The Essential Beachcomber

Hey Y'all! (And if there is more than one person reading this - Hey All Y'all!) I don't like to brag but not only do I have the good fortune of being a Florida native - I am twice blessed to be a GRITS (girl raised in the south). Now, all y'all who live north of the Mason-Dixon just settle down.  Northern women have their assets & advantages too but we southern gals seem to slow down enough to really revel in ours. Southern girls know bad manners when they see them: Drinking straight out of a can. Not sending thank you notes. Velvet after February. White shoes before Easter or after Labor Day.  Southern girls appreciate their natural assets:  Dewy skin  A winning smile  That unforgettable Southern drawl Southern girls know their manners: "Yes Ma'am"  "Yes sir"  "Why, no, Billy !" Southern girls have a distinct way with fond expressions: "Y'all come back!" "Well, bless your heart." ...

The most popular souvenir t-shirt sold in the little town that I now call my home says "Englewood - a small drinking town with a fishing problem". Yes, we are a coastal community with with 7 miles of spectacular beaches. Everyone here either has a boat or goes  fishing  on beautiful Lemon Bay.  The official local pastime is hunting for sharks teeth on the beaches.  But I really think the t-shirt should say "Englewood - a small creative town with an artist problem".   You cannot go anywhere in Englewood  and not see something creative. There is even a street called Artist Avenue with cross streets named for various artists like Van Gogh Road & Pablo Picasso Drive. The historic downtown Dearborn Street is a perfect example of how creative people with lots of paint & ideas can bring life back to a tired business area.  There are murals reinventing walls on old buildings. The businesses have funky decor and there is lots to look at. The m...

In the pursuit of a more fulfilling relationship with my hubby I read that book "Women are From Venus Men are from Home Depot" or something like that.  I did what the book recommended. I waited for the opportune time to talk. He was relaxed on the couch after a nice dinner. No sporting events were on the tv.  I asked him "Honey, How are you feeling?" He looked over at me, decided it was not a trick question and replied "What do you mean?" I took a deep breath, "I mean Sweetheart,  How are you feeling?" (I'm thinking that book is so stupid). So He answers "Well, I'm not hungry.  I'm not tired.  I'm feeling pretty good." OK, can I get my money back for that book now. I'll let you in on a little secret of mine. I ended alot of frustration in my relationship with my hubby by using this one little trick (no deception intended) Don't worry.  He doesn't read my blog. He just looks at the pictures every few week...

This was the packet of shells that came when you paid admission to the shell show People give me a quizzical look when I tell them I am heading for the mothership.  My friends & family know that means I'm packing the truck up with my shelling gear & heading for Sanibel Island. On one of my first pre-dawn drives down as I was crossing the San Carlos overpass that leads to Sanibel the lights reminded me of the spaceship in the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind.  I start laughing every time I cross that overpass thinking it's transporting me to close encounters of the shell kind.   I live 2 hours north of Sanibel travelling by Interstate. Now, if I had a boat Sanibel is just 30 miles south of me as the seagull flies. But alas no boat so I must drive.  I usually get on the road early - about 4am.  That puts me on the beach before sunrise. Early morning shelling is the best.  As the sun rises I get to  watch the beach wake up. ...

The weather here on the Gulfcoast of Florida has been spectacular. Brilliant sunny skies & a  nice cool breeze. I know this because my job takes me outside the building and into the parking lot to unlock the propane cage for customers to purchase their refill. While I am waiting for said customer to navigate the parking lot to the propane cage I stand in the blazing sun gazing into the blue sky  wondering to myself  why I didn't call in to work and just ditch this place for the beach today? Then I remember...Oh, ohhhh,  I am a responsible adult with bills to pay...that's why, big duh!  It doesn't help that all the customers are shopping in beach clothes flaunting their sunburns, flip flops & cute beach cover-ups. I'm on work day #7 with 3 more to go. I tell you what...the beach bag is packed, the legs are shaved and Thursday morning I am Sanibel bound to the Shell Show & the sand bar.  Here's a bunch of crazy beach goers. I first posted...

The Eleven Basic Rules of Shelling Etiquette  by Jan McSween   (borrowed from the Sarasota Shell Club's December 2010 newsletter) 1.) Shell by yourself. Solo  shelling means more for you. 2.) If you must shell with a  companion, walk in opposite  directions. 3.) If you must shell with a  companion and walk in the same direction,  walk faster than your shelling companion. 4.) If you must shell with a companion and  walk in the same direction at the same speed,  observe the 6-ft. radius rule (also known  as Shelling Circles) to ensure the equitable  distribution of finds. Anything within six feet  of you (in any direction) is yours. That’s the  good news. The bad news is that the same  goes for your companion. This necessitates  maintaining a minimum distance of 12 feet  from your shelling companion at all times. 5.) If you notice something of interest in  your companion’s shelling ci...

"Aunt Karen, let's pay the toll for the car behind us" said my niece Pookie as we were crossing the Sunshine Skyway some years back. I gave her the look.  You know, the facial expression we give a younger,  more naive person that has never been ripped off or taken advantage of. They don't know yet what it is like to dig through your purse for the change at the bottom to pay a toll or have to budget every dime to make ends meet because your spouse lost his job.  If you read the newspapers & listen to the news enough your hand starts closing even tighter around what you do have regardless of the amount whether it is a little or alot . Unfortunately your heart is right behind it. Open heart - open hand. Closed heart - closed hand. So I determined years ago that I wanted an open heart so I keep my hands open too.   My favorite way to give to others is what I like to call drive-by blessings.  That's when you leave something that someone needs on thei...