And thus we take a break from rocks and stones.  It’s harder and crustier than one would expect from a sponge.  It’s probably not a sponge.  Related to coral?  Or the ubiquitous kelp?  I never did study marine biology, which is a popular college major around here (no surprise!)

It looks like the birds (the sandpipers, I suspect) inspected it, or did a dance around it, or pecked out whatever teensy creatures they found hiding inside.  Or maybe all three.  Their footprints give them away.  The strand of grass and other seaweed is nice punctuation.  I don’t arrange these shots, just take the photo as I find it, by the way…