2/28/2010

A Walk on the Beach

My beach is a river beach. It does not feel the gentle southern breezes that
waft over the Gulf of Mexico, unlike  this beach
on Sanibel Island in Florida, which does.
When I look over the water, the far shore I see is a small Ontario dairy farm. I don't see million dollar apartments owned by billionaires in Naples.
Their  luxury towers look like tiny lego blocks  defining adult play along the horizon. That's not what I came to see though. This is:
This incredibly artful arrangement is by Nature. And it changes every minute or so of every hour, every day, every week, every month, every year
...you get the picture.
These are creatures and tiny treasures I don't have on my beach.
They're worth travelling 1000's of miles to see.
Some things you can hardly see...

...like this lovely little plover who blends so perfectly, she's almost invisible. Or the small flock of gulls who instinctively turn into a soft gray and white cloud hiding in plain sight on the beach from the eagle's eye overhead.
This jelly fish is the ultimate surprise on the beach ...it just sits there, looking phlemgy and disgusting. Step on it? Never! Providing I see it first that is.
On my river beach, the jelly fish wouldn't win the ugly competition, although they are green and slimey.

A twig on the edge of the beach moved. Not a twig after all.
Ah, Nature, you are so clever!
A beach is a place where I can get lost and find myself.
By looking without, I become calmer within.
It is the small things that bring the most joy.

It doesn't have to twinkle above you for you to make a wish.

9 comments:

Judy said...

I read your comment on Lorac's blog, about stonemasonry should be revived - had to tell you about the fellow who did the stonework in our new church. He was a biker, and he and the pastor had some interesting discussions over the months that he was working. And he did lovely work, too!

I SOOOOOOOO wish I could have either of your beaches! I make do with a patch of sand in the dog park, and pretend the traffic noises are really the surf...

Kelly said...

...I just love Sanibel and all the tidal pools. It's one of my favorite places. Sounds like you like it too...

...and thousands of miles away Canada just won the Olympic Gold in Ice Hockey. Glad Crosby was the one who knocked the winning goal in for you team. We were a little sad at the loss, but everyone loves Crosby!!

Mary said...

Susan,

This is what I love love love about you:

*This jelly fish is the ultimate surprise on the beach ...it just sits there, looking phlemgy and disgusting. Step on it? Never! Providing I see it first that is.*

Your offering here today is a breath of fresh air. You look around and notice, and appreciate.


Mary

jabblog said...

Lovely, lovely photographs! Nature is a wonderful and artistic designer and it's so easy to overlook her perfect miniatures.

DUTA said...

Nature is indeed "clever" and its "artful arrangements" on the beach are fascinating.

It takes a person like you, with an eye for detail and beauty, to notice all these little wonders.

Thanks for sharing!

Erica Houskeeper said...

These are really nice, and that last starfish photo is wonderful. Your post is a good reminder for us to take pleasure in the small things that we often take for granted.

Bill S. said...

Beautiful pictures. What a great eye you have for beauty. Thanks for sharing.

FAB said...

Hi Susan. Thanks for sharing your view of the beach with all the interesting forms, including the Turnstone. FAB.

A human kind of human said...

If it were not for the legs, that plover would be fairly invisible and that little gecko realy does look like twig. Beautiful photo's.