There’s no better place to enjoy Midsummer than along the shoreline. With the sounds of stones rolling under the wash of the waves in the background, willets forage in the waters at Silver Sands Beach. Once a beautiful sand beach, the shore is now mostly stones. Sand was trucked away decades ago to make cement for buildings and a runway, under the premise that the sands would return with the waves. They never did.
Beach peas grow in profusion among the stones above the strandlines. Their purple and green are a refreshing sight among the greys of the rocks.
A green crab, dried orange by the sun, lays in a tangle of seaweed in the sand. Eventually, the sun will turn its carcass white.
Periwinkles covered with elaborate apparel are also present in great number.
Dried pink amphipods are washed ashore. They too will turn lighter in the sunlight.
Though you can’t tell by the image, the stones are warm to the touch. To me, Midsummer means feeling the warmth of the sun in a way that touches you to your core. There’s no better place to feel this than on the beach. What does Midsummer mean to you?
Happy Solstice, dear Amy Lynn! One of the things that Midsummer means to me–besides how you aptly put it about warming us to the core–is a time of magic and possibility. The sun has given us the gift of all this light and anything, yes anything, is possible in the world.
Kathy, the sun is up so early these days and the sun sets so late. It truly is a magical time. I love this time of year.
Here, unfortunately, Midsummer means sweltering days and long, humid nights. But there is still some magic lurking in there somewhere, it’s just a more challenging find.
Happy Solstice to all!
Waven, we have enough sea breezes that the humidity never seems to get too bad here. You’re right. The magic is always there, waiting to be found.
Very nice image–I can almost smell the sage. I was so impressed with the sage that I brought some back East with me and kept it until it turned to dust.
Shailesh, the beach is full of scents. It’s amazing how they can root themselves in our memories.
Very nice sequence, Amy. It’s clear that your rocks and my rocks all come from the same “basement of time.” I especially enjoyed the periwinkle.
The Solstice did not do a whole lot of warming here, but the moonshow has been wonderful. The seasons are so unsettled that I no longer feel the rhythms. I just enjoy–or endure, depending!–whatever this day has to offer. Good thing I’m not in charge of the farming around here!
Gerry, I haven’t had a chance to see the moon in some time. But I do get to see a lot of sunrises. We had some nice warm weather today. You have to enjoy it when you can.
It is so odd to think that, while your summer solstice signals the end of the summer, our winter solstice is signalling the end of the winter. Although the longest night of the year is now behind us, it doesn’t mean that the cold temperatures and stormy rains are – and I guess it’s similar in the Northern Hemisphere, where it doesn’t mean that summer is now over, right?
I am intrigued by the crab that changes colour from green to orange to white – I didn’t know that happens. I love learning things on your blog, Teacher Amy!
Reggie, summer is just beginning here. The days are still getting warmer and there are plenty of daylight hours.
Crabs and lobsters do change their colors quite a bit when they’re heated, either by the sun on the beach or by boiling water when they’re cooked.
I do love beach rocks warmed by the sun….ahhhh! My favorite photo today is of the beach peas…they look so lovely against the rocks.
Cindy, those beach peas add that bit of green freshness to the grey, sandy shoreline.
I love walking on those warm stones too. One of the joys of summer
Your pictures are so appealing, Amy-Lynn! The splotches of color to be found in all that gray… What a magical place to spend Midsummer! Midsummer for us is a family gathering, cookout, bonfire, frozen vodka, blowing bubbles, sparklers, glow-sticks, roasting marshmallows… And for me, I especially love decorating my father’s tree with flower garlands and my sister’s garden with sparkling hanging bowls of floating candles…
Thanks Barbara. Your Midsummer activities sound absolutely wonderful. What a celebration!