Meaning within arm’s reach of beach blanket

Posted on August 12, 2015 by ShellyLFrancis

I made Monday a Sunday.
Slept in. Dawdled. Worked only one hour.

Then I went to the beach by myself plus my soul and my snapshot machine. And beach blanket.

High tide was on its way in. So much for exploring.

My self said lets sit. No need to explore. We can see what we see from this spot on the rocks.

She was right. Our eyesight grew sharper with a short-sighted focus. What could we see in the sand and the gravel and driftwood from here? A lot it turns out.

Like flat rocks to stack, like thoughts on a shelf.

And blue mussel halves of size large and medium. Then lo and behold, a super small two-halves still-intact whole!

Add a half ancient shell with hole for a string to add to my collection back home, then a super small shell of the same kind, sans string hole.

Clear sandblasted glass then a green shard.

My eyes were having so much fun noticing, I mostly took pics with my mind.

I noticed how high tide comes in with so much stuff in the swells. It matches the muck in my mind that’s needing releasing.

The waves serenaded. The sun played hide and seek. The sand bugs jumped up and down in delight or delirium; it was hard to know what they meant in their popcorn-like frenzy.

Time slowed. Time passed. Sea slowed and did a 180 sans fanfare.

By the time dinner called I noticed the waves were clear of all stuff. So was my mind.

Going With the Flow

Posted on April 6, 2015 by ShellyLFrancis

{Spoiler alert: There’s a movie at the end.}

The first step of an adventure…

The first step of an adventure

combines peril with pause
and a push…

And a push

Your heart pounds a bit
like the waves rolling in

The waves rolling in

You must remember to breathe.

Remember to breathe

Lean in, use your legs
and don’t mind the spectators
sitting like the rocks that they are
wishing they had your verve and your nerve.

7-praying-for-strength

Pray for strength and strong rope.

5-pushing-waves

Hope your ballast means balance

Whirlpools

Wish on the whirlpools
and wait for the waves…

And plunge into the waves
Push! Kick! Jump!
Off you go!

The clouds part

Clouds part.
Sun comes out.

You’re now on your way.

Add some friends.

Pick up some buddies,
Take turns being guide.

Set your course
See the sights

Salute the seaweed and mermaids below.

See seaweed More seaweed

Engage your reflection
in fun conversation

Who knows what she sees from her side.

Enjoy being afloat

Enjoy being afloat.
Race the clouds.
Race the whales.
Raise your sails, in spirit at least.

Go ashore

Ahoy there!
There’s land.
An uncharted island.

Let's go explore.

Let’s go explore.
Stow your boat.

Say farewell

Say farewell to the shells
who began to get seasick
and are glad to land back on the sand.

So long for now

So long for now.

16-bye-bye

It’s time for adventure on land
(after Old Driftwood tells me a story).

See you next time!

I’ll send a postcard!

P.S. Here’s a glimpse of our ocean adventure in motion.

Saluting the Seattle October sky and a particularly rosy sunset

Posted on October 10, 2014 by ShellyLFrancis

Tuesday night felt like one of the last
I could get to the beach before the sun said goodnight.

Shorter days, longer nights shouldn’t make me so sad.
It’s part of the plan. Those seasons.

High tide greeted me when I arrived.
The pink gold glow would have pleased Van Gogh.

I climbed out on a log to watch two ducks
the waves,
and the sunset.

The same couple of ducks that nipped at my ankles
last Friday, protecting their puddle on the path.
Silly ducks.

A labrador jumped on the sand and scared the ducks into the tide.
Silly oblivious dog. Ducks remained unamused.

I stood to salute the October sky.

I wished I could swim, float, dance on the sea.
Instead I do-si-do’d with the tide.

As the sun sank over the edge
I offered to return some green to the sea.
Emeralds woven into a scarf for the mermaids.

Then the sun kissed my head as it left for the day.

I stepped back on the path, not wanting to leave.
Lingering like the light, I stayed one minute more,
saluting the pink as it finished painting the sky.

Good night, Puget Sound.
Thank you, high tide.

The next day they all piled in for some fun

Posted on August 8, 2014 by ShellyLFrancis

It was still sunny the next day

when my friends showed up on the steps

to play with our new pal.

I began introductions.

First, meet the 3 wish rocks.

The Brothers Cairnmotzov
whose dream is to be a balancing act in the circus.

Seaweed Sam.
Who couldn’t stay long because of the sun.
He didn’t want to dry out so we threw him back in the sea in a sec.

Rumpleshelltskin,
a shard of his former self but whole nonetheless,
with a great sense of humor.

And “The Claw”
a retired world-class wrestler who still likes to tease the kids.

