The Essential Beachcomber

Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the "Titanic" who waved off the dessert cart. -- Erma Louise Bombeck

2012-03-12T18:02:00.000-04:00

The Marco Island Shell Club held it's annual Shell Show on March 8 - 10 on Marco Island, Florida.

I am a super resourceful person. Whenever possible I like to kill two birds with one stone. I try to save gas by combining shopping trips instead of going to the store for just one item on sale. If I find a shirt or pair of pants that actually fit well & in a color I like I will buy several and stash them for later use. So you can imagine my ingenious sensibilities going on overdrive when I figured out I could combine a shelling trip to Marco Island with the Marco Island Shell fair. I had passed on the 75th Annual Sanibel Shell Show a few weeks back. The Sanibel Stoop Guinness World Book of Records had been enough shellabrating for me. I also wanted to check out a new shell show that I had never been to before. Marco Island is a 2 hour drive south from my home base camp.

The public beach access on Marco Island is limited with only two lots. The beaches are open to all - it's the parking that is a challenge. Tiger tail Park on the north end of the island is great shelling spot but you have to wade across a 200 foot wide/3 foot deep lagoon to get out to the beach. BTDT, so I drove to the south end parking lot where getting to the beach was just crossing a street not a lagoon. The south parking lot is $8 (for an hour or all day) and only has 70 parking spaces. If you arrive after 10am especially in the winter months be prepared to wait in a line of cars for a space to open up. We arrived at 9am and the lot was already 50% full. The beach is a short walk across the busy main drag but Marco Island has blinking cross-walks for pedestrians at every cross street with stop signs. Pedestrians are a priority on Marco Island. Early is the best bet for finding shells on the Marco Island beaches. The parking lots don't open until 8am and by that time all the early bird condo dwellers and hotel vacationers have walked the beach for all the bigger goody shells that rolled in over night. Low tide is a must on this beach. It has a short shelf line that even when the tide has turned to go high again the shell line is under water. All in all any beach with shells is a good beach.

After a bagel & another cup of coffee it was on to the shell show. I like to keep a blogger-low-profile at these events although I did have on my aqua blue t-shirt on which gets me some head turns and second glances as I am mistaken for that iLove Shelling.com gal. (Is that Pam from Sanibel over there?) LOL, I could have alot of fun with that little misidentification but I don't. They are always so disappointed when I tell them it's just little ole me. I do love to chit chat with others about their shelling adventures but usually if I let others do most of the talking sooner or later they will spill the beans on some local little known shelling spot. Not these folks. The shelling info vault was closed for business. Even when I asked point blank "Do you have any good shelling spots other than the public beaches?" I got no info I could use at all. On the other hand they had some really beautiful shell collections & shellcraft so I just had to settle for that. (ratz)

The length of the beach is lined with tall condos & hotels.

Jetties are always a great place to look for shells. They get trapped between the beach & the rocks as they wash up.

The shell line by the jetty. The weird looking thing to the right is the egg casing from a whelk.

Spring has sprung because there were egg casings everywhere. This one is square-shaped and belongs to a fig shell.

You can spot the iLove Shelling Caribbean blue a mile away on the SWFL beaches. Bill Geist (on left with Pam) interviewed blogger Pam of iLove Shelling.com at the Sanibel Shell Show. Check out this Sunday's program (hopefully) on CBS for the spot they did on the Shellabration.

The Marco Island Shell Show drew a nice crowd but I still had room to stop, look, & take pictures.

The Hobbyist Class are those who do not make money from the sale of their shells. The self-collected are my favorites because the tags usually have a more specific location which gives up some hints for good shelling spots.

Everybody loves Alphabet Cones.

This Hobbyist collection was the top right, bottom left, & bottom right in order of lightest shell color to darkest.

So you have a sentimental old bowling ball you can't let go of ? Of course! Cover it in shells.

I am seeing more & more shell whorls being used in the shell craft. The inside of the shell is just as lovely as the outside.

Shell pomanders are easy to make. The create an impact when displayed in quantity.

Angelic shells win a first place ribbon.

This monochromatic Cross is so elegant.

Jingle shells and wedding bells.

This shell artist had a ton of patience.

This miniature beach scene was amazing. Click on the picture to make it bigger.

The artist include a magnifying glass and an index as a guide.

It's all in the detail when it comes to shell craft.

By the time you have made one pass through the exhibits your senses are on shell over lode from all the beautiful shells & shell artistry.

What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) British poet and playwright.

2012-03-10T16:55:00.000-05:00

Stump Pass is located on the most southern end of Manasota Key.

The reason for calling it "Stump " Pass just eludes me.

The birds seem to like all the available perches.

The name choice just befuddles me.

There are lots of creative folks walking the beaches. Some people see driftwood - others see a beach hideaway.

Andre & Ray from DC planted one stick into the beach the day before & came back to find an entire sculpture has grown out of their small beginnings. They decided to keep coming back to check on the progress.

Add a few pillows - maybe a nice seating arrangement.

What's in a name? That which we call Stump Pass by any other name would still be one of my favorite places to be.

“A real friend is someone who takes a winter vacation on a sun-drenched beach and does not send a card.” --Farmer’s Almanac

2012-03-07T00:23:00.000-05:00

Tuesday on Manasota Key was a sheller's delight. The week-end NW winds had finally produced some shells.

The strong winds over the week-end had my hopes up for some shell action but as of late Sunday nothing was happening. Today was like any other week day for me - haircut at 11, bank errand in the next town over, wash truck, bank errand in my town, class at 3 and all it took was one phone call to bring it all to a screeching halt. My cell phone rings (well actually a guitar strums because there is no banjo on my ring selection) and it's my mom. "Your cousin just called and said you asked her to give you a heads up if there was a shell pile on the beach - well there is and she said you should get out there quick".

I don't know if I was happier about the shell pile or having a cousin that takes a good shell pile as seriously as I do but at any rate I mentally rearranged my afternoon schedule as I sat in the car while the car wash-thingy cleaned off the last of the grime still there from my Sanibel Shellabration trip 2 weeks ago. Between the beach grime & the recent tree pollens I could barely see out my car windows. As I motored out to Manasota Key the first beach parking lot was jam packed with cars. As I rounded the corner to park at Middle Beach it became apparent I was in for a bit of a walk. My usual spot on the front row was long gone. I finally found a parking spot four lots behind where I usually park.

I was dressed for bank errands not the beach but when the staple of your wardrobe is Columbia capri pants this is never a problem. It was a problem when I dropped my perfectly sweetened iced tea on the ground & now had nothing to drink on the hot beach. I stayed long enough to walk the sand bar. It was packed with spring breakers and snowbirds enjoying a brilliant beach day. The shell & shark tooth hunters were out in full force. I never did see my cousin on the beach and my thirst finally got the better of me. Later on at my last stop of the day I looked down at some white stuff ringing the edges of my brown capris - What the heck? I realized it was dried salt from where I had gotten smacked by a wave earlier on the beach. Just another day in paradise.

Manasota Key usually gets a nice shell line after a NW storm.

There are lots of sharks teeth mixed in with the shells.

This is what I call a Manasota Beach Starter Kit - sharks teeth, shells, fossils, & tumbled drift shells.

There was a lacy murex, an apple murex, & a nutmeg in the mix.

Wish you were here!

I could not help concluding this man had the most supreme pleasure while he was driven so fast and so smoothly by the sea (Capt James Cook).

2012-03-05T14:38:00.000-05:00

Sunday afternoon on Manasota Key was 60 degrees cool & a 30 mph wind blowing from the NW.

Never underestimate the power of large groups of young men in wet suits with surf boards. I was suprised anyone would brave the cold water & took all these fotos on my iPhone.

In SWFL when the surfs up - twitter is hopping. The word spreads via social media that the surf is cooking. There were surfers everywhere enjoying the decent waves.

It's still too rough & windy for shells or sharks teeth but there's always something to enjoy at the beach.

