Beach season officially began this week. It was still a bit chilly, but with so much running and jumping and digging, jackets were quickly peeled off and left in the sand. We are lucky that we get special access to a beach that is quiet and void of people but for a runner here or there. This particular day we were the only people in sight, from one end to the other.
When I was a girl, my family used to visit St. George Island if Florida. My grandfather used to take my mom and her brother and sister there before there were houses and restaurants. At bedtime my mom told me stories about their time on St. George. About my uncle being awoken one night by a wild hog scratching its back on his hammock. About climbing up the big sand dunes on the island and finding a rum bottle originally belonging to a slave ship. My mother says that one of the best things about their time at St. George was that my grandparents could just let them go. They were free to follow their imaginations as long as they were back by lunch time.
I have my own beach memories that include my brother and I discovering a sea turtle nest at just the very moment the little ones were hatching. It was like magic as my mom touched each little nose, barely visible under the sand. Which sent them in a mad flurry of flippers flailing frantic to get to the water.
All of this makes me grateful that we live so close to the ocean. To be able to give my boys the very same opportunity to discover and run wherever they are lead without a hovering mama. Our beach day left me wondering about what of our beach adventures will stick in my boys' memories. What stories will they tell their own children at bedtime?
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With Easter quickly approaching, I've been thinking a lot about hope. By the way, have you see this project over at Shutter Sisters? We are making special plans for Easter - we will be helping organize a Christian sadar with some of our very best friends - and I just can't wait to see it all come together.
Entries for the Beebee Mod giveaway are open until midnight tonight, so there is still time to make yourself eligible.
And I am hoping to get caught up on all of the entries to the summer unschooling project. Wow, what a response! I am thrilled over the moon with all of the interest. We have mamas from all over the world who will be playing along this summer.
I had also hoped to be sharing a project today that I've been working on little by little. I have been heavily inspired by all of the neutral tans and browns of the sand with that amazing punch of blue, navy blue, cornflower blue...mmmm...but I didn't get any time this week in the sewing room. Maybe this weekend.
Happy Friday All!
