[FIELDNOTE] West Side Beaches

As soon as the sun makes an appearance, our lives seem to rev up and the days are full to capacity. All the beach visits, walks and go go go has caught up to me however, and I now find myself fighting a chest infection (yuck and ouch). But perhaps it's a blessing in disguise as I have no choice but to rest and get caught up on this lovely space.

Where to begin....perhaps a little compilation of our beach visits, as we have been exploring our intertidal shores non stop the past couple weeks on the west side of our rock.

Bowen Bay Beach has been spoiling us with beautiful starfish, sea slugs, chiton, blennies, sea worms, shore crabs and tidepool sculpins. We are learning so much and having a ton of fun in the process.

We have also been exploring King Edward Bay and finding lots of Frilled Dogwinkle shells to take home and clean. I never tire of these beauties - I love the hidden colours that come through after having a good scrub, soak and oiling.

Cape Roger Curtis is another favourite spot. It seems that each little sheltered cove along the shores of the Cape, has it's own beachcombers delight. Last week, we visited a little beach mid way along the 'Sea Walk' and found quite a few dried sea stars, interesting seaweed and small, deep tide pools in the rocks, filled with limpets, barnacles, hermit crabs, shore crabs and sculpins. We used clear plastic cups that I had left over from one event or another, and caught crabs and sculpins to study a little closer.

Tunstall Bay Beach is a beautiful, long and pebbly beach on the west side of our island. It has lots of tidepools and big rocks to turn over and explore. On one evening visit, we found a very feisty crab hiding under a rock. Upon further investigation, we discovered she had a large cluster of eggs on the underside of her belly that she was protecting. No wonder she was in such a hurry to get away!

Now that's just a few of the beach visits...there has been other fun things happening here as well. Let me take another puff of my puffer, have a nap and write more later...

[FIELDNOTE] Nature Table

We are collectors - me, my kids...even my husband has been known to slip a pretty seashell or pebble into his pocket to take home and admire. Although it's nice to bring these bits and pieces home with us, they tend to get out of hand pretty fast. I decided to take the time this year, and set up a proper nature table. I love it...

The far left box is a bamboo extendable cutlery organizer that I picked up at Canadian Tire, along with the long narrow container. The basket is from the dollar store and the vintage cigar box and muffin tin is from my own collection. I pulled out our favourite nature books for reference and have started a journal with the kids to keep track of our outings and living lab.

Back in September, our family went on a mini vacation to Ucluelet and Tofino on the outermost coast of Vancouver Island (nothing between us and Japan!). We beachcombed, hiked, whale watched and dined on fresh crab. It was incredible!

I carted home a bag of shells from that trip that has been sitting on our balcony ever since. I dug them out, gave them a good scrub, soak and oiled the ones that needed the colour to shine, and displayed them in the muffin tin. Our next job will be to identify them (with my new shell identification book I asked for, for Mother's Day...nerd alert!!).

There is still lots of room left for our summer finds, and I like that this set up forces us to be a bit more selective with the goods we bring home. It takes up little room, and creates endless opportunities to learn and marvel at nature's one of a kind treasures.

Here's some ideas to create your own.

Storage:

Egg Carton

Muffin Tins

Mason Jars

Baskets and Boxes

Ice Cube Trays

Cutlery Organizers

Create your display on a windowsill, shelf or sidetable - ENJOY!!