Gardening is cheaper than therapy and you get tomatoes. ~Author Unknown

2012-03-01T15:55:00.006-05:00

My garden is a conglomeration of plants & shells.

One thing I love about the little apartment complex where I live is that it reminds me of "old Florida". The landscaping is mature hibiscus, bougainvillea, & assorted palm trees. Instead of mulch they have landscaped the beds with crushed sea shell. Almost every resident on the bottom floor has a small garden space outside their screened-in patio door. The existing plants are never good enough for any of us. Each area has been customized to suit the taste of the frustrated green thumb who lives there. My little corner is full of my heirloom plants that I have been lugging around for 25 years. My garden is also the final destination for any big horse conch or whelk that is too beat up to use for anything else. So my garden is actually a seashell garden with lots of plants dispersed among it.

Being on the dog walking route of the complex, my garden get perused quite frequently by seashell admirers who have never seen such big empty shells. One lady liked it so much she created a facsimile in her front garden area. She started laying out all her shells as a beautiful ground covering except...hey hey hey - what's this! As I'm admiring her handiwork I notice she has a perfect lion's paw right in the middle of a bunch of traverse arks & calico scallops. That's like hanging a Dali painting next to a paint-by-numbers or parking a Harley-Davidson in the middle of a slew of Vespa mopeds. Huge faux pas.

I rescued the little beauty & explained to the Florida newcomer that this was no ordinary shell & she should put it where she keeps any other treasured item. I got the wide-eyed "really?" look but she complied and was very excited to have a special shell on her hands. I felt it was my duty to expand her shelling grid so we went on a field trip to Boca Grande.

Boca Grande is only 30 miles north up the coast from Sanibel so the beaches are very similar. My drive to Boca Grande is about 15 minutes give-or-take a few minutes for lolly gagging at garage sales & lookie looing at all the osprey, boats, & low-tide flats.

The water visibility was crystal clear.

I think the Boca Grande first-timer is happy with what she sees. My new shell sistah Lisa is also a renowned chicken artist. Check out Lisa'a folk art here.

What every new sheller loves to see - the big honking shell pile.

We dug around in this pile of shell treasures until our hands said enough.

Tip - Once on Boca Grande follow the road to South Beach Bar & Grill. and park in the paid lot just past the restaurant. Parking is $3.00 for the entire day . Follow the path out to the beach and head south (left) along the seawall to the broken pier that looks like Stonehenge. This is a great place for shells & fishing.

It's hard to believe it is a February day.

Making the planet a better place one shell (sheller) at a time.

“There is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost.” — Martha Graham

2012-02-27T17:52:00.000-05:00

What is it about a person that can look at a sandy beach

and
create a sculpture from the sand.

Start with a blank canvas

(Credit: www.blog.everythingwallart.com)

and take the vision of their mind's eye & paint it in a picture.

The creative genius in a person has always captivated me. I especially admire the artists that are daring enough to make a living at it. It has to be a be a God-given gift to look at a blank canvas, a slab of marble, or an cast-off piece of wood and create something even more beautiful out of it. Or maybe it's just the kid inside who never traded the wonder of his crayons & coloring books for the more mature things in life.

(Credit: www.ronniebo.com)

Artist
Jon Hatch
sees this

(www.jon-hatch-originals.com)

and
creates this.

The Hatch Gallery is located in in the Historic Placida Fishing Village. Jon Hatch is an artist who takes nature's cast offs and recycles them into one-of-a-kind driftwood art.

(Credit: www.jon-hatch-originals.com)

Click here to see more of Hatch's creations

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) it's always ourselves we find in the sea. - e.e. cummings

2012-02-22T18:49:00.000-05:00

(Credit: Beachcomber Simple Living Blog)

Sally Lee By the Sea is one of my daily stops in blogville. This seaside blog emanates all things beachy & coastal. Get your daily fix of ocean-going home dec, shopping, beach crafts, & travel all brought to you by mother/daughter team Marie & Liz. I love the print boxes they are featuring today as shell displays. In my own home I have re-used the print box/shadow boxes from my own childhood to display my best "keeper" shells on my living room wall. A coat of Caribbean blue spray paint gave them new life & is a nice tropical background to show off every shell & beach combing find.

My display changes with the ebb & flow of tides of new shells, give away's, & thrifting finds.

The pride of SWFL - junonias line the top (sadly, none of which I have found). Bobbers, old bottle bottom, & a shell belle made by my mom are all considered worthy of display in the box.

Sunrise tellin (originally from the Bahamas but via a garage sale to me) & little horse conchs (aka candy corn) from SWFL beaches.

Another GeeGee (my Mom) creation - little shell critter bird in the buttercup bath.

My replica Sanibel Lighthouse stands in front of a thrift store mirror. It all makes for a sweet display.

Heights by great men reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companions slept, they were toiling (Stooping) upward in the night. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (added TEB)

2012-02-19T20:42:00.000-05:00

On Friday February 17, 2012 - 700 Sanibel Stoopers set a Guinness World Record on Bowman's Beach - Sanibel Island, Florida.

Whether it's education, athletics, business, or hobbies; everything we pursue in life has it's pinnacle of success. Runners have the Boston Marathon, world leaders have the Nobel Prize, B-level celebrities have Dancing with the Stars. I'm not a very competitive person. The only award I ever won as a kid was 2nd place in a 50 yard dash when I was 10. In high school I kept a pretty low profile. As an adult I have been pretty satisfied to keep my hobbies & interests on a casual level except for beach combing.

Shells are my passion. Finding them, learning about them, making things with them, & collecting more of them has been a pursuit of mine for many years. There are awards in shelling - that's what shell shows are for. Unfortunately, my mermaid mosiac was 5 inches too wide to enter into the Sanibel Shell Show. My dream of winning a Sanibel Shell Show award ribbon was dashed. There are other shows but my heart was set on the creme de la creme. What I lack in competative spirit I make up for in flexibility & resilience. The opportunity to be a Guinness World Record holder called & I answered "Heck Yeah!". I was to join 700 other passionate shell lovers doing our official stance known as the Sanibel Stoop. But why wait for 10am Friday morning when there is a minus .07 low tide at 3am?

Enter my partner-in-shelling crime Shellbelle. You would've thought we were a couple of 12 year old kids who couldn't sleep the night before a Disney World trip. Why wait? We left Englewood at 10pm Thursday night & pulled into Blind Pass on Sanibel Island at midnight. After spending an hour or so on the sand bar & shell pile we headed over to Bowman's Beach hoping there wasn't a locked gate closing off the parking area. There wasn't and we took the first parking spot right up front. We wheeled our beach carts the 1,000 yards out to the pitch dark beach crossing 2 small foot bridges & a long sandy path. Setting up our little (not a camp site because that is highly illegal) area with our chairs, lantern, & tarp on the ground we proceeded to drink hot coffee from one of the 3 thermoses we brought and deciding which way to go on the beach- right or left. We wiled away the wee hours of the pre-dawn morning shelling both directions, listening to the birds, watching the moon, stars, & finally the sun rise.

As the morning progressed a steady stream of Sanibel Stoopers started filing on to the beach. Shellbelle & I had not pre-registered so we made our way up the beach to stand in a humungous line to register & get our names officially in the record books. It all got a little too hot, claustrophobic, & chaotic in the staging area for our sleep deprived sensibilities. The organizers were trying their best to instruct the Stoopers & keep confusion to a minimum but it was tantamount to herding cats. Shellbelle & I left the line & walked back to our little not-a-campsite. Who needed their name in the Guinnuss World Book of Records anyhow? Well, I do! That's who. I came to play! Leaving Shellbelle to enjoy the beach I scrambled back to get in line. After getting my name offically on the Guinness list I stood in another line with all the other 700 Stoopers because Guinness rules dictated that all participants had to enter the record setting area at one time. It was all over in 30 minutes. We stood up straight from our "hiney's hovering" position to wave wildly to the helicopter taking our picures over head. So this is what it feels like to be a World Record Holder.... sweet. I promised Shellbelle my new title wouldn't change things between us. I'd stay the same simple humble beach comber that she had always known & loved.

