Photography Prompt: Beach

Welcome to my weekly photography prompt meme! Each week, I’ll share a fun new prompt and post my own photos to go with it. Then it’s your turn—snap some pics, share your take, and tag the meme so we can all enjoy each other’s creativity! Let’s make something beautiful together!

This weeks prompt is... Beach!

Now I've only been to the actual beach once, every other time I've been to the "beach" was the lake. And I only took phone pictures. So here's my phone pictures of the beach!

(Also if you're a photographer who only uses your phone, no judgement! A photographer is someone who takes photos, I'm not gatekeeping. Most of my photography is just done on my camera)

Top Ten Tuesday: What the Twist!?

  

Top Ten is an original feature/weekly meme originally created by The Broke and the Bookish and is now hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl that features a great bookish top ten every week.

This week's TTT is a genre freebie. So I decided to post my favorite thriller books/movies with huge twists!

This was SO hard because A) That's like my favorite genre, books where you have no idea what's going on and then BAM huge twist. But also B) There is not actually a lot of twisty thriller movies??? And there really should be.

Books:

Movies:

ASL: Water, Ocean, Fish, Shark, Coral Reef

Today we're going to be learning how to sign water, ocean, fish, shark, and coral reef!

WATER

Handshape: "W" handshape (index, middle, and ring fingers up, thumb tucked, pinky down).

Location: Near the mouth/chin area.

Movement: Tap the index finger of the "W" handshape on your chin or side of your mouth 2–3 times.

Tip: Think of “water” touching your lips.

OCEAN

Two-part sign: Combine WATER + WAVE.

Sign WATER (as above).

Then, immediately move both open "5" hands (palms facing down) in a side-to-side wavy motion to represent waves rolling.

FISH

Handshape: Flat hand (like a "B" handshape).

Movement: Place your dominant hand sideways in front of you (palm facing left or right, fingers pointing forward).

Motion: Wiggle your hand back and forth at the wrist like a fish swimming.

Tip: It’s like your hand is a fish gliding through the water.

SHARK

Handshape: Flat hand ("B" handshape).

Movement: Place your flat hand vertically on your forehead, fingers pointing up, as if your hand is the shark fin.

Motion: Move your hand slightly forward in a small glide, representing a shark swimming with its dorsal fin showing.

Tip: Think of the fin cutting through the water.

CORAL REEF

(There’s no single standard sign — it’s a compound concept.)

CORAL: Often fingerspelled C-O-R-A-L or described using FISH + ROCK/PLANT depending on context.

Alternative descriptive sign: Use FISH, then show both hands (5-handshapes) wiggling fingers to mimic coral shapes.

REEF: Sign ROCK (dominant fist taps on the back of the non-dominant fist) to indicate a reef or structure.

Combined: You could sign FISH + ROCK + WIGGLING HANDS to describe “coral reef,” or simply fingerspell C-O-R-A-L R-E-E-F if clarity is needed.

Survival: Trapped at Sea

How to Survive if You’re Trapped at Sea

Imagine this: your boat capsizes or your plane goes down over the ocean, and you find yourself floating on open water. No land in sight. No one immediately coming to the rescue. It sounds like something out of a movie, but it happens — and knowing what to do can mean the difference between life and death.

Step 1: Stay Calm & Assess Your Situation

Panic is your worst enemy. Take a few deep breaths and evaluate what you have:

Are you injured? If so, address that first.

Do you have any floating supplies or debris? Grab anything that can hold water, offer shade, or be used for signaling.

Check for a life raft, life jacket, or any object that floats. Stay with the largest piece of debris if possible — it’s easier to spot from the air.

Step 2: SOS and Signaling for Rescue

Basic SOS:

SOS in Morse Code: ••• ––– ••• (3 short, 3 long, 3 short). You can tap it on metal, whistle it, or flash it with a mirror.

Ground/Sea Signals: If you’re on a life raft, arrange objects or clothing in a clear “V” or “HELP” pattern for visibility. If needing medical help make an "X".

Reflective Surfaces: Use mirrors, shiny metal, or even wet surfaces to reflect sunlight toward passing planes or ships.

