Goin' On Vaca

Headed back to our new favorite spot, Anna Maria Island.  Will definitely write about it and publish new photos the spousal unit takes.  Can't wait to see my younger son.  He's been down there since September. 

Love you guys!

Theme Thursday: Sand

My earliest memories of sand are from Laguna Beach, Ca.  It is there my family spent each summer for twenty three summers of my life.  It is there I built sand castles with my father who took great delight in teaching us the easiest way to create water & sand designs by letting the sand drip from the index and thumb into a lovely magical shape, helping us move on to more sophisticated creations when we could wield a bucket, shovel and other paraphanalia.


 

Above & right:

Holmes Beach, Anna Maria Island 2009 

Sand was part of my life as a child.  Summers were spent going to the beach with our folks or our friends, on church outings or school field trips.  Sand would get in our clothes, our socks, our shoes, our hair, under our nails.  We tracked it everywhere:  the car, the house, the beach house we'd rent.  Our parents fruitlessly tried to eliminate as much sand from our bodies as possible before allowing us in the house.  Outside showers, hoses, towel wipe downs, stamping of feet were typical presumptive sand terminators.  It never worked well because if we'd been swimming in the sea, our bathing suits were invariably full to the brim with sand and it was always in the crotch.  I remember getting in the shower and taking off  my bathing suit and tons of sand would come pouring out of the crotch.  This may have been caused by the excessive amounts of sand in the Pacific Ocean or from rafting the waves, later body surfing and/or sitting in the sand to make castles, dig a hole, bury someone, etc.  I have never really found out.

The greatest feeling in the world is that first step onto a beach, when you remove your shoes and let your toes wiggle in the sand or let the water wash over your feet, leaving sand in its stead.  Ahhhhh.

Sand is a great exfoliator, is a forgiving jogging surface, and cleans the feet up as it downsizes callouses. 

Sand is one of my favorite, most looked forward to substances.  It always means the beach.  I am not a desert person!  

Theme Thursday Summer

Summer, for my family, is all about being on or in the water. We celebrate summer weekends on deep New England lakes. We tow the boat to the ramp, back it down and gently pull the boat off the trailer into the water. The boys and my husband water ski and wake board. I drive. We pack a lunch and picnic on the water. We doze in the sun, floating on a raft or the swim deck of the boat. We take lazy spins around the lake to admire the beautiful summer homes. We wonder if, some day, we will live on a lake. We imagine the house and the dock we'll enjoy.

We also celebrate summer each year at a beach. This year it was Anna Maria Island. We swim, body surf, play Frisbee. We pitch an umbrella to shade us from the hot sun, slathering SPF 30+ on for additional protection. Our hearts are light and our minds are free. We take sunrise or sunset walks, ride bicycles, play tennis, scout out delectable restaurants or grill at home.

Summer is all about heightened senses: sight, sound, touch, taste, smell. Our sight is enhanced by the unparalled summer light whether it's broad daylight, long twilight, rosy dawns, the Northern Lights. Summer sounds include everything from lawn mowers to boat motors, recurring tides, splashing water, the laughter of children at play; the murmur of adults talking on a warm summer night. Touch the sand between your toes, the beating of the sun on your skin, the refreshing feel of the water. Taste the grilled food, the cold beer, the exquisite pleasure of a meal after a long day at play. Smell the sea, the barbecue, the newly cut grass, the scent of sunscreen, the way your child smells after a day outside, bathing suits hung out to dry in the fresh air. This is what we wait for. This is what we love: Summer in all its glory.

Relaxing on the boat

Walking on Water

Up from the Sea

Greased Up and Ready to Go!

"Where do you want the umbrella?"

Beach Motel 60's Style

"Ahh, I have it all to myself..."

For one more great summer scene I've already posted and didn't wanna repeat, go here.