Dedicated to my sisters. Bon voyage Rosie – til next we three meet again!
Yesterday, I enjoyed a good, healthy sandblasting! With a windswept walk along ‘Northam Burrows’ beach – on the western edge of the Taw Torridge Estuary. It’s a wide————open space, easily reached by traversing a purpose-made concrete gangway over the world famous ‘Pebble Ridge’ – that then widens to an immeasurable area of flat, golden sand – the size of which – ebbs and flows with the tide. I met up with my two sisters and two doggie nieces ‘The Whippets’ – for afternoon walkies and talkies; the tide was far————out.
It wasn’t long before we were all heads down looking for treasures – bits of sea-glass, driftwood, seaweed, seashells, pretty coloured stones – you know the type that intensify when wet. We all love beach-combing! My sister’s are both artists – so they love seeking for things that inspire them to create – where as I’d say I’m more akin to the ‘Whippets’ in that I get a sniff of something ‘other’ – that I follow with my nose till I find it! As said, ‘Northern Burrows’ beach is VAST – so the odds of finding something ‘other’ is ‘a needle in a haystack’ chance – only greater!
‘Unfortunately’ – my phone was flat, so I wasn’t able to take any photographs of the white frothing waves – or the beach – or the sandstorm – or my bad hair day – or anything, but I think this beautiful watery seaweed painting by my elder sister, Caitlin – perfectly captures yesterday’s experience. Her painting was stood ‘still’ on her kitchen dresser and caught my eye – while we enjoyed a post-treasure hunt tea together.
We were like three sea-witches gathered round a box of Viennese chocolates – that had been magicked up by younger sister – who flies home again tomorrow; where’s the week gone?
While my phone recharged its battery -‘courtesy’ of elder sister’s energy supplier, I was able to immerse myself fully so to speak with no distractions; it felt good to leave my phone ‘home’ for a bit – somehow freer! I don’t actually use my phone ‘as a phone’ you understand – it’s just there for emergencies like if my car was to breakdown, however its dual function as a camera is a distraction in itself when one takes lots of photographs like I normally do. I find myself thinking about ‘what’s the best angle’ or ‘the best light’ in my field of focus while not noticing what’s going on in the peripheries; there’s a lesson for me in all this!
My sisters both came home from the sea with a veritable haul of salty bits and bobs – but the treasure of the day IS an eight-sided piece of ‘green’ metal found by yours truly!
When I picked it up – it felt heavy like Iron but then I noticed an exposed edge glinting in the bright sunlight, and I knew in an instant – I was holding a piece of brilliant Bronze. WOW! Bronze being one of my favourite metals – this piece winked at me!!!
Bronze mainly consists of Copper with a small quantity of Tin; it’s an alloy that never rusts. Instead, it magically turns a beautiful shade of Green – called, Verdigris.
How wonderful it is to imagine that perhaps it came off a shipwrecked treasure chest that was smashed to pieces on the rocks – and that somewhere on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean is a scatter of real Gold coins – even a hoard!
Only ‘big’ sis could get it fully on cos she’s the smallest – but she got a bit anxious when it came to getting it off again. Me too, as I wanted it back!!!
Of course the only other thing we brought home with us from the beach – was half a ton of wind-blown sand; in our clothes, our hair – our boots – and other places!!!
Another old fav that came floatin back in on yesterday’s tide…
More wonderful tales and as I am sister-less this was fascinating to me. I do so enjoy your rambles and I do mean to pop by more often dear Melanie, I was only thinking it was a few weeks into the new year and when I looked properly it was already almost March! cheers from the other side – Tina Poppy
Hey Tina Poppy! You are my ‘sister’! Always great to receive a message from t’other side!!! Thank you for your generous words and yes – our perception of Time is a funny ole thing. As you say, the year is Marching on…
Hug, Melanie X
Dear Melanie, what a lovely read of our very happy afternoon together, great photos too 😍 let’s do it again soon xxxx