A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-02-06....A Walk on the Beach

GodBlessUSA

[GodBlessUSA]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

What do you look forward to spending your free time doing? I love to get out and visit the beach. I especially appreciate the beach before the crowds get here for the summer. Even on mild days during winter, we get out and take walks on the beach. I feel fortunate to live close enough to visit often. My kids, the dog and I enjoy taking long walks at the beach. We look for shells, watch surfers and view the sea birds.

Year round there are surfers out on the ocean. If a storm is coming, you can bet many surfers will be there to ride the big waves. It's exciting to watch them challenge the waves.

The below picture is from a day I took photos of surfers. It was a surprise to come across this one. Uh oh, is that what I think it is? LOL, Fortunately, no shark attacks were reported that day. I think, it's an optical illusion of a surfer.

Or was that just a surfer? :)

Below, on the left Seagulls, resting. The right, is a Spotted Piping Plover. (picture from websearch) They are always running at the shore line. They will run to the water and then away, as the tide comes in. In the spring, they block off parts of the beach so people do not disturb their nests. I get a kick seeing the little ones run about.

Above is The Great Egret. A gorgeous bird. I usually see them at the bay beaches and not as much at the ocean. (picture from a web search)

Above is the Great Blue Heron. We do have them on the beaches but I have yet to see one locally. I took this picture while I was visiting in DC last summer. The Great Blue Heron is a very impressive bird in person and much bigger than what I had imagined from viewing pictures.

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-01-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[luvie]

The last beach I visited at Patrick AFB, Fl...where my son lives and works.

[luvie]

You, too. I'll be home earlier this afternoon and will peek in to see how this beach party is progressing!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Morning LUV.

Have a good day at ****!:)

[luvie]

Mrs.N! ((((hugs))))...good to see you! I have missed you so much. We'll talk later today! Have a good "Saturday"!!!

[snugs]

I was bought up by the beach from birth until about 12 apart from one year.

Do you use the term seaside we tend to say we are going to the seaside more often than the beach.

The beech is where the pebbles and or the sand is but the area is the seaside.

Also if I remember correcetly you say waterfront not seafront.

Here I am on the beach at about 3

[Mrs.Nooseman]

I will have a good Saturday and we will talk later.(((HUGS}}}

[luvie]

Awwwww, Snugs...you were such a cutie-patootie! Good to see you. See ya later, too!

[MozartLover]

Good morning Dolly.

We had our rain Sunday & yesterday. Supposed to dry out now. I think today will be my official "first-day-of-hanging-laundry-outside-on-the-line" day......always eciting.:-)

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good Morning Snugs!

Great picture of you on the beach.

[GodBlessUSA]

Lord, We thank You for those who are serving in our armed forces. Each day they are making brave sacrifices so that our country can remain strong and free. Keep them safe under the shelter of Your wings. And Lord, for their families back home——whose loving support enables our armed forces, to do all that they are called on to do——we ask that You comfort them and give them Your peace...the peace that passes all understanding. Amen

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to

Billie; Dutchess; DollyCali; Mama_Bear; The Mayor;JustAmy; GodBlessUSA,
and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart. Amen

