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The Simple Life

by Sheryl Simons

 

Simple Beaches

" Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the

beach. " ~~ Michelle Held

" Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints

in the sand are gone. " ~~Anonymous

" The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder

forever. " ~~Jacques Cousteau

My grandmother always lived in the Thumb, near Port Huron and

I grew up going to the beach. Swimming with cousins, sitting in the

warm sand, looking for shells, hearing the gulls, having a picnic,

and watching the freighters slowly churn past. I can't think of

anything I don't love about the beach. Times haven't changed. Being

just an hour away from Lake Michigan is a good thing. The only

difference is now I use sunscreen! It was torture to wait an hour

after eating to go back in the water.

I love to feel the sand between my toes and the cool water

lap against my ankles. On warm days I love an inner-tube and BIG

waves. I can walk for miles and miles on a big beach and it's so

good to live near beaches where I can. There is no limit to the

beauty along a beach and the wonder of discovery. Check out the

designs and patterns in a tiny shell. Even the patterns in the sand

from the waves are a thing of beauty. And watch the sky and waves

right before a storm, or the colors of a sunset reflected on the

water.

Gas may make visiting a beach a little more expensive than

before, but packing a picnic or firewood or charcoal for a cook-out

makes it even more fun and keeps the costs down. I take a small

cooler bag for drinks.

Beach list: Swimsuits, sunscreen,Towel, Water or juice, Cooler,

Blanket, camera

 

If you leave your swim bag (with your suits and sunscreen) ready to

go when you get home, you will only have to grab it next time the

beach calls, and you won't even have to pack.

Same for a picnic. I have some small containers with ketchup, relish

or salad dressing for sandwiches in the fridge and ready to throw in

the cooler and it saves packing time when the mood for a picnic hits.

I just refill them when I get home. I check the list so I won't

forget anything. The lists are right in the cupboard door next to

the sink. It takes less time to get ready to go. Need matches to

start the charcoal? That goes on the list. There's nothing like

getting ready for a picnic and not having forks. But when it's on

the list, I can't forget. However, keep things to a minimum, to keep

it simple. When you leave, you can quickly check the list and

everyone can help get ready. The beach blanket and sunscreen stays

in the trunk for the summer. You never know when you might want to

hit the beach!

 

* * *

More Beach Ideas!

We have had a lot of recent storms here in Michigan.

Depending on the direction of the waves, there can be some areas

where there is a lot of trash on the beach. It's not usually that

way, but the next time I visit the beach, I will take a trash bag and

maybe even a rake. It will only take a few minutes, but why not do

my part? I love my beaches and I can do my part to keep them clean.

While I walk the beach I can clean it up at the same time. Then I

can put the bag near the trash can. One thing I noticed the last time

I visited the beach was a lot of dead balloons with streamers

attached. We need to quit letting balloons go. They have to end up

somewhere, and then they just turn into trash! If we each clean up

our favorite picnic areas, what a nice place we will have to visit!

And, of course, the less trash we leave around, the better. And if

you smoke, please don't toss down your butt! They may be small, but

they are TRASH. One school group recently cleaned an area of beach

and the most trash they found was cigarette butts. There were over

15,000 butts on one area of beach! Find a trash can or use your ash

tray in your car, or keep a small metal tin in your pocket (like

those tin Altoids). Do it for all of us! No matter where we are, we

can clean up after ourselves. Only a bully leaves trash around for

someone else to clean up!

Dogs love the beach, and there are places where you can take

a dog to a beach. But please keep your dog on a leash! Not everyone

wants to be licked, or sniffed by your dog. We need to clean up

after our dogs, too.

 

Simple Easy Supper

 

Cook hot or sweet Italian bulk sausage, fried potatoes and chopped

onions together until done. Drain grease. Add anything else you

like, like green beans or corn. May add grated cheese right before

serving. Serve with ketchup, if desired. Nice meal for the end of a

beach day.

 

* * *

" The sea enters the rivers before the rivers can run into the sea. In

like manner, God comes to us before we go to Him; and heaven enters

into our souls before we can enter into heaven. " ~~Peter Drelincourt

 

Keeping it Simple,

Sheryl

 

Please contact me with recipes, questions, comments and simple living

ideas that work for you. Email: thesimple_life

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