Nathan & his mom Kim & Gram Karen built a wonderful castle!

5 1/2 yr old Nathan and his mom, Kim, from Louisville, CO teamed up with Gram Karen, from Copley OH, to build an elaborate castle today.

My castle was a really different design today. Jack said I needed to be off the beach by 5pm, to go to Serendipity, for my birthday dinner. Despite lots of talking, I was able to finish the castle and get off the beach in time!

(me), Nathan, Kim, Karen
(me), Nathan, Kim, Karen

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3 1/2 year old Tate built with her mom; 5 1/2 year old Nathan flew in from Louisville, Colorado.

5 1/2 year old Nathan flew with his Mom and Dad to Baltimore, from Louisville, Colorado, and is here with his grandparents. He hopes to build tomorrow, after he had a lesson today.

Tate is 3 1/2, and built a great castle with her mom, Tammy. I forgot to write down where they’re from (but I think Belaire, Maryland.) I’m sure I’ll find out tomorrow!

Lots of visiting (and talking) with people today – Ellis Duncan and his sister Judy are back again (met them last year.) Ellis told us he’s a character in a book about the Chelsea Hotel in Manhattan. (We knew he was a character!) The book is called “This Ain’t no Holiday Inn”, by James Lough, in its third printing, a

Tate, with her big smile and castle
Tate, with her big smile and castle

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008vailable from Amazon.

although I had to start anew, I felt so good, finishing

There was a family who left their things right next to where I build. They weren’t there, but my sandcastle mound was obliterated.
I started again, not liking whomever it was who had left their things next to me. When they came back, I knew it was them. Obnoxious kids, whining, fighting, throwing sand. Their mom was reading a book, and totally ignoring them.
There was a family who came over to me later – that I remembered through their children (although it was probably 10 years ago!!) These people make it all worth while!
They brought their 2 year old, Piper – sweet little girl, and made me remember why I share and do these castles!
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Not enough time today, but a start

We had company (Phyllis Brady, from Village Green!)come over from Cape May on the ferry today, and it was nice sitting, talking with her!

I was able to start a castle today, but didn’t have enough time to do very much. But then again, some time is better than no time!001

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Labor Day Weekend is here

I was worried that I might not be able to have ‘my spot’ on the beach today, but the families that were there knew I’d come (eventually!) I moseyed on down about 1:30 today, and spent time teaching kids, with the plan that I would carve an alligator.
After teaching Ryan – 12, from Green Lane (near Quakertown, PA) and Francesca – 9, from Philadelphia, PA, I was able to rough out an alligator.
It was nice to see Keiry – 6, from Newark, DE, and her friend, Madison – 7, from Newark, also. They were friends from last year. 004

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Ryan - 12, from Green Lane, PA,  built a great castle, AND got his dad building, too!
Ryan – 12, from Green Lane, PA, built a great castle, AND got his dad building, too!

Back on the beach/onshore breeze

The onshore breeze was really brisk today, bringing the tide way up at high tide. No need to dig a moat if you build at the high tide line – the water will surround the castle when the tide comes in.
The ferry passengers had a rough ride today, I’m sure. Love to see it coming and going across.007

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Went home to PA yesterday; back today

It’s not easy to get a base of sand up from scratch, but I was able to make a small castle today, after being away for a day.

small castle today - hopefully can pull a little more sand up tomorrow!
small castle today – hopefully can pull a little more sand up tomorrow!

Cloudy and Windy Friday with a bit of drizzle

Great groups of kids making castles today.
[Angelina – 9, and Lucy – 4 3/4, from Northport, NY; Adrienne – 9, and Bridget – 4, from Gaithersburg,MD; and Grace – 4 1/2, from Sykesville, MD – worked together, and made a Castle Kingdom, with churches and graveyards and a whole town.] [Riley – 7, Adrienne – 9, Bridget – 4, and their mom, Ann, from Gaithersburg, MD, worked with Angelina – 9, from Northport, NY – on a great group castle.]
Started from scratch on my castle, as yesterday’s castle was taken by invading hordes. So I moved a bit further down the beach. It’s just so difficult to prepare the mound of sand, and then have to start over.002

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