gator girl........................husband severa............husband, brother Maigrey............................cousin mystery-ak.............son, husband Gogrammy...................grandson Inspectorette.......................son deadhead..........................cousin Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew Diver Dave.......niece, nephew ConspiracyGuy........2 nephews Pippin............niece's husband sneakers..............................son weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw jamaly.................brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon.............grandson WaterDragon...........son-in-law BeforeISleep...................son kimmie7......................brother Armymarinemom............3 sons american_ranger.............son LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.......................nephew ValerieUSA....................2 sons Lakeside...........................2 sons LakeLady............ ..........nephew Spruce............................daughter Leofl......................................son chena......................................son Hope and Glory.....................son Philman_36................2 nephews bjcintennessee..............son, niece TheMayor....................friends'son Doug from Upland............soninlaw homeschoolmama...........nephew ariamne..........................2 cousins mhking...............................cousin gonzo.........................friend's son visualops..........................cousin auboy.............................cousin Ladysmith..nephew, friend's son tina07......soninlaw & his friend MontanaCowgirlCop.......brother nelibeli...........................nephew Misty4jc........................husband Colorado Slim................nephew Tapatio....................2 nephews ProudAFDad.........................son Alouette................................son Katydidnt..............................son scubachick.....................husband ladtx...............................2 sons OhioWfan............................son jkphoto..........................nephew Q6-God...................twin brother Q6-God.....................active duty Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells....................active duty LongCut....................active duty cjk...........................active duty Trish.........................active duty ODC-GIRL.................active duty AF_Blue...................active duty Notwithstanding.......active duty thumperusn..............active duty Veloxherc.................active duty Don Simmons...........active duty wingnutx...................active duty Old Sarge.................active duty CGblue.....................active duty bigghurtt...................active duty frankiep....................active duty veeceeque................active duty JRios1968...............active duty NoLongerFreeState....active duty CMS.........................active dutyNadine ...................................nephew U S Army EOD ..................Daughter weldgophardline .........................Son thehumanlynx................rotherinLaw JFC.........................................nephew Anthem..............two cousins

Its_me_K.E.T.........................son Hostel............................cousin MozartLover...........son, nephew ak_daddoo........................nephew Dubya............................nephew LBGA (RIP)..........................son katykelly..............................son cookcounty.............................son Himyar....................................son SpookBrat........................nephew SpookBrat........................cousin boxerblues........................2 sons the piper....................................son sheeza................................husband kemathen7.........................husband Tiffee4Bob..........................boyfriend JimRobinson...............2 nephews TexKat.......................son, step-son StarCMC.............................brother Consort........................2 daughters Consort.......................son-in-law Darheel...............................niece Donaeus...........................nephew dixie sass........................nephew BeAllYouCanBe........................son Repubmommy........................brother AgThorn................................2 sons kneezles.................................son RoseinRoseBear.....cousin's hubby Atomic Conspiracy......half-brother Atomic Conspiracy...........nephew Sunflowergal....................grandson mrstank..............................husband MrsMike31........................husband spotbust1...........................husband campfollower.........................fiance LUV W......................................son painter........................ .........nephew Bykrbayb.....................................son SilentServiceCPOWife........husband Walkenfree.....................2 grandsons Walkenfree....................... 3 nephews Walkenfree..................granddaughter Zechariah_8_13...........brother-in-law Zechariah_8_13......................cousin DirtyHarryY2K....................daughter DirtyHarryY2K................son-in-law Skimask........................................son El Gato..................................nephew Palladin................................grandson MississippyMuddy...................sister MississippyMuddy...........2 nephews Kramster................................stepson Socratic.................................nephew LoneRedRanger..........brother-in-law Jemian..........................................son freema............................nephew, son Azbushgal....................................son PreviouslyA-Lurker...............brother kimmykay....................................son right2parent.................................son NavySEAL F-16..........................son Ike................................................son repubmom....................................son wolfcreek.............................daughter JesseJane ................................cousin Roses0508....................................son pmmd81.......................................son GodBlessUSA.........................cousin SoldiersPrayingMom....................son WakeUpandVote.....................brother Skyraider.......................................son CyberAnt................................nephew mrs tiggywinkle........................cousin Jen's Mom.............................daughter 911angelady.............................2 Sons

[MEG33]

Goleta Beach farther down from the area where the "heron nesting" trees, pier, and restaurant are..This was near where I lived in California.

[GodBlessUSA]

That's a beautiful place. You must have enjoyed living there. :)

[MEG33]

It was a beautiful area..I am glad I had the experience but Texas is "home" Your thread and looking up pictures are reminding me of the fun I had watching birds at the beach! The little birds on stilts hurrying in and out always busy,busy..the gulls doing great dives ..and then all the others that I cannot name.

[LadyX]

Beaches have been a huge part of my life. My first 9 1/2 years were in Coral Gables; a lovely residential area within Miami, Florida.

Born in 1934, my earliest memories were of - I kid you not! -
"Sunday Drives in the Country" to Miami Beach!
Driving over the causeway to the beach area, there were numerous homes along the Biscayne Bay side, but on Miami Beach itself, there were only about a dozen blocks of development. Reaching the Beach, we had no problem finding a good spot, if we wanted to swim there.

