We try to visit Grandma during the school holidays. We look forward to the trip – aside from anything else, Grandma has dogs, the thing we most covet at the moment. But even better is the chance to rummage around on Felixstowe beach. It doesn’t have to be swimming weather, and we don’t need buckets and spades; we’re happy with simple things:
- filling Mum’s pockets full of stones suitable for the rock tumbler
- finding the perfect stick for drawing in the sand
- throwing pebbles – distance and skim is not important, it’s the satisfying plop into the foam that we seek.
We could spend hours there; I’m not sure what it is that keeps us in thrall for so long. There is something there that keeps our attention beyond the physical fact of pebbles, sand and driftwood. Perhaps it is the rhythm of the waves, sometimes gentle lap, sometimes breathtaking smash against the beach. Maybe it’s the fresh coldness of the air, or the call of the gulls, the occasional honk of the container ships as we try to guess their destination.
Of course, the call of a hot sugared doughnut eventually gets the better of us and we’re quick to abandon our games for a sprint to the kiosk.
We’re joining in with Project 365 at The Boy and Me, and Better Photo Project at Love All Blogs. I tried the black and white newspaper effect tip from last week on my first image, but I’m not happy with it. I think possibly the light was too flat in the first place, as I’ve struggled to edit the others. I know purist photographers are not fond of gimmicks, but my personal favourite is my second shot, where I used a sunglow effect in Picmonkey. I love the promise of where that stone might go…
Also linking up with Coombe Mill’s Country Kids, Mummy Daddy Me’s Ordinary Moments, I Heart Snapping’s Living Arrows, Mummy Never Sleeps All the Small Things, PODCast’s What’s the Story, Snowing Indoors Point and Shoot, and The Olivers Madhouse Magic Moments. All blogs whose photos are inspiring my journey to get better at this thing!
I like the second image it gives depth 🙂 x
Love these – the top one especially. You are getting so good my hairy friend !
get you! certainly getting in the grove 😉 great shots x
Love the photos and time spent on the beach is always time well spent!
What amazing shots. I especially love the stone throwing one! Looks like you had great fun!
Love the top two – can’t make up my mind which I like the better. There is something about throwing pebbles on the water that can entrance kids.
A visit to the beach is good for mind and body and there’s always lots to explore and things to do to keep everyone happy. Thanks for linking up and sharing your lovely photos with Country Kids.
Great pictures Helen… I actually really like the second. X
Looks like you had a great day, the pictures are all lovely but I especially like the second and last 🙂 x #Project365
I think I prefer beaches in the winter, always seem more interesting somehow! I know what you mean about coveting a dog too, I think it’s getting nearer to the day when we might actually get one.
Oh gosh us too. Wait, did I actually say that? *Looks shifty*
Lovely photos, the first two could be of yoga moves!! You really can’t beat messing around at the beach.
Lovely pictures, I like the perspective of the top few.
This is such a lovely post. I grew up by the sea and I miss it so much as spending time messing around on the beach really does blow the cobwebs away. We are planning a trip home to my parents at Easter and I am already getting excited about taking my newly mobile little boy down to the seafront to play on the beach and on the promenade!
It really is about cobwebs isn’t it? Exactly that lovely fresh feeling!
Get you Helen!! Love these. Rich with a feeling of fun and freedom 🙂
Thank you!
Yes, I like that second one too. Always happy for more sun, we have been at the beach a lot this week too. Mich x
I love the sea, it’s magic whatever the weather (apart from perhaps severe storms). I’ve just discovered pic monkey thanks to Love All Blogs and their excellent photography series-having great fun with it too. Lovely images, I can almost hear the stones ‘plop’ 🙂
Thank you. I’ve always been frightened of photography, but I’m feeling really quite excited at how much you can learn so quickly.
I love the fact he looks like superman when he throws the stone. The light is so warm in the picture even though you were all probably freezing!
