She Sells Sea Shells

Wow even writing the title makes my tongue get tied!


This week I was at the beach and three adorable little girls came up to me to see if I had an interest in purchasing some sea shells.  When I asked the girl holding the bucket of shells how much she was selling them for she replied "one dollar."  "Wow one dollar, don't you think that's a bit much?"  , after all the beach was laden with sea shells; "No" she said she thought the price was perfect for the treasures that she had found. Not wanting to offend her high priced shells I told her that I'd gladly buy the entire bucket if I had brought my wallet down to the seashore, she said that I could have one for free. Isn't that just about the cutest thing? 


Her two friends also had a job , one of the girls let me know of a lemonade stand that they were going to have just outside the beach opening, specifically on the right hand side not the left , but we shouldn't come between 4:00 pm  because they would be getting their lemonade supplies. The other little girl just looked as cute as could be as she sat and buried the sand around her feet. Adorable.


If I had my purse with me I would have given the girls a dollar, not because the shells were worth it, but because the spirit in which they were presented was priceless. They were quite the entrepreneurs. I love summer days, it brings out the creative.


As they left me with my free sea shell I decided to collect a few more so that I could make another easy summer craft. Here's what I came up with, sea shell garland. It's easy, fun to create, and looks so summery hung anywhere.

1. Collect sea shells with holes


2. For the string I used dental floss. I measured the length that I wanted and left about a foot extra so that I could tie each shell.


3. I strung each shell and tied it as shown above. Be sure to leave a bit extra at each end for hanging. 


* Once you are done you can put the string over your shoulder so that the garland doesn't get tangled up on itself.*

Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

I love the beach, its sounds, smells, colors and treasures! It is my favorite place to be. For me, the beach is where I feel most connected to the universe, where I  pray, where I cry, where I laugh, where I walk, where I get my inspiration. Throughout the cold New England winters you can find me bundled up by the seashore. In the summer I'll be the one with the big sunglasses building a sandcastle with children draped around my neck. I love the beach, it makes me sing! 

This weekend while my family was in from out of town we made a stop at Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester. We had a wonderful day chasing hermit crabs, making drip castles, and plunging into the cold ocean in search of sand dollars.  

I took a few photos that day. I was inspired to try a new App that I downloaded onto my Android phone. It's called FxCamera. It comes with three effects, a Polaroid, Fish Eye, and ToyCam. Although the quality of the Polaroid is grainy I really like it. It reminds me of a Polaroid that I'd find tucked away in an attic.       

Original Photo

FxCamera

This summer I hope you find yourself wiggling your toes by the water's edge. There are many beaches that will inspire you. Gloucester alone has seven beaches to choose from. Enjoy!

A Royal Flush (Get it?!)

It's not every day that you feel like royalty, in fact some days you feel more like a maid running about doing  all of the household chores. After this weekend's royal wedding I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to have a privileged lifestyle. Maids fixing your bath, preparing your food,  cleaning your house, while gardeners pluck weeds from your garden. I don't think having a retinue would be half bad. If anyone wants to give me a go at it  for a day or so, I'm game.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to feel like royalty. I spent my afternoon parading  about a Stuart-style 59 room estate, taking a leisurely walk through Italian gardens while stopping along the way to admire the stone statues that bordered the undulating lawn leading directly to a private sand filled beach. Sounds like a dream, right? For me it was, but for Florence Crane wife of Richard T. Crane, Jr., this was her reality during the summer months at Castle Hill, The Crane Estate.

Crane Estate is located in Ipswich, Massachusetts and is a 165 acre National Historic Landmark. The former summer home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard T. Crane, Jr., this historic 1928 mansion includes 21 outbuildings with beautiful architectural details, gardens galore, and a breathtaking view. Mr. Richard T. Crane along with his brother owned R. T. Crane & Brothers, which manufactured and sold brass goods and plumbing supplies including Crane toilets. 

The estate was given to The Trustees of Reservations by the Crane family in 1945. Today the Trustees maintains and preserves the property while making it available to the public for tours and special events. The Trustees own more than 100 historical properties throughout Massachusetts. Their mission is to preserve these properties for public use and enjoyment. 

Yesterday The Trustees of Reservation served their mission as my family and I along with hundreds of guests enjoyed a free open house May Day celebration on the property. Because of the devotion to preserving historical properties, this organization makes it possible for everyone to feel like royalty even if it is only for a day.

Click here to become a member of The Trustees of Reservations

Click here for more information about Crane's Castle/ Castle Hill/ Crane's Beach

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