Summer hols :: Shells, Seaglass and Sea life

Ahhhh the tide was out and we walked and walked along the seashore :: I remember this afternoon and my heart soars. I so love being by the sea. What's that? You already know? Yes of course you do, because I tell you often, and you are getting to know me quite well by now I expect.

Whilst we were in Northumberland, we visited various beaches throughout the week. Sometimes when it was gloriously hot and sunny (yes, we did have one day that fit this description) we would go to a seadsidey beach with swimming costumes and buckets and spades, and do the paddling/sandcastle-building thing. Other times when the weather wasn't quite as summery, we would wrap up in warm fleeces and go in search of a walking type beach such as this deserted stretch at Boulmer. Generally speaking, the beaches in Northumberland are on the huuuuuuge side. Big wide sands and big open skies. And empty, oh yes, they are often practically deserted, even in August. On this particular drizzly afternoon, we had the whole huge, wide, open stretch almost to ourselves. It was so peaceful and beautiful, if not a little damp and windswept.
Little Lady had fallen asleep in the car, so I left J with her and he was more than happy to sit looking out to sea in the warmth of the car reading the paper while Little Man and I braved the elements and went beach combing.

This was the first time we had been to Boulmer beach and it turned out to be fantastic for the likes of us. Not much good for sunbathing, but for beach combing, oh yes, it was first rate.We walked along the shoreline where at high tide the sea had deposited it's salty treasure in a great long meandering line.

We walk and bend and crouch, exclaim and examine and share.

I have a fascination for sea shells, I have done for as long as I can remember.
I have this little pocket-sized book called The Seashore, which I have owned for many years. I love being able to identify the things we find, to speak with a little knowledge to the Little People about sea-related nature. Love that I can pass this knowledge on, can perhaps pass on a fraction of my love for the seashore to them.

We collect a lot of shells, pebbles and sea glass during this week. Lots and lots and lots. We compete to be the One Who Finds The Bestest Bit :: the Prettiest Shell, the most Colourful Sea glass, the most Unusual Pebble..

We come back to the holiday cottage at the end of each day with pockets full of beach treasure to lay out, identify and admire.

We identify edible periwinkle shells, and the delightfully coloured orange and yellow flat periwinkle shells. We find whelk shells (and a large sea washed dog whelk shell), a small cockle shell, a trough shell, muscle shells, a wedge shell and a couple of tellin shells.

And limpet shells. Yes, we found a fair few of these. On Boulmer beach there were literally hundreds of sea washed limpet shells to be found. Little Man and I set out on a mission to collect ones with holes in so we can thread them to make shell mobiles.

Back at the holiday cottage and we stack them up in tens to count them. We have one hundred and forty five. Thats gonna be some mobile.

Or alternatively, they make unusual rings for Little Fingers.

Ahhh sea glass, to me it's just the most magical thing. The colours and the textures are so very, very beautiful. I have a large collection of sea glass, as you would expect. I have it in a glass jar on the bathroom windowsill and it captures the essence of past seaside holidays. A lovely reminder of sea and sand and sky.

This little lot came from the beach on Holy Island that I was talking about yesterday. Its the first time I've discovered sea washed pottery at the beach, and I loved searching for it. Loved those little fragments of colour and pattern from a time gone by. And in the middle, those are the St Cuthbert's beads :: you can see how small they are, some of the ones the Little People managed to find were only a few millimetres in diameter.

As well as beach combing, there was also rock pooling to be done.The coastline around Craster was absolutely perfect for rock pooling :: the rocks were easy to walk on and the pools were plentiful.

We found pinky red beadlet anemones, translucent shrimps, slippery sea slaters. And there were even elusive crabs to be found. We identified them as Shore crabs :: they were quite hard to find and involved lots of patient searching under rocks in the deeper pools, so the excitement when one would suddenly scurry out from under it's upturned rock was Huge. For Little People and Big People.

Mostly when we searched the rock pools, we observed and then left the sea life to pretty much get on with it's business. But once or twice, a net and bucket was involved and the challenge was on to actually catch a specimen. J was the main man for the job, with Little Man as back-up assistant number one. Between them they managed to catch a small crab, a shrimp, a rock and a fish. Us girls were suitably impressed, and the boys were proud, bless 'em.

