The Sandcastle Lady

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!)

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