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E.G.D.Walking With the Winter Waves at Sylvan Beach
Posted by E.G.D. on December 31, 2014
All the cool birds hang out here. (photo by E.G.D.)
Sylvan Beach in La Porte, TX, always a treat in the warmer months, can be equally awesome in the winter. The waves crash with a little more violence and froth, the seashells are as abundant as ever, the clean public restrooms are still open, and the birds are a heck of a lot bolder than they are when there are more people around. The other day, the kids and I literally had a pelican fly right up to us. I warned the kids “don’t touch it! It’s a wild animal,” and it was so close that it was actually necessary to say that. Liam held up his fingers in a square and said “CLICK!” but by the time I went back to the car for a camera, the blue guy who’d nearly landed on our feet was gone. We saw a yellow one by the bait shop later, though, and I did get a picture of him. Anyhow, the entire purpose of this article is actually to give the kids a bit of the limelight. I invited Liam (currently a second grader) to write an article on his winter beach experience, and this is what he wrote:
We had a great time at the beach. We collected shells and saw two pelicans. It was cold and windy. We also saw baby seagulls. The ocean was trying to catch me, but it couldn’t. My feet stayed dry. The end.
Tada! The second pelican (photo by E.G.D.)
Oona can only write her name without a reference, so she is going to dictate a story:
We collected shells. We picked purple shells, and shells that are cool, and big shells, and clear shells, and it was a windy day. I found, what is it called again? A sea bean. I saw pelicans. And we had a wonderful time. And we went to the beach to also play in the sand. At the water, the sand was cold and wet. We had a nice time there, and I want to go again with Nana. I hope we can go with Dadu, also. We are going to do is making crafts out of the shells, like necklaces, and like paper and shells art, and coloring the shells on the paper with the shells. We hope we have a nice time there again next time we go to the beach with Aunt Elisa. I love the beach because it has the shells that I want to see. The end.
Oona’s shell collection from our winter day at Sylvan Beach (photo by E.G.D.)
OH, THE GRAMMAR! Oh, to be five again and not to specially care about grammar! As you probably already surmised, I edited both for spelling, but not for grammar or syntax. They are totally authentic. In any case, Happy New Year, everybody!
Gray, but great (photo by E.G.D.)
See you at the beach- E.G.D.
Jody said
Thank you! It looks like you all had such a wonderful day. After all, every day is a great day when you’re at the beach!
kiwiskan said
I love winter beaches
E.G.D. said
It’s hard not to! Thanks for dropping by ^_^
Mike said
This one had me do a double take as we have a Sylvan Beach up here in New York on the eastern end of Oneida Lake. Right now it doesn’t look as inviting… 😉
E.G.D. said
Well, that makes sense! It’s a LOT colder everywhere in New York than it is on the Texas Gulf coast. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other Sylvan beaches out there, beyond our two. Thanks for dropping in and commenting ^_^
underatopazsky said
I love that you’ve given the children the opportunity to respond in writing to their experience – that really helps little ones to develop as writers. :o)
E.G.D. said
BWAHAHAHAHA! This was my brilliant, sneaky scheme to make Liam do homework, even when he’s on winter break and his parents are out of town. I’m a stinker! Anyhow, I totally agree, and it’s also nice to have three different perspectives. Two birds! I’m glad that you enjoyed it ^_^