"The Loveliness of The Seashore"

What is the "Seashore" like?

"Where the sky meets the sea ...
The seashore is a place where the sea and the sky are the same smoky gray until ... the morning sun breaks through. The hot noonday sun feels warm as a big soft cat covering you. And it seems there is nothing in the world except the sound of the wind and the rising and falling of waves."

Over at Dawn's there are so many wonderful books suggested on her blog. Earlier this month I couldn't help but to peek at some of them ... thanks Dawn! *The above quote came from The Seashore Book .

The ocean moves in and then moves out. This place where water, sky and earth meet is never the same. The tide comes in, the tide goes out, each wave that returns pushes against the incoming swell as it is pulled back into the endless depths and swallowed into the vastness of an unknown deep. Such is each day of our "daily" lives.

I grew up enjoying the sights, sound, and the surf of the NY/Jersey "shore". When you come from that part of the world it is almost NEVER called the beach, but rather "the shore". Later on I had the pleasure of living near the sunny beaches in Southern California ... another awesome place to experience. Now I mostly get to enjoy the gulf shores of FL where my Mom lives. Just as my (recently departed) Dad would do for me, I make sure to do for my girls ... let them experience the beauty and magic of the "SEASHORE"!

Some of my earliest memories are of my Dad taking me, my older sister, and brother to the shore (without my Mom and little sister who was very sick as a baby/toddler). I think my Dad found beauty and serenity there ... a perfect escape from life's daily worries. Peanut butter sandwiches (with sand), Wyler's grape drink in a thermos, and red cherry Italian ices (my Mom would never allow this ... you know, staining!) are some of the pleasures I can recall. OF course I also remember the sunburn, the sand stuck in the oh so uncomfortable places, and losing one of my Fisher Price Little People that I buried in the sand. Maybe you found it Nutmeg ? I am pretty sure some were buried in the sands of Jones Beach ;)

Going to the beach today does not happen nearly as often, for AR doesn't really have a "seashore". Lakes are what you will find where I live. They are beautiful, but not nearly the same for this Jersey Girl ...

Someday I may get to enjoy the loveliness of the seashore quietly with a good book and with just my husband by my side. For now the shore include lots of fun and joyful noise ... lots of great MEMORIES!

*My five Minnies and my brother's five. This is the full version of my blog's header.

THANK you soooooo much to all the wonderful ladies who stopped by to visit and left me some links to their seashore/lake stories ...

Over at Laurie's (Sea Glass Hearts), she shared how her mom's group had a wonderful day at the Mission Bay collecting hermit crabs and building sand castles.

Many may not have the actual seashore near them, but the nearby lakes can be just as lovely. Joann at Ten kids and a dog shared some great photos of lakes in her upstate NY area. I especially loved the 1966 photo of her and her family ... just beautiful!

Angela at Three Plus Two shared some interesting photos of an egret, an oystercatcher, and even some ponies and deer. Who would of thought????

Cindy at Kelly's Klassroom Korner shared some warm memories of her youth down at the beach. I can just tell how much her family's gatherings at the beach mean so much to her ... I can relate to this on many levels. Thanks for opening up to us!

At Mac and Cheese Cronicles (love that name by the way), Lorri shared some of the reasons she loves the sea ... the fog, the smells, the sounds, and more. She also posted some gorgeous photos of her "Boo" from before digital. *I hope these photos are dispayed somewhere ... they are just "magical".

Nutmeg over at Life in a Nutshell painted a glorious picture of her earlier days at the "shore" in NY. I can relate to this beach very well having frequented it with my parents and grandparents. Even though the beach is no longer in her backyard, she heads to one as often as she can.

Elena shared some fun pictures at My Domestic Church. Living near the Great Lakes she shares how just having a huge body of water, some sand, and lots of kids nearby can equal tons of fun!

Carmen at Carmie's Cozy Conifer Cabin shared a memorable photo of her son that she took last summer off the Atlantic coast.

Margaret from Minnesota treated us to her recent Hawaiian trip and the sweetness of a distant shore... now those are some lovely beaches (never been, but I can always dream). Thanks for sharing your gentle reminders of who really is in control. I think this is one of the reasons I love the beach so much ... reflecting! *Oh ... it was a little confusing (for others) growing up with an older sister named Eileen. What made it even crazier is that my little sister is named Heleen. My Dad is to blame on the name choices!

Jennifer from S/V Mari Hal-O-Jen visited the Pacific coast shores and described how very different the experience was to what she is used to. *I know those waters are cold. Give me the Gulf any day.

Spending time at the Cape was what Mary B. at Mum2Best7 shared. I enjoyed reading her last thought ... "Sleepy little one, a beach chair, cold drink, watching them become braver and stronger and more in love with their Dad and Grandpa every time they are swung through a wave or tossed in the air. That is Loveliness."

... the "Seashore" is just LOVELY! Thanks for stopping by.