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A Seaside Sojourner
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Oh lend me a house on the shore
with tidal grass for a front lawn
a porch with a view of the waves
and the cry of the gulls at dawn
Oh lend me a home on the beach
with tidal pools for gardens instead
that I might wander the silken sands
collecting shells for new poems in my head
Oh lend me a cottage by the sea
with driftwood statues set by the tide
weather-beaten, bleached, and smooth as skin
nature’s all season sculptures outside
Oh lend me a cabin on the ocean
with a sailboat for catching the breeze
Lingering here and there in an assortment of bays
as a sojourner of the seas.
Wendy/2013
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This beach house and the surrounding acreage was donated to the town of Comox by Mack Laing (1883-1982) for a park that everyone can enjoy. He seemed to understand that whatever we own here is simply on loan, since we cannot take it with us when we die.
Upon doing some research, I found out that he was an avid naturalist, writer, scientist, and artist. He wrote some books and over 700 articles were published in a variety of magazines.
Seaside Blessings ~ Wendy
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The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1
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Beautiful, Wendy! The house in the first picture looks like a dream home to me. 🙂
Calee, I am so glad the house and property were donated to be a park. Otherwise the land would have been divided up, and a batch of pretentious homes would have been built. It’s a lovely park with trails through the woodland along a creek. xo
Beautiful imagery in this poem, and great pictures! Thanks for sharing. I have followed this blog and will return to read more, for sure.
I have a writing blog that I started after self-publishing. Please check it out and share your writing experiences with me!
http://gdalexander.wordpress.com/
-G.D.
It is nice to meet you, G.D. I will be visiting your blog too.
Beautiful! Thank you for taking me with you!
Thank you, Tina, for joining me! 🙂
When we see the beauty of this fallen world around us, it boggles my mind when I think how beautiful the new heavens and earth will be !!
Thanks Wendy for all the wonders of nature you point out to us. They are a blessing indeed. Lord bless you.
Thank you, Rob! I often wonder about the colors and varieties of flowers, trees, and birds that will be in heaven. 🙂
Thank you very much Wendy for information about Mr. Mack Laing. This man was just wonderful! All that we have belongs to God.
Wanda, the land around it is mostly natural with a well maintained trail running through it. It is such a blessing to walk on.
Hello Wendy,
What a beautiful spot, poems and images. And as you say, how interesting that someone who ‘owned’ such a lovely spot realised that he was merely a temporary custodian. Can folk stay in the cottage?
Best wishes
Julian
Hi Julian! The cottage looks quite weather worn close up and seems to have a tenant? The park path goes right beside it and in front of it. It is very charming. There was a squirrel climbing all over it the first time we visited the park… I suspect it needs a lot of work inside and out before it is fit for public use. 🙂
I enjoyed the seaside visit today…thank you!
🙂 I plan to eventually post some pictures from the woodland trail behind the house…
Oh Wendy this is the most beautiful post x Imagine how wonderful that man must have been to want to share all that beauty with others. The photographs are magnificent and the scenery stunning but your poetry just puts the icing on top of the cake x It is fabulous well done x
Thank you for the “sweet” comment! 😉 xo Apparently he was a very unmaterialistic person. His gift to our community is a treasure.
I absolutely love this poem and the pictures are marvelous! I love the first verse …. and the thought about collecting seashells for new poems … blessings, dear poet friend 🙂
Heidi, I think you would love the trails in this park. It follows a creek and comes complete with deer and tiny fish. Blessings to you also, poet friend!
Your prose and pictures are indeed apples of gold all by themselves. 🙂 And thank you for liking my poetry at OUR POETRY CORNER. Have more at THE MIGHTY MUMFORD, where I usually blog. Many Blessings t you, from our Lord…!
You are welcome for the like, and thank you, Jonathan, for the reblog!
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
ALL THAT WE HAVE IS FROM THE LORD!
What a wonderful place and fantastic photo’s.
Thank you! 🙂
Absolutely beautiful. Such poetic imagery.
Thank you for the kind words!