Often we went down to the rocks just below the holiday cottage in the late afternoon before dinner :: these pictures were taken at 5pm or thereabouts. Searching for sea life has been abandoned and a happy, pottering playtime ensues.

We (J and I) sit on the warm rocks on this late summer afternoon watching our Little People play and I am so completely content within myself, so relaxed and happy, so warm and fuzzy.
Of course, it might've had something to do with the contents of my bag.....

.....life often feels warm and fuzzy when seen through a wine glass. Chin-chin.

Comments

[Georgie]

I love the way you & J create so many Happy Childhood Memories for your Little People. That is no small thing. X

[Caitlin]

Hi! I just found this blog when I was searching like crazy for limpet shells with holes in them. Do you have a lot of these around you? I found some similar when I was in Spain and they work really well for a macrame jewelry craft that I do. Would you ever consider selling these sort of things? I know this blog is 2 years old as well so maybe you are not in the same place. Thank you!

[Suze]

Love these pictures of the shore...and all the treasures you found...I too am a collector of Sea Shells since I was about 3....Still have all of them..from Hollywood Beach,Florida
Hugs,
Suze

[Diana]

And Chin Chin to you both, I am writing from downunder, I have come across your blog, I was looking for periwinkles for my book for my family, we have them here as well, and here we are, great blog, I also love the beach, I swim everyday in our local rockpool smack bang on the beach, you are very creative just like my neices. Some of my ancestory comes from Northumberland, good to see the otherside of the world having something in common. Cheers

[julie]

Beautiful images and lovely tales!! I wouldnt mind spending a few days there myself.

[kitschen pink]

HOw is it that the seaside treasures are so valuable - we have them in treasure dishes all over the house and not a one cost a penny! Beautiful post. Beautiful pictures! t.x

[Alice C]

Sometimes a blogger writes a post that encapsulates everything about themselves and their blog. I feel that this is what this post is.

I really love this post.

Thank you.

[Maddy]

Lucy that is just the most lovely holiday post, thank you.

[Leisa]

What a wonderful summer holiday you have had. I just love the beach pictures and the treasure that you found. thank you for sharing your lovely family time with us!

[cathleen]

Lovely, lovely photos, Lucy. You all had quite a memorable time. I, too, have lots and lots of seashells collected from my trips to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as the Gulf of Mexico. Also, bought a book about shells and sealife along the Atlantic. Someday I will have to take a few photos to post on my blog of my bathroom I decorated with a seaside theme. Anyway, your holiday pictures are a sweet escape for me this year because I will not be able to make it to the sea for quite some time. So, thank you so much for sharing your relaxing sea holiday.

[simone]

You found such wonderful treasure. I have never found sea glass on a beach and would love to do so one day. The limpet shells will make a great mobile or even a bracelet come to that!

[jane]

Chin Chin....
Ahh rockpools..shells...seaglass..makes me want to pack up the car and head for the beach in the morning! I love huge deserted beaches and I love them even more on cold days,all wrapped up in warm coats, hats and gloves...I can't believe all your shells and what a great idea to get a book on the seashore. May just have to copy you with that one!!!

[Janneke]

Hi Lucy,
Ooh i get so excited when i see all the treasures you found. Want to go to the see rightaway :) I also have dishes, boxes etc. with all kind of things that i find. When we go for a walk in nature i always walk with my nose towards the ground, haha. I work as a volunteer in the herbgarden of an old monastry and sometimes you find parts of dishes but i also have found some little bones !
Have a wonderful weekend,
Janneke.

[Natalie]

Hi Lucy
Lovely beach pictures, I also have loads of shells and pebbles in my house, although sadly, Filey beach is not great for shell collecting. I can't wait to see that mobile when it is done, which reminds me, you still haven't revealed your twig project!
The contents of your beach bag look essential to me, which also reminds me, I want to hear more about that humungous hangover you had on Sunday! - Take care love Nat x

[ginny]

oops my first comment didn't appear only my spelling corrections.
i think this post is heaven... all those shells with holes in ready to be strung up with twine or made into jewellery and the sea glass and pottery.. as i said... heaven x

[ginny]

that should have said beeper and oven... can't you tell i am multi tasking!
x