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Glimpses of seaside life, part 1

Naomi

Beach

 

I grew up in a coastal town, so you’d think I would be immune to the wonders of nature that these photos reveal.  Not so.

I will never (I hope) cease to: be in awe of the way the moon influences the tides, stop in my tracks at the way the sun sparkles on wet sand, and bend down to feel the many varieties of shells at my feet that once contained ocean life. Being near water in any form brings me such restorative calm.

Today and Friday, I give you 18 images from our Florida vacation.

How about you? What do these photos evoke within you? Where do you find that sense of unending and powerful peace?

Seashells on beachPelicansSeashellsBirdDolphins

Blog moon and calm seaBoats in harborSunsetIf you enjoyed these, please visit Part 2.

 

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31 responses

  1. Harmony Harrison

    I’ll never cease to be in awe of the ocean, either. I’ve lived a mile from the sea for the past thirteen years, and every time we go to the beach, it’s like the first time for me — filled with wonder and gratitude.

    Reply
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    Reply
  3. Jean

    Thanks for sharing your lovely photos, Naomi! I am not a stranger to the ocean and know the power it has to heal, restore and help the body and soul recover. The salty sea air that permeates your lungs and gives such a distinctive aftertaste can be recalled instantly as I look at your images.

    I hope you will continue to share your pictures. They transport me to a completely different space and I welcome the sensory and cellular memories. Much love to you! ♥

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Oh Jean, thank you!

      Reply
  4. Susan

    These photos evoke sensory memories in me. I grew up on Long Island and my summers were spent at the beach. I can smell the salt air, taste the salt on my lips, know the feel of it in my hair and on my skin. I can hear the cry gulls, feel the sand underfoot, hear it squeaking when I walk. Hear the waves lapping the shore…I could go on and on with this.

    Thanks for the memories!

    Reply
  5. Marcie

    There’s something about the ocean – always – that leaves me awestruck. As if it’s both the beginning and the end of the world. What a lovely place to vacation!

    Reply
  6. Kelli Spencer

    Awe….the beauty of water. I can’t get enough of it. Although, not living close to the ocean, I do have the ability to visit Lake Superior. And, visit we do…often! Instead of seashells though, it is rocks we pick. Picking rocks until our pockets are stuffed. Treasures of the sea. 🙂 We are fortunate to live in between two lakes, not on the lakes unfortunately, but close enough to walk on over and of course, not this year, but years in the past have been so grateful to be able to stick my feet in the oceans. There is really nothing so powerful than the ocean waters. Feeling the rush of the water coming at you and then somehow calming you as it manages to pull from you all the unwanted energy that needs to be released and it then washes it out to never be seen again. Awesome! I love the water….<3
    Thank you for the pleasure of the beautiful pictures. Since I was not able to make it anywhere out of Minnesota this year, I've been craving a bit of exactly what you posted. <3

    Reply
  7. Janet

    Beautiful photos, Naomi! I didn’t grow up on an ocean but I’ve been fortunate to visit them. My favorite water is on the Great Lakes: Grand Marais on Lake Superior in Minnesota.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Ooh, I’ll have to add that spot to my list!

      Reply
  8. Kelly Mckenzie

    Those shells! Wow. Both my siblings have places on the water and I could spend hours trolling the high tide line looking for special shells and beach glass. Speaking of beach glass, did you see much there?

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      I looked for art glass but didn’t see any. I could spend hours too! In fact, when we left and my husband asked me what I wanted to do next, I said I wanted to go right back where we came from.

      Reply
  9. Debbie Goode

    We have been fortunate enough to spend the winter in Florida this year….and you are right….I never tire of looking across the water, feeling the sand between my toes, and enjoying the abundance of wildlife and GREEN!

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Yes! I was really amazed at the wildlife and how they have adapted to humans being around. All the birds let me get really close to them.

