Keep close to nature's heart...

and break clear away,

once in a while,

and climb a mountain

or spend a week in the woods.

Wash your spirit clean. - John Muir

Comments

  1. JoyfulDecember 10, 2011 at 1:02 AM

    Those are beautiful words from John Muir and beautiful images to go along with them.

    I've always liked that phrase "wash your spirit clean"....and first heard in this Cherokee song by Walela - the English translation:

    Give away the things you don't need
    Let it all go and you'll soon see
    And you'll wash your spirit clean
    Wash your spirit clean
    Go and pray upon a mountain
    Go and pray beside the ocean
    And you'll wash your spirit clean
    Wash Your spirit clean
    Be grateful for the struggle
    Be thankful for the lessons
    And you'll wash your spirit clean
    And you'll wash your spirit clean

    ReplyDelete
  2. DellaDecember 10, 2011 at 1:07 AM

    Beautiful and inspiring.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sand and ShellsDecember 10, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Wonderful pictures, Karen!!! ...with a very special atmosphere... peaceful & beautiful. Have a nice weekend and take care!

    @Joyful ~ Thanks for sharing this Cherokee song!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Kim@Snug HarborDecember 10, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Beautiful photos! Very relaxing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. ~Lavender Dreamer~December 10, 2011 at 8:47 PM

    What a beautiful post! I need to slow down tomorrow! Happy holidays my friend! ♥♥♥

    ReplyDelete
  6. PammyDecember 11, 2011 at 6:44 AM

    Oh I love this post!!! It is such a feel good poem and the photos are perfect! Thanks so much for the inner beauty share :) <3

    ReplyDelete
  7. Suwannee RefugeeDecember 11, 2011 at 10:05 AM

    He'll remember those times forever. And when life gets too much he'll come back to those, if only in his mind.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Suwannee RefugeeDecember 11, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    BTW-I looked back on my blog and couldn't believe that I didn't have you listed as one of my Florida bloggers. Consider yourself in the Florida Blogger fold;)

    ReplyDelete
  9. ShellbelleDecember 12, 2011 at 9:01 AM

    Ahhh…life is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Tink *~*~*December 12, 2011 at 9:50 AM

    Beautiful quote - I need to remember that more often. Thanks :)

    *~*~*

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

40 Miles North of Shell Mountain

Image
Shell pile @ the North Jetty in Nokomis, Florida Has anyone been following  i Love Shelling blog?  Pam has been giving us the blow-by-blow of all the shells rolling in on Turner Beach a.k.a. Blind Pass.  For dedicated shell lovers the sight of that big honkin shell pile growing upward on Blind Pass makes you want to call in sick to work, grab your shell shovel, & head south or whatever  direction it may be for you to Sanibel.  For those of you that are a plane ride away in the cold & snow; looking at those shells has got to be painful & my heart does go out to you. I live 2 hours north of Sanibel via I-75 or about 40 miles as the crow flies.  I've sat at my computer for 3 days now looking, drooling,  enlarging the pictures, looking again at my work schedule.... ratz - I'm not off till Monday. Where I live in the Venice/Englewood area we have some spectacular beaches. Each has their own personality. Englewood's beaches are more...
Read more

May you always have a seashell in your pocket & sand between your toes

Image
Dr. Stephen Leatherman - His office is the beach (credit : www.solotravelgirl.com) When planning a destination that involves surf, sun, & sand thousands of  travelers  turn to the experts for advice. In this case "America's foremost beach expert" Dr. Beach.   Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman aka  Dr. Beach is a Professor and Director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research at Florida International University. He's a scientist.  Dr. Beach is a  really smart & really educated guy who has parlayed his passion for the outdoors into a super nice gig travelling the world & ranking the top beaches.  He announces his annual list of best beaches every Memorial Day weekend. This May 30 will be his 20th anniversary. Dr. Beach has developed a 50 point rating system that covers all aspects of a great beach from water clarity, sand softness, & the size of breaking waves to the smell, the amount of wildlife, & accessibility. Dr. Beach is as we s...
Read more

"I did not want to live out my life in the strenuous effort to hold a ghost world together. It was plain as the stars that time herself moved in grand tidal sweeps rather than the tick-tocks we suffocate within, and that I must reshape myself to fully inhabit the earth rather than dawdle in the sump of my foibles." — Jim Harrison (Julip)

Image
My poor shell bucket has been empty.  Shelling on the SWFL coast has been sort of flat the last few months. Good shelling requires a combination of things.  Tides, winds, moon phase all play a part. The biggest factor is location, location, location.  Sanibel is the shelling epicenter on the west coast of Florida with the best seismic shelling waves extending to Cayo Costa on the north and  south to Bonita Beach, Naples, & Marco Island. The really sweet shelling spots can only be reached by boat.  That's why I practically jumped for joy when shelling guide Capt. Brian Holaway of Captiva/Sanibel Island  invited me out for a shelling excursion next week.  Heading out in the month of May (his favorite month).  Capt. Brian likes the warmer temps & the clearer waters.He says "the water seems more alive with stingrays & tarpons cruising by, the sea grass is floating on the surface of the water, & the days are longer." (Credit: Capt. ...
Read more