All in good fun, of course.

Shy shell said hello.

Nice to meet you.

The Cairnmotzov Brothers were too polite to mention
the shred of seaweed stuck to his lip.

We sat and talked awhile. Mostly small talk. Getting to know you kind of stuff.
Then I asked,

What should we do?

I did not expect what happened next.

They wanted to play the “clowns in a Volkswagen game”
and I couldn’t stop them.

The three little stones piled inside first.

The waves applauded.

Suddenly it seems I had met a whole new creature.

It was astounding how they formed themselves a troupe.

The Brothers Cairnmotzov called their agent to see if together
all six of them might apply for the circus.

I haven’t heard from them since.

Keep an eye out for them, will you?

How it began upon meeting my friend.

Posted on July 27, 2014 by ShellyLFrancis

The other day I was down at the beach at low tide.

I’d been talking to seaweed and jellyfish
When I saw him half submerged in the rocks.

Well, not so much submerged as laying there with a mouth full of sand.

So I went over and introduced myself

And asked if he wanted a hand.

I wish I could spell the sound of a shell spitting sand from it’s mouth.
I gave him a shake and he was clearing his throat.

He coughed and he sputtered and was about to say thanks

when

Oooops!

I wish I could spell the sound of a shell hitting sand. I didn’t mean to drop him.

Slippery little sand feller.

I’m so sorry!

Let’s just a sit a minute.

Ahhhh.

Warm sand. The sound of soft ocean waves.

Shhhh.

There now. That’s better.

So once we had rested a bit, I suggested we go.

Let me take you up to the stairs
where we can see more of the sights.

I know. It’s a great view from here.

Yeah, I come here a lot. I love these old steps.

Tomorrow I’ll introduce you to my friends.

We’re going to have such a good time…

Seaside Hopscotch

Posted on July 8, 2014 by ShellyLFrancis

Played hopscotch at the dock last night.

Note to Self: Always bring sidewalk chalk with the picnic supplies.

And don’t forget the marshmallows.

Going on a hunt for the elusive West Seattle sand crab…

Posted on April 13, 2013 by ShellyLFrancis

Greetings, viewers (said in a whisper). Thanks for tuning in to our show.
Today we’re going to take you on an adventure into the driftwood caves
of West Seattle in search of the elusive sand crab.
I’m in costume so that when we find one, it won’t be startled.
And my producer and I thought it was really just more fun.

Driftwood cave spelunking Follow me and my camera crew as we enter this old log.

Deeper still into the driftwood Do you see that mist? Legend has it that the older driftwood caves
exhale a vapor rich in iodine, which these sand-crabs need for breeding.

Getting darker It’s getting colder as we go deeper. Do you hear the crab’s melodic whistle?
It’s very faint, but those of us with trained hearing know what to listen for.

Squeeze around this bend We have to squeeze sideways through this cave to get into the next room.
We’re getting closer. I can feel it.

Almost there...the last cave room Quiet now. We’re almost there.
Dave, are you getting this on camera?
Here, shine your light over here!

We found one!

And there you have it! There you have it, folks! We have to cut to commercial now,
but I’m going to sit and chat with our new friend awhile.

We hope you enjoyed today’s show.
See you next week as we explore the…

Rubber ducky, you make Seattle so much fun!

Posted on April 8, 2013 by ShellyLFrancis

Rubber ducky reflections on a rainy Sunday in Seatle It was a rainy Sunday in Seattle, and Emotikin needed to get out of the house!
“Let’s take a walk,” she said to rubber ducky, who had been twiddling his leash
and watching TV all day, bored bored bored, just waiting for the invitation.

California Avenue on a Sunday afternoon was busier than they expected.
Lots of folks with cabin fever were out and about since the showers had turned to drops.

Startled dog meets duck on a walk with Emotikin “Whoa!” said the dog (fresh from his grooming appointment next door).
“What the duck?!”

Can I smell that creature? “Can I smell that maple creature?”

“Hey, don’t get too close to my duck, dog! That’s not a toy!”

Lucky duck, escaped the dog!

duckumbrellalady (399 x 600) So the duck and Emotikin continued their walk in West Seattle,
and greeted other Sunday walkers on their way.
“We don’t need no stinkin’ umbrella,” whispered the duck after those folks passed by.

duckworm (600 x 407) Stopped to talk with a worm who didn’t say much.

duckwalking (399 x 600) Emotikin couldn’t help but start humming that song made
famous by Ernie. “Rubber ducky, you’re the one…”

duckwalk-reflection (502 x 600) “…you make Seattle so much fun,
rubber ducky I’m awfully fond of you!
Boo boopy doo!”