Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Goodnight Sand Dollars

Have you ever been lucky enough to find a sand dollar on the beach?

As kids, my sisters and I spent many barefoot hours hoping to find just one.
Well, we sure made up for that over this Labor Day weekend...

DH and I spent the last long weekend of summer at our favorite Maine campground, Searsport Shores, on a site looking over the beach. This was the first time that my sister, Andi, came camping with us (that's her on the raft, on the very right, with Nancy to her left, and me, the big sister, supervising) and we wanted to make this trip special for her. Well, it was better than special...it was a weekend of pure magic.

We found over 100 sand dollars on the beach in three days!

We got so excited that we went to look in our "magic river" at each low tide...

even late at night...donning silly light-up hats and an old flashlight.

We don't know if Hurricane Irene was responsible for bringing us so many sand dollars, but we prefer to think that our little sister, Nancy, who loved the ocean, might have had something to do with the magic we found.


When we got home Monday afternoon, we bleached the sand dollars and put them out in the sun to dry.
\
Now we just have to come up with some unique ways to display so many sand dollars...anybody have some creative ideas to share?


It was sad saying goodbye to Searsport for another summer. As we drove away, I felt as if I was experiencing my own version of the favorite children's book, "Goodnight Moon". I guess my late summer version would have to go something like this:

Goodnight Searsport
Goodnight Moon
Goodnight campfires
And long days of June.

Goodnight bees...

Goodnight weavings in trees...






Goodnight goats...



And Goodnight knit things made from your coats.

Goodnight sailboats...

Goodnight garden...


Goodnight lobsters...
And Goodnight skunk!


Goodnight marshmallows
Goodnight Hershey bars
Goodnight sea glass...
And Goodnight tea in jars.


Goodnight ocean
Goodnight tides
And Goodnight to campers all cozy inside.

Goodnight kayaks...


Goodnight swing...
Goodnight sand dollars
And Goodnight summer things.


On the last morning of our trip, Andi gave me a gift she had chosen for me before we left home...
How could she have guessed how perfect this would be after our magical sand dollar weekend?

And we noticed these......
the first red leaves of fall... reminding us to treasure these summer-sister-sand dollar memories through the cold winter to come.

Goodnight friends.

I am linking this late-summer post to:
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
White Wednesday at Faded Charm
Outdoor Wednesday at A Southern Daydreamer
Nifty Thrift Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Sister Sunday at Sisters of the Wild West

13 comments:

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

What a lovely way to say goodbye to summer.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

This is the sweetest post! First of all wow, Nancy did send you some amazing sand dollars! Can't wait to see how you decide to display them. I love your take on Goodnight Moon...this post makes me smile!
hugs,
Linda

Pamela Gordon said...

I had no idea sand dollars weren't naturally white! I didn't know they have to be bleached. The coloured ones are very pretty. Are they natural or dyed? I'm curious. And how wonderful that you found so many of them too! A nice way to say good bye to the season until next year. Blessings, Pamela

Town and Country Gals said...

What a haul you made! Those sand dollars are fabulous! Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with your sister! Love your version of Goodnight Moon!
I've always wanted to visit Maine, maybe someday! Visiting from Savvy Southern Style.
Rebecca

Red Nomad OZ said...

What riches - we even have sand dollars downunder here in Australia!! But why not share the sand dollar magic and give one to each person who visits your home??

Have a great day!!

Jane said...

Hi Cheryl,
I loved your version of Goodnight Moon and your pictures just made it all the more special.
I do believe Nancy was sending you those sand dollars as a wonderful reminder that she was still there at the ocean with you. Magic indeed!
Jane

Anonymous said...

I'd decorate them with a teal ribbon and maybe a few additional shells. Then put another ribbon on them to create Christmas ornaments. You can adorn your own tree, or sell them next year at Relay for Life to continue the fight against cancer.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

I just found your blog at A Southern Daydreamer. Maine..what a beautiful place to live and vacation! Dell and I vacationed there a few years ago. It is one of my favorite places. We will have to do a post of our vacation there.
Barb

Andi said...

It was a magical weekend. Thanks forever. Andi

annies home said...

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Cindy Adkins said...

Oh, I love this post for so many reasons! First, I must say (as one of your newest followers) that this blog is such a wonderful way to honor your sister! I have 3 sisters myself that I'm very close to,so my heart goes out to you. I've never been to Maine but would LOVE to visit one day! I love the sea! Lived in CA for 20 yrs. but was never lucky enough to find a sand dollar. I'm amazed at your magical weekend and all the ones you found!! So happy to have found your blog (and thank you for following mine!) Hugs, Cindy

MeMeSue said...

Cheryl I love what Anonymous suggested above! Nancy would LOVE it that you found so many and Andi was there also! I love to see sand dollars all glittered and glammed also.

This post "almost" makes me want to go camping...LOL

Hugs,
Sue

Unknown said...

What a beautiful post. I wish I could have been there with you.