Week 14

Another week and how lucky we have been to have had long sunny days to enjoy.  We have had times to sit in  the garden and look across the shore and to the hills and known that summer is on the way.  My page started as I tipped the contents out of my bag into the sink.  I sort and wash the items,  it cleans them and also makes the colours glow.   I had a real tangle of seaweed and as I began to separate it, it reminded me of being a little girl and playing with a chocolate box filled with strings of beads, some of my mums necklaces.  I thought the bubbly seaweed looked like a string of  beads and then I found the twisted piece which could be a bracelet.  This thought influenced my choice of what is on the page, a matching necklace and bracelet, and with some imagination, a charm bracelet and two little charms in the form of the well worn sycamore seeds.   And finally a little broken twisted piece of black seaweed.  I always try to capture true colours, it amazes me how many shades are found in one piece of seaweed when you really look.  I worked in acrylic inks, yellow ochre, red, blue, green and brown,  and my number 1 sable brush.
 I have photographed them with my beautiful sea inspired necklace which I was wearing.  It was handmade by Delila,  go and see her beautiful blog.  The little shell says "sound of waves".   In a few weeks time she in coming from Finland to spent a week with me,  and I will take her  a walk across the shore and visit some other beaches and beauty spots.  My  page could have had more little charms of crabs, shells and mermaids purses,  but I am leaving it.
Yesterday I did my beach walk around 6pm,  it was still so warm and I could feel the heat and smell the salty sea air.   It was busy with dog walkers,  I counted eight dogs.  There were two dogs splashing around in the water whilst their owners sat on the edge and threw balls for them.  I saw dog prints everywhere in the sand and human footprints,  all the birds must have been scared away.   The shore was also crowded with the flock of sheep which were put out to graze during the week,  now that the high tides are over.  A breed of black sheep with pale faces, Herdwick, which are more commonly seen on the fells.   They were hot and some came down to the water to drink.  It seemed strange seeing so many sheep and people,   the swan didn't seem too happy either.  She was on the water and then settled on the bank digging at the grass.  She looked at me and clacked her beak, then got up and seemed annoyed at the line of sheep walking along her bank just above her.   Two ducks flew up from the water and two oyster catchers moved around together on the sand.   A large black rook scratched about in the grass.  I was thrilled to see two butterflies dancing along.  I came across them as they were sunning  themselves on the limestone boulders.  My hand was overflowing with the little bits and pieces I had gathered.  I carefully carried the little white crabs because they are so fragile and nestled together with some pretty feathers I managed to get them home in one piece. I noticed how the pools of water had all dried up and returned to grass,  how the sand in places has baked and crackled  like crazy paving with the heat of these hot days.   Some huge pieces of the banking had collapsed and caused more erosion.   It was a lovely walk,  a joy to feel the sun and a warm breeze and be able to see the blue sky and the views of pale blue hills, no wonder so many people chose to take a walk today.  I think I know what will be featuring in week 15,  next week    It is so nice  to read the comments and know people are enjoying the weekly pages of my shore finds.  Thank you for the comments, welcome to the new followers.    Millyx