The children are off to school, tourist season is still a few months away, and daily rainstorms are cooling things down. As a Floridian, I am happy to say goodbye to the sweltering temperatures of summer. It is now time to get outside and explore our local beaches with a camera.
This past week, I visited Blind Creek, one of Hutchinson Island's more secluded beaches. Without a lifeguard giving me curious looks, I got completely lost behind my lens. Had you been hiding in the seagrass, you would have seen me completely uninhibited... lying on my stomach in the sand to get just the right angle for "wave bokeh", chasing tiny sandpipers like a toddler, gingerly walking in the surf with my beloved Nikon, and collecting seashells. The featured photograph by htemko captures my feeling of blissful beach solitude perfectly.
After all these years, I am still in awe of the little gifts that Mother Nature leaves upon our shores. My last trip yielded me several perfectly intact seashells, splendid sea urchins, and bits of seaglass. After uploading my photographs from the day at the beach, fellow muse Lucy in Massachusetts sent me flickrmail saying that she loved seeing the differences between the Cape Cod and Florida shells and asked me if I was interested in a "beach treasure exchange." Such a great idea!
So, as I box up my shells to be mailed, I am looking at my recent beach stroll not as the end of my summer, but as the start of a new friendship.
Have you ever thought about asking some of your flickr or blog friends to send you some of their treasures? It could be a postcard, a photograph, some artwork, or unique collectibles from their area. Go ahead and do it. Think of all the new items you will collect. Besides, who doesn't love getting mail that is something other than bills? Take a moment and leave a comment telling us what you would send a new friend.
stay sweet. ♥ tammy lee
happy bench monday::and then it was over by htekmo
15 comments:
i'd love to send postcards. i will try out on printing some next week =) who to send to, i don't know yet. but yes i love getting mails especially if they're not bills! that sea treasure exchange is cool. too bad i don't have a sea by me :( love both photos =)
My friend, I love this post. When we can relate our photographs (or the objects in them) to the beginnings of friendship or other connections in our lives, then we're really using our hearts as well as our cameras.
And two gorgeous photos, to boot.
What a great trade! I'm so jealous because I so want to do a photo walk but I've been slammed at work.
Rinda
What a sweet post. I would send a handwritten letter on beautiful stationery with loopy cursive handwriting. So years from now, my new friend can hold it in her hands,reread it and remember how we first met. Have you ever heard of a treasured or beloved email? Such a lost art.
I could stare at that top photo all day. I feel like I am right there on the dunes with you. I would send huge autumn leaves that my daughter likes to collect. Would you send me some sunshine in December?
I love the idea that the end of summer is the start of your beach discovery. Not a sad time but a welcome transition. I have started trading postcards with friends, and having postcards of my photos printed to send. It's like sending a smile or a hug through the mail. :)
such gorgeous photos of the end of summer ocean.
and your treasure box is going in the mail today!
love everything about your post today tammy! great photos and wonderful ideas.
I love the clear blue shy in that shot. It's almost as if you can smell the salt air. Great idea too about swapping shells.
Great post!! I would send one of my watercolour cards and would hope for some original art in return.
Such evocative photos, Tammy. Swapping treasures is such a beautiful idea...
Lovely photos to kick off our theme Tammy.
Living my whole life in the midwest, i had no idea there would be that much difference in sea shells. How fun for you and lucy to trade. I When I go for a walk I usually spend much time looking at the ground. And picking up bits of nature along the way. My last walk in the country yielded a handful of perfect acorns, un shelled hickory nuts, a dead butterfly, forever preserved in her beauty, and a squirrel skull clean and smooth and white. ( it will be a perfect addition to one of my Halloween displays. :) After reading that list I’m not sure anyone will want to be my swap friend. But what a fun idea.
Wonderful photos, Tammy! I think I would be glad to have some of the treasures that Maureen mentioned. They sound lovely. :)
I love the idea of swaps! The first one I participated in matched me up with Maegan of Madeline Bea - which in turn set of most of my blogging adventures. While the packages we exchange consisted of favorite books, photos and jewelry the real value was the relationship and friendship.
well, that was a fun surprise! I headed over from flickr to read about your package for Lucy and to my delight I saw my name and photo.
Thank you for the extreme pleasure of being part of your post.
hugs and smiles :)
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