 The shells were bubbling up in patches around the islands this week. On the east end of Sanibel at the Lighthouse Beach, Clark found an awesome ALBINO FIGHTING CONCH. You can tell this shell didn’t turn white from being old and sun bleached because it is still glossy. It may look like it has a little scum on it but that yellowish stuff is the periostracum which is like a skin that will scrap right off with your thumb nail. Those are the signs that it is a true ALBINO.
 See how glossy it is? Okay, this side (the aperture) has some scum on it (not just the periostracum) but I’m sure you can still see this shell never had color to it.
 Most of the shells were alive at the Lighthouse beach but Sharon and Pierre (from Curacao Island!) and her mom Irene (from Holland!) were happy seeing all of the wonders of our sea life and found a few keeper shells as well…
 But hold on to your sun hats, folks! Maria D. posted this on the i Love Shelling Facebook page…. she found 3 ALPHABET CONES this week! She said she found them mid island around the Island Inn.
 Then Jen L. posted this awesome photo of the shells her family found at Bowman’s Beach. She found this unbelievable LION’S PAW! Wow, it looks like all of the knuckles are still in tact! Her dad Tim found the ANGEL WING and her mom Joanne found the huge FLAT SCALLOP. Nice finds, Linnan family!
 My friend Susie (a long time Sanibel resident) still gets excited to find a FIGHTING CONCH…
 She couldn’t wait to show me all the other colorful shells she found. See? After years of living on the island, the beach still delivers simple happiness…
I even heard that Bind Pass Sanibel was still delivering too but after seeing these shells and what shelling sisters Jamie and Lauren found on my last post… Bowman’s Beach is rockin!
 Soooo, now that I’ve caught you up with the shelling news… let me catch you up on my news.
Drum roll please…. ddllllrrrrrrrrr…..
I am now a partner of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel as a SWFL (SouthWest Florida) Insider. I’m the designated shelling insider for Lee County! Here’s my new badge so click on it and it will take you to the program information just launched on Facebook…
Okay, and I more excitement this week! Clark and I were interviewed by this REALLY nice gal that happens to be a reporter for …
okay, another drum roll…. dlllrrrr….
The New York Times!!! Crazy, huh? She wanted to know about shelling on Sanibel and happened to find iLoveShelling! So, pleeeaase keep your fingers crossed that the story is featured and makes it in the paper. I was going to keep it a secret to see if it really showed up in print, but I figured if I could spread good vibes, it can’t hurt this little ol’ shelling blog. I’ll keep you posted. Shelling fingers crossed!
 Oh, and one more thing… I promise, this is it for today but I couldn’t help but sing a little. LaLaLaaaa… Okay the vocal cords are warmed up.
Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birrrrthdaaaay dear Super Sheller Claarrrk. Happy Birthday to you!
Wow, alot of excitement for you this week! Congrats on your new appointment, and please let us know if and when you make it to the NYT so I don’t miss getting my copy! And a big happy birthday to SSC!!
Happy Birthday Clark!
The family made it down for our 4th trip to Sanibel and will be shelling around the lighthouse in the morning low tide.
Cheers
Mike Jen And Kathryn
First off – Happy Birthday to Super Sheller Clark I hope you have a spectacular weekend! Next congrats Pam on your new gig it looks like I’m finally going to have to join Facebook (kicking & screaming)! Thank you both for making my shell obsession seem like a drop in a bucket compared to yours LOL!
Debbie, If it makes you feel any better… I have plenty of friends who refuse to do fb so thats why I post anything thats must-see here too. Shell on sister!
Happy Birthday Clark. Nice albino Fighting Conch. Wishing the new SWFL insider well for a NY Times article. MurexAlice and I are still cleaning shells from our trip to the Keys. The “Smell of Success” is strong in our home.
LOL…smell of success. Pretty clever, Ken! Love it.
I would love to see your Keys shells! Will you post them when you get them cleaned sometime? Sherri from MN
Sherri, thanks for your interest in our Keys shells. The Florida Keys are a special place that is very different from Sanibel Island. Most of our seashell collecting is done by snorkeling and scuba diving. I posted an ongoing report of the shells that we found this year in the lower Keys on the Key West Trip Advisor forum. If you do a search, you can probably find it. Due to the poor weather (Tropical Storm Debby) and poor to fair water visibility, we did not do as well shell collecting this year as we did last year when Pam and Clark visited us. You can see some of the pictures that Pam took and posted on this blog by looking at her June 21, 22 & 23, 2011 posts. Frankly, taking high quality pictures takes a lot of time. Pam does a great job of that, but I just do not have the time, which is the reason I usually give internet links to provide pictures of the shells that we find. Thanks again for your interest.
When was the lions paw found?? and do you know where on Bowman? Its a great find and so is the angel wing. The flat scallop is huge!…love finding them as well! Congrats!
Happy Birthday to Clark!
Denise,
We found the Lion’s Paw on Saturday a little east of Bowman’s beach. It was nice meeting you on Sunday.
Tim
Pam congratulations we love your site.
Once again, CONGRATULATIONS, Pam! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to CLARK! I sure do enjoy your blog posts and pictures. It really makes my time between trips to Sanibel tolerable. Hoping to come at Christmas again, if possible. Not so warm but the shelling is awesome! Love to you both.
Wow on everything !!!
Congratulations on everything, Pam! Very well deserved my friend!
The Lions Paw….oh my gosh!!! What a super find!! Brianne and I are going to head over to Sanibel next week for some shelling finally. We’ve been hitting all kinds of beaches since moving here and having a blast!!
