Now that you’ve met the members of the “Maiden Voyage” (cute name, Patty!) for the Shellebaloo on my last post, it’s time for a little seashell show and tell. I have 2 personal favorite shells found during our 3 days together (other than the LONG-SPINED STAR SHELL of course). The first shell is Carolyn’s absolutely perfect ALPHABET CONE…
And the other one is Sara’s COLORFUL MOON shell. There was questions about it being called a GAUDY NATICA so I explained that I used to call it that too but since the Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum calls it the COLORFUL MOON, I figured I should start trying to call it that. Any way, here’s Sara and her beautiful shell…
Isn’t it beautiful? She told me this was her favorite find of the week. Good one!
I asked everybody else to get out their favorite shells to see which shells made them happiest so we gathered at the gazebo at our home base of the beautiful Island Inn to have a show and tell. Carolyn and Mike added a few to their faves along with her ALPHIE…
Amy showed me her teeny tiny juvie TURKEY WING…
Karen, Helen and Jackie chose an ALPHABET CONE, TOP SHELL, LACE MUREX (notice that sweet little pink nose) and a KING’S CROWN…
Sally and Jim collected a beautiful assortment of different shells to name a few like the green cap filled with TUSK SHELLS, a BRUISED NASA, TINTED CANTHARUS, WHITE MELAMPUS, COFFEE MELAMPUS, a SEA PEARL, a CLOUDY PERIWINKLE (inside the BUTTERCUP LUCINE), and a WENTLETRAP. Nice, huh?
Traci and Rob found the SANIBEL SIX…
But when I asked Traci what her one favorite shell was, she told me it was definitely the double OYSTER…
JoAnn and Sid’s favorites were the RIBBED CANTHARUS, COFFEE COFFEE BEAN TRIVIA and ANGEL WING…
Isn’t this fun seeing which shells make people happy? Well, this next one made me very happy and made me laugh out loud! Maureen laughed then told us that her favorite shells were speaking to her… maybe by aliens or through hieroglyphics on CROSS BARRED VENUS shells. LOL Now that’s a gal that has a great sense of humor!
This is quite a seashell collection by Kathy and Bill for their favorites. Love, Love that WORMIE (WORM SHELL) and ALPHIE for sure! And I saw that piece of CORAL in her shell bag and “may” have influenced her to put that in her faves too. (oops! but I was so drawn to it! So pretty!). Of course I love the others too… NUTMEG, LACE MUREX, BANDED TULIP, BUBBLE, FIG, SEA PEARL and angel wing.
Arabelle chose a BABY’S EAR, WHITE MELAMPUS and a SEA PEARL as her favorites. I am so tickled she found that BABY’S EAR!
Last but not least was the awesome LONG-SPINED STAR SHELL Joe and Patty found along with some of their other faves… a PURPLISH TAGELUS, TUSK and a KING’S CROWN to name a few.
I love how easy it was for everybody to pick through all of their shells to narrow it down to the ones that meant the most to them. Each person sees something different in each shell whether it is color, pattern, markings, size, shape or just the location of where they found it. They were all so happy with what they found!
PS- Stay tuned because I have a surprise for you on my next post! We might have another get together soon!
Hey Pam,
Looks like everyone had a great time. The weather looks beautiful too.
I hope to make the next shellebloo if you have one next January.
Will wait for your news.
I would to be involved in your next shelling event. Please
How about that get together being really really soon, like between feb 25 and mar 2… thats when i will be there!!! Pretty please pam?? Also, do you have any updates on whitey the pelican? I hope he is OK.
Donna, I will be there from Feb 22nd to March 1st. Where ae you staying? We will be at Mitchell’s Sandcastles. I’d love to run into you sometime and say Hi.
Pam, yes, how is Whitey?
Awe, Katherine, Whitey didn’t make it. Crow tried everything they could but the next day he decided to give up. I think we found him too late but they were happy we tried. :(
Thanks for trying Pam! Maybe it was just his time to go, perhaps old age.
Hi Katherine, we’re staying at the seaside inn, but plan on shelling at blind pass, lighthouse, tarpon / bowmans beach, and of course in the backyard of our hotel. Would be nice to meet, yes! :)
Oh and of course, i’ll be wearing my i love shelling tshirts most if not all the time, so I will be easy to spot :)
I have the iloveshelling tank tops too. I’ll keep my eyes open for you.
Can’t wait to read what you’ve come up with now Pam!
Can’t wait to be back there the end of March..
Love the first and last photos!! Can’t wait for your news!!!!
Everyone’s shells are just awesome BUT I am stunned by that colorful moon…if I found that I would be staring at it for days. I am usually drawn to the ” brighter the better” colorful shells but it is just a beautiful work of art. I have never seen one before so hubby will have a new shell “assignment” on our next trip down!
Pam…you are a tease but thanks again for the ability to enlarge every photo cause I did everyone tonight!
