treasures

“First I smell that smell and am overcome with a sensation of elation. Like a tight faucet turned open, everything floods from me. I scan the view, take a deep breath, and inevitably utter, "God, I love it here." I stride quickly to where the sand is still wet from the previous tide and then, and then I am gone. There is no thinking, just being. I have no awareness of time or of myself. If I am searching for glass, it is rote, with no more or less consciousness than a jellyfish searching for sustenance. It is not mindlessness or oblivion, as I am wholly aware, but in a way that preempts any reality outside of the moment. There I am seaweed, I am water, I am stone, I am fish. I am a grain of sand, warm in the sun. I am reduced to nothing, but part of everything. I am home, I am free, I am one with the sea, I am the primordial me, and the glass is just my excuse to be there.”
― S. Fields

I collect (and photograph) many treasures. Living near the coast, most of my treasures are gifts of the sea.  Feathers, beach rocks shaped like hearts, a few sand dollars, tiny starfish, and of course sea glass.  Finding these tiny pieces of glass, smoothed by time and sands, feels like finding a bit of magic.   Each piece unique in its beauty. My family has a favorite little cove we go, we have coined this cove "sea glass beach" for the bounty of these particular treasures you can find there. We just plunk ourselves down in the rocky sand and sift handful after handful of stones to reveal these tiny pebbles of glass.  It is truly meditative. Even my little ones will sit and sift with me. We weave stories of mermaid's tears, and lost pirate jewels. We stuff our pockets full, not feeling greedy at all since each time we go there is just more and more to find..  We bring them home, wash them and then place them in one of several glass mason jars strewn along our mantle and windowsills of our home.  Little glass gifts of the sea.  Thank you ocean.  

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Today's one word prompt is "glass", perhaps you have some tiny glass treasures like me, or maybe you will pour yourself a glass of something good today. Click and share your "glass" with us today.  Tag your images #shuttersisters.

Comments

[Marcie]

Here's my little collection of glass:
http://marciescudderstudios.squarespace.com/home/2012/11/13/assemblage.html

[Sarah W.]

love beach treasures...love the beach too. even in the winter. :)

[Valerie]

Lovely post! My preschooler son wordlessly reminded me this year how lovely autumn leaves are with his hands constantly full of leafy treasures.
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/11/end-of-autumn.html

[Valerie]

And here are my beach treasures from our days living near San Francisco...
Glass -- http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/04/sea-glass.html
Pebbles -- http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/04/beach-stones.html

A whole rainbow of pebbles...
http://journeyleaf.typepad.com/journeyleaf/2012/04/beach-stones-ii.html

[Anna]

I love this picture-so beautiful and soothing.

[monica devine]

Of Glass and Stone

http://monicadevine.blogspot.com/2012/04/way-it-is-with-my-husband-and-i-is-this.html