Catching up and a FUN day!!

I know, I know! I have been very lax in keeping you up to date as to what has been going on...like for 3 weeks! We are still in our paradise in Fort Myers Florida. I'm learning what being retired is and doing most of the things I enjoy! How about that?! I think I will need more practice, so we will be staying a little longer. Today was the funnest day I have had in a very long time, but let me just post some pictures for a brief update....

The sunrises are still so beautiful....

Moon rises are pretty special too!

of course I have to post a pic of our iconic Sanibel Lighthouse....I suspect it will soon be dressed for Christmas if it hasn't already happened since I was there last...a couple days ago.

Liz is back in town from Oregon and we have been out shelling a couple times and Liz, Jolene and I have been shelling together and to breakfast! We are making plans for adventures when I get back after Christmas...it should be a lot of fun! The shelling has been 'ok', but it's always an adventure just seeing stuff even if we don't fill our shell bags every time!

Like this Calico Crab...

These beautiful Sea Stars

This Cormorant decided to strike a pose for me during a morning walk....

I have found a few of my favorites.....like this amazing Horse Conch...perfect size, perfect color...don't worry, the brown stuff will soak off in bleach water...

and it will look like this!!! Fall colors of Florida!! :) (That's it on the left)

I've found a few other treasures...

The most recent highlight for me was this perfect little Lions Paw (center of the picture)!!! These are very rare in these parts, and it was my first find of the day! A Great way to start out the morning!!

I've been painting a lot, both shells to put out around the island....

and crafts for sale at Sanibel Shellcrafters....they've come up with all sorts of projects for me to work on for an upcoming Craft show! .....

Ornaments out of Sand dollars...

Ornaments on Huge Scallops....

Painting on Big Lightning Whelks...(all of these have sold already but one!)

Little crabs completely out of shells!...

See all the fun I've been having?? It has all been such fun!

Then there was shelling today it was the chilliest day so far, a bit windy, but the RIGHT wind to bring in shells. Believe me, this shelling business is a science, you have to take into account the wind direction, speed, tides....everything!....Jolene was supposed to meet me, but had to cancel due to an emergency at her house....so I just moseyed down the beach bundled up like I was up north...

this was my first couple of finds....

I'd say it already is a great day....wouldn't you?? I'm starting to see little pockets of shells as the water clears up and the tide is moving out....and I find this guy!!!!! A nice big Lightning Whelk...just in need of a little cleanup!

Get out of the water, put it in a bag in my back pack, get right back in and low and behold I find this guy!!! A HUGE Horse Conch!!

By this time I'm really excited....I was out there laughing out loud by myself....How cool is this?? About 5 minutes later, I find this one! ANOTHER big Lightning Whelk!!

Beautiful White on the inside!!! Then I started finding Cones, Sharks eyes, Big and Small, even a tiny little Wentletrap!! I was much too busy to be taking any more pictures. All of a sudden 2 hours went by.....just like that!! The tide started back in and I suddenly realized I was wet and cold and my backpack was Soooo heavy!!! What an awesome problem to have....right?? So here is the result of my 2 hour beach walk this morning!

to include 6 Alphabet Cones....which is awesome!! Jolene has been the Cone Whisperer lately so I had to step in for her!! ;)

I will continue to learn what retirement is, being spoiled and spending quality time with my Hubby, and of course beach walking and Crafting. 

You all have a Wonderful Thanksgiving, appreciate each other's company to the fullest and appreciate each other! I will do better to keep you posted!!

Stay Tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::

 

Collecting Ghosts

First let me give you an update.....remember this guy?? 

 You probably asked yourself, "why in the world would she keep that!?" You would be amazed what you can do with a little elbow grease and some bleach!

Viola!!

It has a bad spot near the bottom, but I'll take it! Love the color!!

I have a facebook friend who I met in person over a year ago. Jolene came to Sanibel Shellcrafters and checked it out, and we have chatted online ever since. She had a similar situation with her Mom fairly recently. When she found out my Mom had passed, she reached out to me and took me to lunch when I got back down here. I have found that we not only have that in common, but also the Shelling bug....you know...go out at all hours, at all tides, night or day we love it!! So we decided to check out the beaches in the wee hours before I headed to Shellcrafters and again the next early morning....so post is 2 days worth....I'll keep the chit-chat to a minimum!

We saw this guy first thing....started thinking...it can't be a Lobster...Florida Lobsters don't have claws....then it dawned on me....It's a Hermit crab...a HUGE hermit with no home!!!

He was alive so hopefully he will find a home soon....I was going to put him out into the gulf when the waves took him out right after I took the above picture!!

A little further down the beach, Jolene found this monster True Tulip!!

I found this tiny Millipede Sea Star....

Before long we each started finding treasures....

Jolene found this beautiful Horse Conch...

Then this beautiful Lightning Whelk....

and then....2 Alphabet cones, pretty close together!!!

I stumbled on this Horse Conch and Huge Lace Murex...

Jolene followed up with a Kings crown and another True Tulip...

and then this Gorgeous Scotch Bonnet....sitting right on top of the shell pile!!

She was so excited!!! So fun!!

I found another, bright orange Horse Conch....

Jolene mentioned she always wanted to find an Albino Fighting Conch....she squealed that she had found one!!! But Alas, it was live....

so back in the gulf he went....very shortly after that she did actually find her bucket list Albino Fighting Conch....and of course I forgot to take a pic....but she sent a picture of her 2 day finds and it's in there!!!

Here she is, still on the hunt as the sun begins to come up....

I took a picture of this tremendous shell pile after the sun came up....it had Lots of treasures in it!!!

We went back the next early morning, to the same place...it wasn't quite as lucrative and I guess I didn't take many pics..

Jolene found 2 awesome Bright Orange Scallops...

and another Alphabet Cone, I call her the 'cone whisperer'!!

I did find one as well!!

...and quite a few nice sized Shark's eyes

Walking back to the car we found these 2 beauties...both Live, both put back in the Gulf after the photo op..

a Beautiful True Tulip...

and Nice Horse Conch...

We stopped by the lighthouse and one point to check it out and catch the sunrise....it was a mess....very stinky from all the washed up shells, that were beginning to die.

Billions of Sea Urchins!!

they were everywhere!!!

Cockles and Dosinia also...

I wanted to catch a picture of the sunrise....I always try to catch a bird also....there were lots out there that morning....

How about this for timing!!! I got photo bombed!!

Here is Jolene's treasures for the 2 days.... See that beautiful Scotch Bonnet right on top?! It was an Awesome catch!

The reason I called this post 'collecting Ghosts' was because I was just diligently collecting Paper figs as we were walking along, they aren't too common but do usually show up after a storm...I paint them like ghosts for Halloween!! 

So Since I had basically used up most of what I had, I was collecting for next year.... then we ran into that shell pile!!! So I gave up on Collecting Ghosts! :)

Here are my 2 day finds....

I stayed in today to get some stuff done, but I will be out tomorrow bright and early for those negative low tides!!!

Stay Tuned!!

::Shelllady Hugs::

PS....Here's a tiny Pygmy Octopus we saw on the sand, I put him back in the gulf!!