Today, one of my former kids’ mothers, (whose son since grew up to be 28, and is now teaching Physics and Science in Cape Henlopen High School, and now a father) stopped by, and made my heart happy <3 I met a tiny little girl today, Marla, 22 months old, who loved the castle, and blew me many kisses, after washing the sand off her hands in one of my buckets. Other people stopped by to say they look for me every August and September <3 And an old friend, Ellis came over to visit, and catch up with Jack and me.
First castle in 5 days, due to Hermine and her high winds
After 5 days away from building, I was very happy that the winds finally died down enough that I could build on the beach!
It’s a small castle, started from the ground up, but I hope to build a little bigger every day.
This is looking up toward Cape Henlopen and the ferry
Looking up toward the Inlet, there were a few people back on the beach today.
Despite some castle trampling and high surf and wind, a castle today!
The castle I built on Thursday was trampled and dug up with long handled shovels. I gave the shovels back to the father of his destructive kids, and asked if he knew who would help me fill in the many holes on my structure, but he had no answer for me. This family was neutralized by 10 families who stopped by today, to say they enjoyed the castles.
Despite that trampling, I was able to prep the sand, and built this castle today.
I was exhausted, but happy to build this castle.
An invitation to lunch on Tuesday
A phone call on the beach, from dear South African friends came before I even started carving the castle. They wanted to stop in Lewes on their way to South Carolina, and take Jack and I out to lunch. I never want to stop ‘playing’ once I get to the beach (plus I didn’t want to have to shower and get dressed, before I finished a castle, either!) I don’t usually stop to have lunch, but we hadn’t seen Sue and Peter in a long while. They are in the U.S. visiting, and wanted to see us. Jack suggested we go to On the Rocks, and I was ready in a flash (a long beach cover up over my bathing suit, and I was ready!) Lunch was nice, and I was back on the beach at 2:30, and worked till 5, and finished the castle for the day.
This castle was about 2 and a half hours carving, after the sand prep in the morning.
An old kid builds <3 hey! I'm in!
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It was so good to have Frank building alongside me today! Here’s his castle!
My castle today, with my brother Bill Hicks’ boat out in the bay
Zain 7 and brother Aiden 4, from Rockville, MD
There was a light wind, coming onshore that was very nice today!
Zain, 7 years old, worked with his brother, Aiden 4 years old, on a very nice castle.
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick –
Anna’s little brother, Jack (4 yrs old) made one jump too many over Anna’s beautiful dolphin sand sculpture! Luckily, Piper and Anna were able to smooth out his footprint (where he missed the jump.)
Anna 7, from Swingerland, NY was the mastermind behind this wonderful dolphin sand sculpture. Piper 5, from Blue Bell, PA, made the blow hole for the dolphin.
Clouds hanging over my castle made this picture better, today.
Piper 5 and friend, Anna 7 make a Volcano Water Slide Ride Castle
Castles don’t have to ‘fit the mold,’ for sure! Anna and Piper made a Volcano Water Slide Ride castle!
Piper 5, and Anna 7’s volcano water slide ride castle
another late start castle for me. I’m hoping to get there earlier tomorrow.
An old friend, Piper( 5 years old,) teamed up with 2 new friends
It was so good to see my old friend, Piper, come up the beach with her mom Stephanie and grandmom Jody! Piper teamed up with two new friends, and made a fantastic castle!
Jack, 4 and sister Anna 7, from Swingerland, NY, with Piper 5, from Blue Bell, PA and their fantastic castle
I had a late start on the beach today, but did manage to get the front of a castle done. Hopefully, I’ll work on the back of it today – or maybe get an earlier start with a new castle.
Hoping the castle destroyers go home today
It was such a disappointment when we went to the beach this morning, and found all the lovely castles tramped down and destroyed. I can’t understand parents/kids who think it’s okay to tear down something that someone else has made (not to mention the intense work it takes to pile up and prepare the sand with buckets of water to begin carving.)
When kids like Sebastian, 10 years old, from Wilmington, DE, come, and create, it makes my faith in humanity soar <3
Sebastian, 10, from Wilmington, Delaware, and his castle village today.