Ditto. I enlarged each photo too. Nice feature, Pammy!
Ready or not – here we come – Jan 15th !!! Still looking for shellers advice on a point and shoot camera that they are thrilled with. (pocket camera)
Joan, I use any Panasonic point n shoot with lumix lens that I buy from Costco… Just be careful on the beach with it. I’ve probably been through 4 of them in the last 3 years but I haven’t found anything else that I like better. All of them are good. My first ones were $300 or so and last one was only $100 and I love it just as much. Good luck!
Ps- if y’all really like it too, a letter to Panasonic would be really nice that I sent you. Heehee. Maybe I’ll catch a break on all these cameras I’ve gone through for passing the word on. Wink wink
Thank you !
Next toy you need is the Drone remote control quadricopter with HD camera. It,s a little helicopter that streams video to your smartphone or tablet!
Joan, I also have a Nikon Coolpix that I really love. A little pricy but it takes amazing photos.
Oh my goodness,
Once again I felt at peace just reading this blog & excited seeing all the sea jewels!! Oh how I wish I could come down for the week in March when the shelling fair is. My Bday is March 11, & my boys of summer (Red Sox) train then too…. Oh where is that lotto ticket??
Keep this coming!!
Mary Ann Preston
East Granby CT
Looks like everyone is having a fabulous time. I can hear all those shells calling me to come to the beach.
Will look for the next shellebloo next year.
Lee
You guys rock. I really hope I can join you next year. Thanks for sharing all the wonderful stories!
Hi, it’s been so fun reading your posts and looking at pictures, watching the videos…..feels like I’ve already experienced Sanibel, but this will be the first time for my husband and I and four of our dear friends. We are hoping for a very warm, relaxing vacation, this is in celebration of one of us gals, Renee, being done with chemo treatments for colon cancer that she had removed last June. I hope to meet you on the beach somewhere! We will be traveling at the end of Feb.
What fun! I am glad everyone had such a good time and found beautiful shells.
It’s so interesting to see what eeryone’s favorites are. I think we are all as varied as the shells we find. :)
woops, that’s “everyone”.
I love that one of your favorite 2 shells was the colorful moon shell! I found one during the low low tides in November and was so thrilled! Gorgeous shell! Sounds like an amazing time you all had!
It looks like so much fun!!! Not only do you get to find such awsome shells…the best part is “finding” new friends! Memories of a lifetime…
My niece found a colorful moon at BP on Friday too. Looks like shelling fun was had by all at the Maiden voyage of the Shellabalou. You couldn’t have wished for better weather too.
Pam…your posts keep me breathing in this COLD Illinois weather. We are heading to Sanibel on Tuesday and I cannot wait!! Please save some shells for me!!:-)
Pam,
It is fun to see everyone’s favorites. All these beautiful photos make me want to run down to the beach right away!!! But it would be a long run from Nebraska…
We were shelling around the island inn but didn’t see you Pam :( of course we left at 6:00 in the morning holding alphabet cones, colorful moon shells, and a 11 inch horse conch!! Happy shelling
-seashell cowboy
I’m definitely there in spirit……
Great times with great finds.
I see there are still some alphabet cones. When I was there last January I didn’t find any. Coming in a couple of weeks, so I hope the shelling stays good. I see there is a full moon on the 27th. Looks like everyone had fun.
Pat
Pam – Thank you for your kindness, patience and genuine goodness in guiding us during and through the ‘Maiden Voyage’ of your Shellebaloo! It was indeed an enjoyable and memorable experience and one to cherish. While Dan and I are novice ‘shellers’, you and the other ‘shellers’ made us feel somewhat like experts like you and your husband, Clark. We thank him also for his contribution to the Shellebaloo. Island Inn should also get an honorable mention for hosting the event at their lovely resort community at Sanibel. Andrea and his Traditions Restaurant prepared a delicious meal and delivered in a very admirable fashion. He and his staff are to be complimented. But, in closing, please know it could not have been what it was without Pam Rambo. It was you in particular that make the Shellebaloo what it was — a remarkable, to be remembered, and fun time. And, last but not least, very educational. Thanks, Sara Letsch
My sweet Sara, I feel all warm and fuzzy after reading your comment. Thank you!!! It really was an enjoyable and memorable experience for me too and every part of it was because of such an amazing group with folks like you and Dan. I hope to see you again next year!
Question– how do you know that’s a false and not true angel wing? It looks like the shells I’ve been calling true angel wings up here in northern Florida and I wonder if I have the identification wrong?
Amber… oops! I think I may have gotten that identification wrong! It is a true angel wing! Ack! We see so many of the false ones at cayo costa, I just blurted it out. so sorry! I’ll change that on my post. Thank you for pointing it out!!
Oh ok! I was just wondering if I had misidentified mine!
Love reading your blog btw, I don’t get to go shelling as much as I would like so it’s nice to live vicariously through your posts!
What`s the best thing to shine up sheell?