TEB went to Sanibel and all she brought me was this awesome t-shirt.



Oh my goodness ya'll!  I felt so guilty about going to Sanibel today without you - well I just had to get you something.  Okay, at least one person will get something.  The island is gearing up for one big shelling party - Shellabration 2012 honors the  75th anniversary of The Sanibel Shell Fair & Show.  From February 17th through March 4th the Island will be shellabrating from ding to dong (or Darling) If you would like to join in by wearing a Shellabration 2012 t-shirt here's all you have to do:


-leave me a comment sharing which sea shell is your favorite.


-for a 2nd entry, turn a friend on to TEB.  Have them leave a comment telling me you sent them over.


I'll announce the winner of the Shellabration 2012 t-shirt on February 1, 2012.







This is what Blind Pass on Sanibel looks like  before sunrise.  My partner-in-shelling-crime this morning (very early morning) is my cousin  Beach Babe.  She's a farm girl from Ohio so she gets up with the chickens every morning anyhow. She didn't blink an eye when I told her I would pick her up at 3am for the 2 hour ride to Sanibel.  Armed with our flashlights we started our assault on the sandbars of Blind Pass at 5 am.
Beach Babe & I had already walked the entire perimeter when the late-comers started arriving at 6am. 
The headlamps & flashlights  started descending from the Sanibel side of the beach.
Beach Babe gets her first taste of a minus .08 low tide.  The out-going tide is carrying a myriad of shells swiftly past her feet.
The bridge connects Sanibel on the south to Captiva to the north. It's about a 100 yard walk across the bridge to see if they have better shelling on the Turner Beach side.
The beach wakes up.


This sky is the reward of pre-dawn beach combing.


Beautiful calm morning on the Sanibel side of the pass.


I'm standing on the sand bar facing  the jetty on Turner Beach (Captiva side of Blind Pass).  The sand bar crosses the entire pass.


The 8am shellers have shown up.  Some of them actually thought they got a jump on things.  The tide has already turned and is rising.


Armed with tools these shellers leave no part of the  sand bar unexamined.
Sorry Beach Babe... occupato.
But Wait!  There's more!


After we conquered the sand bars, it's on to the shell pile next to the jetty.  


Knees slightly bent - derriere  pointed skyward - Classic Sanibel Stoop.  On February 17th Shellabration 2012 will be on Bowman's Beach at 10 am to set a Guinness World Book of Records for the most shellers doing the Sanibel Stoop at one time.


See ya at the Stoop!



Comments

  1. Kim@Snug HarborJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:21 PM

    I would love that tee shirt. My favorite shell that I found is an alphabet cone, but my favorite shell that I want to find yet is a junonia.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DellaJanuary 24, 2012 at 2:35 AM

    I would love that shirt, too! My favorite shell that I have found is the Florida state shell...The Horse Conch. It's part of my new tattoo! I would also loooooove to find the elusive Junonia! I think we all want that one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. gpcJanuary 24, 2012 at 5:46 AM

    Sweet! I've always thought someone should feel guilty about going to Sanibel without me! My favorite is definitely the alphabet cone. I love my junonia and it was a thrill to find, but the alphabets still make my heart go pitter patter!

    ReplyDelete
  4. ~Lavender Dreamer~January 24, 2012 at 9:10 AM

    How fabulous! That looks like me bent over in that photo! lol My favorite shell in the WORLD is the Calico Scallop! I pick up every one I find! Love all the shades of lavender in each one! And how I would LOVE that t shirt...and a trip to Sanibel next month! (are you throwing one of those in, too? heehee!) What FUN! ♥

    ReplyDelete
  5. JaneJanuary 24, 2012 at 9:53 AM

    You know...I have never been shelling in the pre-dawn hours. (That's usually when I finally go to bed!)One of these days, I'm going to have to do this...maybe in Sanibel!!!

    My favorite shell is the calico scallop...I love the color variations! I also love the tiny cowrie shells I used to find in the flats around Ft. DeSoto.
    xoxo Jane (artfully graced)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KaybeJanuary 25, 2012 at 10:28 AM

      Honeymoon is great pre-dawn shelling but they only let the fisherman out there early.

      Delete
  6. jmacJanuary 24, 2012 at 12:54 PM

    O.M.G. First off....if I had ever found a shell the size that the babe found? Well,,suffice it to say I'd be thrilled!!! Secondly, I love the t-shirts for the celebration and I NEED one!!! where can we buy them? How I would love to get down there for this festival....I wanna do the stoop too!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. MoiraJanuary 25, 2012 at 12:38 AM

    I WILL love that t-shirt!!! (positive thoughts!) My fav shell is the kings crown. I soooo want to find a good one this May.
    Told my sister about your blog - I'm trying to turn her into a Sanibel lover!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. DonnaJanuary 25, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    Please enter me in your t-shirt drawing. My favorite shell is the Wentletrap. It looks like bone china. I only wish they were a bit larger.

    ReplyDelete
  9. DonnaJanuary 25, 2012 at 5:02 PM

    Sorry, I thought my name would show up... I'm Donna from Tulsa.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KaybeFebruary 4, 2012 at 3:47 PM

      Hi Donna, You won girlie!! Email me please and we'll get your Shellabration t-shirt to ya.

      Delete
  10. Sand and ShellsJanuary 26, 2012 at 9:15 AM

    Looks like such a fun day with your cousin... and tons of shells!!! You're a lucky one, Karen! Hope to meet you on my next FL vacation... take care!
    xo, Jutta

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2012 at 4:12 PM

    I have 3 favorite shells...the true tulip, the alphabet cone and the horse conch. Your pictures look like lots of fun. I have never been shelling in the dark before. We usually come during turtle nesting season and I don't have a filter for my flashlight. Happy shelling!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. KaybeJanuary 30, 2012 at 2:38 PM

      Would the person who left this comment cont me with your name & email please. @ AntKaybe@gmail.com

      Delete
  12. rjerdeeJanuary 27, 2012 at 11:45 AM

    Double awesome post!!!! I feel as if I've been on an overnight vaca.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Roxanne ReinhartJanuary 30, 2012 at 5:38 PM

    My favorite shell is the one that happens to be on the beach at the same time I am! :) The t-shirt is very cute!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Simone @ Doberman's by the SeaJanuary 31, 2012 at 1:11 AM

    Oh my! How I want to be there-I'm watching the snow plow drive by right now. I love all shells as long as I find them ! Cheers

    ReplyDelete

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