I'm back home in Ft. Myers for a little while, Hubby has already been down here a week. I stayed back in Virginia to spend some quality time with family for Mother's Day, so I flew in a couple of days ago. The tides aren't great, but I just had to take an evening walk along the beach for a little therapy, and boy was the wind howling! The pictures never really show well, but believe me, the sand would sting at the upper beach it was blowing so hard!
There were a lot of ordinary shells all over the beach, and several 'shelves' where the waves had eroded away the sand, apparently these waves have been going for some time.
This shelf was about 10 inches high...
I didn't expect to find much, I just truly enjoy the walk and the sights at the beach... I did happen up on an area where the waves were tossing around a few shells, it took a little patience, so you could look between waves and see a few shells, as the sand was washing in and out...
Not much, but that's okay with me....I just need the therapy. Stay tuned, the tides will be getting better early next week, and I hope to be out there getting my beach therapy every day!! I would be glad to bring you along! ::Shelllady Hugs::
I got up a much smarter and more prepared person this morning. Although the temperature was a little warmer....already 59 degrees at 6:00 am, I listened to myself and dressed appropriately! I asked Hubby if I looked like a bag lady, he said "Shell bag lady". I'll take that! I almost never wear shoes on the beach, but this morning I wore water shoes, long pants, gathered at the bottom (so I could 'shorten' them to walk in the water) a t-shirt under that cool fishing shirt with vents and a zippered sweat shirt. Hubby still wore his swim trunks, but wore a hat, shelling glove and shoes. It was so much more comfortable! Good thing too, because there was no sun to help warm us up this morning.
If you look closely, you can barely see the horizon!
There was a pretty good breeze blowing off of the Gulf, but we were still much more comfortable than yesterday! As usual, shelling today was different than yesterday; today most of the shells we found were barely buried, right along the trough at the water's edge, and in small pockets barely under the sand. Every day is different and it just takes a little time to figure out what today's formula is! I found these interesting. They were roughly 1/2 mile apart, found one when we first got there and it was still dark, and the other much later well after sunrise. I had all kinds of stories running around in my head that might be an explanation....some romantic, some not so much!!
Didn't find a lot to take pics of today, but did 'stumble' upon our buddies (snowy plovers) from yesterday.....do you see them? There are two.....when you are walking along the shell pile, they don't move until you get right next to them, and they startle you, they blend in so well!!
I think we did a little better today!!
Mine
Hubby's
I FINALLY FOUND AN ALPHABET CONE!!! For some reason, they have eluded Hubby and I for some time now, we used to frequently find them! I was so excited, maybe the 'tides have turned', ...pardon the pun! :)
Paper fig, lace murexes, jewel boxes, double jewel boxes and an ALPHABET Cone!! WoooHoo!
Hubby also found a lace murex and a nutmeg....
...and a monster size wentletrap!! They are usually much smaller than this!
The pelican squadron offered a 'fly-by' as we were leaving for the day.....stay tuned, tomorrow is another early ultra low tide!! Now back to my home project!!
I'm Thankful..... Thankful for so many things.... Thankful for our Grandbaby Boy who is to arrive in February and his healthy happy parents...
....and thankful for our Grand kids in New York....
.....thankful for our Lily who greets us with kisses and tail wags galore every time we come home...
I'm also thankful for a Thanksgiving that started with a huge meal on Thursday in Virginia, continued to North Carolina on Friday with more family and food.... and I am especially thankful to have a place to go to that gives us a chance to get away and finish out this thankful time somewhere WARM, peaceful and calm.....and in the 70s and 80s in November and December!
Can you imagine? We are in paradise, and it couldn't be more perfect! Low humidity, warm....not hot and just crystal clear water! When we got on the beach, it appeared that a storm had passed by and lots of stuff had washed up and it was pretty 'fragrant', but there were tons of urchins and fighting conchs!! I saved so many by throwing them back into the water, but couldn't save them all!!
They were everywhere!! Even in the water!!
The tides aren't real low, but that's okay, they are mid day and it's just beautiful! The shelling is pretty good too!!
My finds
Hubby's Finds...
I found a double jewel box mini!!
see that Alphabet cone ...Next to two beautiful Horse conchs....(one of my favorites!)
I found some coral and some shark's eyes
.....and a HUGE lace murex! It wasn't perfect but I couldn't resist it was so big!!
So stay tuned this week, I hope to have lots of things to share with you that just makes us more thankful! For now, sit back, turn up your speakers, think about 75 degrees and enjoy....you will be thankful too!!
Many years ago I resolved never to bother with New Year's resolutions, and I've stuck with it ever since. ~Dave Beard We finished this year with a very pleasant day on the beach....I would never complain of it being too cool at 63 degrees in January!! It was a very nice way to end the year! We didn't have great luck shelling, but are grateful to be able to be here and grab a little bit of year end beach therapy in the process. We were greeted early by a dolphin, I didn't get the camera soon enough to catch a shot with him right up at the shore.....he was just having an early breakfast!
This guy was having a leisurely breakfast also!
Don't you just feel warmer with this pretty sunrise??
Our finds for the day!
Hubby's finds
Hubby found a beautiful true tulip and banded tulip
I found a double spiny jewelbox
...and some miniature horse conchs!
....also some small sand dollars, a tiny sea urchin still intact and an interesting sponge
I'm really surprised this guy made it all the way home...it's so tiny, but so perfect!! I believe it is a dove shell...so tiny...only 1/8"!!
I found this Alternate Tellin first thing, I had never found one before! It looks like the coquinas on steroids....and it was perfect.
Look how much bigger it is than the coquina, it's shell is nearly transparent!
I also saw this in the sand.....do you recognize what it is?
One of my favorites....a Horse Conch, also called a Florida Conch.....it's not perfect like the one I found in early December, but I'll take it!
I also found these small pretties....My mind is already working about what to do with these little guys!
Tiny sea urchin
Dosinias
I hope all of you and your families have a safe and happy New Year's eve, and that 2014 wakes you up tomorrow with new hope for a special 2014! ::Hugs:: Cheri
