self portrait tuesday: barnacle
I love this place, this beach. So many carefree, happy memories from my childhood are centered here. My grandparents purchased this condo as a vacation home when my mom was young. She grew up loving this place, too. And now my daughters love it here.
Since this is a beach on the Sound instead of the ocean, the water is usually calm. Clam shells, beach glass, and bits of dried up crabs litter the sand. There are so many treasures to find here. If you walk down the beach, giant cliffs rise up on your right side, and the water sings in a hushed whisper on your left. You feel as if you are all alone in a beautiful, private world created just for you. Mussel and anemone covered rocks huddle together in groups, showing themselves only briefly during the midday low tide. It is behind these rocks that you’re likely to see seals, or even otters, but only if you’re very very quiet. I found this giant barnacle there, half buried in the sand. The barnacles on these rocks never get this big, so it must have come from somewhere else. Washed in, perhaps, after being scraped off the hull of a rusty old freighter.
Oh, how I love this place.
See more self portraits here. This month’s theme is enclosed spaces.
You post the most beautiful and thought-provoking pictures and words. And I always seem to think I see your soul in your beautiful eyes.
Comment by Morning Glory — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 10:17 am
Nice picture. I also have a place like this, a lake up north surrounded by trees. No neighbours. Between the house and the lake, there’s this tree-lined quarter-mile lane that I’ve come to call Epiphany Lane, I always seem to have those there. It’s the kind of place where you can just let go, clear your mind, and see things in a new light.
I couldn’t live without that kind of access to nature. And it shows, I’ve actually took a few self portraits there.
Comment by Marc André — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 10:19 am
Cool photo! I’ve never seen a barnacle that size.
Comment by DebR — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 10:23 am
Wonderful portrait! I had no idea barnacles grew to be that size. The place you describe sounds like the perfect oasis from everything unpleasant. How nice that you can spend time there.
Comment by Bedazzzled1 — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 1:18 pm
Sounds lovely there! Very cool shot!
Warriorwife
Comment by Tammy — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 2:03 pm
That barnacle is GINORMOUS! I had a friend in high school who’s little brother used to grab onto my leg and not let go… He would tell me we were playing barnacle… hehe.
Comment by Georgia — August 15, 2006 @ August 15, 2006 at 8:20 pm
Your Self Portraits are my favourite.
Comment by mamatulip — August 16, 2006 @ August 16, 2006 at 4:58 am
Very artistic, my friend… oh, so very.
Your eyes are the color of that ocean!
Comment by April — August 16, 2006 @ August 16, 2006 at 7:16 am
I love that your eyes are the colour of the ocean in this picture, too. As always you have such a beautiful, quirky (:)), wise and deep perspective…..
Comment by misha — August 16, 2006 @ August 16, 2006 at 7:17 am
What a relaxing and beautiful post! Sounds like a wonderful place to create lifelong memories! When I was little and live on the coast of NC, my family would go shark tooth hunting along the beach! It’s fun to loof back at our jar of teeth and remember all the good times shared! Especially since we live no where near a coast now! Can I say- I’m so jealous of you!?
I love your blog! It’s very inspirational! Thank you!
Comment by Carrie — August 16, 2006 @ August 16, 2006 at 7:25 am
I’m not sure where you are, but the absolute stand-out weekend of my life was when I was 15 and my favorite Uncle Bob took all of us camping at Hood’s Canal in Washington state. I collected sand dollars and we caught almost everything we ate for the whole weekend. That was almost 20 years ago and reading your post brought it back like it was yesterday. Thank you for that.
Comment by Melessa — August 16, 2006 @ August 16, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Beautiful. (I just read the Issues post–{hug})C
Comment by Cmommy — August 17, 2006 @ August 17, 2006 at 8:45 am