"Son, if you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now quiet! They're about to announce the lottery numbers." - Homer Simpson

I hate it when work interrupts my beach combing. It seriously hurts me to miss a good low tide or to hear about the shells rolling up on the new Redfish Pass sand bar and dang it...I have to go make a living. But I have my ways to circumvent the circumstances. It requires timing, mental toughness, & a St. Arbuck's Caramel Brulee Latte.

 As I lay in bed Sunday night listening to the wind howl all I could think about was -It's blowing NW. I'm checking my tide app and it is looking good for an early low tide. I was due to work at 8am...ratz! Not enough time to hit the beach before work. My work is 2 miles from Venice Beach - just over a bridge really - sooooo..... I skip eating lunch &  skeedaddle out to Venice Beach to take a peek at what the winds blew in.


Venice Beach Monday afternoon
A line of shells streched about 100 yards
See the Lion's Paw up front - it's my first
So many nice tulips
Scotch Bonnet, Lion's Paw, & ABC Cone
I love Horse Conch's
Lordy, it was cold. I had on a hooded sweatshirt over my nice dress shirt. Then I had my lined winter coat over that. I had to tie a scarf around my neck to keep my hood from filling with wind and blowing back. It was so cold my eyes were stinging - my nose was running but no pain no gain.  I didn't even bring a bucket because I was just going out to take a look.  I wasn't planning on filling every pocket in my coat & sweatshirt  with shells and coral.  I know it sounds crazy - no lunch - freezing cold - go back to work smelling like the beach with wet shoes. Some how, it just make perfect sense to me. 

More Junonia pieces

Comments

  1. Linda @ A La CarteDecember 13, 2010 at 9:45 PM

    No matter the wet, cold and smelly return to work...you are one lucky lady!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leo December 14, 2010 at 12:51 AM

    I can relate.I don't like it either when having to make a living gets in the way of beachcombing. This is a major haul you got though. What a productive lunch hour.

    Thank goodness for me - no shells on Miami Beach. Since I work on the water - I would never get anything accomplished!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Drawn to The SeaDecember 14, 2010 at 2:34 AM

    You lucky girl you. Love that hunk of coral... I too would brave the elements for such treasure.

    ReplyDelete
  4. rjerdeeDecember 14, 2010 at 6:28 AM

    Talk about shell-passionaate!!! To brave this crappy weather and come up with those shells is a miracle! Congrats!

    becky (at beachsnaps)

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownDecember 14, 2010 at 11:34 AM

    Wow, you are an impressive sheller! I get the bug, I get that . . . but when it's that cold, I have to suppress it and come here for my fix!

    ReplyDelete
  6. ShellbelleDecember 14, 2010 at 6:21 PM

    Nice haul, I know you love those orange scallops too! Here's my idea, get a good plaster cast of a Junonia and then mosaic all these pieces your finding onto. Voila! Seriously, you done good girl.

    Thanks for letting me go virtual shelling with you, while I sit here in my fleece jammies and with the heater going.

    ReplyDelete

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