World War II, however, brought the big boom. We usually drove up from Miami Beach to Baker's Haulover, where we could watch vessels going from the Inland Waterway into the ocean itself - and back. The beach line was total wilderness, with nothing but sand dunes and palmettos the whole way.

We also would park beside Biscayne Bay to watch the Pan American Clipper Ships (airplanes) take off for South America!
For family serious swimming/picnic times, however, we often drove down to Mathison Hammock Beach, where many knobby-kneed trees rose from the shoreline, and the wave action was more gentle, and there were covered picnic areas.
On my hall wall, I have a priceless photograph of my parents in their early 40's, posing by one of those trees...

Florida, of course, is rampant with flora and bird life of every description - - as is all of the state.

Going to Parris Island, that first fall we were just 3 blocks from the ocean, and were threatened by two hurricanes. If they had arrived at high tide, we at first floor level would have been washed over by 20-foot waves. We had to move all our clothing and bedding and gear to the second floor for the duration to save it if that happened.

The same was true when I lived on Chincoteague Island, Virginia in 1955 - 2 x 7miles "big."
We had to go over the one causeway to stay with friends inland, when, again, two hurricanes brushed by!
[Always wondered if I were a *magnet* for storms!!]

Leaving Fairbanks, Alaska in the summer of 1966, we were blessed to be sent to Myrtle Beach AFB, in base houring, located directly across the highway from a South Carolina State Park beside the ocean.
Living later in both South and North Caroina, we often made treks/vacations to beach areas.

=======================================

Sharks played a major role in meeting my husband!
Living then in Melbourne, Florida, I often took my two little boys to the beach after teaching a 5-year old Sunday School Class, and sometimes during the week.

I had seen him at Indialantic Beach, the head Lifeguard, dramatically going out to retrieve from the surf a large plastic ball a little boy had let go.
(He was a partner in a restaurant business with his brother, and with days free, he as a Water Safety Instructor was talked by the Kiwanis Club into heading the guards at the beach, going there anyway to swim.)

A few days later, my friend and her son went with us there. It was a usual summer of *Shark Sightings* up and down the coast, including there, sometimes having to close the beach to swimming. Leaving my boys with Dot, I went up to ask him if any had been sighted this day, so I could go out and swim alone. ...(with a negative answer, I did, and he caually strolled over to Dot, and ascertained the fact I was not married..:)

About two weeks later, he and I took my sons' inner tube, with me in it, out in the fairly calm water to chat while we enjoyed the warm water.
Of course, the tide was slowly pushing us out, and intent upon our conversation, we had not reali zed how far from shore we had drifted - - AND...

saw nearby a FIN circling us!!!
He protectively got between me and The Beast, and quietly told me to get to shore WITHOUT OBVIOUS SPLASHING!!
Talk about a L-O-N-G and harrowing journey - LOL now... propel, but don't make waves..:))

As it turned out, he was the predator shark, lo those 46 years ago..:))

[LadyX]

Hi, Luvvy!
That beach is just a short distance up the road from Indialantic Beach!

[Mrs.Nooseman]

Good morning LadyX!

What a great story.:)

[dutchess]

What a charming thread today Geebee. Not only great pictures and content but love your "presentation"!!!! Rainy and gloomy today in central Ohio so am loving the cybertrip to the beach!!!!!

Sigh...off to vote (very contentious primary going on....first in a long time where I'm not certain how I will vote in certain races)...then to work...but enjoyed this lovely "respite"! BBL!

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Thank you Mayor.

[GodBlessUSA]

Your life is incredible. I so enjoy reading stories of you life experiences and the places you have seen. What a great way you met your hubby. If I saw a shark, I think I'd freeze in fear. I guess in a way that is a good thing. I can't imagine being out in the water relaxing and seeing one nearby.

[GodBlessUSA]

Good Morning Dutchess :)
Thank you. Rainy here too. I'm glad because we so needed it. Good luck with the primaries. Have a terrific day!