It may be ancient. I am. Can you help me find an old science fiction story? [View all]

It was in paperback, I probably read it during the 60s or70s. Could have been any of the printed authors of that time. Could have been a short story or novel.

Part of my challenge is that I read. A lot. Far more than a normal human. I sometimes grab a whole handful from the used book store at a time, makes the pool rather large..and it is very difficult to remember back that far.

The story was about a woman who lived by the seashore, and she made her own solar panels from the sand. She had a creature, "the beast", I think she called it, who lived outside, protected her and her kid, I think.

It may have been a short story, or a paperback novel. I have been trying to recall it for some time. I don't have much from those years any more, too much traveling, so it is not among my collection.

Any ideas?