Slaughter Beach DE | Sometimes You Get So Confused

Since my husband had the day off for the Presidents’ Day holiday, we decided to take a tiny trip to the Delaware Bay beach of Slaughter Beach, about 2 hours from home. I’ve written about this place before. We came here a couple of times last summer, so I won’t go into much detail – take a look at the earlier post if you want to know more.

I also decided that it was time for me to get back to doing some art drop-offs. I haven’t done any for quite a few months. My eyesight issues have gotten in the way. Now that they have improved and healed so much, I am more able to think beyond the next doctor appointment.

I’m also testing out new items to drop off. I gave my kiln away recently, having decided I did not want to do clay at home anymore. (If I get the urge, there are plenty of art centers with studio time for me to choose). Clay tiles and figurines have been the backbone of my art drop-off routine for some time, because they hold up to the weather. This feature is important in case the item lingers before someone picks it up.

I’ve decided one item I will offer out to the world is small paintings on board. True, they will not last forever outside, but usually these items get taken home pretty quickly, and I figured I’d look for sheltered spots to leave them in.

I chose this one for today. I thought the marsh-like scene would fit in well with this location, which is a narrow sand beach backed by miles of marshes.

All right. We got on the road early and arrived at the beach about 9:45 AM. We parked right across the street from the firehouse, as usual.

This beach is quiet even in mid-summer – the street has virtually no traffic. Same thing today.

We crossed the street over to the pavilion, where I set the painting on the info kiosk. You can see it on the ledge on the left side of the bulletin board.

Then we headed to the beach, just a few steps away. As you can see, it is quiet and peaceful here.

The waves are big enough to make a muted surf sound, but not to chase you up and down the beach.

The beach does not offer many shells but is instead pebbly, with water-worn stones scattered all over in different colors and shapes.

I collected some stones and shells to take home, but mostly, we just walked. I guess we were out there about 2 hours or maybe a little more.

We returned to the car, changed our shoes, and took our lunch over to the pavilion to eat.

As we were eating, a couple came around looking over the pavilion as a site for a gathering in July. We fell into conversation and learned that they were planning a celebration of life party for their young adult son, who had died recently. His mother walks here on this beach a lot and thought her son would have liked a beach party.

When they told us the party was to be in July near his birthday, I asked what date it was. It turns out that it is the same day that my granddaughter will turn two. I know on that day we will be thinking of this young man who we never met, and his parents who loved him so much.

Our conversation returned to such mundane things as to whether the pavilion has electrical outlets or not (yes, it does); they left, and we finished our lunch.

I found this day very emotional and meaningful. I am grateful for my eyesight which is so much better than the last time we were here. And for my husband and all the enjoyment we have in doing outings like this one. I note the warm (for February) weather and the sunshine. I am pleased by the fact that I resumed the activity of art drop-offs (not just the drop off itself but the planning and the creating something I hope others will like). I feel for the parents who have lost their child and I am grateful for my family and especially for my little granddaughter.

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My husband took a couple of photos of me doing the Polar Bear toes in the water event – a toned-down version of the Polar Bear plunge events done at the beach in winter. The water was not that cold, really, which is why I look perfectly cheerful.