This past weekend, we were in East Hampton with Martha and we always like to get out and explore. The Atlantic Ocean is just a block away and we love walking on the beach. Take a look at what we found.
1 What a beautiful day at the beach in East Hampton! Smell that salt water, Franny! And feel the fresh air in your thick fur, G.K.!
2 You know what would be fun? Let's go on a hunt for seashells!
3 There is always an amazing assortment that washes up on the shore.
4 There sure are a lot of large quahog clamshells, Franny.
5 Well, of course, there are! Clams are bivalves, just like mussels, scallops, oysters - anything with a hinged two part shell. Did you know that there are more than 9,000 species of bivalves?
6 The shell of a bivalve is an exoskeleton, protecting the soft little creatures inside from predators and also from the harsh ocean life.
7 Let's see what else we can find out here.
8 I think I spot something over there...
9 Look, Sharkey! A scallop shell! Did you know that scallops are one of the few bivalves that can swim? They open and close their shells quickly to propel themselves, making it easy to escape from predators!
10 Hey girls, look over here! I found some interesting spiral shaped shells!
11 Good find, G.K.! The conical ones are typically from snails! Snails are not bivalves, but univalves, called gastropods. They're in the same family as their shell-less brother the slug. Horrors!
12 More than two thirds of snail species live underwater. When people eat escargot, they are actually eating the land-dwelling variety. They're usually coked with garlic butter or white wine and are considered a delicacy.
13 Yuck, Franny! I don't know about eating snails...although I guess anything tastes good when cooked in butter and garlic!
From: Zoe | 9/13/11 at 6:41 am
Happy Tuesday F & S - NOT!!! Mom had me up at 5 she has to head out early for meetings. Once I'm finished here I'm back to bed.
So GK it appears you are the only one on a leash at the beach is it because you run away like a wild Chow??? I'm right with ya big guy I'm sure we would all run down the beach as well. F & S you sure do have a lot of shells on your beach. The kids in our family hunt for shells then they paint them all pretty colors. I'd rather chew them up, they have that wonderful salty taste
Well I'm going back to bed it's still dark out and I'm up - ughhhh.
Zoe
From: Maddox | 9/13/11 at 7:45 am
Hello girls,
Thank you for the info on all the different shells. GK, I am proud of you boy. You helped to look for shells. There is hope for you yet. Although I would not blame you for running all around on the beach. They left me run at Virginia Beach when I was there for some shows. My mom laughed her butt off cause there I was running down the beach with my handler Jan chasing after me, then I made a quick turn and ran up the beach with her hot on my heels. After she got tired chasing me, I laid down and pretended to be tired so she could "catch" me. It was a blast. They didn't even mind that they had to get all the wet sand out of my coat. My mom said it was like watching a little human boy running around in the sand having fun. Well, I am with Zoe, I was out at 5am because of Chino, a chow puppy that gets up every day at that time. So, I am going to take a nap too.
Later,
Maddox
From: Basil | 9/13/11 at 8:08 am
Hello Ladies & G.K.,
It is sure fun to see the ocean via you three. I will never see it in person, so this is the next best thing. You are so educated on the shells, I am amazed. Mama Martha should make you all dog dish frames of shells around your water dishes to remind you of the ocean in the long winter months. Dad got home last night from the big fishing adventure and now reality, 4:30 we're up and getting him back in the groove of the 10 hour days. I am tired. This going back to bed sounds good Zoe and Maddox. Have a great day all!
Love & licks,
Basil
From: Rebel & Sharon | 9/13/11 at 9:56 am
What fun!
I used to live in Florida on the gulf side. Poppy never took me to the beach though. We had sandy soil in the yard and a swimming pool.
It looks like so much fun on the beach! Maybe Mimi & Papa can take me to the Warren Dunes in Michigan. No shells to find, but lots of room to run!
I'm at work now, reading your notes is making me sleepy. I think I'll go lay on my bed now for my morning nap.
Have a great day all!
your pal Rebel
From: Sonya | 9/13/11 at 10:01 am
The beach in East Hampton looks so good. I wouldn't blame you all for taking off and enjoying the sand and surf. Hope MommyM got to enjoy the sand and shells with the three of you.
From: DDR & animallover jan | 9/13/11 at 10:46 am
Hi Girl Friends &G.K., The three of you look so happy out there on the beach at East Hampton! Sure wish I could be there with you running all over the beach and finding shells and smelling everything! You all three look so beautiful and so vibrant! I'm going to ask my Mom to take me out to the beach since we live quite close to Puget Sound and I wish you could come with me! I'm going to take a nap, too since we got up at 5AM, went outside to do my business and ate my breakfast already. Sure hope all of you have a delightful day today! Love, Dudley Do Right XOXOXO+
From: delia | 9/13/11 at 10:49 am
Great lesson on Bivalves! I love collecting shells, especially the tiny ones..every time we go on a Beach vacation I collect sand, shells, rocks, small drift wood, dried seaweed and beach jewels, then make a glass memory bowl.
I see G.K. still has to be on a leash...guess the trusted F&S are so well behaved and listen to mommy-martha...well it does takes time.
From: cora-bell, the cattle dog | 9/13/11 at 3:48 pm
..I live not too far from the Pacific ocean and Lucinda, James and I go beachcombing in the winter (you can drive on our beaches) and have found many basket ball size glasss floats..lots of mini glass floats and last year during the daylight, Lucinda found a HUGE glass float..just sitting on the tide line..people say there are no more Japanese glass floats in the ocean..wrong..James commercial fished for years here and king-crabbed in Alaska in the 1960's and 70's.. I would go anywhere on a boat with him!..who would guess he would retire and become a farmer/rancher!!..I am one lucky dog..oh..the baby kitty ferel is getting healthy as we speak..people dump cats and dogs at the end of our 4 mile drive-way..guess they know we don't turn anyone away...over and out , Cora-belle
From: Jack and Friends | 9/21/11 at 4:38 pm
Now the beach is definitely something we can relate to here in San Diego. What's not to love? The soft sand, the cool water, and lots of play time! Score!
http://readjacksblog.blogspot.com
From: Singapore Dog Hotel | 9/26/11 at 2:25 pm
Beautiful long long stretch of beach you have there. We bring our dogs to the beach in Singapore, which is near the airport and we can also look out for the planes which have just taken off (watch the video):
http://homestaydogs.blogspot.com/2011/09/free-fun-outings-singapore-dog-hotel.html