge collection of sea glass and certainly don't need more. But hunting for it and depositing it into my pocket is a compulsion I can't quite overcome.
I fancy that someday I'll make stunning, wire-wrapped sea glass necklaces to sell on Etsy. But the family, the house and my writing always take priority.
Anyway, back to the beach...
Toward the end of our afternoon a guy glided past on a paddle board with his dog.
We saw a lot of paddle boarders in Hawaii, but I've never seen one off our little stretch of beach.
Shortly after this was taken, the dog abandoned board and rolled around in the sand for a while. Even though you're really not supposed to, a lot of people let their mutts off leash down there. I think its helped Fruit Bat and Kitty Cat get used to dogs.
Going to this beach always does me good. It does all of us good.
When J. and I first moved into this house, received our little key to the locked beach gate and walked hand-in-hand along the edge of the Puget Sound, I thought, This beach will help the old marriage. At that time I could barely imagine the family we'd create and how it'd be good for all four of us.
Hey, how do I get me one of those?
Posted by: Sheryl | July 05, 2008 at 10:53 AM
My grandmother lived by a lake and as a kid I used to love to collect sea glass. I love how you've got those pieces in that vase. It looks really nice and it takes me right back to my childhood.
Posted by: mamatulip | July 05, 2008 at 01:51 PM
I would like an entire wardrobe the color of sea glass-I, too, am an obssessive collector. Maybe we can get together some time and make a dress.
Posted by: Mrs. G. | July 05, 2008 at 03:06 PM
Growing up we spent myriad Spring Breaks lounging around the Seattle and Port Ludlow areas, beach combing and staring at the waves. I heartily agree that there is something about being ocean-front that is always profoundly moving and exceedingly healing.
Posted by: Kerri Anne | July 05, 2008 at 03:25 PM
Martin Luther King Day is the perfect tide pool day in San Diego--no private beach though.
Paddle boarding is the new big thing here.
Posted by: Jenn @ Juggling Life | July 05, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Lovely - I feel rested just reading this post.
Posted by: Janine | July 05, 2008 at 11:18 PM
Oh the lovely sea glass collection. Really, why stop yourself? One thing that appeals to me about sea glass is how happy I can be made by it - much more affordable than other treasures available for $19.99 all around us.
Posted by: NinjaMama | July 06, 2008 at 08:50 AM
I couldn't agree more. We, too, are lucky enough to live near the beach, and it is amazing the way an afternoon by the sea refreshes every cell in my being.
Posted by: Susan | July 06, 2008 at 11:59 AM
Sigh... I want access to a beach. We're headed for the Delaware shore next weekend and then again for a week in August so I guess I shouldn't complain, but I will anyway. I keep telling partner we are retiring to the beach. Maybe if I keep saying it, it will happen. It's kind of how I got her to agree to both kids.
Posted by: StephLove | July 06, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Ooo, I love sea glass!
Posted by: Swistle | July 07, 2008 at 04:50 AM
That looks like an awesome place! How fortunate to have access to a place like that all the time.
Posted by: Madame Queen | July 07, 2008 at 05:35 AM
Great photos!
Posted by: The Mom | July 07, 2008 at 09:54 AM
I love taking the kids to the tide pools, but ours is a steep walk down a rocky cliff, so we don't go as often.
And I don't often find sea glass. Plastic bottles, yes. Sea glass, no. I wonder if it's a San Diego thing?
Lovely pics, by the way.
Posted by: San Diego Momma | July 07, 2008 at 10:31 AM
I think I'm in the right place!
Even if I'm not...I am so very jealous of that private beach gig you got going on!!!
Carissa over at GoodandCrazypeople.blogspot!
Posted by: good&crazy | July 07, 2008 at 02:50 PM
We get oil spills on the beach here but nothing so awesome as sea glass. Our private beach in MA was much, much better. I miss it.
The photo with the crocs in the sand is great, and my kids would go crazy for the chance to explore that beach.
Posted by: Julie Pippert | July 07, 2008 at 04:10 PM
OH! I can't wait for my vacation now. Especially the seaglass.. we have a vaseful that we've been collecting for years, and we just keep adding to it.
Posted by: manager mom | July 07, 2008 at 06:27 PM
I love tide pools. I love sea glass.
I love that last picture.
Posted by: AndreAnna | July 08, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Oh, that sea glass is lovely! I never see it here in land-locked middle America, unless it's at a craft store.
Found your blog from Pioneer Woman's site, very good stuff!
Posted by: Kelley | July 08, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Wow! Gorgeous pics... esp. the one with the bright red crab... amazing...
J/
Posted by: goteeman | July 08, 2008 at 02:02 PM
Love the sea glass. New reader and FAN! *Wave*
Posted by: Tasha | July 11, 2008 at 01:36 PM
Oh, I love the beach!
Lucky yous---
Posted by: Stacy (mama-om) | July 11, 2008 at 04:12 PM
I know all about that beach glass thing. And my mother used to go to the beach and look for perfect white stones - small, flat, vaguely translucent.
Posted by: magpie | July 11, 2008 at 08:13 PM
Have you read The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch? I think you'd like it!
Posted by: well read hostess | July 14, 2008 at 03:38 PM