Well this is my first day off in two weeks other than Sunday, yeah! As the last Tuesday I had off there is so much I want to do but since there are only so many hours in the day of course I'll either decide what to do with it or maybe just relax and let the day flow.  I cleaned an cooked for "the boys" (72 & 77yrs!) in the morning then cleaned up my brother-in-laws after lunch. When I got home after having Freddie's house looking better than mine I made myself get right into the cleaning and had it done before supper. So the house is presentable...of course I could always find some clutter to clean or my dungeon but I'll leave that 'til I have more hours in the winter. So I'll play while the sunshine! The only responsibility today is to take my dad to the ferry. From the other side he will be taking a shuttle bus to  his sister's in Cape Breton. I'm glad to do this as he has been talking about driving there for sometime. Though he is a healthy 88 year old I would rather he not drive that long distance anymore. One of my aunts many children and his family will bring him back home and staying for a few days.

Sunday we finally got some nice weather and was able to have the Sunday School kids and friends to the beach for a one day VBS (Vacation Bible School). I had been planning to go there that afternoon since the tide was going to be very low to look for sea-glass but didn't plan to share it with over 20 kids. (It was supposed to be Saturday but it rained all day) We had a great time of games, crafts, song, food and of course swimming. As I said the tide was very low but that made it easier for us adults 'cause the kids wouldn't get in too deep. One craft was wrapping wire around a larger piece of sea-glass, a loop on the end then strung with a leather cord for a necklace.

Sea-glass

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sea glass (or beach glass) is glass found on beaches along oceans or large lakes that has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted glass. Sea glass originates from bottles and jars that enter the water as litter and become broken up by the waves and rocks.

 

Not all the nearby beaches have sea-glass. I have one favourite which changes every time the tide comes in and recedes bringing with it new "treasures". There are local artisans who make and sell jewelry made with these gems. I don't know what I'll do with mine but it is fun and relaxing to slowly scan the beach with the relaxing sound of the surf with occasional cries of seabirds. Then to get home and sort out all the colours, shapes and sizes. Was this piece from a ship wreak years ago? A treasured heirloom? The blue is my special one to find since it is one of the rarer ones. This were probably old Noxzema or Milk of Magnesia bottles at one time.

 

Now yes some bottles were left on the beach or thrown from boats, broke and were tossed by the tides and worn smooth on the rocks for 30 - 100 years. This was before people became environmentally aware. Though I still meet an occasional fisherman who thinks anything thrown over the side of the boat "just goes away"!

 

One  story told to me a couple weeks ago from a visitor to the winery:

Years ago many farmers property ran all the way back to the banks overlooking the  Atlantic Ocean or Northumberland Strait.  As other farmers or land owners, long before there were public dumps or other facilities, it was the practice to take your trash to the back of your land way into the woods. Well as time went by erosion gradually caused the banks to recede and as a result abandoned trash including old dishes and bottles would end up falling over the banks into the rocks below. The tide would take these pieces and over the years they tumbled and turned, coming in, going out over rocks for years until they became the smooth, small round seaglass I find today on the beach. They sometimes called seaglass, beachglass, mermaid tears among others names. One day I met a little boy and his mother. When they asked what I was looking for and I showed them the young fellow said "Oh ... dragon tears."

 

In my online search I was surprised to find there is a "North American Seaglass Association that holds an annual seaglass festival:

http://www.seaglassassociation.com/Sea-glass-festival-NASGA.html

 

 

 

 

A friend of many in this blogging world, Ellen Crush, passed away on Thursday after a long and courageous battle with the monster of cancer. Those who knew her are deeply saddened and our hearts go out to her husband Curtis another dear blogging friend. She will be missed dearly. Curtis will need all the support of his blogging friends as he grieves the loss of his sweetie-pie.