      Reply
  10. Linda Watson

    I wasn’t lucky enough to grow up right on the ocean, but it was only about 20 minutes away. Today I live even closer and I love it. I just need to know that it’s there. Beautiful photos. Thank you.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      We’ve been thinking of renting a beach house for that very reason. 🙂

      Reply
  11. Susanna Gross

    Very lovely pictures! Since I grew up far from the ocean, it’s quite an exotic scene to my eye, but I agree, the ocean can be wonderfully peaceful. Even the sound of the waves helps people sleep. I’ve spent only a few hours in Fort Meyers. I went on February 25, 2011 to see my favorite band.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Cool! Who’s your favorite band?

      Reply
      1. Susanna Gross

        REO Speedwagon!

        Reply
  12. Becky

    Look at all those shells! I love being at the beach and watching the water and collecting shells with my toes in the sand.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Me too!! I brought so many shells home that we had to pay the overweight baggage fee. 🙂

      Reply
      1. Becky

        Ha ha! Love it! What are you going to do with them all?

        Reply
        1. Naomi

          Excellent question. When I was picking them up, I visualized gluing them onto a canvas in some form. Then I thought maybe I’d make something with pictures from our trip and make the border out of shells.

          Reply
          1. Becky

            I can’t wait to see what you decide!

  13. janet forrest

    Oh, my goodness! My girls would go CRAZY over all those shells! Most of the ones they found had critters in them, so we left them in place. We joked that there was a very high occupancy rate in the Bay Area. I just loved looking at the tidepools through their amazed eyes! On the ocean is my happy place – looking at it a close second.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      I did toss back a few tiny clamshells that were tightly closed and some other live things. I bought my daughter a bunch of sea creature picture books by Suzanne Tate. They are stories but are full of interesting facts and lessons about animals in the sea. The woman in the book store told me she writes a new one each year. I checked and they are all on Amazon too.

      Reply
  14. Anne Camille

    The beach is definitely the place where I always find that unending sense of wonder and peace. When we were at the beach earlier this year, escaping the cold and snow up north, it didn’t matter what the weather was. Sure there was no snow (although I once saw snow flurries on Fort Myers Beach a few years ago), but even when it was cold — and 40 degrees is very cold for SW Florida — I experienced it. Cold, rain, windy, or warm and sunny, or at daybreak, sunset or the glaring brightness of the noon sun: it was there in the changing light and water. These photos also bring me a sense of homesickness as I think that I recognize (from the skyline in a few shots) this specific beach as one I have walked for years and consider my second home, even if it is only for a few weeks or months every year.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      You’re right, Anne. We were in Ft. Meyers Beach and Sanibel to visit family. Such a beautiful area! There is something laid-back and charming about the area and we noticed it right away. We want to go back next year again for more time. I wish I lived nearby.

      Reply
      1. Anne Camille

        I laughed once I recognized the place. When I looked at the first shot I didn’t pay attention to the background. Then when I got the shot of the egret near the bridge, I thought “That looks like Big Carlos Pass.” And then the dolphin shot: “Is that Hurricane Bay?” Then: “Oh yeah, that’s Ft Myers Beach because that is the Sky Bridge and that’s Sanibel in the background in that other shot.” When I realized that, I looked again at the first picture. Having walked all 7.5 miles of that beach, I could probably guess the approximate address of the place you were when you took that shot. We stay about 1.25 miles further south from that point. I’m not even sure that there are parts of my own neighborhood that I know that well! We stayed there for 4 weeks this year (the longest we’ve ever stayed) and loved it. I’m hopeful that we will eventually be able to stay there throughout the winter season — I wouldn’t mind if I never saw snow again, but of course, like some country song lyrics asks: how can I miss you (snow) if you doesn’t go away. Snowed yesterday and it’s cold enough to do so today! Thanks for sharing a little bit of a place I love.

        Reply
        1. Naomi

          How lovely! Please let me know when you go next year so we can get together for a walk on the beach. My mother-in-law went for the month of March, also to escape the cold, and she is loving it and plans to go for longer next year. We may rent a place too.

          Reply
  15. cheryl

    I think it is because we were brought up on the ocean that we awe still so amazed by it. It is also my happy place.
    Love all the photo’s. Don’t forget diamonds on the ware . I always stop to enjoy that.

    Reply
    1. Naomi

      Yes. I used to go sit by the ocean and watch the waves as a teenager just to escape everyday life for awhile. 🙂

      Reply

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