The last few days I have returned home with an empty shell bucket. I have so many shells already, I’ve just started only to collect the seashells that are new to me, have unusual colorations or the ones that are hard to find… like the JUNONIA or  the CABRITS MUREX to name a few. Since I haven’t been lucky enough to find anything like that lately, I’m still happy when I get to hunt for those awesome treasures because it makes the pot sweeter when I do find them. But wait!
The treasure pot was filled with honey and sugar for Kaitlyn (10) and Matthew (8) this week! They hit the mega lotto with Kaitlyn’s JUNONIA…
AND her brother Matthew with a CABRITS MUREX!!!
Here’s sister Karley, Grandmom Sue, Kaitlyn and Matthew…
Wowee! Congratshellations!!! They said they found them on the Captiva side of Blind Pass under the bridge…right here…
Shelling Sister Peggy and her daughter Laura were finding their own treasures at Blind Pass when they witnessed Kaitlyn’s JUNONIA find and were thrilled for her. That made them bound and determined to find one for themselves too. It’s out there somewhere, girls!
I too have soo many beautiful shells that this year I am being more selective. i have started a display with only juvies and small examples as wentletraps. I saw one and it was wonderful. My friend is a grade school teacher and she loves anything from the beach for her students.. Thanks for the updates!!I really look forward to them.. Give your self a raise!!
So jealous of the Junonia! Congrats to them! Those Junonia are out there. I found a broken one on the Sanibel side of Blind Pass Beach on Monday.
Fantastic! Great shells!
Pam, I reckon it might be fun some time if you made a list of what you think are the 4 or 6 (or 10 maybe?) rarest univalves, and the 4 or 6 or 10 rarest bivalves on Sanibel… I would enjoy seeing that. Of course the rarity of something varies a lot from one time to another so it’s hard to say what is really rare. And you would have to include only the regular-sized ones that people really like.
Obviously it would include Junonia, Lion’s Paw, Scotch Bonnet… but what else would go on the lists?
So wonderful that those children should find such awesome shells…I love all the turquoise “I Love Shelling” shirts I’m seeing…you’re all over, Pam! That’s so great. Those of us that have them and wear them while shelling are easily identifiable…or maybe that should be “certifiable”. Either way…GO SHELLING!
I will definitely wear my I Love Shelling shirts when I go to Sanibel next month….i figure i will wear them backwards, since I will be bending over so much, its the only way Pam will be able to spot me!! :)
Haha! Good point!
Such a nice find for both of them. Pam, I’m jealous that I can’t be there for your Shellabration extravaganza next week, but Traci Mason is going to keep me posted with all the tidbits and photos. Aren’t you excited for it??
Kim, Of course Im excited!!! its gonna be a BLAST!!!! I get to meet folks I’ve “talked” to for a few years and we get to shell together. Its gonna be a blast!
I’m in the general area now Pam! Arrived in Florida yesterday and am in Tampa now. Headed to little hickory in the morning then its Sanibel time by 1pm!! Cant wait for tomorrow!
Drive carefully! Cant wait!
I almost forgot about the extravaganza! I cannot wait to see and hear all about it!!!
PS – how cute are those kids and how perfect do those shells look. Amazing
Really? Really??? I think Granma Sue needs to stop by a Kwikmart pronto and let Karley, Kaitlyn and Matthew pick the winning numbers. those two perfect beauty’s on the same day….. Amazing and wonderful!
we finally stopped by Blind Pass when we were there during a quiet season, early November. We usually can’t get a parking spot. I think it was the first time we’ve been there since they opened up the pass under the bridge, so I now understand how that current can pull so many deep water dwelling shells through the pass.
Awesome!!!