Champions are willing to pay the price to be at the top of their chosen endeavor. In our case it was dark, dewy, & cold but we enjoyed a wonderful low tide on Bowman's Beach.

The Wonder Wheeler beach cart makes not camping on the beach so easy.

As the sky lightens up the early bird beach combers start to arrive.

Bowman's Beach at sunrise. Our Sanibel Stoop trip was blessed with nice weather & no rain.

The lines were long but needed. When setting a Guinness Record there are lots of rules that have to be followed . All participants had to sign in & sign out after the event for their presence to count.

Every record setting event needs an official t-shirt.

Shell sistah Pam from iLove Shelling.com patiently waiting in line.

Heading to the record setting spot

Bloggers are always taking pictures. That's the back of Capt. Brian Holaway's head & Pam.

Getting ready to assume the position.

We get last minute instructions & are told the helicopter is on it's way.

One, two, three, STOOP!

And hold that Stoop for 30 seconds to insure we don't get disqualified for any non-stoopers (also know as Stoopid)

Blogger Capt. Brian of CB's Observation's on the Water snapping some fotos from down under.

Looks like a massage table or an on-site Chiropractor would have been a good idea.

Are we done?

The helicopter takes a victory lap around the jubliant World Record holding Sanibel Stoopers.

A good blogger has an eye for the photo op & this stooper in a caution vest was irresistible.

Pam is great at chatting it up & getting all the details.

What a fun day & great blogger friends to share it with. (L-R) Me, Capt. Brian, & Shellbelle

A Guinness World Record & a big honkin junonia... my work is done here.

2012-02-18T08:55:00.002-05:00

Friday morning sunrise on Bowman's Beach.

2012-02-17T11:36:00.001-05:00

This line is heading for the beach to set the world record.

2012-02-17T07:39:00.001-05:00

Sunrise on Sanibel. Shellbelle found a hunk of junonia.

2012-02-17T06:37:00.001-05:00

Good morning from Bowman's Beach on Sanibel.

Let the Shellabration begin!!

2012-02-16T14:10:00.001-05:00

The truck is gassed up, my gear is packed, & all I'm waiting on is for my shell sistah Shellbelle to arrive. We are headed south to Sanibel to be a part of the group of Sanibel Stoopers going after a new world record for the most shellers on a beach doing the Sanibel Stoop at one time. I'm going to attempt to do some mobile blogging throughout the day for those of you that won't be with us :(

You'll be missed but be assured Shellbelle & I are committed to the cause - Making the Planet a Better Place One Shell At A Time!

Cute cartoon that only beach combers understand from the Boca Grande Beacon newspaper.

Night, the beloved. Night, when words fade and things come alive. When the destructive analysis of day is done, and all that is truly important becomes whole and sound again. When man reassembles his fragmentary self and grows with the calm of a tree. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

2012-02-10T18:52:00.003-05:00

(Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/asimgoheer/468025798)

I love the sounds of the night. My best thinking, mulling over, & creative processing is done at night. Over the years I have tried & tried to adjust my body clock to being a morning person. Truthfully, there just isn't enough coffee on the planet to make it happen. My most recent job required me to be at work at 6am which meant I had to get up at 4am to ensure I was showered & ready for work. It was a painful experience. (the job & the getting up early) I'm just one of those people that comes alive after dark.

I discovered night time shelling out of necessity. I worked all day & by the time I finished my domestic duties at home - well it was dark. One night there was an especially low tide at 10pm. I hadn't been shelling in forever because my daylight hours were being dedicated to earning a living & wifely chores. The hubby had already watched CSI & was sleeping in his chair. Dude, I'm out of here. As I pulled up to an empty parking lot on the beach, two night time shelling benefits became immediately apparent - a parking spot right up front & no parking fees after sunset...woo hoo! As I walked onto the pitch dark beach I stopped a moment to let my eyes get adjusted to the dark. The stars seemed to pop out of the sky. The sound of the waves breaking was louder at night. Even an occasional bird cry punctuated the night time quiet on the beach. My flashlight got a bead on the shell line & I realized another benefit of night time shelling. I had the entire shell line to myself...another woo hoo!

So I've been hooked ever since. I know it sounds crazy to folks that are used to doing everything on the beach in the daytime. (Yet another benefit of night time shelling - you don't have to wear sunblock at night) Shelling at night or in the early morning challenges all your senses. Things look different in the dark or by flashlight. Everything gets very surreal. My buddy Momma Gee & I were on Gasparilla Island last night laying on the sand stargazing while her boys Brother Dubya & Brother Gee were exploring the low tide line. At one point it felt like we were up-side-down hanging from the earth & we were falling into a sea of stars. We could hear the boys further down the beach calling us to look at some dead fish they had found (reality check). Walking down the dark beach towards the sound of their voices our path was suddenly lit up by a huge full moon rising from the east. My heart spoke quietly "I will always do this". Yup, I will.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Having a good flashlight is a must. We follow each other by our beams as we slowly explore our way up the beach.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Bro. Gee loves his net. He scoops up fish, shells, & marine oddities to take a closer look.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
The tide was especially low & the visibility was pretty clear .

(Credit: Momma Gee)
I am the official treasure inspector. Cries of "Ms. Karen, Come look" are music to my ears.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Bro. Dubya found a dried-up red fish left behind by a recent algae bloom of red tide.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
The red fish have a set of teeth set back in their mouth for grabbing small bait fish.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Red fish teeth are a cool find.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
We found lots of sharks teeth in the shell crush too.

(Credit: Bro. Dubya)
Stargazing on the beach.

(Credit: Bro. Dubya)
We are laughing because the sudden burst of light from the flash almost blinded us.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Lots of interesting things to look at around the rocks.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Momma Gee's hobby is photography.
You can see more of her fotos at her blog Life As I See It.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
The moon is peeking out from behind the sand dunes.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Night beach combing is all about reflections. The moon across the old Boca Grande railroad trestle.

“I have the world's largest collection of seashells. I keep it on all the beaches of the world... perhaps you've seen it.” Stephen Wright

2012-02-07T00:29:00.000-05:00

Are you ready for some shell shows!

There are times when I am shelling on the beach that I have actually gotten dizzy. The waves going in & out, birds buzzing overhead, and bending up & down to inspect the wrack line can all contribute to a spinning of the senses that warrant a quick sit down on the sand. But that pales in comparison to the sensory overload you will experience at a shell show. Usually sponsored by the local shell club, a shell show is a gathering of shell enthusiasts of all kinds - the artists, the serious scientific collector, & the aficionado. There are shell flowers, shell mirrors, shells for sale, t-shirts with shells printed on them, shell exhibits, shell collections, & the nobility of the shell craft - the sailor's valentine.

From the moment you enter the venue your senses are assailed with color of the shells everywhere, the movement of the crowds, the loud din of voices calling to one another to "Get over here you got to see this!", flashes from 100's of digital cameras, & the slight smell of low tide in the air. It's about as much fun as a shell lover can have for a tank of gas & $3.00 admission fee. If you are anywhere close to SWFL there are some really fun shows coming up. If you've never been try to make it to at least one. You'll have a blast.

SARASOTA SHELL SHOW
February 17 -19, 2012

ST. PETE SHELL SHOW
February 25 -26, 2012

75th ANNUAL SANIBEL SHELL FAIR & SHOW
March 1 - 3, 2012

MARCO ISLAND SHELL SHOW
March 8 - 10,2012

2 bits - 4 bits - 6 bits - a dollar. All for Shelling stand up & holler! (again)

2012-02-04T13:47:00.001-05:00

I am re-posting from last year's Superbowl Sunday. I still have no interest in the game but I am pretty excited about the food being cooked & the commercials. Hope you have a great Sunday.

