We just returned back from a wonderful week in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, with my parents. We walked the beach looking for sea shells and sea turtles. We found shells and we found a roped off area where sea turtle eggs were. The area was undisturbed so I do not think the eggs had hatched yet. But it was neat to see. We really would have loved to have seen the little turtles make their way to the sea, but alas we missed it. Apparently the best time to see the momma's come ashore is in June and July-at night of course.We learned that during this time it is illegal for the folks on the beach to have their back lights on. Especially if they light up the beach. This opens the sea turtles to prediators more than just moon light does.

 We also tried to see dolphin activity at sunset, but we never did. Although while we were looking my ds did find a hermit crab. And a nice man on the beach crabbing gave him a piece of chicken for the hermit to eat. The hermit held tight to that piece of chicken. We let the hermit go. We have enough animals at home without adding a hermit to the mix. But ds did enjoy the thrill of finding him.

If you get the chance to visit Edisto Beach do know there is very little there other than beach, fun, and sun. There is are a few resturants, a gas station, a Piggly Wiggly, and few other small store fronts. You do not go to Edisto to shop. You go to have beach time, family time, and relax and play in the waves. But if you must shop then Charleston is just an hour north and Savannah is just 2 hours south of Edisto.

We went to Charleston a few afternoons and found a nice thrift store for  shopping. We also found the flea market type place. They had several dealers of the Sweet Grass baskets. The Gullah Island Sweet Grass baskets are beautiful.The tradition with them is so interesting. Apparently you can tell from which area in Africa a family comes from by the way they make their baskets. This is because it is passed down by weavers to the next generation and the only thing that seems to change is the ornamentation used.But the style stays the same in the family. We met a lovely lady named Lilly who had a stand on the side of the road going to Edisto. Lilly and her daughter did some beautiful work with sweet grass. They had earrings, bracelets, hair boubles, and of course baskets of all shapes and sizes and uses. She said the distinct smell of the sweet grasses does not disappear. All you have to do is wet it and it will perk up the smell. And quess what, it is illegal to just walk up and pick sweet grass even it is growing wild. Who knew? These baskets are so well made that they have been know to last a hundred years. They apparently get better with age.

At the flea market I found a neat little store with Civil War items in it. I bought my son a musket ball from there along with some great books. I cannot wait to use them in American History, especially when we study the Civil War and our Nation's Flag. I bought books on it also.

We also walked along The Battery in Charleston. Talk about a view across the water. At one point along the wall there is a stone that marks in which direction you can see different forts. Fort Sumpter, Fort Moultrie, and few others. It is really neat. It was while walking The Battery we saw a sea turtle in the water. It was so cool. I was looking down at the water and all of a sudden there he was. Not very big, probably about 12-15 inches across. We were so excited to see him. He stayed just below the water so pictures of him did not come out well. We have seen them in aquariums but never in nature so that was a real treat for us.

You see my son is just in love with turtles. He seems almost drawn to them. So when we see one we get excited. We even have a pet turtle now named Snappie. No not a sea turtle just an everyday run of the mill turtle from the local lake. Some friends of ours caught him as a hatchling and gave him to us. Even then he liked to bite. Thus the name. But he is called a red-earred something or other turtle.

We meet a fellow homeschool family while at Edisto. They were visiting from North Carolina and us from Virginia. It was neat to meet "neighbors".

Well that is all the cool things that happen on our trip to Edisto Beach. I hope you enjoyed reading my little yarn about trip.

Have a great day.