Thanks for popping over to my blog earlier. I’m hoping to link up to LAB linky more now I have a new camera to play with 😉 x
These are gorgeous photos Helen, I love the sun effect in the second one and I love the gif as well. We need to make a winter visit to the beach soon. And in reply to your comment over on my blog, it was so lovely to see you and get to know you a bit more on Friday too. xx
Thanks Katie. Funny how we can know each other online for so long, and yet not really know each other at all! I shall look forward to putting that right 🙂
Lovely photos. I love the beach but I’m definitely more a sunny day beach person LOL!
I unlike most am not a black and white fan and LOVE colour and so I LOVE how you have edited that second photo and the photo itself is a brilliant action shot. We can’t get enough of the sea and the sand and throwing stones is the ultimate activity for my wee man.
Thank you. They honestly could have pottered there for hours. I must make an effort to get there earlier next time.
Fab photos. I love how you’ve caught him aiming, pointing and then shooting!
I actually like the first photo, but the second one is beautiful x
Beautiful photos.
I think there is nothing that can compare to being at the beach on a cold day, there is something so invigorating about it! x
looks like you had a great time, fab photos!
Some great photos. Haven’t taken 6yo skimming stones at the beach for ages
I hope you waved as you passed us 😉
Ooh yes I forgot you were down that way!
Lovely photos. There is something almost hypnotic about going down to a beach and watching the waves splashing onto the shore. Hope you had a nice break
What amazing photos! Beautiful x
Look at you go! Love the two photos of the Bug skimming stones especially although great timing with GG at the bottom! Sounds like you had a great time seeing Grandma in Felixtowe, must have been nice to be by the sea too. Thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory
Absolutely love your photos, especially the contrast of red against grey 🙂 #What’s The Story/MagicMoments/CountryKids.
What and utterly fantastic trip with some stunning pictures. I am with you the second one is beautiful the effect is gorgeous x
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xx
Fabulous shots Helen!
I am a seaside girl born and bred, it just is my childhood. I can’t wait to make all those memories with my own boys x
Lovely moments captured. i love these pictures. So cute. Brought back many memories of me and my brothers throwing rocks into the water. So very therapeutic and fun. I still like doing it as an adult. lol hehe Lovely post.
Loving the second photo – a great capture and looks like you all had a fab time #whatsthestory
This looks amazing and can almost smell the seaside with those lovely pics. I want to come next time ha x #allthesmallthings
We now live in Hampshire but I was bought up in Weymouth and my husband in St Ives and as adults there is still just something about a beach. Blustery autumn walks with cold ears with the waves roaring my personal favourite. I hate standing still, I am the kind of person who can always find something to do, but not on a beach, the only place I know where time stands still and so can I.
I so wish we lived nearer the sea Katie – there is something very peaceful about it, even on a cold and wild day.
Am in love with Bugs throwing stance, GGs amazing boots and your awesome photos!
Thanks Clara x
I need instructions as to the location of the doughnut shop. Definitely. Love that my pictures are the other side of the pier to yours but almost identical.
Head of the Pier – meet you there next time?
how did you do the gif?! i’ve been trying for aaaaages and just can’t do it! great photos, too.
I use Photoscape for editing and there’s a great option in there 🙂
What a stunning post. I love the way the black and white shot is followed by a colourful one – it looks as though your son has changed into superman while throwing the stone!
Thanks Nell x
A great post and fantastic pictures! The second picture is stunning!
Gorgeous photos-love the effects!
#magicmoments
Thanks for linking up to Project 365
Lovely photos – the beach is wonderful at any time of the year as long as you’re dressed appropriately!! I think the newspaper effect in the first photo looks fab, but I’ll admit I’m no expert!! And impressed by the animated gif – what option do you use to add it to the post? #LivingArrows
That’s the gif option in Photoscape – it’s free to download and I find it a lot easier than Photoshop. Thanks for commenting x
I love the water, and could easily spend hours there. It would be nice to have such a long pier as the one in your pictures.
Thank you Catherine. Unfortunately the pier is closed off nowadays but I remember lovely walks along it as a child when we would holiday there with my grandparents.