LOEB STATE PARK (Tide pooling at Harris State Beach) 7/11-17/2012

C'mon Grandma.  Take me to the tide pools, Please?  I'll give you a flower if we go!!!!!

Oh, Batman!  You know how to wrap this Grandma around your little finger!!!  Let's go!

Flower, Schmower!!!  Quit the sweet talk!!  Let's go to the tide pools!!!  Take Pineapple too!!!

So, off the family goes to explore the world left as the tide goes out. 

Hey!  Wait for me!!  I want to go to the tide pools too!!

 It's okay Little Pineapple.  You can stay here with Grandma and we'll see what we find here.

I found rocks Grandma.  Here you hold them while I find more.

See Grandma!  here's some white ones and some green ones and some black ones.  You hold them for me, Grandma.

The joys of Grandmaotherhood....taking the more gentle path, nurturing, loving, accepting....and sometimes staying back with the littler ones.

Meanwhile, out in the tide pools there are other discoveries taking place.  Grandpa used to teach marine biology and take 6th graders to tide pools.  Now that knowledge is passed on to another generation.

See right there Batman?  Those are sea stars.  They cling to the rock.  You want to hold one?

Grandpa, he's kind of rough and pokey.  Will he bite me?  I'll call him Fred.  Can I take him home??

Look here Batman.  Here is a limpet.  It only has one foot.  See him try and turn over?  He eats the algae that grows on the rocks and has to be under water to breathe.

 Batman is a little hesitant to hold a hermit crab. Then when Mom gets in on the action it suddenly becomes....

...a little safer and Batman becomes a little more brave.

Mom even gets in on the five steps of bravery with a sea anemone.  Step # 1, touch it.

Meanwhile the retired teacher and the new teacher explore more.

Then father passes his knowledge on to son.

A grand day at the tide pools for the young couple, Kevin and Megan.

Also one of great satisfaction and joy for the old couple, Wayne and Ann.

Life is good!