Happy Birthday, Clark!!
Congrats on all your good news Pam. It could not have happened to a nicer person. You deserve it for all your hard work. Plus, you are so darn cute!! Hugs girl!
Congratulations, Pam!!
It’s a red letter day, for sure!!!
Happy, happy, birthday to Clark, congrats on your appointment, interview with the NYT, you’re in the big Times now, my fingers are crossed that it gets published too!
And that lions paw, holy cow!!! after 23 years of avid shelling, I need to go to shelling school because I’ve never found a junonia, lions paw, or some of the other spectacular specimen’s that turn up on your site. sayyyy, Pam, you could start a class in your spare time…. Ha, ha!
Oops, doggone autocorrect turned my name Sanibelle to Danielle.
Happy, happy birthday Clark!!
Pam you deserve all the good things that are coming your way. Can’t wait to see if you make it in the NYT!!
That albino is sweet. The color on that lions paw is amazing!! Great finds. I see you found some candy as well.
Now I’m off to see what the insider is all about and counting the days until my trip in October!!
Happy Birthday, Clark! Hope you had a super shellabration!
Pam – LOVE all of your good news!!!
LOVE all of the shells, too! Can’t wait to come back!
Your blog definitely deserves to be noted in the NYT! The website is on my “most visited” toolbar and is the first “click” of the day for me. Pam, your photography, especially of sunsets, is beautiful. Happy shelling, and happy birthday to Clark. Cookie from Hobe Sound.
Happy Birthday to Clark! Lots of beautiful shells and lots of exciting news. Me too, I am not surprised that your blog brought you to the attention of the New York Times! Well done!
Yes, I agree! It is so COOL! Congratulations, you deserve it! Can’t wait to read it! You are the Lee County shell expert!! Your site is on my iPad’s home page, it’s fabulous! Love how it is laid out also! I dipped some of my shells in muriatic acid today. I had some great results! Will have to post before & after pics on the facebook page!
Sherri from MN
Happy birthday Clark!!
Pam, congratulations on your new ‘assignment’!
Thanks for the birthday wishes to all.
Thanks for the Birthday Greeting! The 21st is the birthday of great people. It is my birthday as well as my first born daughter. She was born on July 21st on my 21st birthday.
How’s that for a birthday gift!!
Happy Shelling!! Wish I was there,Marlene
Happy birthday, Clark. Many returns.
Pam, the accolades coming your way are not coincidence. They are a result of your work, effort and passion for what you are doing.
All good things for both of you.
Happy Birthday Clark!
Thank you! Thank you for all of your kind thoughts, kind words and encouragement. I hope y’all know how very dear to my heart you are. Thank YOU for letting me share all of this with you. Xo
Oh and Denise, I just know it was Bowmans that she found the lions paw and I believe it was early Saturday morning.
Marlene, happy birthday to you too!!!!
Happy birthday Clark and many more… Good things happen to good people, and you’re really good people. Congrats on being an Lee County Insider and let us know about the NY Times article. Half finished with my therapy and I’m anxious for Nov. to come.
Roger and I wish Clark a very Happy Birthday !!! And Pam, we are so excited for YOU….you deserve it !!! Yippeee to both of you !!
Isn’t it great to be recognized for something you love doing and just comes naturally? Your gift enlightens all of us, your readers and shelling sistas and brothers.
Happy birthday, Clark!!
Congrats! I emediatly liked your new page and found even more info on Sanibel! I visit for a month and plan to move there in a few years, but this site helps keep me feeling like I’m there. Also, please post when the article is in the paper so we can all get a copy! Keep shelling. Much love
Boy, look what happens when you go away for the weekend! Congratulations to you Pam. You certainly deserve it with all the hard work you do. – Happy belated birthday to Clark and all the others who had a birthday on the 21st. – Like Debbie said, I too might now have to go kicking and screaming to join Facebook. Pam, I do appreciate that you post some FB things here for those of us that don’t join. :) (p.s., thank you for your kind comments on the previous post.)
Congratulations on all this great news Pam. iLoveShelling is my favorite site on the web! :)
Kudos & Congratulations, Pam…so happy for you. You deserve all of it! And
Happy Birthday, Super Sheller, Clark.
Thanks again for all the pleasure you give me and my Mermaid Mom and Sani-Belle Sisters (even one of my brothers made it to Sanibel in February)…you keep us excited about everything Sanibel has to offer (especially the shelling!) until our next trip to beautiful Sanibel.
Clark…Happy B-Day to you and Pam Congrats! I love iLove Shelling and read it religiously everyday. My last visit was during the same arrival of Tropical Storm Debby.it was a bummer because our stay was shortened to 1 1/2 days. BUT….I have a little good news i we have already made our 14 day reservations to return back to Sanibel next June. I have not yet begun counting the days but really I can’t wait to return. Until then I will continue to cyber shell with you Pam…THANKS
Congrats Pam! I want to thank you for letting us all know what is going on in Sanibel. I live far from there, but love keeping up with what is going on! You do a really great job and you are obviously appreciated by more than just myself. Please keep up the good work. I love checking you site daily!
NYT – that is HUGE! Your blog is my positive treat for the day!
Please add me to your group. I am a 40 year sheller on Sanibel and lived
in my “Toy House” in Periwinkle Park for 15 years. Found a quotation this
week that goes like this: “A place belongs forever to whoever claims it
hardest, remembers it most obsessively.” (by Joan Didion 1979)