The Sandcastle Lady

Tate and her family had to go home to Belaire, Maryland; Nathan and his family left yesterday for Colorado, Maryland, and Ohio.
Ellis Duncan will go home in the morning, to miss the Sunday traffic, but his sisters Nancy and Judy, with cousin Faye and their friends Liza and Judy will be here this week.
Finished a castle today that most people said looked like a fortress. I’ll be on the beach tomorrow, God willing, and then will go home for a day, up to Pennsylvania.

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!

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

vailable from Amazon.

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!

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!

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.

There were a lot more people on the beach today. It was cloudy, but the

sun broke through.

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.

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.