Winter Island on the last day of winter!

So good to see the sun again after a week of brutal cold weather and wild winds. The snow has melted and tomorrow is the official first day of spring. 

We took our dog over to Winter Island, Waikiki Beach for some much needed Vitamin Sea and D. Gorgeous day - a tad cold but you can tell that spring is on its way.

Tidepools - lots of snails and seaweed. There were so many slipper seashells on the beach today. A few European Oyster shells, clams and rocks. No Moon Snail shells. Maybe the weather will allow us to go to Sandy Point Beach in Ipswich this weekend - that is where the good moon shells are!

Say it with me in a Boston accent... Laaaabstah trap!

Wishing all a very happy last day of Winter from Winter Island, Salem MA!

Visit our online shoppe for magical jewelry and art inspired by the sea and nature of Salem MA. https://whispersoftheofae.com

bits and bobs

During this cold snap my muse has been playing with paper clay again. Who knew it would freeze if left out in the sun porch studio?!  I love working with it since you do not have to fire it. It is also eco-friendly unlike polymer clay - Fimo or Sculpey which are made from PVC which is toxic.

Of course in this weather these pieces are taking forever to dry. So i cannot paint them until they are completely dry. Patience is not one of my virtues!

I have been adding pieces of seashells from my beach excursions. Almost feel as if these are morphing into artifacts from Atlantis! Some will be made into pendants and others into spirit dolls. 

See more finished art at https://whispersoftheofae.com/nature-spirit-beings-as-art

Happy 2019 from the Witch City, Salem MA!

Wishing all a magical 2019 from the Witch City, Salem MA!

(photo taken at Winter Island in Salem MA on 12/30/18)

https://whispersoftheofae.com

The North Shore Beach Tour Continues...

It has been at least 13 years since we have been to Cranes Beach in Ipswich MA. Last time we went was in the middle of the summer and had no idea that parking would be so expensive ... nor did anyone warn us of the wretched green-head flies that bite! 
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/north/2013/07/24/greenhead-season-day-beach/Zw8FGfuy51mjb55jQGYMKI/story.html

So after more than a decade we decided on the last Saturday of 2018 to once again visit Crane Beach. After all.. it wouldn't be crowded in winter and of course they wouldn't charge for parking... right? WRONG!!!!!!!!

From Wiki:
"Crane Beach was established in 1945 as a gift from Richard T. Crane Jr., son of Richard T. Crane, and his family. Along with Castle Hill and the Crane Wildlife Refuge, it is owned and maintained by The Trustees of Reservations."

This time there was a line (A LINE?) to get into the beach parking lot. (Did i mention it is cold and windy today?) And parking was $10. Really... $10 for what? It is winter! (In summer it is $30!)  Can you say snootie?
But we paid and parked. Hiked over the sandy hills through whipping cold winds to the beach.

Yes it is gorgeous. But not the same magical feel as any of the other beaches we have visited or haunt. Then again, we are not muggles and there were several there today. Perhaps it was crowded with tourists visiting relatives. 

The beach is big, lots of sand. Not many sea shells and the wind was just too wild to enjoy it all. Overall i would say this is my least favorite beach on the North Shore. Ironically it is voted best beach by most! That is fine. I prefer the quiet beaches filled with wild life and no humans!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_Beach

The highlight of this trip was meeting Dory the horse who seemed to love walking through the waves. A magnificent being and such a handsome boy.

  
I did love the colors of the sea - vibrant teal greens and dark hues. Too hard to capture on a cell phone camera. Would be a great place to bring your water colors and paint - if the wind is kind. 

There may be more sea shells on a less crowded day or at low tide. I did find an Angel shell which i have not seen on any of the other beaches here so far. Lots of clams, some huge ones and one snail. 

Angel sea shell

We were frozen after walking back to the car. Happy to ride back to Salem and thaw out. Then we hopped back into the car to Winter Island just to get a sense of ahhhhhhhh! More photos tomorrow.

Winter Island Salem MA

Oh Aunty Em!