Do you love shelling? Ashley loves shelling so much she wants to always be able to look down at her feet to see shells any time of day … wherever she is. So she has seashells tattooed on her foot. I love that! I especially love that because she is the daughter of one of my long time friends from high school, Laura. Laura, Miyuki, Ashley and Ashley’s bestie Ashlyn came to Sanibel for a visit. So of course, we went shelling. There’s nothing better than catching up with friends from the old neighborhood in Virginia while walking the beach in Florida.
They couldn’t get over all of the live and empty shells at GulfSide City Park (for a map CLICK HERE) that are still there.
Not only did they find shells, Ashlyn and Ashley found so many cool pieces of DRIFTWOOD. Ashley’s looks like a dragon head, right?
I know yall are gonna think I’m crazy but I was thrilled when Ashlyn picked up this cool dried out fish head (Gar, maybe?) with all of his teeth in tact then gave it to me. haha I love the weird BEACH BLING! Thanks Ash!
Just like I showed you in February, Miyuki is still taking photos…
Thank you Laura and Miyuki for the blast from the past!
Okay, I’ve got to change the subject just for a sec…. because….
The new 2013 iLoveShelling Calendar is here!!
Waahhooo!!
It’s chock full of your favorite photos and memories of shelling on Sanibel so each day you can see and reminisce about your favorite beach. It even has a QR code on each calendar month so you can scan it with a smart phone to take you to the iLoveShelling post to read the story about the photo. Don’t know about QR codes? If you have a smart phone or iPad, go to the app store and download a QR code reader (I use RedLaser) for free. Then scan away! It’s so much fun!
It’s just in time for Holiday gift giving! To see and buy… CLICK HERE
Holy Conch shells! wow!
My goodness, were most of those live?
I love the new calendar! Awesome!
ALL those are fighting conchs??!?!?!! WOW!
Love the gar head! So nice to see old friends,isn’t it?
Hi everyone!!
Love the tattoo……Hey how is the red tide situation in this area? Is it affecting the shelling or entering the water?
Hope those shells stay a little longer as we’re on our way tomorrow see if you can make blind pass come up with some shells also. Enjoy your blog greatly
Yea, about the calendar! The girls and I are on Sanibel and I was just going to text you about them. Loved the 2012 one…very good quality and awesome pictures. Can’t wait to get the new one. Thanks!
Just ordered my calendar – now I can visit you each month.
Janet in AZ
Hi Pam –
Thanks for the calendars again….my Christmas shopping is now complete that I have ordered some calendars! Who needs “Black Friday”! Hey, any chance of making a “I LOVE SHELLING” beach coverup (like a long tshirt to wear over a bathing suit)? Just an idea. Thanks again for all the goodies on your shopping site – love them all!
Hi everyone! I just booked a trip to Sanibel for next month and I was wondering what the weather would be in December. Any suggestions as to what to bring?? Thanks. Btw Pam, I love your website and wouldn’t have known about Sanibel without it!
Marielle, You are gonna love Sanibel!! The best advice I have for you for knowing what December might bring for weather and shells… Is to look at my archive posts for the past few Decembers. You can find any month on the right hand side of this blog if you scroll down half way. To get you started… December 2011 is http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2011/12/
Have fun!
Thanks pam!
Thank you! Thank you all for the great comments on the calendar… And for your support!!! Xoxo
Hey Pam! I am so excited to come to Sanibel! I will be there either November 25h or 26th with my Mom because I am 13. I have already checked out all the shell books I can and have even made a notebook my “field guide” where I plan to classify and label my shells when I find them. I also intend to put down the scientific name, location, date, size, a quick sketch, tide level, habitat,weather, and other mollusks surrounding it. I know, I am a nerd hehe! I was just wondering if maybe we could shell together sometime..I love your blog and it has inspired me to care more about our oceans. I feel embarassed for asking but maybe we could go shell at Gulf Side City Park?? I guess thats the new place to be to find wentletraps…I totally understand if you have plans, but I just thought it would be fun to learn the tips from a true sheller…
Good for you Emma! Im so sorry Emma, but I am really bad at planning to be at the beach at a certain time in advanced (it does something to my shelling mojo ;( ) but maybe I’ll run into you by chance.
Flight… check
Car Rental…check
Accommodations…check
Sea Shell Sifter…check
I Love Shelling T-Shirt…check
Sea Shell Bag…check
Tide charts…check
Snorkel and Goggles…check
Head Lantern…check
Spare suitcase for return trip…check
Yes!! I am booked for Dec 6-17! Thank you so much Pam for your blogs. I enjoy it everyday and tell everyone about it.
Pam or if anyone can answer about the negative tides. How much farther out is the low tide during these times? There a a few days when it will be ~ -1. (Sorry I am from the prairies and no nothing about tides!).
Bug spray. Noseums were bad even though the weather was cooler.
Pam, we saw a lot of live conchs at the Lighthouse beach over the summer. Now, very few. I did take a trip to Gulfside City Park the first week of November and saw hundreds of live ones. My question? Did they move? Did the storms perhaps move them? It’s fascinating either way and that’s why shelling is like a box of chocolates.
Hi Pam,
I am so glad that you have shared the secrets of wentletrapping!! I found a few last year but I think it was just luck. I don’t understand what the coffee ground looking stuff has to do with finding them but it seems to be important. We are headed down for the winter on Tuesday, so I am getting very excited to get on the beach and start stooping and looking!! I hope to run into you on the beach in the next few weeks.
I am not into tatoos at all, but I would certainly consider this one!! (It won’t look so bad when I’m ninety!! ) :) Enjoyed seeing you yesterday, and I am still impressed that you remembered my whole name AND my blog!! One day I hope to be living your life here on this wonderful island!! I would be just like you, involved in everything!! Tell Clark we will be in touch one day!! :D
…when are you getting your tatoo!?!