Oh Wendy, you must know how much I LOVE this seaside poem, being such a yearning sojourner of such a place myself. I could just sit here all evening and imagine the rhythmic sound of the water, the salt tang in the air–so peaceful, quieting me so I can hear Him speak. God bless you Big–love, sis Caddo
Caddo, I also love how restful it is to be at the beach. Thank you, dear sis, for your visit and encouraging words! xo
All the pictures and words emanated *peace*. I love the idea that so many people have been able to enjoy that house and park because of one man’s generosity and wisdom! Thank you for the reminder that everything is the Lord’s! Have a restful and joyful weekend. Blessings–Alison
Restful and joyful blessings to you, Alison! One of our sons is away for the weekend, and we all miss him so much… xo
Exceptional post.Magic of our earth.The scenes so serene ..Thank you for your support and your visits.Have a wonderful day.jalal
It is a nice post that you did about parenthood, Jalal! 🙂
Your blog is inspiring, and I wanted to show you my appreciation with a nomination for a blog award. No pressure to post about it… Just my way of saying thank you!
http://especiallymade.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/a-spoonful-of-sugar/
Thank you for the “sweet” compliment of nominating me! Although I do not participate in awards anymore, I appreciate the kindness, and I like to occasionally post a thank you post to my friends. 🙂
I love the sea and your post just touches me deeply, Wendy. The words are absolutely beautiful and invigorating. Thank you. So enjoy your blog.
Thank you, Don! I love how refreshing it is to visit the ocean. My son talked me into one last night. 🙂
I’m with you on this one, ‘Oh lend me a home on the beach’ I cannot convince my husband to love the ocean. He is born and bred a mountain man. While I love them, too, there is just something about God’s wondrous seas! Lovely.
Sue, it was my husband that taught me to love the sea. It took me a while to get used to needing sweaters, in July, on overcast days.
Mine did like the shoreline in Alaska. He just does not like the heat down along the gulf. We are each made different! Blessings.
So true – my husband is a shorebird; whereas I’m a fish! 🙂
🙂
Wendy, my dear Wendy 🙂
The images are gorgeous and your poetry so smooth and flowing.
Enjoyed this visit immensely,
Eric
You’ve blessed me with your kind words, Eric, thank you!
Hello Wendy-Lee! Those photos are just beautiful. Loved your poem.
Hope your having a great weekend! Hugs to you….Paula xxxxx
Thank you, Paula! It’s the long weekend for us, so I’ve been out on extra walks. 🙂 I’m missing my youngest son who is away at a youth camp. Hugs back, dear friend. xo
Beautiful photos-looks like a very special place.
Regards, David
Thank you, David! We love it.
What a man with foresight…donating so EVERYONE could enjoy…not just a few who are wealthy. Thanks for sharing this…it is always refreshing to believe in humanity again♥
Laurie, it has caused me to pay attention more to the information on other park signs and I’ve discovered another one also acquired this way ( A future post). 🙂
Oh! How I love this poem, I love the sea, God’s natural gift to us and the goodness in the heart of Mark Laing for donating the house to the town. And you cap it up with Psalm 24 was a fantastic. Thanks for sharing.
Much love, always. 🙂
Thank you, dear Seyi! xo
A true poet understands the land!
Beauty draws words from the well of a poet’s heart…
What a gorgeous setting and I agree with the thoughts that it is all on loan; the belief that we own land and trees is quite ridiculous.
Charlie, I agree – it’s all just a loan.
What a wonderful place you have captured for us and shared through your poetry and scripture!! You always make me feel better when I come here! 🙂 God bless you!
Thank you, Debbie! Ian noticed it, one day, while doing a repair in that neighborhood; however, he waited to explore it on a weekend with me.
I only lived by the sea for some weeks while researching at St. Andrews University in Scotland. I was surprised that I really had to wear a scarf to protect my throat! But 3x now God has me living beside the waters of Lake Huron/St. Clair River. Maybe that’s why my daughter joined the navy 🙂
Thanks for the words describing what is beyond words…
Peace
Thank you for your words too! 🙂
Lovely photos! Thanks for the beachside interlude. It reminds me that it has been too long since visiting the Island and that I should remedy that before the summer’s dashed away.
Marilyn, the best time to travel here is before the schools are out for the summer or in the fall since the ferries are so busy. But if you like to people watch or enjoy reading and writing, while in a lineup, then you’re good to go anytime. Thank you for your “visit” here!
So beautiful!!
*Adds this town to my “To Visit” list.*
Thanks for sharing this poem and pics..They both made me hold my breath 🙂
Lele, if you want to visit a quiet and pretty seaside town – Comox is definitely it! It is quiet because a lot of people retire here due to the mild climate.
Beautiful scenic photos and your words so compelling. Many thanks.
Thank you for your encouragement!
I was fortunate enough to live in Half Moon Bay, California, a bit south of San Francisco. When I got home from work sometimes I’d walk the half mile to the ocean just to de-stress and ponder the vastness of God’s beauty. Now I’m about 40 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Need to make a point of visiting more often. Blessed with beauty!
