The last day of total relaxation...

No one can get inner peace by pouncing on it.  ~Harry Emerson Fosdick

This will be my last post from our wonderful week of relaxation at Sanibel!! :( 
We get back on the Auto Train tomorrow headed back North.  I must say, we feel like we did actually get to relax, we spent a lot of time on the beach, and that seems to really make a difference!  The weather has been perfect!!

We got up yesterday and went out early as low tide was at ~11:00, the place where we dug yesterday was 'high and dry' completely out of the water so we decided to shell the tidal pools until the tide came back in some.  We did pretty well....hubby got this super awesome Kings Crown! He always finds one between here and Sundial, but it's always alive!!  This time it wasn't!!  He wins the trip trophy with this one, it's HUGE and so gorgeous!....It will find itself at the shelling place of honor at our house, on top of our stereo where we see them everyday...next to my Scotch Bonnet, his Junonia and several other special shells! 

 After lunch we went back to 'the digging spot' and found a few things I got this really pretty true tulip....

 All in all the shelling was pretty good this week! I got lots of minis which I will need for this year's project.....shhh it's a secret, can't tell you until after Christmas!!

 We went back to Hungry Heron to have one last dinner with Lori, our favorite waitress...then back out to shell a little more....It was a beautiful sunset here last night, but I didn't have my camera on the beach with me....but take my word for it, it was gorgeous!


During the day we sat under the umbrella once again and took in the sights....I have started naming birds and people so Hubby knows who I am talking about...this is Larry the sandpiper....he likes to just relax on one leg!! He was with us every day!!

Larry

This snowy plover hasn't gotten a name, he's new on the scene!!

 We ought to call these guys The Platters.... they hung around together and did everything in sync!!

 And I named this guy Clyde, he and several others fished and fished and fished, Clyde however was the only one we saw catch anything....and what a beautiful Snook he caught....but he set him free, back into the Gulf...(I think there is a season for Snook)

NICE FISH!

Today we went out before the low tide (noon) and walked the tidal pools, we did pretty well...we have become 'shell snobs' of sort, so we look for all shells in good shape....especially the last day,....(they have to be cleaned and dried in time to pack up!!) 


Pam from iLoveShelling sent me an email yesterday and wanted to meet since we have blogged and emailed but never seemed to  get together and meet face to face...so we emailed our plans and we finally got to see each other!!  She came by and Hubby and I talked with her for a little while!  What a sweetie she is...and I think we have so much in common!!  We both truly love shelling, and all things Sanibel....and the blogging family we have acquired!!

I feel like I have met someone famous, Pam is lucky enough to call this paradise her home, and I hope one day Hubby and I will be able to do the same!! So cool!!


Here are today's finds... as I said...we went out for a short time around10:00 or so, and it quickly got really hot!!  Hubby even took a dip in the Gulf!!

Check out this BEAUTIFUL Alphabet Cone Hubby picked up!!

My favorite...A Horse conch

It's hard to tell in this pic, but the Murex is HUGE!

From L to R a Sanibel Turret, Horse Conch, and Lace Murex

Hubby found this beautiful Scallop too!

I am going to post these pictures, and then join him on our last day in paradise for some final relaxation under the umbrella....and finish up by cooking out some steaks on the grill again!!


We hope to beat Emily up the coast, (we catch the train near Orlando tomorrow) and be safely nestled in our home before she hits....I think she will be going out to the Atlantic soon....(I hope!)


::Hugs::


Cheri

Daddy will be proud...!!

Take rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop.  ~Ovid

He likes resting on one leg!!

Dinosaur?

Shell Cleaning station

Another beautiful day here in Florida...nothing special to report....no excitement!! That's a great thing!!  We decided to go out early and shell since the morning and evening low were to be exactly the same level, .8.  That isn't particularly low, but it'll do!! The evening low was to be at 10:30 though so we wouldn't be able to do that without a flashlight!!  We went West toward Casa Ybel, but had no real luck, a few teenie things here and there. 

We came back and once again enjoyed the breeze off of the water until around 4:00 then off to Hungry Heron to see our favorite waitress Lori!  We were the only customers, which is good for us, but not for them! People began to come in as we were leaving though, so hopefully they did well.  I had there all you can eat Garlic grilled Shrimp which is always wonderful, and hubby had his traditional Shepherds pie...which he loves and is a tradition for us!! We don't even have to order our beverages, she always greets us with them at the table, makes us feel like we belong here!!  Of course we had to have the beach bread for starters!! 

We came home, and debated about going out since it wouldn't be very low tide, but we decided to head toward Sundial (East) if for no other reason than a nice evening walk....we got to the other side of Algiers park, and I noticed a beautiful little tulip laying there all alone...just as a habit, I dug around it, and felt lots of large shells, I tossed them up on the shore and found 2 or 3 more things...did it again and found some more!!  So I motioned to Hubby and he came back and we did a little digging and did very well!  We didn't stay at it long as our fingers got sore, and it was getting dark, but we did VERY well I think....this are normal size, not so many teenies!!  I walked it off so we could find it again.  We went back this morning but it was high and dry, so will return shortly, we need the help of the water nearby ! Stay tuned!

doubles!

 More tomorrow!!

::Hugs::

Cheri


PS...yes we know about Emily, we will keep an eye out!! Maybe we'll stay an extra week just to be safe :)

 

Stopping and Smelling the Roses.....

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.  ~Etty Hillesum

There is a little garden on the property here where they have a shell cleaning station and a 'patio' of sorts that is named 'The Grove'.  They have made it a wonderful little place with many plants, and mini palm trees, tables, chairs, and grills.  Being a smoker, I go there often, and sometimes remember to take my camera....I have missed so many neat photo opportunities, by leaving the camera back at the condo!  

Today's lesson in relaxation is to stop and smell the roses....or whatever beautiful flowers are around you at the time!!

Very strange looking plant...looks kinda like asparagus with blooms!!

  Out there among all the pretty flowers, with the bees, butterflies and birds...are these guys!!

 We slept in a little again yesterday...(I guess relaxing makes us sleepy!) Waited until around noon to put out the umbrella, we found us a little spot and within an hour we thought we might be in for a thunderstorm, it boomed and rumbled, and we could see the dark clouds getting closer, so we packed up and headed to the condo....I should know better, no rain on Sanibel...at least when it's not convenient!! We didn't see a drop, so we went back out and stayed until around 4:00 and came in to go to Sanibel Grill for supper...I had a garlic shrimp salad and hubby had his favorite....fried oysters!! They were both wonderful!!  We came right back and went to our tidal pool at about 6:00.  Unfortunately the pool wasn't out yet, so we did a lot of walking around and got very little....looks like we will have to improvise tonight to find the shells! 

 I hope you all are able to relax a little reading this....it works for us!! :)

::Hugs::

Cheri