By the Sea

We're having a heat wave, which for Québec City, located on the St. Lawrence River, means lots of crushing humidity; 61% at this moment, and it's been higher. So I'm consuming lots of iced drinks, keeping the fans going--no air-conditioning, high heat doesn't last long enough--and as the sun comes around to peer through my NorthWest facing windows and balcony door, I close the blinds.

When I'm tempted to complain of the heat, I think of  winter snowbanks that reach my shoulder, and winds straight from the arctic. Doesn't make me feel cooler, but it puts things in perspective.

In addition to cool drinks, and appreciation of the moment,  I take virtual seaside vacations, via cards I make. Nothing relaxes me like the sound of waves rolling onto a beach, the sound of seagulls, and the remembered feeling of some days spent long ago on a beach in Corpus Christi, Texas, where I waded into the Gulf waters, forgetting sunscreen.

I can still feel fish brushing my legs, and see clearly the Ray flying past in the water ahead of me. I laugh again, thinking of waves crashing over me as I tried in vain to bodysurf. I also have a sharp memory of the pain of a never-again sunburn.

Every summer, I get out my favourite water-themed Stampin' Up stamp sets: Summer by the Sea, and Seaside Sketches, from which the images in today's cards are taken. I hope they help you relax a little, and think kindly of the fleeting summer days.

Argonauta

 I run to the beach at dawn
To discover what prize
The sea’s given up.
Just beyond reach of galloping waves
Lies a slim, white, riffled case,
It’s mariner gone.
Waves tease my toes,
A breeze fingers my hair,
I think of my own
Brave Argonauts.
       Kathleen Chabot
       17/04/1990

 I was thinking of my two sons when I wrote this poem. The older one was married later that year, and I'm happy to report that he, his wife and two daughters are thriving. Son #2 is also doing well. Both sons are doing work they love.


I got so carried away with making waves on this card that I didn't notice I had the lady writing in the water. I suspect she's the type who will hope even if the waves wash her writing away. The clouds are bigger than I wanted them, and my photograph of the card is not very good, but then, life is often less than perfect. That's why we need hope.

Details of the card:

Card stock;  SU Brilliant Blue, Shimmery White,
Ink; SU Basic Black, Blue Spectrum pad, Color Box Cocoa
Stamps; SU Seaside Sketches, Wonderful Words II, Itty BittyBackgrounds
Image watercolored with Watercolor Wonder Crayons and was masked while I sponged the ocean waves, stamped and sponged the sand, and put clouds in the sky.