Victoria, it truly is so “de-stressing” at the beach. Seaside tonic for the soul.
Your words complement the photos perfectly.
Thank you, Imelda!
wendy, this is a beautiful post. thank you for such a gift. xo
Thank you, dear Linda! xo
dear greenlightlady,
I just want to thank you for taking the time to stop by my blog.
Thank you so much.
I look forward to finding out more about your love of nature and of course, the colour green! Every day the small jade Buddha which hangs around my neck reminding me of this colour 🙂
Thank you, Jena! Green is my favorite color. Jade is mined in our province and is carved and made into lovely jewelry and ornaments.
This is wonderful. It seems to me that we are stewards of whatever bit of creation falls under our care. We have been given the privilege of occupying our particular cottage for a while, and we should lovingly care for it and make sure that we leave it as hospitable and beautiful for future occupants as it was when we began our stay.
I agree, Bill. We are wise to leave our plot better than we found it. In doing so, we set an example to the younger ones who watch us very closely.
Beautiful pictures and poem. Lend me one of each. 🙂
🙂 Thank you for making me smile, Sheryl!
awesome landscapes
Thank you, Freya!
Ah, there’s nothing in the world like a water view. Beautiful poem and photos, Wendy! ~Lori
Thank you for the visit, Lori! I was so glad to see your new post today.
Thanks, Wendy.
Great pics! I recognize lots of these places, so I’m thinking we live on the same Island 🙂 Thanks so much for all your positivity on my blog. It’s been encouraging and helped keep me going. Love and respect!
Comox Valley does not have as many neat old character buildings as Victoria; however, the traffic is less here. We loved walking around the old neighborhoods when we lived in on the southern tip 20 yrs ago. The whole island is lovely!
Here is this simple piece of land…and I was watching a ‘home’ show earlier where this woman’s closet was at least the size of my own home.
While I don’t have the sea, I have my little creek… Wonderful photos and verse. Cheers.
Jules, that lady would hate my quirky 1940s closets. I’d rather have a cottage with trees than a big box with giant storage rooms. 🙂
Our first house was a cottage type home built in the 1890’s. Closet what closet? The two (one in each bed room had three hooks and the rod was added as an after thought – couldn’t hang a modern hanger in it and close the door – it wasn’t deep enough. They might have been two or three feet by eight or ten inches. Modern hanger base is about one foot! While visiting a 300 year old homestead out here we learned that most folks brought their own wordrobes, that usually came in two or three pieces so they could be moved. I think the wordrobe we saw was bigger than the closets we had.
Have you seen the shows or articles on the Tiny House movement? A home not biger than a shed. This one gent arched his roof for the second level to give himself more room instead of the normal triangel roof. 🙂
Yes, I have read a bit about the small house movement and seen some interesting pictures. I like the idea of less house to clean and more time be be out walking etc. 🙂
Wendy, thank you for visiting my blog this week. What a beautiful blog you have! Absolutely amazing pictures!
Thank you, Lyli! It was my pleasure to find yours.
I’ve been much too busy lately to stop by, but I set my mind to it tonight, and I’m so glad I did. How beautiful were your requests for a cabin by the sea… And my beloved Sister, I pray our Lord gives you your heart’s desires!
Love,
Cheryl
Thank you, dear sister! xo
Beautiful as always! I’m nominating you for the Super Sweet Blogger Award. All the info will be in the post which will be up soon. 🙂
Thank you, Julie, for the honor and congratulations on your award! Although I do not participate in awards anymore, I like to make a thank you post for any nominations etc. Blessings. xo
I’m sorry. I think I’m right behind you in not participating anymore. They’re very time consuming. Your thank you here is enough, no need for a post. 🙂
Absolutely no apology needed… I enjoy giving back some blog love by doing a post for my blogging friends. I’ve done a few where I thank several bloggers at a time. xo
Thank you so much for your like on my blog entry today. I’m happy that you found my entry so that I, in turn, could find your lovely site. Beautiful pictures and accompanying thoughts! I’m looking forward to following your blog posts! Be blessed!
Thank you! I noticed that you love nature too – so I’ll be visiting your blog also.
Love your poem. I always loved the beach but wound up instead in the wetlands in the mountains which has its own appeal.
Thank you! I agree that every place has its own beauty. Wetlands have so much to offer and are very necessary for the health of our planet.
I know– trying to foster their care through photography and writing on the blog about them.
I want to live there. 🙂
I love the no care lawn… and the view.