“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” - Pastor William G.T. Shedd

(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)

"Spontaneous" is a scary word to some people.  The very thought of flying by the seat of their pants or working without a net breaks them into a cold sweat.  Of course on the  spontaneous meter of life there are two extremes.  The low end would be forgetting your shopping list and grocery shopping without one. Going a little higher up the meter would be the middle-aged woman that goes to the hairdresser for her regular highlights but impulsively decides to go wild & get  aqua blue streaks  instead (you know who you are).  Impetuous tattoos and impromptu  skinny dipping would be on the wilder end of the spontaneity meter. (Note - Adding alcohol of any kind especially tequila can definitely affect your spontaneity.  My sobriety has definitely put the kibosh on my impulsive outbreaks of karaoke. But I can still sing a mean Bonnie Raitt in the shower.)

  When life gets too daily you just have to do something unexpected & fun to shake things up! I fall in about the middle of the spontaneity meter. My friends would probably describe me as reasonably sensible but I have been known to do some crazy shelling.  Monday was one of those days. I had a small window of  free time, made a phone call & was on the road 20 minutes later with my wild spontaneous partners-in-shelling-crime driving 100 miles south to catch the late afternoon low tide on Little Hickory. 

 Go with the flow and ride with the tide.


(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)

Little Hickory is the north end of Bonita Beach on the SWFL coast.  At low tide the entire cove empties and leaves shells as far as the eye can see.







(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)

Almost the entire cove will uncovered as the tide lowers.


100's of starfish were stranded on the sandbar.  Momma Gee takes a closer look at  this huge 9-armed sea star.   If they sense a predator the starfish will drop an arm hoping the predator will take it & run.  They then start growing a replacement arm.


(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)
Wade-ster exploring the tidal pools with his net.

(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)
The colors of the dimming of the day looking towards Ft. Myers Beach with the lights of the dredge in the distance.  Beach renourishment has begun at Lover's Key State Park.
















Things are looking good.


(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)

A pile of pen shells washed in by last week's Tropical Storm Andrea is an indicator of treasure below.


(Photo Credit:  Momma Gee)

After a little excavating with my shell shovel we uncovered a shell pile left from the storm.  At high tide the pile would have been under 2-3 feet of water.

Taking a break to watch the glorious sunset.

Gee-man perusing the tidal pools.

Found this 16" Horse Conch on the sand bar about 50 yards off the beach.

















Intact jewel boxes with some spines not tumbled off by the rolling waves.














My prize - an albino fighting conch.



















Comments

  1. Great Post!!! See....all our spontanousnessssss.....Gave way to yet another great blog post. LOVED our time together.....I needed it...BIG time!

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  2. Beautiful, beautiful scenes. It looks like you had a wonderful day and a nice haul. I learned something new today about starfish.

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  3. Great photos! Albinio fighting conch...... Words can't grasp the air that I am trying to find in my lungs. (Note to self be more spontaneous.) Thanks for a great post. Capt. Brian

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  4. WOW Karen, what a nice haul. Love the Jewell boxes and the cool wormies. I look forward to seeing the horse conch cleaned up. Love low tide

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  5. What a joyful post! Love the little jewel boxes...have never seen anything like that ...just halves...and that albino conch? Wowzer. NEVER have seen anything like that! Do you ever upgrade your collections by tossing out the lesser ones once you find a better one of the same kind?

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  6. man oh man...do I love your posts!! and those sky images are awesome1 Tell me..what do you do with all the shells you find?
    Spontaneous?? me? hahahahaha....my middle name! My college roommate, who lives 3 hrs from me told me she was leaving for Perdido Key in the morning. Did I want to go? R you kidding me? I've packed my bag and will be doing a 10 hr drive TOMORROW to meet them on the beach for a week!!! My kids are all just shaking their heads!!

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  7. I was thinking about you today and hoping your summer was a good one. Sending you a bunch of hugs from a little ways north of you! Your buddy, Diane

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  8. Oh My Goodness!! You are still by FAR my favorite shell collector xo

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  9. Where are you??????????? miss your writing!

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  10. Hi Karen,
    I hope you're OK...health problems at your house?

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  11. ok. do we need to call in the troops and go lookin' for ya?????????

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  12. I still miss you, shell sista... Hope you're ok...

    xo ~ Jutta

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  13. I loved this post the photos are tremendous and the shells. Omg an albino and a gorgeous horse conch too much for words!
    I hope you are well and that the new year will be an awesome one for you!!!
    Miss you much. Hoping hubby and mom are doing well

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  14. Hi Karen, I haven't seen a post from you for ages. I hope you are doing well and that your loved ones are fine. I just wanted you to know you are missed! Hugs. xx

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