Sea glass mosaic

You may have seen my Seaglass posts before, but perhaps not?

I've always enjoyed a treasure hunt of any sort.  Hunting for sea glass is one of my favourite beach pursuits.  My Mother is equally fond of it.

Thus, when I went to spend a Sunday with her around a month ago, when we went to the beach, the pair of us were searching for pieces.  It got a little competitive...

Sadly, a lot of the pieces there are still quite jagged in shape- I love seaglass the best when it has truly rounded edges but still, the hunt for various colours and some weathering is still great fun.

Once I've found them, I like to arrange them in a mosaic.  I got this idea from The Dainty Squid.

Here was my initial findings on the beach with Mum. A few colour including some greens, aquas, browns and even 2 Cobalt pieces!

We ended up searching for more later so back at my Mother's house, I photographed my augmented collection.

A few pretty, stripy shells found their way back too.
Which is your favourite piece?

My Mum needn't have worried as I donated my haul to her for her fairy garden. I don't think CBC always likes me returning home with loads of seaglass which he says is akin to bringing rubbish home. I suppose he has a point but it's rather attractive rubbish!

My Mum and I are planning to go to Seaham at some point which is a world-famous beach for amazing seaglass finds.

Have you been sea glass hunting?

East Mersea island Beach

Bank Holidays!  It's like getting something for free, isn't it! The May one is always particularly delightful since it usually comes soon after Easter!  We felt buoyant and full of life yesterday, knowing that there was no school today! We decided to head around an hour away to Mersea island which is famous for its Oysters.  My ancestors hail from round there in a place called Tollesbury.

 Mersea Island might not be the prettiest place, the water doesn't look particularly inviting and there is a Power station opposite, but it is still lovely to visit the beach.

 The particular draw for me is the beautiful pastel beach houses that spread a long way along the East Mersea beach.

 Many of them were closed up but we did see a few people enjoying a raucous and fun time in their huts. I've never been inside one but I would absolutely love to!

 There were a few Kite-surfers out, hovering above the waves.  Here is one before he took to the waters.

 As you might have guessed, this was my opportunity to seek sea-glass. I follow someone on Instagram who finds seaglass here and I did hope I might find a few pieces.  This clearish piece was an early find but it seemed there were very slim pickings.

 I looked up to see the Kite surfer defying gravity!

 The beach was largely bereft of people with the odd other individual or couple traipsing their way along the path.

 After no luck for a while, I spied a nice piece of brown. Apparently it is common place to Seaglass collectors, but I have only ever found 2 pieces.

 As well as the pastel parade, there is a tasteful selection of blue and green hues.

 But though I like them, I am drawn towards the pastel rainbow.

 Towards the time where CBC, who was lying on a rug, informed me that he was chilled and wished to return to the car, I thought my luck for finding anything particularly pretty was lost, but I found this tiny blue piece of Bonfire seaglass. Bonfire seaglass is glass that has reached such high temperatures that it has fused with other material.  The green piece is not 'ready' yet, it probably needs more tumbling but I liked its heart shape.

 Here are my finds along with a few other shells. I found a marble but sadly it was new, not all tumbled, weathered and misty.  I picked it up anyway!

A short meander it was, but that doesn't render it any less enjoyable!

xx

Barter Books bartering experience and a quiet stroll along Almouth beach.

We returned from Northumberland last night after a 5 day visit to Haltwhistle. I was, as ever, really delighted to be up there to visit WOMOTM and J, and I only wish we could stay longer. WOMOTM, we miss you!

On Thursday, CBC and I drove up to Alnwick and Alnmouth as I had some books to take to Barter Books. I had hoped to dispose of some of my books.

What you do is, you give them your books (a maximum of 2 carrier bags full per customer per 7 day period). They then take 20-30minutes to assess the value and sale ability of your books.  Then you come back to find out their conclusions. 

When we returned, they said they could take some of my books and they gave me £25 of credit for some of the books but alas, some of my Grandad's books had got damp being in my friend's Garage. Still, it was nice to essentially get some new books for free with £10 remaining credit to spent at Barter books! I bought 4 books- three for me with one for CBC for his birthday (no telling what)

 If you've missed my previous posts about Barter books (here and here)  - this amazing Second Hand book shop is set in the old Alnwick railway station and houses a restaurant as well as many books.

 I was very interested in this Enid Blyton book. I have read so many of hers but not this one!

 I was tempted by these Doctor Who books. Once upon a time, I had around 30 of these. My older sister bought me 27 Doctor Who books one Christmas which she'd picked up in a 2nd hand book shop. It was the best present! I remember the sheer delight and excitement, aged 17, when I opened that present!

 It is such an interesting-looking bookshop and there are many delights to be had.

 The sinister doll book which I posted about last time I went to Barter Books didn't seem to be present so I guess someone wanted to read about killer dolls!In its position was this 'Stupid Sock Creatures' book. Sinister in a different kind of way...

 I always like to follow the toy train which runs around the ceiling! It was on good form that day!

A particular aspect I love about this wonderful bookshop is the unexpected artwork, quotes or gem you suddenly notice. I have never noticed this child and her feline companions before.

 After a while, CBC and I went to go and have lunch in the 'buffet car'.  I chose a terribly unhealthy bacon butty and thrice-fried fries! CBC had soup and a sandwich.

Another new discovery I made was the music notation tables in the second annex for eating.  Here you can see Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen (saddo that I am, had to sing them to find out what they were) and American Pie upside down.

I'll give anyone musical a chance to work out what this one is! Answer will be at the bottom!*

After that, we drove to the pretty village of Alnmouth for a visit to the beach.

I left CBC lying on a blanket reading a book and I headed for a meander along the beach.

I was looking for seaglass, but the pickings were indeed very slim. This blue piece was left behind as it needed much more tumbling!

I met a couple with this jolly dog who was delighted with his enormous branch.

His owner kept throwing it into the sea for him.  It was very heavy and must have made great upper-body exercise!

Heave-ho!

And away she goes!

Dog sets off in rapid pursuit!

I always like spying people making sandcastles or admiring left fortresses.  It was fun to watch the tide enter the channel and surround this miniature island.

I can never quite put into words, the soothing serenity that walking alongside the sea gives to my soul but I never leave a beach without that inner joy.

The vast skies full of clouds!

I spied this darling little Wagtail.

Yet another mighty structure left by previous architects!

As I reached CBC and we returned to the car, the sunlight hit upon this spot in a brilliant manner!

I would gladly have stayed longer but we had a long journey back to Haltwhistle!

It was a short but much appreciated visit to Alnmouth beach and Barter books!

 Have you been to either?

x

*Imagine by John Lennon.