The Calm Before The Storm

Posted on August 19, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Last night’s sunset…

I’ve been getting calls and texts from the insurance company about filing claims about (future) storm damage, SDGE is calling and texting alerts about storm preparations and being ready for the power to go out, so I guess Hurricane Hilary is SERIOUS about visiting my little beachy town.

An emergency preparedness spokesperson said that we should not underestimate the impact of this storm, and called it possibly “the worst we’ve seen”.

If his prediction is correct, this beautiful sunset is going to be replaced by lots of sky water and high winds.

It’s supposed to start raining in the afternoon, so I better focus on removing a few more windchimes before the real action kicks off on Sunday.

Tropical Sky Colors

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Looking west from the deck, the vibrant sunset is reminiscent of my favorite passionfruit and mango shave ice.

Rain might actually fall in a couple of days from Tropical Storm Hilary, the reason for those beautiful clouds. A new weather forecast says it might turn into a hurricane which would definitely bring stronger winds along with sky water. We would only feel the remnants–Baja California would bear the brunt–but I’d be really happy for the rain!

The new moon, under 1% illuminated, turns skies dark tonight as we anticipate the second full moon at the end of August.

Summery Sunset Regatta

Posted on August 9, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

It looks to me like they’re just lazily going around and around in directionless circles on Puget Sound/Salish Sea in Seattle, but I guess there’s a purpose to it…

The Italian word regatta means “contention for mastery” and comes from the Latin word regattare, or “to compete, haggle, sell at retail.” Regatta came to specifically mean “boat race” — and the many social events related to it — in the late 1700s.

Off in the distance, it looks like there’s a container ship, but sadly, no whales…

Whatever it means, and whatever they’re doing, it makes for pretty photos, credit to my son, high above the marina on Shilshole Bay. The clouds over the snowless Olympic mountain range create a magnificent backdrop.

the little moments

Posted on August 3, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

I captured the final glimpse of the sunset with my son still out there surfing. Can life get any better? I think not. #grateful

And, one day
We shall look back and see
It was always those little moments
That mattered the most

(A little poem written by Athey Thompson)

Random Photos From Around the Neighborhood

Posted on July 5, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

This is a friend’s land tortoise who likes to make himself at home in their living room. They’ve had him for a couple of decades and he follows me around when I wear pink or red. He must think I look like a hibiscus flower, his favorite snack.

Don’t know who did this, but it’s a cute fire hydrant, all dressed up.

I tried to get closer to this white egret, but he flew away…

A Joy Forever

Posted on June 30, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever” — John Keats.

I used to love to walk through the downtown of my little city, until elected officials decided to call it a “village” but instead ruin it by filling it with boxes of ugly square buildings and a lot more places for people to get nasty drunk.

There’s no longer any charm; the atmosphere is entirely UNvillage-like, actually about as far away from being a “village” as you could possibly get.

I usually stay away but yesterday I found myself in the area and stopped at a little consignment shop, not the same one where I once scored AUTHENTIC Louis Vuitton and Dior scarves in the same day, but one with housewares and touristy stuff.

That’s where i fell in love with this beautiful work of art in the form of a pitcher and HAD to bring it home with me.

She needed a special photo shoot to properly reveal the iridescent green and gold, so I brought her out to the garden to soak up a few rays.

Have you ever seen anything more charming and ENCHANTED? I think not.

There’s no maker mark so it’s not valuable to anyone but me, but I love pretty things and this pitcher will definitely be on display in all of her glory. I’m burying the lede here, but in case you’re wondering, it cost $8.00.That’s it. EIGHT DOLLARS.

A thing of beauty is absolutely a joy forever.

The Secrets That You Keep

Posted on June 26, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

I’m not talking about that song by the The Romantics, but a secret spot I discovered while out walking yesterday.

I can’t believe I’ve lived here for decades and never knew about this little beachy secret. One other person was there with their dogs and we vowed not to disclose this classified location…

Pretty cool, huh?

Looking to the east…

And to the west…

I MIGHT be persuaded to share the coordinates of this idyllic site, but you’d have to also be sworn to secrecy.

Can I trust you?

Strawberry Full Moon’s Penumbral Thoughts

Posted on June 4, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

| Penumbra: a shadowy, indefinite, or marginal area |

I sent you a present last night you know
Though it didn’t address you by name
It was all of those meteors showering, dancing
And falling to earth like the rain

I wrote you a letter last week you know
But it won’t have arrived in the post
I wrote on the bright coloured curves of a rainbow
The reasons I missed you the most

I sent you a message just yesterday
But it wasn’t a message in words
For I spoke to the wind and I taught her our song
And I asked her to make sure you heard

I drew you a picture last Tuesday
But you may not have noticed it there
For I drew round the clouds with the rays of the sun
So they glowed as they hung in the air

No, you may not get gifts like you used to
Or get messages stored on your phone
But I’ll make sure I’m sending something each day
So you know that you’re never alone

And tomorrow I’ll paint something wonderful
I don’t know quite yet what it will be
But I promise you’ll know when you see it
That it’s sent just to you

Love from me
Xxx

From When I Am Gone – Becky Hemsley

Moonstone Beach | Sea Glass Treasures

Posted on June 2, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Since it’s just about time to honor June’s Full Moon, it seems like the perfect opportunity to chat about Moonstone Beach, another sea glass location I need to visit. It’s in Cambria on California’s Central Coast.

It’s said that at Moonstone Beach beach you can find moonstone agates plus jade, jaspers, and other semi-precious stones.

Here’s a photo of some of my beach glass collection. Red is the third most rare type of sea glass, and I only have a couple pieces of that color.

Did you know? Orange is the most rare sea glass color. Turquoise is the second most rare color and the rarest type of blue sea glass. Red is the third most rare sea glass color and yellow is the fourth. I guess white and green and brown are more common to find because I have a lot of those colors, probably because most bottles were crafted in those colors.

None of the beaches around me have sea glass OR many seashells, although we have an abundant and endless supply of ROCKS.

Beachy Memorial Day Celebration

Posted on May 28, 2023 by Enchanted Seashells by Princess Rosebud

Established in 1868, Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) honors those who have died in military service for the United States. It’s a day of reflection and remembrance for their ultimate sacrifice.

When I was little, my mom and dad would buy red poppies for us to wear, but I haven’t seen them in a long time.

It’s also a three-day holiday and lots of tourists are here, but it’s still early and cloudy, so it’s not too crowded on the roads or the beach.

However, the waves are full of surfers packed like sardines waiting for the building swell.