Saving Sand dollars and Horseshoe crabs

This Spring we spent some time at our condo on the beach at St. Simons Island.

We found one!

I took pictures of how to find sand dollars and olive shells buried under the sand so that you can find time the next time you go. 

This is the track the the olive shell leaves on the sand.  The olive is a very shinny shell and very beautiful!

 Here is the sand dollar track on the sand.  Always throw them back in!

washing the sand dollar enjoy it and then throw it back in!

digging the sand dollar

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I thought this was 2 conchs in the sand, instead found a horseshoe crab buried in the sand.

That day was a treasure for discoveries!  We found 8 other horseshoe crabs on a sandbar and we thought they would die in the sun so we dug them up and carried them to the water.

We also found 1/4 of a leatherback turtle washed up on the sand that was obviously hit by a boat.  It was so sad.  We called the DNR and they came and took it for research.

Every time we go to St. Simons is a wonderful time!  

When we have good weather!

Just up and Leave!

Wow!  This is the first time that we retired, we just up and left the house and came here to St. Simons for the week.  Don and I were looking at the calendar and making plans for the day and I suggested that since the kids didn't need us, we had no doctor's appointments nothing else scheduled, we could do a quick gardening and watering and go off...

Last weekend we had Caroline for 4 days and nights while they went to New York to celebrate their 5 year wedding anniversary.  It was so much fun!  We worked on potty training and she went 3 times, one time running and saying "big potty".  Another time I cleaned up a big puddle off the floor...
She slept in the big girl bed for the first time and loved it.  She is such a sweetheart!  I love it when she sings and I can tell by the tune what she is singing - certainly not by the words!

Caroline wins the clean plate award!

Then Tuesday we picked up Lauren and Andrew at the bus stop and then Isabella at day care.  I loved doing homework with Andrew and playing "dance" with Lauren.  Isabella was awake for 2 hours and though I didn't get her "talking to me," I got several with her eyes wide open and smiling!
When it was time for what I thought was time for Isabella to sleep, she would not go down but fell asleep on me and I held her until Brian came home.  What a delight.

Isabella talking to me!

Unfortunately it's been raining, windy and cloudy since we got here, so the beach hasn't been much fun.  Watch and hear the sand blow in the video!  It hurt when it hit my legs when I was walking.  There were only a few brave souls walking and needless to say, I didn't go in the water!

Last night we went to see the movie, The Words.  It certainly gave me much to think about that I usually try not to think about.  My new blog friend wrote about the movie: http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.com/  I don't agree with all of what Chris wrote though: "but Rory never moved on, and was tormented by nightmares until he focused his grief on another book, one that'd allow him to tell the true story of the manuscript. Rory titled the book The Words."  

Is that clear in the movie, what do you think?

Yeah!  Went boogie boarding tonight.
The tide was high, the sun was setting, the waves were just right for an old retired lady to enjoy without being afraid of twisting an ankle or a knee.  That's me on one of the smaller waves.

Tomorrow we have plans to go fishing so I will add more pictures of all the fish I'm going to catch!

New Year Resolution I - LISTS ON THE BEACH - poem

LISTS!  I've always had a list.  Here is a poem that I wrote in the 90's after a walk on the beach:

                The Beach and I   

by Bea Skeens (in the 1990’s)

I found that I could steal away

An hour from my busy day

And so I called some friends to see

If they could go walk on the beach with me

But they all had other plans or were not home,

I set off alone.

My mind was full of things I have been doing…

Planning and preparing others, even brooding.

Then startled from my thoughts I was

When a wave hit the sand with a foamy splash.

I looked around me at the serene sea,

The seagulls free

The children laughing gaily,

The grownups sunning

Some others running,

Many walking.

As I resumed my steady stride

Scattered thoughts invade my mind.

And with a wave that hit the sand came

Peaceful thoughts of God’s glorious plan.

The sun was shining brightly,

The breeze blowing so slightly,

And I became absorbed by the Might and Glory

Of my God revealed so rightly.

And I began to praise and thank Him

For the abundant love and constancy

With which He fills and guides me.

The beach and You are what I need

    To feel refreshed and be fulfilled.

The ocean’s calming waves… A prayer that saves

The sheltering dunes… A praising tune;

The endless sky… My spirit revived;

The birds that soar… I long for more!

No room for fear, You’re always near.

Your purpose in all things is clear.

I want to meditate on you and seek Your Rest

As soon as I get home I’ll make a list.

 

 Lists have always been a big part of my life.  So when I retired, I thought, now my list won't be a burden!  I'll be able to relax and do those things that I need to do.  Well, that has not been the case in the 7 months since my retirement.  Few of the big things on my list have been completed.  Oh, I have written lots of small lists and have enjoyed scratching off lots of things.  I do feel a sense of accomplishment and peace at being retired.  I have had fun with the kids, tried new recipes, and made lots of crafty things.  But I continue to say "later" to some of the big things and transferring them to the new list.  No big deal.  There is no hurry to clean out file drawers or closets or to transfer my VHS videos to DVD.  Maybe they'll get done in 2012. (Resolutions are coming...)