The Sandcastle Lady

The weather changed, with rain last night, and brought strong North East winds and rough surf. Pretty chilly on the beach – not many there, and those that were, were wrapped up in blankets!

It warmed up to 71, and I decided I should get back to carving. I’m so glad I did – it is good for me to be near the water – very rejuvenating. I know my blood pressure drops when I carve, I get so relaxed.

So happy that it warmed up a bit today, and I was able to get down to the beach and build something. Hopefully, I’ll be able to add a village and do some ‘finishing’ things tomorrow.

Yesterday, I leisurely started a castle, and then pulled a chair down to the water’s edge, and read (and it felt good!)
Last night, it rained, and made the castle look ancient. I finished the wall and put up some defenses around the castle, and added the village, all the time, fighting the wind and tide.
I like it when the tide comes up and surrounds the castle. I left today, not sure how much of the castle will remain tomorrow. (But I’ll be ready to build a new one!)

Old friends Denny, Carol, Adam and Shannon are here for the week – so nice to see them!
I meet so many people by way of my castle building – today, met Doug, who has a condo in Pilot Point; and Tim and Victoria, from Frederich, Maryland.

Today, I was finally able to finish yesterday’s castle. I won’t be on the beach tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday. (Going up to Pennsylvania for some doctor’s appointments.) We’ll be back Wednesday afternoon.

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!