I’ve been trying to find a junonia for at least 45 years. I guess I’ve taught the “eagle eye” skills well to my grandchildren. I’m so proud of them. They’ve learned a lot about the beauty of shells and can identify most of what they find. When we go shelling on the beach I don’t want to be walking behind them!!!!
their Grandmom , Sue
Well done Grandmother Sue! You taught them well! :)
Shelling and being a kid is a really great combination: as a kid you have terrific eyesight and plus you are close to the ground so can see all the shells really, really well, and you don’t have a bad back to worry about for all the bending! And you know how to give something your whole attention!
I picked up shells every since I was a toddler; I wish I had had a grandmother like you Sue to tell me the names of all the different shells, and wow, to take me to Sanibel!!!
Actually that was my fantasy when I was little, to go to Sanibel… but I grew up in England after the war, and so Sanibel might just as well have been the moon for how far away it was and how exotic.
It took me the best part of 60 years, but I finally got to Sanibel! Yay! And twice so far!
Coming soon to Blind Pass !!!!
Coming soon ! What camera do you use to take your photographs? Would appreciate your input as I want to purchase a point and shoot camera to slip in my pocket!
Just returned from a great week in Sanibel. Sorry we didn’t meet you, Pam. We did get a bunch of shells. I even found a piece of a junonia. I am treating it as if it was a whole one! Until next year, will live the shelling vicariously through you.
Love Love Love the Murex!!! Start them early and the love for shelling will endure.
I was standing right beside Kaitlyn when she found it – just a few feet away. I was so excited for her I think she thought my friends and I were crazy. it is a beautiful perfect shell. I do have a junonia that I found a couple of years ago on Sanibel when we had the “dredging mountain.” It’s not perfect at all, but it was just as big a thrill to me. Congrats again, Kaitlyn.
So impressed with those shells!! Seriously makes me want to catch the next flight down there!!!
Pam – today in the Arizona Republic travcel section there is a full page on Sanibel Island – very good article.
See shells ny the seashore. Karen Achgwartz
thought you would like to know
You have beautiful white pelicans – -ours are only GREY – but they do flock to my beach and such fun to watch. This past week we even had dolphins in our bay.
so I have something to brag about….
Janet in AZ
Arizona has an ocean bay?
Sorry about that – I write so often I thought everyone knew we have ahouse in Puerto Penasco (Rocky Point) Mexico. Actually we are on a bay called _CHOLLA. Ocean is on other side of our mountain – ha ha big hill….
Janet in AZ
Actually Puerto Penasco is very close to Arizona, it’s at the head of the Gulf of California, the Sea of Cortez. Some people even call Puerto Penasco “Arizona’s beach”.
Janet! It’s a great article I thought! Terri V, told me it showed up in her paper out in Washington State too! And it was in my hometown of Virginia Beach newspaper (with a mention of iLoveShelling.com!) so my family got a kick out of it too. Thanks for letting me know about Arizona. One day, I’m gonna get out there to your neck of the woods to see where you shell. ;)
Does anyone have a link to the article online somewhere? If so please give us the link and I will go read the article.
Here is the article in the Richmond, VA paper. Although this one doesnt have the pretty pictures some of the others had. Enjoy! http://www.timesdispatch.com/entertainment-life/travel/quiet-beaches-on-florida-s-sanibel-island/article_b209f570-9d34-5e7a-a368-7e0c54b6af72.html
Thanks for the link Pam! I enjoyed
I see that the person who wrote the review did not know that you have to search among all those thousands of clams and cockles in order to find the “good stuff”! LIke you always say: it’s a treasure hunt!
sorry correct her name Karen Schwartz
Janet
We had an article in our paper this weekend, too. In Waterloo Ontario Canada.
My heart skipped a beat when I noticed the photo with the Junonia front and centre. Can hardly wait until I can visit Sanibel Island. Maybe in the fall.
I hope I am lucky enough to find some great shells when we visit.
Wow! Canada! Just curious… did they have that little area that said “If You Go” then mention iLoveshelling.com for shelling tips?
Love that Cabrits Murex!!! So jealous. What a nice find! Sherri from MN