(originally posted February 7, 2011)
Usually Superbowl is a big deal around our house. The Hubbs is a real football fanatic but mainly for his college team - the Florida Gators. Our first real date was 31 years ago on Superbowl Sunday. My dad was a football coach so I know my way around the football field. My date was impressed or probably relieved that he could watch a football game with a female and not have to explain everything that was going on. The rest is history.

I can't really get too excited abut the Superbowl this year. I have no vested interest in either team. At least that was my excuse for ditching the pre-game festivities and heading to Sanibel early this morning. Actually football and shelling have some similarities.

The horse conch I found was as big as a football

Standing on the sandbar at Blind Pass with the tide rushing in; I just happened to look down and saw this football-sized horse conch and nobody was home. The dance I did on the sandbar definitely looked as good as any touchdown dance I've ever seen. So in the words of any good coach "when the going gets tough, the tough go shelling".

The sand bar is about the size of a football field. There are plenty of shells for everyone

Shelling can be a team sport with matching jerseys. (Team i Love Shelling)

Shellers suit up for the game with our own particular brands of equipment. Judy is an industrial engineer. She pitched me an idea she has for aqua shoes that are ankle high so the shells don't get stuck inside the shoes.

My goal line. Facing the Blind Pass Jetty

Facing the Sanibel side

That's the home team in the end zone.

Oh Come On! Laying on a board is not a sport. Shelling is a total spirit-mind-body work out.

To the victor go the spoils

Arcinella cornuta
Conrad, 1866
Florida spiny jewelbox

(left to right) alphabet cone, true tulip, banded tulip, nutmeg

Cancellaria reticulata
(Linnaeus, 1767)
Nutmeg

Eurytellina lineata
(Turton, 1819)
Rose petal tellin

You win some - you lose some but any piece of junonia is a winner.

Stump Pass Beach's Bluster of Black Skimmers

2012-02-01T22:57:00.000-05:00

A sandbar, or shoal, is essentially a sand dune that is partially or completely submerged under water. Because of the current of the water, sediment, sand and soil builds up into the mounds that form sandbars. They are a wonderful place to land a kayak & go exploring.

A few years back a friend offered to lend me her kayak that she was unable to use. It was just sitting in her yard gathering moss & being covered by pine needles. Of course I had seen many people kayaking on the bay as I drove out to the beach. It looked easy enough & the gear required was minimal (& all included with the loan) I watched a few YouTube videos on paddling techniques & what to do if I flip upside down. The kayak is a sit-on-top so the flipping wasn't going to be an issue. I would be ejected into the deep dark ocean before I was trapped underneath. I skipped the video tutorials on dealing with sharks. I didn't need those images bouncing around in my head.

I now have lots of paddling experience under my belt. I've seen a few sharks and also dolphins playing, manatees eating sea grass, squillions of fish schooling beneath the mangrove roots, Ospreys nesting, & huge fighting conchs & lightning whelks making their way through the grassy bottoms. Paddling for distance is not my thing. I am a drifter. Staying close to the mangroves on the bay I meander over this way, then drift back over that way taking in the sights and sounds of bay full of life.

The snow birds are here - the feathered kind. The bird hotel on Stump Pass is a busy place this Florida winter. Click on the picture to make it full size.

Looking to the south across the sand bar is Knight's Island.

Mangroves not only help prevent beach erosion, they provide a safe place for fish hatchlings to grow up and be big fish.

The Osprey's start nesting in January in SWFL.

Black Skimmers are the penguin of the shore bird family. They look like they have little tux's on.

If you haven't had your fill of birds & the beach - head over to my shell sistah Pam @ iLove Shelling for her post today Sanibel's Blizzard of Birds.

Donna from Tulsa - Come on down!

2012-02-01T00:01:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Donna of Tulsa!
Winner of the Shellabration 2012
t-shirt. Woo Hoo!!

Thank you kindly to all the nice people who left comments.

Donna, Email me ~ AntKaybe@gmail.com and we'll firm up the particulars.

My Island

2012-01-30T14:08:00.000-05:00

When you arise in the morning,

(Credit: Capt. Brian Holaway)

think about what a precious privilege it is to be alive

(Credit: Capt. Brian Holaway)

to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. - Marcus Aurelius

(Credit: Capt. Brian Holaway)

You still have time to enter the giveaway for a Shellabration 2012 t-shirt. Click here to read the post & enter before the winner is picked on 2/1/12.

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

2012-01-23T21:35:00.000-05:00

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!

We die daily. Happy those who daily come to life as well. ~George MacDonald

2012-01-21T00:57:00.000-05:00

This is Monday's tide chart for Sanibel Island. Notice the big dip at 6am. That is a minus .08 low tide which translated into beachcomber language = Hotdigity dawg! I'm on my way to Sanibel!

I'll set my alarm for 3am. After I hit the road & drink one of these, I'll be in Sanibel in 1 1/2 hours.

I'll be there in time to see this.

(Credit: http://www.foreverwherever.com)
And find some of these.

(Credit: http://www.cafepress.com/sanibelslacker.503030918)

Woo Hoo!

Revisiting Tigertail

2012-01-18T17:22:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite places to go shelling on the planet is Tigertail Beach on Marco Island in South Florida. Tigertail is not for the casual beachcomber. There is a 50 yard wide, 3 foot deep lagoon to be crossed to get to the beach. The good shells are at the north end of the beach which is another 2 mile walk out & 2 miles back. No concession stands, no potties, no kidding. My shelling buddy last year was my niece Schweckie. We had an amazing time & would have liked to have gone again with Schweckie this year but she's been a little busy being a new mommy. I'm re-posting my visit from last year & am hoping I will have new pictures soon if I can get the tides & the temperature to cooperate.

(Originally posted January 19, 2011)

The shells stretch for miles on Tigertail Beach

As an avid sheller I have a bucket list of places I would like to visit. Some of my shelling dreams like Costa Rica or Belize will require some planning but closer to home I can now cross Marco Island off my bucket list of places to go shelling.

The shelling epicenter of Florida is Sanibel Island. One of the fault lines runs about about 40 miles south to Marco Island. Tuesday morning about 4am I loaded up the truck and my niece Shweekie & I headed to Tigertail Beach on Marco Island.

We intentionally arrived on Marco Island before dawn to go shelling on the beach with our flashlights. It was an early minus 1.10 foot low tide. That is a good thing for those of you that don't know. What we discovered is that there are 2 beaches open to the public on Marco Island but parking is limited. You can frequent any beach you like after they open the gates at 8am. Until the park opens there is no where to park unless you stay in a hotel or risk a pricey parking ticket.

The nice lady at the 7/11 let me park in their lot. We walked across the road to the Hilton which is smack dab on the beach. Back in the day I had a knack for sneaking into hotel pools on Clearwater Beach so I have some skills. No go. No way to sneak through to the beach anywhere. Dang elitist condo owners with their fences.

We drove to the north end of Marco Island to Tigertail Beach which to my surprise had opened the entrance gate early. I stopped at the parking meter and paid my $8.00 for the entire days parking and got the first spot in the parking lot. We loaded up my new beach cart for her maiden voyage and off Shweekie & I went to experience the joys of Marco Island shelling.

I love my new beach cart

I knew from my online scouting of Tigertail Beach that before you got to the beach there is a little lagoon that has to be crossed. So we made a final pitstop at the facilities because there are no potties on the beach and headed for the lagoon. After donning our aqua shoes and securing our gear in the beach cart Shweekie got the front of the cart and I got the back and we hoisted that baby over our heads and started the 100 foot slog through the muddy lagoon. The water was cold and we were laughing. Surely this amount of effort will be rewarded.

Following the buoys will keep you in about 3 feet of water

Perfect way to start a good shelling day with a stunningly beautiful sunrise

The sunrise has the beach glowing pink

So over the lagoon and through the woods to Tigertail Beach we go. It is worth the effort to get out there. The beach is about as good as it gets with pearly white sand and long expanse of beach running north & south. We stood catching our breath and scoping out the terrain to decide which way to go. The vote was unanimous to head north. Of course we immediately started looking down for shells. There was a smattering of shells here & there but not the shell mountains I had envisioned.

