Carly found her first JUNONIA! Carly is a friend who grew up on Sanibel, married a handsome boat Captain, just had her first baby (Oliver) and just found her first JUNONIA. It’s a fairy tale come true! LOL She found her treasure (the JUNONIA ;)) while fishing and shelling the out islands on her husband Jeremy’s boat. Congratshellations Carly!
Sara from Kentucky said “It’s a start, right?” when she found a JUNONIA cob at Blind Pass. I told her I thought it was a great find and this was the perfect one to make a piece of jewelry with…
It’s so funny because I haven’t been finding many of the bigger shells at all lately. Maybe my eyes have just been focusing on the minis because that’s all I’ve been seeing. I was just at Bunche Beach and didn’t see one ANGEL WING… and look at all of the ANGEL WINGS Brenda from Lehigh Acres found!
As I always say, the beaches change every day and also by the hour with the changing tides. That’s what keeps us hunting! Brenda not only found ANGEL WINGS, she found a different shell I haven’t seen (or noticed) before. She found several double STRIATE PIDDOCK shells…
These are in the same family as ANGEL WINGS but much smaller and… ummmmm… not as pretty. I was thrilled for her that she was excited to find something she had never found before. They are pretty fascinating (the shells AND Brenda!). The shell is almost paper thin at the “tail” (dorsal) but when the animal is alive, it is strong enough to bore through wood to do extensive damage to wood pilings or any submerged wood for that matter.
After I told her I had never seen one out of the wood either, I was tickled that she gave me one of the 5 that she found. She opened up her eyeglass case that kept them safe from getting crunched (great idea!), then handed me one of them. Thank you Brenda! Who “wood” get “bored” with stuff like this showing up on the beach? heehee
That junonia is gorgeous! Congratulations! I remember the hubbub when I found my first, (and only), junonia on the southern Anclote Island sandbar off the coast of Tarpon Springs. I’ve never heard of one being found there…too far north…not Sanibel…LOL…but I have the proof. :) I think the “cob” is almost prettier than the pristine shell! :)
Erin
Tarpon Springs,FL
They’re nice looking shells!
Congrats Carly … beautiful !!! Will be down there next week to do my fair share of shelling … let’s just say a lot of shelling … love the hunt !!! Pam , thanks for sharing , maybe we will catch you again around the Blue Dolphin !
Hey, I made the blog! I feel almost famous. ;-) Although I’ll continue lusting after a whole one, I do love my broken one too. The interior architecture of a shell can be just as beautiful as the outside.
As an artist, I always look for interesting broken and partial shells There is always a beautiful pattern revealed! They are almost as treasured as the “whole” shells!
I am still looking for my first Junonia, wanted so bad to go on the shelling trip but cannot get off work that week, hopefully you will run another one in Novmeber!
I need the beach will try the jersey shore this weekend but it is suppose to be a West Wind and that brings heat and Greenheads (horrible biting flies)
Love your post Pam at least I feel like I am in Sanibel.
Karen, I am also going to be at the Jersey Shore starting tomorrow. I was told to bring socks to wear to walk on the sand to get to the water! Wind should shift tomorrow so hopefully no flies!!
Good Luck with gifts from the sea!
I will be in Cape May at the art show in Wilbraham Park on Saturday. If you ladies are staying at the southern end and want a break from the beach, come over and say Hi. I’ll be hoping for winds from the East too. :)
Awesome Junonia…the Cobb is a great find as well.
I haven’t noticed any big shells lately…and it seems whomevers job it is to plug the Sun in lately is a slacker…lol.
Wish I didn’t have to work today.. It was beautiful this morning.
Cool Junonia, Carly!! Although I think Oliver’s the real treasure in that photo. ;-)
Well, how nice on the Junonia. My sister is coming down next week. I hope she finds one.
I was working with shells today from our trip last May. I need a Sanibel fix!
Makes me remember meeting a sheller at Blind pass who GAVE me a junonia cob she had found ! …she was the sweetest person, i tried to give it back to her, and she ran away laughing!
Oooooo! Great shells! Thanks Pam!
Thank for the spotlight, Pamela…the “Piddock Shoot” was a blast! So honking cool to see them on the menu to the left! I am really looking forward to future adventures!
I’m so jealous finding that beautiful junonia! one day I WILL FIND ONE :)
Great finds. I found a junonia, well 3/4 of one on Bonita’s Little Hickory Beach the week after we left Sanibel it was soooo exciting. We were trying to find all the shells Pam has on her laminated shell identification card. We found all but the Lion’s paw,Scotch Bonnet and one other one. Still cleaning shells from Sanibel and Bonita- it is like being there all over again. I also enjoy looking at the intricate structure of broken shells, they do make for interesting pieces in groupings.
Good news, bad news. Good news- I just returned from a boat charter out of Fort Myers. I had limited opportunities to shell on the beaches of Sanibel, Captiva and Boca Grande. Also,did a charter with Capt. Brian to Cayo Costa.
Bad news- The shelling was not so good. The best was with Capt. Brian, but that was cut short by a thunderstorm. I was not surprised by the shells just not being there after checking iloveshelling blog.
That being said, we had a wonderful vacation in the area. The people in the marinas were great and dining was wonderful. Of course, the beauty of the area goes without saying!
I found a Junonia in 1976 just south of the Blind Pass bridge. It is in excellent condition and it is a prized possession.