Sunday, of Labor Day weekend 2014

I walked down to the beach this morning at 7am, saw a beautiful sunrise, and found all the kids’ castles including mine were stomped flat. The beach was packed today; people who came, told us that the Cape Henlopen State Park beach was full, and they were turning people away. They came to our beach – and we were packed! 2014-08-31 15.21.38 Tatiana (7) from Washington, DC – and the wonderful castle she made!

2014-08-31 16.14.58 Mika (15), from Washington DC and me, in front of her castle.

2014-08-31 16.37.19 my castle today

2014-08-31 16.37.51 My granddaughter, Susie’s (13) castle.

Saturday of Labor Day weekend

Early Saturday morning, Susie and I walked down, and brought down the sand toys, chairs, and my Sandcastle Lady sign, and put them around our castles. It was a good thing we did, because the beach was overflowing by lunchtime, when we usually walk down to build!
2014-08-30 15.12.47 Susie (13) from Clayton, DE is my granddaughter.

2014-08-30 16.28.10 Sydney (12) from Media, PA, with her castle.

2014-08-30 16.29.01 my castle today (a little bit bigger every day that I don’t have to start from scratch!)

Strong winds and rough surf today

The wind was really strong today – and the waves on the bay made it look like the ocean!
My castle was the only one on the beach today. But I know Labor Day weekend will bring lots of people. (I think I like it quiet, like it was today!)2014-08-28 15.53.26

2014-08-28 15.54.51

2014-08-28 15.55.43

Away for 2 days/back at the beach now

After being away from the beach Sunday and Monday, it was nice to see all the castles being built today!
2014-08-26 13.02.53 Sydney (12) from Media built a beautiful castle, with winding stairs, and a door decorated with pebbles.

2014-08-26 15.31.38 Riley (5) from West Chester built a TMNT castle, and made trees and windows.

2014-08-26 15.32.19 My castle looked like ruins, from sitting in the sun too long before I could get to it, to build.

2014-08-26 15.42.10 Susie (13) from Clayton, DE, built a very ornate castle – designed and built just by herself.

Clouds brought cool weather; wind, and a bit of rain

There was a bit of sunshine earlier, but clouds rolled in, bringing cooler weather. The wind was out of the North East, and we got a bit of rain.
Gregg (the Sandcastle Dude’s brother in law) built a great castle before they had to head North, to Glenside, PA this morning. Very sad to see him go!
Just about everyone was blown off the beach, but I stayed, and built the beginning of a castle (even though I have to go home for a day tomorrow.)IMG_1299 Gregg (from Glenside, PA) left a great last castle before heading home this morning.

IMG_1301 My castle – had to stop carving when the wind and rain got too much. I was the last person on the beach!

Six castle builders today – very creative kids!

Of the six kids today, most were familiar from one or two years ago.
They all had great ideas and carried them out, building a big group castle, and a two person castle.
Three families: Angelina 10, and Lucy 5, were from Northport, New York; Adrienne 10, Riley 8, and Bridget 5, were from Gaithersburg, MD; and Grace 5, from Gracely, MD.
IMG_1292 - Copy Lucy 5, from Northport NY and Grace 5, from MD, pose in front of their ‘flower castle’

IMG_1293 - Copy Lucy 5, Grace 5, Bridget 5, pose with the three main castle builders of their “King’s Forge Castle” Adrienne 10, Angelina 10, and Riley 8.

IMG_1296 - Copy Another side of the King’s Forge Castle, with Angelina 10, Adrienne 10, Riley 8, and Bridget 5.

IMG_1298 - Copy My castle, looking up towards dunes.

Yesterday’s castles survived, and new ones built today

My ‘next door’ sandcastle builder, Gregg, built a wonderful castle (that made me think of a Mayan castle) at the edge of the high tide line. I got a picture of it before the water claimed it.
I was happy to let my castle from yesterday stand, and made a bridge to a new castle I built.
It was a good day on the beach (but aren’t they all?)2014-08-21 15.31.25 Gregg’s “Mayan” castle at the high tide mark.

2014-08-21 15.33.03 My castle with a bridge to yesterday’s.

2014-08-21 15.36.40 looking up toward the dunes – Jack and John relaxing, enjoying the sea breeze.

I had to start from scratch (again) but found some great kids who built, too!!

Having to start all over again is very hard. But I will build, and teach kids as long as I can!
I had some new kids today – John (7) and his sister Alexandra (10) from Rockville, MD; and sisters Sophia (13) and Julia (almost 11).
But the BEST surprise was looking behind me to find a great castle, being built by none other than the famous Sandcastle Dude’s brother in law, Gregg, and Gregg’s daughter, Ella (5 1/2) from Glenside, PA!
My castle is not very tall, but very sincere! Hopefully, taller tomorrow.
2014-08-20 14.41.29 John (7) from Rockville, MD, and his castle today

2014-08-20 16.53.45 Ella (5 1/2) was the architect for this castle, where she helped her Dad, Gregg. They are from Glenside, PA

2014-08-20 16.51.43 This is my castle today, small, but sincere.

2014-08-20 14.46.50 Here’s Sophia (13) Alexandra (10), and Julia (almost 11), with their team castle. They are all from Rockville, MD

Kids playing, but just my castle today

Lots of kids playing, and borrowing sandcastle molds, buckets and shovels, but none of them built – just played!
So – just my castle today. There is a Coast Guard boat anchored offshore – looked like it was a training day for the guys aboard.2014-08-19 17.05.06