Shweekie attacking her first shell pile of the day

As Shweekie dug through a piddly shell pile I looked along the surf line. Lots of common arks & cockles - all pretty shells but where are the goodies? I noticed a couple walking past that were obviously serious shellers - at least they were decked out with the net and bags of people who have shelled before. They were not looking down but walking fast toward the north end of the beach. OK, we're following them. And that's where the shells were. 2 miles at the very north of Tigertail is where we finally ended up and we were not disappointed.

Low tide at it's finest

Lots of sand dollars to be found and whelks too.

Using her Susick Sea Shell Sifter - the official sifter of all Shell Sistahs

The sweet smile of a great shelling day

Sea Stars were everywhere

The prize of the day - Rose Petal Tellin - I found a dozen

It was a long walk out and back - about 4 miles total but Tigertail is all that and a bag of shells. The walk although long was filled with beautiful scenery full of sea birds of every kind, the lagoon to one side and the beautiful gulf the the other, & and lots of native Florida plant life.

Shells do grow on trees at Tigertail Beach

The lagoon side is a bird sanctuary

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in. ~George Washington Carver

2012-01-15T17:15:00.001-05:00

My last post showed pictures of a before-sunrise beach walk on Boca Grande. This is the other half of my beach walk on the southern tip of Gasparilla State Park which is located on the island of Boca Grande. Known for it's pristine beaches, historic resorts, & the world's biggest Tarpon tournament, I'm fortunate to have this paradise 15 minutes from where I live. When I can't drive the 2 hours south to Sanibel Island, Boca Grande is the next best thing.

The Lighthouse is home to a collection of Boca Grande history. The building to the right is where the park ranger lives - lucky guy!

The port of Boca Grande was established in the 1880's to support the local phosphate industry. The remains of the port make a great sea bird sanctuary.

I'd live there if I was a bird. The old phosphate dock serves a useful re-purpose for the local bird population.

Looking south across the channel is where all the big Tarpon tournaments take place.

My favorite thing about early morning beach walks is the birdsong. Listening to the beach wake up is an amazing sound.

On the beach I hear an Osprey crying out. He/she is right above my head.

Ospreys start nesting on Boca Grande in January. This bird has a prime spot at the edge of the pass.

Built in 1890 the Boca Grande Lighthouse has been restored and sits on one of the 3 public beaches that make up Gasparilla State Park.

Sunrise to the East and Moonset to the West on Boca Grande

2012-01-10T13:05:00.000-05:00

Finish every day and be done with it.

You have done what you could.

Some blunders and absurdities no doubt have crept in; Forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This day is all that is good and fair.

It is too dear, with it's hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on yesterdays. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Oh the Sanibel Stoop & the Sanibel Shuffle - Can he pack all his loot in his old Army duffle?" - from a poem by M. H. Greenberg

2012-01-06T00:46:00.004-05:00

(Credit: TMac Ohio from Flickr.com)

There's even a name for the bent over posture of the people who you see walking on the beach looking for treasures: The Sanibel Stoop.

You might have noticed the new button I added on the sidebar promoting Shellabration 2012 happening on Sanibel Island February 26 - March 4. The height of the Sanibel social shelling season is the Sanibel Shell Show & Fair which will be held March 1st - 3rd this year. The Shellabration is week long celebration of all things invertebrate & mollusky. There will be special events from one end of the island to the other. But one special event is seeking to immortalize the iconic stance of bending over on the beach to inspect the shells more closely and pick them up - THE SANIBEL STOOP.

On February 17 at 10 am on Bowman's Beach will be the gathering place for 208 plus shellabrators looking to set a Guinness Book of World Records for the most people doing the Sanibel Stoop in one place at one time. There is lots of good info in the Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club's December 2011 newsletter rightly named The Junonia.

So if you are an amateur shellabrator or a more serious collector with a few shells under your belt (or in your bucket) it's going to be lots of fun. I finally went to my first Sanibel Shell Show last year. Can you believe I had never been? Sanibel is a 2 hour drive from my front door. I pop down to the island a few times a month. (I wish I had a way of tax-deducting my tolls, parking, & gas.) It's a magical place for beach combers and I am really looking forward to shellabrating with other shell lovers.

(Credit: Florida Dept. of Tourism)
Shell lovers demonstrating the "Sit & Sift" method of shelling at Blind Pass on Sanibel-Captiva. I recommend a cushion, knee pads, & a hand rake to expedite the process & keep the pain to a bare minimum.

(Credit: Fotobug on www.eons.com)
On Englewood Beach where Sharks teeth are the beach treasure du Jour, it is called the sharks tooth squat.

Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee. Montaigne

2012-01-03T22:46:00.003-05:00

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans across Florida's Tampa Bay, with a cable-stayed main span and a length of 29,040 feet; exactly 5.5 miles. Its part of I-275 and US 19, which connects St. Petersburg in Pinellas County and Terra Ceia in Manatee County, and passes through Hillsborough County waters.

We all have highways & by-ways that we travel on a consistant basis. No need for maps or GPS. All the landmarks and exits are all too familiar from years of back & forth. That's how I am with I-75 & I-275 in Florida. I have navigated them for so many years that I can put myself on auto-pilot and end up wherever I am heading north or south. These days I travel north to St. Petersburg to the Bay Pines VA Hospital where the Hubbs has all his doctor appointments. I know exactly how long it will take us to get there at any given time of day barring any unforeseeable circumstances.

Crossing the Sunshine Skyway is a spectacular drive. The views of the Skyway Channel & Tampa Bay grow panoramic as your vehicle reaches the 431 feet at the peak of the top span. There are birds and boats and people fishing and Kite surfers and cruise ships and barges and lets just say you must keep your eyes on the road. I remember teaching my niece Pookie to drive when she was 16. The Skyway was our first big highway drive together. She did fine as I watched her hands turn white from gripping the steering wheel all the way over the top span. I on the other hand put a good show of support for her but was happy I did not have the panic attack I so desperately wanted to have.

So today, as Hubby & I crossed the Sunshine Skyway I was my usual on-a-mission self to get him to the VA on time. The tide on the Skyway was the lowest I've ever seen and you know how I love low tide. There were sandbars as far as the eye could see. Lets see, stop & walk on the sand bar or get Hubby to his nuclear stress test on time? Ratz! I hate being a responsible adult. But, 9 hours later on our way home the doggone tide was still way out. I felt a potty stop was in order at the south side rest area. My sweetheart took a little time out in the truck catching up on emails while crazy me donned 2 coats & my scarf to walk out on the sand bar in 40 degree blustery winds. Beach combing is about "the moment". You have to be ready to grab an opportunity when one presents itself. I climbed over the rail, down the rocks, and slogged through the muck and it was awesome!

For a beach comber mucky bottom sand uncovered by the low tide is too tempting to pass up. Who knows what shells might be out there.

The winter tides are the lowest as seen on Tampa Bay at the Skyway Channel today.

I am about 100 yards out facing the rest stop. I've never seen the tide out this far.

I found out that this is the destination of quite a few shelling clubs in the area. Sand bars are a fun place to explore because the majority of what you find is alive.

There were lots sunray venus clams & lightening whelks. The live shells always stay to make new shells and it is against the law to take live shells.

This family was so fun to watch while they explored the beach. Some of my best vacation memories are impromptu rest stop exploring with my family.

"A lot of people like snow. I find it to be an unnecessary freezing of water." - Carl Reiner

2012-01-02T18:38:00.003-05:00

I keep a tub full of old sheets & clothespins to protect our plants from any threats of hard frost.

BOO! Are those ghosts in my garden? No. This is our normal protocol in SWFL when the mercury drops below 40 degrees. I know that sympathy comments for my plight will not be pouring in. It will be more like weather poker - I'll see your 37 degrees and raise you 3 feet of snow & 5 below with the wind chill factor. That's how it goes in paradise. Last week I was on the beach in shorts. Today I wore a heavy fleece jacket to walk on the beach & see what the NW winds had blown in.

