Twenty Years Ago....

Twenty years ago today I married my walking partner and best friend. For our Honeymoon, we came for the very first time to a little island we had heard of from a friend, called Sanibel. We stayed at Sundial Beach Resort, who would have ever guessed that today, twenty years later, we would walk in the same tidal pool in front of Sundial! How cool is that?

We actually started the day at Jerry's for breakfast, then headed to the lighthouse. It was so foggy, you couldn't see the lighthouse itself! If you really look, you can see it....just barely!

It was a nice low tide, and there was lots of life out there....See this BEAUTIFUL True Tulip?....

 Occupied by a Hermit Crab....

This Calico Crab was all snuggled down waiting for the tide to come back in....he was looking rather grumpy.....but Cozy!

These are squid eggs! They were just nonchalantly floating along the tidal pool....

We found very little, mostly minis, so we decided to go to another beach and check it out there, we still had plenty of time before low tide. On the way back the the sun had burned off the fog around the lighthouse...

But it was still looming over the Gulf...

Here is what I found....

We headed West down the beach a little further, and ended up in front of Sundial, the tidal pool had very little in it this time...Another pretty True Tulip

 Occupied by another Hermit Crab...I'm thinking he needs a bigger shell!

This Lightning Whelk had one of those Big Red Hermits in it, like I showed you the video of the other day....remember Sebastian? 

I scooped up an Apple Murex....that was also occupied and got this little guy too! He was not happy to be out of his comfort zone, so after a quick pic, back he went into the pool....

We didn't even see many live Lightning Whelks this trip, Hubby did find this one as we were headed back in....check out the points on this guy!

One scoop brought up this pair....they were having a serious discussion and did not want to be bothered, so they just stuck together....It's a Sharks Eye and an Oyster Drill, both occupied with hermit crabs.... 

I tried again to get a video of another live Scallop, they just will not act silly once you point the camera at them...kinda like kids, right? Notice his 'eyes' all along the edges of the shell! (click the pic to enlarge, then just click the 'x' in the top right corner to return)

I found this tiny Fighting Conch with what I believe is a Chiton on it?! Have never seen this before!

This is disturbing, I don't know what this is from, or why is was in the tidal pool, but I found this tail from something, on the bottom. It was beautiful, but It made me sad...

We had a great time, but didn't come home with large bags of shells, but we enjoyed ourselves and it was a beautiful day as always!

My finds.... (BTW, I boiled the sunray venus at the top, so it's orange now!)

Hubby's finds...

I hadn't thought about us spending the day in front of the place we spent our honeymoon until we got home.  I Thought it was a great way to start our Anniversary, even if it was and accident!

I fly back home to VA tomorrow, back to real life and cold, I have lots to do and catch up on but I hope to be back right after Thanksgiving. Hubby is staying here in Florida....such a lucky guy!!!

Stay tuned and thanks for coming along and your kind comments!

::Shelllady Hugs::

Our 15th Anniversary.....It's all about Lily!!

An anniversary is a time to celebrate the joys of today, the memories of yesterday, and the hopes of tomorrow.  ~Author Unknown

Greetings from paradise!!  We headed down to Sanibel for our annual anniversary trip!We came here on our honeymoon 15 years ago, and have made it a tradition to come back every year after a trip to see the November Thursday night game and the Hokies.....er..lose!! Only one tradition has changed! We brought along Lily, our 14 month old, nearly 4 pound Chihuahua, our baby!! This is the first time we have brought along a pet, and that required us changing where we stay to a pet friendly condo and driving both ways as she cannot go on the Auto Train, so it has been an adventure from the beginning....and we have had a great time!!  ...It's only day one!!

We are staying at Island Beach club, these pics look like the first floor, but it is actually on the second, we have a view of the Gulf, just not Gulf Front, which is fine!! The windows all go from ceiling to floor, and it's really very nice! The temperature is so nice, we just leave the doors open so Lily can travel onto the deck whenever she wants to!!

Our view of the Gulf...we can hear it all night!!

Lily spends a lot of time on the deck!

Her first step in the sand and shell was quite a shock, she didn't like it at first, but quickly adjusted and it was sniff and smell EVERYTHING!! Unfortunately there was a lot washed up, dead fish, seaweed and of course pen shells....all you shellers know that means the good shells should come in the next day or two!!

We LOVE the beach!!

That's a Gar!!

Here she is with her Daddy, just trying to take it all in!! She didn't like the water ....maybe tomorrow!! :)

These HUGE pelicans like to hang out on flimsy branches....these are pretending to be twins!!

See those flimsy branches?

This guy was grooming while balancing up there 3 stories high!

She did pose for me once!! Awww Mom!!!

Then she started playing with sticks!! She would grab one bring it back to me, I'd throw it, she's grab it till finally she just wanted to lay down and chew on it!! She's not prissy....laying all out in the sand!!

The stick had to go with us wherever we went!!

...stopping for a chew now and then!

Then back inside to play with my frog....on the deck.....

...until I finally began to wear down....in the sun of course....getting sleepy....

....and sleepier....

We went out to film the sunset.....

  ...and my batteries died just before it set!!  You'll just have to believe me that it was beautiful and wait for pictures of tomorrow's sunset!

We did little to no shelling, walked a little ways down the beach, but it was very rough and windy, so with the new moon on Wednesday and low evening tides, we expect to do well then!! I will keep you posted on our adventures!! Lily has crashed on the couch, if I could just get one peek in that little brain to see what she thought, she just seemed very happy....looking at EVERYTHING, birds, bugs, shells, waves, sand everything!!

BTW, our favorite restaurant, Hungry Heron, has closed and been replaced by Rosies.  We went there tonight, and though we did get to see some of the people from Heron's, the food was just average, and expensive...so I guess we begin the search for a new favorite!! Will keep you posted!!

Happy Veteran's Day and God Bless all who served, 

ESPECIALLY my Dad!!

::Hugs:: 

Cheri

 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

"The evening breeze, caressed the trees...murmusly!" ~Klu Hoggard

I believe this is during the engagement!

Today is my Mom and Dad's 58th Wedding Anniversary!! Just think back over 58 years and imagine how things have changed!! Add to that vision that my Dad was a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 28+ years and Mom and I moved with him every time he had to relocate!! Oh the things they have seen!! It all started with a blind date in Wichita Kansas and ended up here!!  What an eventful life they have had together!!

January 8th, 1954, Wichita Kansas

Honeymoon, Panama City Florida

This was back before cross-dressing was cool! Squadron party ~1964

Love this pic!

Visiting their favorite Granddaughter at Virginia Tech!! Go Hokies!!

50th Anniversary!

I am privileged to have shared at least part of those years with you!! I love you both very much!! Congratulations on 58 years!......Here's to the next 58!!


Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!

::Hugs::


Cheri