I was asked to show some of the shells that we found when we did our Sanibel off-island beach tour. I didn't find a bonanza of shells, but as always, it's just nice to be walking along the beach, swimming and floating in the water and picking up an occasional shell here and there.
I probably brought home the least amount of shells this last trip than I ever have. But that's ok, the real treasure was spending time on the beach with 2 of my girl friends and sharing our shelling experience.
I usually dip my shells in a little bleach water to make sure they are cleaned up pretty good and then I put them in a mesh shelling bag that I lay in the dirt outside in my garden. I left them outside for almost a month. Then I put them in a bucket of soapy water and wash them really good before I lay them on a towel outside on the deck to dry out.
I did find a lot of nice coral on the beaches this trip....
I found 3 alphabet cones but they were all in pretty bad shape. I found 1 piece of sea glass and quite a few small horse conchs and whelks....
A few murex.....
3 kings crowns and a couple of nice little nutmegs....
The underside of the conch's have a beautiful purple tint to them - never saw that before. And I'm always a fan of the olives and I make bracelets out of some of them....
This is the longest wormie I've found to date....
A couple of tulips, an operculum and that round rock like thing is a sea pearl. I've never found one of them before so I was happy to get that....
A few pear whelks, paper figs, shark eyes and 2 nice angel wings....
And that's it. Nothing super spectacular, but a few nice ones and like I said, being on the beach with my friends was the real prize anyway.
**************************************************************
Lot's of fun things going on this week folks! Don't forget to enter the Nocciolata Give-Away here.
And the lovely Miss Diane is giving away free samples of her heavenly soap, so go over and send her an email requesting your FREE bar of soap here.
I love to go shelling. It is so relaxing. My parents used to have a home in Sanibel. Such a great place to find shells. I miss going there. Looks like you got a pretty good haul to me xo Laura
ReplyDeleteTraci and Moira actually got better shells than I did, but I was still happy. Do you remember where your parents house was on Sanibel? That must have been wonderful.
DeleteSo interesting-- all the names for the different shells. You seem to know them all! You mentioned you have made some bracelets. Do you display the bigger shells in some way?
ReplyDeleteThere are so many shells I don't know the names of - I am actually a novice. :-)
DeleteI make bracelets with the olives. I have shells displayed all over my house. It looks like a sea shell invasion. I'll have to take some pictures. I'm re-doing a printers tray now so I can display more shells on that.
Finding shells always made me feel like the ocean was thinking especially of me and offering gifts. Loved it. But it is amazing how many more shells we all found ten years ago compared to now. I wonder whether the currents have shifted or if it's just a matter of so many more people collecting? Maybe Capt Brian would know.
ReplyDeleteYou know Gail, I thought the same thing. A lot of it depends on currents but I think a lot has to do with people being more educated and knowing what to look for now.
DeleteLoved shelling, talking, laughing with you!
ReplyDeleteMe too - HINKLE!!
DeleteLove all your shells, I love shelling too. Now you need to show us those bracelets! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I need to take a picture. Remind me if I forget.
DeleteSo...many....shells..... On our coast all I've ever found is sand dollars and an occasional crab shell.
ReplyDeleteLinda, that so surprises me.
DeleteI'm embarrassed to admit, I didn't know most of their proper names.
ReplyDelete... but the nutmegs made me smile, remembering all over again!
PS - No seahorses? As a little girl, those used to be my favorites.
I have never found a seahorse and I always look for them. My sister found a huge one a couple of years ago when we were there and I always tell her I'm going to steal it.
DeleteI LOVE seeing your shells, Kim!!! When we go to Sanibel, Jim and I spend hours looking for shells! I am always on the hunt for sand dollars. Jim finds them, but I never have. If I found a seahorse, I'd probably faint!! Thank you for sharing your latest finds with us. Such fun!!!
ReplyDeleteDebbie
xxoo
Hi Deb. I never get tired of looking for shells. It would be nice to meet up with you there sometime. xo
DeleteYou got a nice variety of shells, Kim! Nutmegs are some of my favorite and I've never seen a worm shell that long...very neat! It's fun to walk and seek! It's my favorite things to do! Sea glass sure is hard to find so it's a thrill when you do! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteIts funny, we actually find a lot more sea glass at Kentucky Lake that I ever do on Sanibel.
DeleteNot too shabby!
ReplyDeleteThanks T. I wish it was better but I'll take what I can get. :-)
DeleteWhat fun- I love doing that and have shells from all over
DeleteYou do? I'd love to see pictures of some of them.
DeleteI think you did GREAT Kim!! The shelling this time of year is not great, but you did well!! I couldn't even find an alphie last trip....hopefully that will change next trip!! Awesome Job!!
ReplyDelete