Treasure!

Things I didn't know about sea glass: A lot.

For instance, it can take the sea twenty years to soften the edges of a shard of glass. Our beach has very few rocks, just the odd mussell shell and a few tendrils of seaweed along the packed sand, so it's very easy to spot the coloured gems of sea glass that seem to wash up with every new tide. I started harvesting the beach a few weeks ago and have collected pieces in opague white, green, amber, a tiny slice of blue. 

The prime time for collecting is the first low tide following a storm.

Take a look at what S.B. retrieved after Saturday's snowstorm!

S.B. has an eagle eye. He found sea china!

According to my online sleuthing, "sea china" originates from 18-19th century pottery, earthenware and porcelain made in Europe and America. Some pieces contain markings that can help history buffs (like me!) trace their origins. In my fever, I joined the Sea Glass Association of North America. They hold a "Shard of the Year" contest.

When I was a child, I had (and lost) a large round piece of sea glass that was an exquisite ruby red colour, and now I desperately want another. Short term goal: Find the ruby. Long term goal: Gather enough sea glass to make a patio floor mosaic. I envision a giant bowl on the coffee table that our friends can help fill over the years. So far, we've got half a mason jar.

To think - I put roller derby on hold in order to pluck at the novel and pick sea glass off the beach. I'm really getting in touch with my inner old lady. I should get a shawl. And a walking stick. And a basket.