Sunny Saturday

It was such a lovely day today, that we had an impromptu trip to the seaside. We went to Reculver, via Beltinge which has a beautifully cluttered charity shop. See the little vase on the right? I wish I had bought that but I didn't. It had a very pleasing shape to hold. Ah well, can't buy them all!We walked along a totally deserted beach. Not too much beachcombing today, though a few flints with interesting shapes, a seaglass marble, and a mermaid's purse, all came home with me.

This moss is just so green! As it is growing on a rock that spends half its time under the sea, is it sea moss?

The cliffs are very soft mud and are eroding fast. There are shells in there, and some kind of birds use them to nest-lots of little square holes.

We had delicious fish and chips in Herne Bay and then a two hour nap when we got home-totally worn out!

St Margaret's at Cliffe

We decided to go out today as we just pottered around the house yesterday. We drove to
St Margaret's at Cliffe which is just along the coast from Dover. It is where channel swimmers start their journeys and supposedly where the sun first hits the UK each morning. We could faintly see the French coastline today. Mobile phones change to French companies as you arrive. It was such a sunny windy day-bracing is the word I think! We had a delicious lunch at The Coastguard Pub.
We had scallops (mmm!), followed by cod, chips and mushy peas and then I had Bailey's creme brulee and Andy had the cheese board of British cheeses. All lovely! The pub had a friendly cat and the weather was just about warm enough to sit outside though I did wear my hat, gloves and scarf!

A sunny wall makes everything alright.

One of many container ships and ferries arriving at Dover.

After lunch we had a walk on the beach. I didn't notice the graffiti on this chalk cave until I downloaded my photos. We didn't go in there-it looked a little dangerous to me. There were lots of little caves along the cliffs-must have been lots of smugglers.

At first I thought the beach combing was a bit poor, but then I found some little pieces of beach glass, a turquoise bead, part of a lobster shell, a peice of copper, some holey flints and, the best treasure, a lovely piece of wood with a perfect hole in the middle-a sculpture ready made.

I like this little boat shaped hut.

Further along the beach a large white house stands under the cliff. It looked unoccupied somehow and there was a shutter banging on this orange roofed building. A bit creepy in fact. I wonder who lives there. Usually I want to live in these places but I didn't here. The sea was so rough and just below and I could imagine the cats being swept away!

Ah well, back to work tomorrow. I really must do some work, it is piling up a bit as I didn't do much over the holiday. I did have a proper holiday though so I don't feel too guilty!

Isle of Sheep

The name Sheppey comes from the ancient Saxon word sceapige, meaning isle of sheep. This information is quoted directly from Wikipedia, but sounds likely. We were off to visit again today, as it is our nearest seaside place and we really like it. It seems so remote from London. It is actually the Thames estuary, but might as well be the sea. The water was very brown today, and there were big crashing waves and it was windy. Not cold though, just exhilarating. As usual I took lots of of photos-my computer picture files are a prime site for a bit of de-cluttering. Rusty metal, small brown birds, a marsh harrier (I think), and the waves.
Lichen on a stump, the bridge linking Sheppey to the world, small succulent reminiscent of the Petronus Towers, and a coconut shell-still with coconut in it.
A mermaid's purse, beach cafe coffee in a polystyrene cup,

a male darter dragon fly

and a dried fish.
A mermaid's purse is an egg case from a skate. I have just found this out-after knowing what they were called all these years, but thinking they were sea weed! I wish I had kept it. I am trying to limit my beach combing, but regret this one. It would be lovely to have the purse of a mermaid.
These flowers look like chamomile, but I am not sure, teasels, bird information. We saw a really big bird of prey which I think was a marsh harrier, then we saw a whole row of kestrels, hunting little creatures.
Below is a video of the coconut shell performing the role of a horse. I love this noise!

Sorting, Treasure Hunting in the Rain and Painting

I had a weekend that was busy but in a relaxing way. My brother visited which was nice. We had lovely food. He and Andy played scrabble. I tried to make caramel-went ok but has not set-I don't have a sugar thermometer and so I stopped too soon. What can I do with it? Any ideas gratefully received! We watched a film called 'Just Friends' which is silly but quite funny.

I did some sorting-existing treasures. I love seeing them all

arranged in their little compartments. Two new paintings. The one on the right had the pieces of china stuck on-as mentioned yesterday but all the pieces came off with only a little push. I tried again with superglue and it seems to have worked. I have put the clay round the pieces and will leave overnight.

The one on the left has a stamp of a little falling man that my friend Clare sent me.

Sorting the treasure made me want more. Not need but want!

So I dragged Andy down to the river this morning. It was freezing and raining

and so windy I couldn't see to pick up anything at first!

You can see in this photo that the barrier is up.

A perfectly lovely chair which I didn't attempt to take it home,

as I thought someone could happily use it at the beach on a more sunny day.

I found lots of interesting things. There were hundreds of iron nails-all deformed and rusty. (click to enlarge to see how many there were!) I wonder what they are from? I picked up some of them. I found something that I thought was an enormous bone but I am not sure. I will put a picture another time to see if anyone can enlighten me! I found an instrument dial from a boat I think-too dirty and full of water to pick up. I found lots of china to add to the collection. The best find though was Andy's. He has an eagle eye!

It is great to find something with so much information on it, so we looked it up. There are a few examples online though I didn't find out much information about Ellen. This is a genealogy website for people with the name Hale, and if you scroll down you can see the whole lid. I like the idea of a heal-all ointment. Most useful.

The shed door blew open and when I went up to shut it I saw these on the way back. I have been seeing other people's snowdrops online for a few weeks now so I am glad to see ours! There is only one little clump but it gets slightly bigger each year.

This painting is turning slightly nightmarish I think. The hat is based on a dressing up hat we have at school. The layered patterns on the dress are from the stamp and a plastic doily.

This one makes me think of Miss Havisham.

The pieces of china are from her unused tea service.

Her dress is also plastic doily stencilled.

Museum 1

I was visiting Anairam here. She always has something interesting and inspiring to show and say. A couple of days ago she talked about 100 ideas by Keri Smith, here. I had not heard of Keri and was happy to have found her-thanks Anairam!

Number 31 made me think of things I already have but have not looked at for quite some time. The first one is this board displaying various beach finds. I made a few of these-about ten years ago I think! They are not out anywhere but in a drawer. I still quite like them though. I think the little piece of pot looks Roman-you never know! The piece of beach we used to go to has long since been gated off-I don't know who owns it but whoever it is does not want people on it. It was quite a gloomy spot. It was down some slimy steps in the shadow of a big wall. It felt very Victorian. I did not ever go there on my own. Where we go now is much more open-near the sailing club.

I love this pottery-it reminds me of cake with delicious coffee icing.

The ancient and the modern!

As I went to put this away I looked at the back and the title I gave it 10 years ago was also 'Museum 1' the same as this post. The title is the same but given for a slightly different reason. 'Museum 2' coming tomorrow.