One good thing about the colder NW winds blowing - these are the kind of goodies they blow in.

Oh, the places I've been in 2011

2011-12-28T14:52:00.004-05:00

Oh, the places I've been in 2011. Places in my work life. Places in my marriage, family, & friends. Places logistically. Places in my head & in my heart.

"Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away! "

I traveled more than I ever have reconnecting with family & old friends.

"You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights."

2011 was a fun year for shelling.

"You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be the best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest."

With Family & Blogger Friends

i Love Shelling

Snug Harbor Bay

Capt. Brian's Observations on the Water

Shedding the Wolf

(Credit: www.AbbeyStyle.blogspot.com)
Abbey Style Home

Shellbelle's Tiki Hut

I saw sunrises on Sanibel

and Sunsets on Manasota Key.

"You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked.
A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?"

I finished a project.

Schwekie finished a project too.

"You'll get mixed up, of course,

as you already know.

You'll get mixed up

with many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

and remember that Life's

a Great Balancing Act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...

be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!" - Dr. Seuss

What are we waiting for? Wishing for you that 2012 will be your best year ever!

Great little One! whose all-embracing birth Lifts Earth to Heaven, stoops Heaven to Earth. ~Richard Crashaw

2011-12-25T03:40:00.000-05:00

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

(Matthew 1:23 quoting from Isaiah 7:14)

This precious Nativity was a gift from my parents. My birthday falls shortly after Christmas and this was the cake topper on my 16th birthday cake. I lost a 2nd sheep to the family poodle who thought it was her chew toy.

This Nativity was the 1st one my mother acquired as an adult. It's probably around 50 years old.

My mother purchased this lovely Nativity at a thrift store. It is Hallmark and was NIB. She paid a fraction of the original price.

My mother's Thomas Kinkade Nativity tree follows the Three Wise Men as the follow the star in search of the newborn King. There are about 40 hand-crafted characters depicting Jerusalem at the time of the birth of Jesus. We almost lost it this year when the box it was packed in was mistakenly thrown into the dumpster.

Glory to the newborn King!

"I am crucified with Christ: Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, & gave Himself for me."(Galatians 2:20)

A lovely thing about Christmas is that it's compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together. - Garrison Keillor

2011-12-22T13:54:00.005-05:00

My family minus me who is taking the picture of course.

As Christmas & the New Year draw near, we all get nostalgic, recalling and anticipating (or in some cases not so much) celebration of family traditions. In my family the traditions have morphed over the years due to death, divorce, & just shear survival. We started out trying to be like a Martha Stewart version of the Walton's but ended up more like a southern version of A Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out). Now in 2011 with the loss of parents & grand-parents, the addition of new spouses & babies into the family, & the logistical issues of sibling distance our Christmas has settled into new traditions.

My mother (who lives with me now) loves Christmas & has always gone all out to make it special for me & my siblings. One change in Christmas tradition started about 25 years ago when my mom & dad became full-time pastors ministering to the kids in the migrant camps outside of Tampa. The holidays were the busiest time of year for them. Way back then my sister & I were waitresses who always had to work the holidays. It seemed everyone had places to be & a harried schedule they were trying to follow to appease other family, friends, in-laws & out-laws. So to help ease the stress my hubby & I have Christmas with the family on New Year's Day. Come on, it's a brilliant idea! It buys me an extra week not to mention the after Christmas sales are when I purchase the lion's share of my presents. My plans for the holiday so far are:

Christmas Eve candlelight service with my church family. Coming together to hear the Christmas story & take communion together keeps me centered on the reason for the season. When we sing "Oh Holy Night" I always tear-up because that was my Dad's Christmas solo every year.
Christmas Eve shopping in the neighborhood drugstore to see what went 75% off that I probably don't need. It reminds me of my mother's sisters Aunt Dunnie & Aunt Jewel who who sneak away from the family gathering on Christmas Eve for a few hours only to return laden down with bargain sundries.
I have to find the perfect Christmas card to send out. It has to be beachy and say Merry Christmas not Season's Greetings.
At least one shopping trip with Mom. This year's shopping day was fueled by not only McDonald's sweet tea but a large sweet tea from Chick-fil-A as well.
No Christmas tree this year. It was decided to take a year off from our usual live Christmas tree. I weighed my options with the artificial trees. They were nice enough but we decided to direct our time & effort in other directions. We decorated our big entertainment unit & hutch instead. I'm pretty happy about it.
Wrapping my gifts with Mary Engelbreit wrapping paper. I found some at Michael's Crafts for &1.99 a roll, that's a steal.
I am baking like crazy this year. So far I have made Apricot Strudel, Chocolate Almond Bark, & Cranberry Nut bread. Since I opted out of the tree I had some energy left to bake.
Mom's Rum Cake signals the start of the holiday season. She made her first one on Thanksgiving & there is another one coming for New Year's Day. She has a recipe but the cake never turns out the same from year to year. Thankfully my eyebrows & lashes grew back from the time I checked on the cake in the oven & the amount of rum baking-off caused a small explosion.

Grown men have been known to cry when it is all gone. My sil made this beauty. She is carrying on the Rum Cake tradition.

No tree this year - I decorated the entertainment unit instead. Each shelf tells a story.

GeeGee added her holiday touch to the shell hutch in the kitchen area.

One of my oldest tradition's is wrapping with Mary Engelbreit Christmas paper.

This might sound corny & cliched but now that I am officially on the sunny-side of middle age, my favorite part of Christmas is all the family & friends that I get to spend time with or talk to or am reminded of. My hybrid holiday traditions are my touchstone to them all.

Wishing You a Beautiful Holiday Season
With Every Happiness in the Coming Year!

“There's more, much more, to Christmas Than candlelight and cheer; It's the spirit of sweet friendship That brightens all year. It's thoughtfulness and kindness, It's hope reborn again, For peace, for understanding, And for goodwill to men!” - Unknown

2011-12-18T16:58:00.003-05:00

Overheard somewhere on the beach......

Are you going to the swanky Christmas soiree at Stump Pass?

Ssshhh! I don't know if they are invited.

Was this dressy or just Florida casual?

Let's head for the buffet table.

This is the freshest seafood ever.

Hey, that's disgusting. No double-dipping!

Oh no Gurlfren! You did not just swallow that whole.

Christmas parties are the best!

Why wasn't I invited?

Fa la la la la la la la la ...

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. ~George MacDonald

2011-12-16T17:09:00.000-05:00

video platform video management video solutions video player

What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit. ~John Updike

2011-12-14T20:42:00.000-05:00

"Royal Palm Manatees" painted by Scott "Scooter" Thompson.

My first home was a boat. My birth father was a frustrated fisherman who worked for the phone company during the day but fished every other waking breathing moment of his life. We lived on a small charter boat that he finagled a slip for at a small city-owned marina in Clearwater back in 1958. I learned to swim before I could walk. For reasons beyond my control I have always had an affinity for the smell of diesel fuel, bait buckets, & men that...shall we say.. have potential. Between Jesus & Dr. Phil I pretty much have all those issues under control except I just can't pass by a marina full of boats without stopping and taking a look around.

Imagine my delight at stumbling upon this little treasure right in my own backyard. I was told by an Englewood resident that the restaurant Zeke's had the best hamburgers in town. You just have to find the darn place. Zeke's is located in the back of Royal Palm Marina so the first time I tried to find it I didn't drive far enough to the back of the complex. I have now eaten there at least once a week for a month but not just for the food.

Zeke's Bayside is a little hole in the wall of a restaurant but a treasure of a hole in the wall. The views of Lemon Bay & the Intercoastal Waterway are spectacular. The ambiance is quaint old-Florida charm. But my favorite thing about Zeke's is the seawall that wraps itself around 3 sides of the building that has been divided up by local artists and nautical murals have been painted on each 7' slab. What a great idea for a contest and where was I?? So Zeke's is my new favorite eatery where I can get my diesel fuel & bait bucket fix and have a nice relaxing lunch with the Hubbs. (who btw does not fish)

Some marina's just paint everything a bland marine gray but not the Royal Palm Marina.

