Full Moon Low Tide ~ May "Flower Moon"

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Hello, everyone! Is it cold enough for you!? It's so cold here I'm back to wearing my down parka to walk Mo, and he is wearing his little red corduroy, plush lined vest. It is after all actually only mid-Spring. Summer doesn't begin here til Fourth of July most years.

I did get fooled by one hot day. Took the flannel sheets off the beds, took out the storm windows, wore shorts. Haha! Blue knees if I kept that up.

Today I put on warm layers and hiked down to the beach to see the low tide created by the May full moon. The moon will be full tonight and tomorrow. May 9 and 10. The May moon is called the Flower moon. Maybe plant flowers?

above: "The May Full Moon is about romance, joy and fun. It's a time to celebrate our friends and our families." Joyful sentiments, inspiring, hopeful.
I also wanted to see what damage might have occurred during Friday's big storm.

I drove to a medical appointment on flooded roads. My Jeep is meant for off road use so the water doesn't bother it, though I drive slow unlike most of the crazed and in a hurry folks on the road here.

The beach, it turns out is huge. I used my phone app and yes the shore at low tide is just a bit under a half mile away from my house. Lucky for me there's nothing but dunes and sand between my windows and deck and the shoreline.The dark line you see in the sand is the high tide line during full moons and / or storms.

See how bare the beach is? This is what's usually under the water when you swim or surf here.

These swales fill with water during storms. My pair of mallard ducks flew in as I watched but the disappeared in the tall grass. Maybe they'll nest here, not knowing the water may not remain.

All the dune and bird warnings and fences have been put up.

I didn't see any plover cages or oystercatcher orange cones. I hope if they did nest here they were away from the Friday coastal flood.

There was an article about the OCs on the local online newspaper. It reminded people not to move the eggs even of the nest is in danger from high tides, because touching the eggs of endangered species a federal offense. Plus this story said the parent birds would not accept the moved eggs. However I have read that in England and Scotland the game  wardens do move the eggs and create viable nests in safer locations. Sometimes even a few feet can make the difference for the eggs' survival. [That said, I' ve never had the nerve to touch the eggs, afraid of harming the habitat and birds' safety.]

Later when I walked Mo I spied two Oystercatchers chasing a crow in the dunes. One OC pair always nests in the high dunes on the western edge of my beach and I think the crows are attacking the nests and stealing the eggs! I didn't know crows did that. The pair of OCs chased the crow[s] away. For now.

Walking home I noticed this beautiful grey green lichen on a weathered fence. All winter the lichen is drab grey like ashes. One good wet spell in spring and they return to life.

Spring moves slowly...little signs, as small as a stand of moss or lichen, can be hopeful!

....

On a quilting note, for new readers who have found my blog through Lori's swap:
I remade my Prairie Queen block for Westering Women. I was going for a brighter Pennsylvania German color way. I thought my fictional pioneer woman Annabelle Smith deserved a more vibrant block to represent her courage and determination.

I like it, but now that I see it with the other blocks I think the pink/ brown block works better.

And the PA colors are too late for the 1853 date of the imaginary quilt.

Audition post coming soon, we have to choose sashing, cornerstones and borders too.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS Isn't this seaglass inspired bracelet beautiful! I found it on Pinterest but it's from an etsy shop. I'll add the link if I track it down. It's simple but lovely, such a perfect beach bauble.
[Mother's Day?]