Fire/Smoke (if near land): Thick, black smoke gets attention fast. Burn rubber or wet materials to create heavy smoke.

Step 3: Shelter at Sea

Shelter isn’t about building a hut — it’s about protecting yourself from sun, wind, and cold.

Sun Protection: Use tarps, shirts, or life jackets to make a simple canopy over your raft.

Stay Dry: Sitting in water for too long can lead to hypothermia, even in warm weather. Create a dry spot using anything that floats.

Night Warmth: Bundle up with any fabric or clothing you can find. If you’re with others, huddle for warmth.

Step 4: Water — Your Top Priority

You can survive weeks without food but only 3–4 days without water.

Collect Rainwater: Use tarps, plastic bags, bottles, or even your hands to collect rain.

Dew Collection: Lay out fabric at night to collect condensation. Wring it into a container in the morning.

Solar Still: Fill a container with saltwater. Cover it with plastic wrap, securing the edges. Place a small cup or container inside, under the center. Put a small rock or weight on the plastic directly above the container to create a dip. Let the sun heat the water — fresh water will condense on the plastic and drip into the cup.

NEVER drink seawater — it dehydrates you faster.

Step 5: Food — Fishing, Seaweed & Plankton

Fishing: Use any string, shoelace, or life jacket cords with a sharp object for a hook. Fish guts or small pieces of fish can act as bait.

Edible Seaweed: Safe seaweed is usually green, brown, or red. Avoid seaweed with slimy surfaces, black spots, or a foul odor. Wash it in fresh water (if available) or rinse with seawater.

Plankton: Look for small, translucent creatures floating near the surface. Scoop them with cloth or your shirt. They’re high in protein but should be consumed in small amounts if you have no fresh water.

Step 6: Treating Common Injuries

Cuts & Scrapes: Rinse with seawater (it’s not sterile, but it’s better than letting debris fester). Cover with clean cloth to avoid infection.

Sunburn: Use wet fabric for cooling. Cover exposed skin with clothing, seaweed, or mud if available.

Dehydration Symptoms: Dizziness, headaches, dry mouth — sip water slowly if you find it.

Hypothermia: Remove wet clothing if possible. Warm the body with any dry material or body heat.

Heat Stroke: Move into shade and dampen clothing with water to lower body temp.

Step 7: Keep Your Mind Busy

The ocean is as mentally challenging as it is physical.

Set small goals like “collect water” or “signal for 30 minutes.”

Sing, talk, or pray to keep morale up.

Focus on what you can control.

Realistic Survival Bag for Boats & Planes

If you ever plan a boat trip or fly over open water, keep a personal survival bag (small enough for carry-on or under-seat storage):

Waterproof matches/lighter

Compact signal mirror and whistle

Lightweight tarp or emergency blanket

Compact water filter straw (like LifeStraw- Won't take salt out)

2–3 sealed water pouches

Energy bars or high-calorie rations

Small fishing kit (hooks, line, weights)

Mini first-aid kit (bandages, antiseptic wipes, painkillers)

Duct tape (for repairs and improvising tools)

LED flashlight with extra batteries

Multi-tool or folding knife

Paracord bracelet (for string and tying shelter)

Glow sticks for nighttime signaling

Small waterproof notebook and pencil (for leaving messages or SOS notes)

Conclusion

Surviving at sea is about resourcefulness, calm thinking, and preparation. People can be found within 72 hours if they can stay visible, hydrated, and alive. Build a small survival kit, learn how to collect water, and never underestimate the power of staying calm.

Ocean: Morning Baskets

Here’s some items that I have in June's and Finn's ocean themed morning baskets!
What's a morning basket you ask?

A morning basket is a homeschooling or family learning tradition where you gather a collection of books, activities, or materials to start your day with intention, connection, and learning. Think of it like a soft launch into the school day—something that brings everyone together and sets the tone before diving into individual subjects.

June:

Because she's two we focus a lot on sorting, dexterity, puzzles, balance, matching, etc. 

Finn:

Last month we had a lot of interactive stuff in the morning basket. This month we have a bunch of books and a game.