Every artist was assigned a 7' slab of seawall that contained the accouterments of any marina - pvc drain pipes, fire extinguishers, ect.

Artist Deborah Teachout Bailey captured the camaraderie of the local redneck yacht club.

Rows of redfish, snook, mullet, & tarpon were Artist Nichole Moranda's first attempt at an outdoor mural.

Those junction boxes just blend right into the mangroves.

The fish's eye is actually a pvc drain hole.

This mural is entitled "Boca Grande Treasure". Artist Kelly Reark studied art & biology. Her mural captures the look of the water with a fisherman's eye.

The walkway is skinny so be careful backing up to take pictures.

Artist Linda Lancaster had to incorporate a length of pvc drain pipe and the seawall is missing a big chunk on the top left.

This mural is titled "Feeding Time".

"Pirate Sunset" by Artist Melody Wright smack dab in front of the bait tanks.

Notice the water feature on this mural. "Dolphins" by Artist Sally Milne

"Sophie's Song" by Artist Cindy Reynolds

Zeke's is a dog-friendly restaurant. "Dog Days at the Royal Palm Marina" by Artist Marsha Banas.

"Turtles" by Artist Michelle Walker sits below the bike rack. Royal Palm Marina is within walking distance of the Historic Downtown Dearborn shopping district.

Untitled mural by Artist Devin O'Sullivan.

The Royal Palm Marina welcomes you to visit anytime they are open to view the seawall murals for yourself.

Everything in creation has its appointed painter or poet and remains in bondage like the princess in the fairy tale 'til its appropriate liberator comes to set it free. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

2011-12-12T20:16:00.001-05:00

(Credit: www.manmadediy.com)

My great-aunt Annabelle was a shell artist. Her big apartment was right on the harbor overlooking Clearwater Beach back in the 1960's. Whenever my mom would take us with her to visit Aunt Annabelle I knew I would have to be a very good little girl because her little-old-lady dwelling was crammed full of antiques that were breakable & tables full of shells in the process of being colored with dye & glued into flowers, critters, & other shell works of art. As we climbed the front steps to Aunt Ann's house your nose was always greeted by the distinctive whiff of glue fumes.

Back in the day the only glue available for shell craft was the kind that would give off a vapor that would make you a little woozy & it took a quite a while to dry. My mother carried on the shell crafting tradition. She had her little plate with a puddle of glue. She would dip her toothpick in and dab a little here and dab a little there to create her little shell masterpieces. Then that all changed one day in the 1970's when my mother came home with her first hot glue gun. There was no looking back. From that point on no craft was safe. As long as she had an outlet to plug into she was good to go.

For our family the holiday season was announced by the blisters on mom's fingers where the glue would plop on her skin while she was hot-gluing flower arrangements, ornaments, & what not. Yes, there were some screams of pain but they are my memories, okay, and I will cherish them always. In her lifetime my mom has seen a man put on the moon, the first heart transplant, & the computer age take over her everyday life via iPod, email, & the world wide web. But the invention she has embraced the most would be her hot glue gun. She's making the world a better place one glue stick at a time.

The Englewood Shell Club's annual project is hand-making every shell ornament for the Christmas tree on display at the Cedar Point Environmental Center.

Angel tree topper made from scallops & sun ray venus wings.

Nothing says Merry Christmas like a rattlesnake skin on the wall.

Most of the shells were collected from local beaches

All it takes is a little imagination , a lot of patience, & a few glue sticks.

Jingle shells, jingle shells, a garland made entirely of jingle shells.

Ornament made from coquina shell flowers. Each flower is made separately then glued onto the ball for hanging.

An oyster-shell Santa with a long beard & a coquina wreath.

The seashell tree will be on display through Jan. 6, 2012 at the Cedar Point Environmental Park in Englewood, FL.

Never underestimate the power of large groups of shell collectors with a glue gun.

2011-12-10T00:42:00.001-05:00

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

Once again we find ourselves enmeshed in the Holiday Season, that very special time of year when we join with our loved ones in sharing centuries-old traditions such as trying to find a parking space at the mall. We traditionally do this in my family by driving around the parking lot until we see a shopper emerge from the mall, then we follow her, in very much the same spirit as the Three Wise Men, who 2,000 years ago followed a star, week after week, until it led them to a parking space. ~Dave Barry

2011-12-05T12:13:00.002-05:00

Let it be known that TEB is now officially in the Christmas spirit!

“It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy...Beach Therapy” --Amy Dykens

2011-11-30T23:35:00.000-05:00

The Hubbs was installing speakers in the living room for a surround sound so I figured it would be a good time to make myself busy (quickly) before I got appointed the designated Gofer. You know - Honey, can you go fer the speaker wire I forgot? Honey, can you go fer a special screw diver I need from Home Depot? Honey, can you go fer a Band-Aid? All the sudden despite poor tides & cool winds, it is looking like a really good shelling day.

I started the day on Bonita Springs & ended it with the sunset on Sanibel - Blind Pass to be exact. The sand bar is back on the Captiva side with lots of shells. There was also a nice shell pile on the jetty. I got hit straight-away with a huge wave which soaked the better part of my levis & sweatshirt (I saved the camera & iPhone though) Oh well. I'm not going home till I know that speaker project is finished.

Little Hickory 10-spot

Blind Pass on the Captiva Side aka Turner Beach

Australia is so cool that it's hard to even know where to start describing it. The beaches are beautiful; so is the weather. Not too crowded. Great food, great music, really nice people. It must be a lot like Los Angeles was many years ago. Mary-Kate Olsen

2011-11-28T17:11:00.002-05:00

(Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/getthebubbles/with/73962916)

The turkey is eaten, the leaves have fallen, & baby, it's starting to get cold outside. Don't pack up that bathing suit so fast. If it's 5 o'clock somewhere then it's summer somewhere as well. That somewhere would be on the opposite side of the globe from the US in the continent of Australia. As we here in the US start bundling up for winter the Aussies are heading to the beach. I have always loved everything about Australia. Their sports teams play like warriors, the people have an authenticity about them, & their accent is really cool. The diversity of the terrain & climate range from tropical regions in the north through the arid expanse of the interior to the temperate regions of the south. Australia is surrounded by water & has 1,600 miles of coastline. For a beachcomber such as myself that many possible miles of beaches could keep me occupied for a long long time. But alas, no trips to down-under are on my itinerary this winter. But with one click of the mouse I can visit the beaches of Australia via the blogging community.

(Credit: www.flotsamfriends.blogspot.com)

FLOTSAM FRIENDS
Prudence is from the Sydney area. She lives on the beaches of northern Sydney but she also travels via caravan (what we in the US call RV'ing) on the Mid-North Coast of New South Wales. I love to follow her beach combing trips with her sons Gus & Luke. She makes these adorable dolls called "Flotsam Friends" from their beach treasure finds. Pru gives you a peek into her real life that balances wife, working mom, & creative artist. There's hope for us ya'll.

(Credit: www.iheartsunnydays.blogspot.com)

I Heart Sunny Days
Another beachy blogger is located further north up the coast in the town of Cairns. Situated on the North East side of the continent in Queensland their beaches run parallel with the Great Barrier Reef. That would inspire me to blog about life on the beach. I Heart Sunny Days is a sprightly blog about thrifting, crafting, & living on the beach. She also has a separate blog for you Pyrex Collectors.

(Credit: www.beachcomber26.blogspot.com)

Beachcomber - simple living
Filled with hip coastal decorating ideas, Cheryl from the Beachcomber blog lives in Sydney, Australia. I remember watching the opening ceremonies from the Olympic Games coming from Sydney back in 2000 thinking "No one will ever top this." Beachcomber blog has a vibrant dynamic city & beaches to draw her inspiration from. The foto's are stunning as well.

