The Sandcastle Lady

Very nice building on the beach – a nice breeze and sunshine made it very pleasant.

I haven’t been to the beach since Sunday, and just didn’t have the energy to build. But I did today!

I went to the beach yesterday (Saturday) and worked slowly in the heat and humidity, accepting help for carrying water. But I didn’t get beyond the top towers. I’m hoping this congestion and crazy heart stuff will dissipate, and I’ll get back my energy soon.

I got up to the beach a little after 12:30 (thinking that I would try to get there earlier, when it wasn’t as hot.) The key words there are ‘thinking’ and ‘try.’ I’ll keep thinking positive, and maybe I will!
It’s such hard work to carry 40 pounds of water (5 gallons), again and again! And scoop up the sand (I know water weighs 8 pounds per gallon – but NO idea what sand weighs!) Today, a very gracious bystander who admires my work offered to carry water for me, and of course, I accepted most appreciatively!
Once I start building, it’s fun (but I have to remember to unfold my body, lest I get ‘stuck’ in a position I can’t get out of!
Here’s my castle today – I like it, and hope you do, too.

I had tried to build on the beach on Tuesday. It was very hot and humid, and I started having problems being light headed. I left everything, and tried to get home, stopping to sit down in tiny places of shade on the dune crossing. Not sure what got me. It hit me hard – and I couldn’t go to the beach yesterday, but I’m pretty much back on board now.
Unfortunately, Jack had my camera today, and I had to wait till 7:30 to get a picture of my castle. (By then the South wind had blown almost all the detail away. God willing, I will build again tomorrow – and take my camera with me!)
Here’s the windblown South side of the castle

The North side fared a little better.

Here’s the East side, showing people fishing behind the castle.

The sunset made up for not getting a picture of my castle before the wind got it!

We walked down to the beach this morning around 7:30, in a little bit of a drizzle. Not much wind, and what little we felt was coming out of the South West. Sun came out, and the beach was hot! Not crowded at all.
Some old friends came in for this nice quiet Labor Day week. So nice to see Stephanie and Piper, and Mom. Great to see Ellis and his sister, Kathy My castle today (I left yesterday’s standing.)

Piper (3), from Philadelphia, and Tatiana (7), from Washington, DC working on their castle. Mom, Stephanie supervising. The girls worked ALL day today!

A shot of yesterday’s castle, today’s castle, and my sign – click on the thumbnail, and you’ll see the Kalmar Nykel out in the Bay.

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! Tatiana (7) from Washington, DC – and the wonderful castle she made!

Mika (15), from Washington DC and me, in front of her castle.

my castle today

My granddaughter, Susie’s (13) castle.

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!
Susie (13) from Clayton, DE is my granddaughter.

Sydney (12) from Media, PA, with her castle.

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

The wind died down today, and the beach filled up.
Susie and I both built sandcastles. Susie (13) and her castle, alongside of mine.

My castle 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!)