Where's the beach?

We have done some fun things the past few days, but it has been much cooler and windier than I expected.  Thursday night we went to the fair and the wind was strong and cold.  We were glad we had our jackets with us.  Then Friday we made a trip to the beach on the Bolivar Peninsula (or what is left of it since Hurricane Ike).  The sun was out, but the wind was biting cold.  I had to stay in the car for a while and put on my warm-ups.  I had a cold, but now am suffering from laryngitis and a cough.  No matter what Pete says (that weather can't cause sickness), I believe being outside so much made my condition worse.  The kids were not to be stopped by the cold water, though; they stayed in it for a while and had fun letting the waves splash their legs.

 

                              

We went on a walk perusing for sand dollars (remember how many we found last year?), but found none this time. We did get some other beautiful shells, though.  I was reminded of the time we stayed in a friend's beach house during the summer and had fun walking Jake, who was a puppy then, up and down the busy beach. It is sad that the house and so many other beach houses are gone. A little wall is being put up near the highway to try and keep the beach from washing it out.

                           

 The picture of Andrew above shows my car parked on the shoulder of the highway on the right and the beach on the left.  That is all the of the beach now.  Closer to the ferry going to Galveston, some of the houses withstood the hurricane and more are being built, but it will take a long time to get there.  Until then, we will park and walk.

Beach Fun

The Kolp family has had a great Spring Break. Pete took the week off, too, and we did a lot of fun things. We went to the beach for the day Thursday, and were we surprised! Hurricane Ike really did a number on the Bolivar Peninsula. Many things were so different, yet some were still the same. First, driving onto the peninsula, we were shocked to see the beach right by the highway. We knew that the houses were gone and had heard of the ruination, but to confront the devastation with our eyes was a sight to behold. Everything was gone. We did not drive down very far, but where we stopped to have some fun, we had to park on the highway. The high tide line was only forty feet away! Second, the beach was inundated with sand dollars. Can you believe we found twenty-five? Only a few of them were barely broken- most of them were whole. Does anyone know what to do with twenty-five sand dollars? I know there must be some cute craft we could make. Finally, we did see some Portugese man-of-war, but luckily they stayed away from our crazy kids who just could not stay out of the freezing water. We had a picnic in the van and then drove home. What a great day at the beach we had.



Cookies, I mean sand dollars anyone?


This is a picture of a Portugese man-of-war we saw on the beach. We found one more washed up and the kids saw two in the water. Did you know that if you ever get stung by one at the beach all you have to do is cover the sting with sand and urinate on the spot! There is something in human urine that draws out the sting. Thanks to my former marine husband, I learned this new tip (hopefully we will never have to use it).

We also visited my nephew in College Station, but I will blog about that great time next...

The Legend of the Sand Dollar

There’s a lovely little legend

That I would like to tell,

Of the birth and death of Jesus

Found in this lowly shell.

If you examine closely

You’ll see that you find here,

Four nail holes and a fifth one

Made by a Roman’s spear.

On one side the Easter Lily,

Its center is the star,

That appeared unto the shepherds

And led them from afar.

The Christmas Poinsettia

Etched on the other side,

Reminds us of

His birthday

Our happy Christmastide.

Now break the center open

And here you will release,

The five white doves awaiting

To spread Good Will and Peace.

This simple little symbol

Christ left for you and me,

To help us spread

His Gospel

Through all Eternity.

-Author Unknown