Tuesday, September 18, 2007

CASTLES IN THE SAND....

One evening last week, John and I decided to enjoy what remained of a gloriously warm September day and take a walk along the beach. The sun was getting lower in the sky and the sea positively sparkled against the deserted sands.

As we walked, we came upon a sand castle abandoned by children who earlier must have had a happy time building it. Now, the voices of children were gone, instead, all that could be heard was the gentle sound of the sea lapping on the shore and the cry of gulls overhead.

The incoming tide quickened as we stood there, gradually filling the moat, then, with each wave that followed, the castle became more and more engulfed. We watched for a few minutes more as turrets and walls collapsed with every incoming wave. Not wanting to see its final submission we walked away. We thought of the children who’d built it, probably snug in their beds by this time, maybe even dreaming of their castle, not knowing that the sand on which they had played earlier had now been reclaimed by the sea.






18 comments:

Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess said...

Hello Marion. It is morning here and I need to get myself going but saw that you stopped by my neighborhood tour. it would have been a bit longer but as I said my battery in my camera went out!! I thought this was a good idea but then again I was wondering just how much we should show because of the "bad people" that frequent these blogs anymore!! It is too bad that we have to stop and think about what we are saying or showing anymore.
Your walk on the beach was nice!! I was just at the beach this past weekend and saw some kids building a big sand castle. What fun!!
Hope all is well with you and John...Sandy

LAUREN at Faith Fuel said...

I feel like I've been there- walking on the beach. Thank you for the chance to slip away to this lovely world you experience.

Susie said...

Beautiful post Marion. It makes me long to go walk on the sand, and watch the endless beauty of the waves.
Think of the wonderful fun the children had creating that castle!
xo

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Hello Marion, thank you for sharing the beach with all of us...

Also want to say that, yes, Elizabeth Goudge was describing Guernsey in that passage on my blog...the story of Green Dolphin Street is actually based upon something that happened to some ancestors of hers, as unlikely as the story sounds...if you read it you'll see what I mean. Another book of hers, Island Magic, is also based on Guernsey, loosely based on her mother's family, which came from there.

Anonymous said...

Hello Marion

I feel really refreshed after my walk on the beach and could almost hear the waves.

Marie x

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

A very reflective post! ;-)

Warm, sunny days are getting scarce in September so we have to make the most of it while we can.

Thanks for your comment on my blog.

HORIZON said...

This was a lovely written post Marion. l could hear the water lapping and imagine the children tucked up warm in bed. ;)
Glad you got to enjoy a nice wee walk along the shore. Our Septermber days are getting quite nippy up this way but today was not as cold- so l count my blessings.
hugs and bests- keep well Lady of Wales.

Mrs. Geezerette said...

This is well written, Marion. Even a small experience like this one can bloom into something worth sharing.

Our September here in the Chicago area is proving to be a warm one, and just when we thought we had turned the corner and were headed for the nippy days of fall.

Betty said...

Dear Friend Marion,

As a lover of the seashore, children and sand castles, I thoroughly enjoyed this post.

The sand castles are so much like the things we strive for in life and then in the end, they don't mean anything.
If we could just remember 'things are temporary'. Family, friends and kindnesses toward others are lasting testaments.....

We enjoy building sand castles......As always, Betty

Anonymous said...

I can almost feel the ocean breeze. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful walk. I enjoyed it very much.

Take care,
Hugs,
Connie

Anonymous said...

When reading your wonderful post, Marion, I remembered the time our children built sandcastles when we were staying at the sea during our holidays. And I still see their disappointed faces when they discovered the following day, that all their buildings were gone. I guess this was one of their first experiences that nothing in life is endless...However they made a second effort, a third and fourth go in spite of this... just seeing that something is also worth to do although it won't last long. (Hm, difficult to explain in English).

Kerri said...

I enjoyed tagging along on your beach walk Marion. The children must've had fun building their castle.
I always enjoy your reflections :)

Anonymous said...

A beautiful post - both in words and images.

Barbara said...

Just the time I like strolling along the beach or anywhere near the waters edge. The simplest things make for the best posts.

I have posted on Winchcombe today and mentioned you.

Blessings dear friend.

Alice said...

Lovely photos, Marion, albeit that the beautiful sand castle was slowly being washed away.

It brings to mind my thoughts whenever I am at the coast, as I watch the waves roll endlessly into the shore. I feel so insignificant (but not depressingly so) in the overall scheme of things. No matter what happens in our daily lives, in our neighbourhood, our country, or indeed, even the world, those waves just keep coming in as they have done for countless years, and will continue to do so long after we have passed on. In a way, the permanency of this action is somewhat reassuring, I think.

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Hello dear Marion,very well written as always. I love the way you write. September stroll on the beach, how lovely. Greatings from a sunny Vaxholm

Willow said...

I enjoyed the beach walk. What a beautiful afternoon!

Tea said...

Hi Marion,

Enjoyed the walk on the beach. What interesting scarecrows! And your gardens are so beautiful!!

tea
xo