The Sandcastle Lady

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

Riley (5) from West Chester built a TMNT castle, and made trees and windows.

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

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

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.) Gregg (from Glenside, PA) left a great last castle before heading home this morning.

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

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.
Lucy 5, from Northport NY and Grace 5, from MD, pose in front of their ‘flower castle’

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.

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

My castle, looking up towards dunes.

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?) Gregg’s “Mayan” castle at the high tide mark.

My castle with a bridge to yesterday’s.

looking up toward the dunes – Jack and John relaxing, enjoying the sea breeze.

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.
John (7) from Rockville, MD, and his castle today

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

This is my castle today, small, but sincere.

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

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.

It was WONDERFUL to see Dimitri and Alexandria’s girls come back to my beach!
Olga is their youngest, just turned 2. Next is Vera, 7 years old; Roxanna, 10; and Mila is 12. Each of the three older girls built their own castle (but I wasn’t quick enough to get their photos!
I was able to get a photo of Isabelle, 6; her Dad, Paul, and her brother Dylan, from Leesburg, VA, with their castle of yesterday.
I had to work very hard today, to get the sand back up, to build today’s castle. If you looked at my castle from yesterday, you’ll see the difference.
At the end of the day, I had Ella, 6, from Bethedsda, Maryland, and Aidan 6, from Potomac, Maryland building.
It was a good day on the beach, for sure!
Paul, Isabelle 6, and Dylan 4 – from Leesburg, VA

Ella 6, from Bethesda, MD, and Aidan 6, Potomac, MD
Roxanna, 10 years old – her castle

Mila, 12 years old; her castle

Vera, 6 years old – her castle

My castle today, not finished – but maybe tomorrow?

What a disappointment this morning, to find every single castle smashed to the ground!
A new family arrived, and built for the first time today. Paul (Dad) and his daughter Isabelle (6), from Leesburg (Northern Virginia) had a fantastic start on their castle. Hopefully, they’ll come back to finish.

My castle turned out to be a very flat fort of sorts. (I can only scoop so much sand and water up in a day.)
my very flat fort castle today

Paul (Dad) and Isabelle’s (6) castle start

I can’t tell you how much I am missing Rachel, Roxanne, Laynie and Charlie (and even Gracie!)
I really miss a new friend, Evelyn Ann, from Rutland, Vermont, who had to go home, but left me the sweetest note <3 Please keep in touch, Evelyn Ann! Only my castle today - hopefully more kids, more castles tomorrow.
My castle today, with the ferry and the Kalmar Nykel in the background.

Kevin – one of my favorite guys came by today, to say hi!
He and his cousin, Ashley used to come and build castles. Kevin will be teaching High School Physics at Lake Forest, his alma mater. So glad to see him again!