(Credit: www.coastal-style.blogspot.com)

Coastal Style
Melissah is an interior designer who lives on the southern coast in the state of Victoria. This particular blog (she has 3) is like flicking through the pages of a fashion magazine. If you are looking for coastal inspiration for your home or wardrobe, Melissah's blog is young, trendy, & full of ideas.

If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice. ~Meister Eckhart

2011-11-23T16:50:00.006-05:00

OMGoodness....is it the holidays already? I still have a bag of Christmas wrapping paper in my closet that I was going to take to my storage closet from last year & never did. Sometimes I watch Martha Stewart in all her holiday perfection, making homemade felt mice candy cane holders & recycled snowflake garland & I just want to punch her. Really. Seriously. Who has the time or the extra money for this stuff? So, I'm off to the grocery store for my 2nd Thanksgiving shopping trip to buy all the stuff I forgot the 1st trip. The Salvation Army has gotten a jump on things & is already stationed at both doors ring ring ring ringing away. I got a text from someone who saw a line of people camped out in front of Best Buy for Black Friday. Have we all just lost our minds?

I head back to the meat department to buy my turkey before my mother gets back from out-of-town where she is visiting friends. If I buy it before she gets back I can get away with a 13 lb-er. If she goes with me, we'll end up with a 25 lb-er. My mom still thinks she is cooking for 15 people and there is only 3 of us. (Grumble crumble complain complain) I'm bent over elbow deep in the frozen birds looking for a smaller turkey that I think my mom & the hubby will be happy with when out of the corner of my eye I see something odd on someone's head. After a closer look I find it is a lady wearing a hat - a turkey hat. She is smiling away, talking to the seafood guy at his counter. He's laughing & chatting back obviously enjoying helping her with her order. Funny thing is, everyone looking her way is smiling too. Even the folks shaking their heads as they are passing by have a smile on their face.

Her name is Tammy. She has to work on Thanksgiving so she is in the grocery store buying the fixings to make turkey dinner for all her co-workers tomorrow. Oh yeah, I remember now. THANKS GIVING - The Giving of Thanks. I mentally thump myself on the head & make a few quick adjustments in my attitude of gratitude. I go back over to the frozen turkey case & trade my scrawny 10lb-er in for a more respectable 16lb-er that will be more to my mom's liking. Tammy reminded me that a thankful heart is a happy heart. I want to be a carrier of gratitude that infects everyone in my path with happiness. With a grateful heart the circumstances of life don't effect us because our focus is on the things that are most important things in life - family, friends, and wearing a turkey hat in Publix to spread some Thanksgiving joy.

What is on that woman's head?

Oh No. You. Don't. Have a turkey on your head.

Tammy is wearing the coolest turkey hat ever!

LOL See the guy to the right pretending like he doesn't see her turkey hat.

The turkey hats were running rampant. Laura was out in the parking lot bringing in the carts.

Her sister made her the turkey hat.

"The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!"

~Henry Ward Beecher

“Don't grow up too quickly, lest you forget how much you love the beach.” -- Michelle Held

2011-11-19T23:25:00.002-05:00

Please forgive me for bragging but I had a hot date on Friday night. Well, at least at my age & being married and all.... it is what I consider a hot date. There was no fancy restaurant or movie tickets involved. I did dress up in my best Columbia long-sleeved tee. My dates (yes dates plural. I told you I was bragging) showed up dressed casual as well but they brought along a cast net, 2 long-handled bait nets, & a couple of fishing poles. These fellas know how to show a girl a good time.

This is Indian Mound Park on Lemon Bay in Englewood, FL. Mostly used for launching boats it's not a fancy county park but it's location on the bay is perfect for beachcombers & future marine biologists who love to walk the sea grass with their nets to see what they can find.

In the early 1900's Lemon Bay was a prime spot for fishing, mainly mullet. The stories go that the mullet were so thick your boat would be full by the time you rowed across the bay. They would just jump in. Not so much these days.

The boys like to run their nets gently through the sea grass and see what turns up. It's amazing to listen to them identify the fish & sea life they scoop up.

Talk about a cheap date - these fellas even caught their own bait for fishing later on.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Brother Gee is a cross between Steve Irwin & Dr. Doolittle. He sent the sheepshead packing back to the water after the pic was taken.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
Younger Brother Dubya caught a lady fish. Like any younger brother he tries to keep up with Brother Gee. The competition can get heated at times.

(Credit: Momma Gee)
The sun had set but the darkness didn't stop us. I brought out my Nightstick 230 lumens LED flashlight that I always keep handy in my truck. And let me tell you what ladies, if you want to impress your man... this flashlight will do the job. It gets all the men's attention. It also got me the job of holding the flash light while Brother Dubya turned over rocks under the pier looking for fish to net.

(Credit: MommaGee)
I had to receive instructions several times. It seems the aim of my flashlight beam was less than helpful.

(Credit: MommaGee)
Date night also included one of my besties & the boys mother MommaGee who is an amazing photographer & a celebrity in her own right. She was the winner of Week #4 in this year's Englewood Pioneer Days photo contest.

(Credit: MommaGee)
Friday night live on Lemon Bay. We can hear the strains of live music floating over from the cafes on Dearborn St but we are pretty content right here.

Life is the art of drawing without an eraser - John Gardner

2011-11-16T00:49:00.003-05:00

It all started one windy, rainy, freezing night on the beach. Lion's paws are an unusual find on SWFL beaches. I just had a feeling that the storm that had been blowing for a few days last winter had stirred up the Gulf of Mexico enough to wash some goodies ashore. I ran out to the beach after work with my flashlight and low & behold I was right. There was a line of deep water shells all the way down the beach. Since I was the only person crazy enough to brave the cold & go on the beach after dark I had the whole wrack line to myself. I scored some nice lion's paw fragments and 1 lion's paw that was intact. After looking at them & cleaning them up I could just see they would make a great mermaid tail if I was to mosaic them. I started picking up orange scallops for the scales & worm shells for her hair. All my junonia fragments would come in handy as well.

I mentioned my idea of doing a mermaid mosaic off & on to some of my shelling buddies. Once you hear yourself say it out loud that pretty much commits you to a thing. It was when I found a certain piece of anatomically correct coral that the project swung into high gear. My local thrift shop provided a 60's abstract painting that the frame & hanger were in good shape to re-purpose. After priming over the canvas I laid it out on my kitchen table with all my mermaid mosaic-designated shells ready to start my masterpiece. Then company came in the form of a 6 yo & 4 yo nicknamed "Baby Godzilla". Everything was put away to make room for Thomas the Train and Cars 2. After our visitors left hubby & I hit the road to do some travelling over the summer first to North Carolina then on to Pennsylvania. So the dust has settled and a few weeks ago I cleared the table, laid out the canvas, sorted the shells and with glue in hand stood and stared at the white bare picture waiting for a download of inspiration.

So I stared & stared some more. I'd walk away for a bit and do housework or run errands. Every time I passed the kitchen table the blank canvas would glare at me. Alright! Already! You just have to start so I did and I'm done. Well, I'm still pondering the border but the mermaid is complete. I'm very pleased with her because what I saw in my mind's eye is actually what I ended up with. I named her Jenny in honor of a story of a woman who collects worm shells or "Jenny curls" as she calls them in memory of her daughter that passed on. I don't consider myself an artist or a writer but I have moments where I do both. I just make things or write about things that move my heart. Such is life.

(Credit: www.Jaxshells.org)

Family Pectinidae
Nodipecten fragosus
(Conrad, 1849)
Northern lion paw

The inspiration piece

I found all the shells & sea glass except the driftwood arms ( they are from my mom's driftwood stash), the blue seaglass, and the face. The face is a shell from Panama given to me by my shell brotha Capt. Brian.

2011-11-13T14:54:00.002-05:00

It appears chili & cornbread are an amazing creative catalyst.

For those of you who have grown weary of my constant whining for the last year over my mermaid mosaic ....the glueing has commenced.