Sunrise on Sanibel is such a beautiful sight at Lighthouse Beach, I always tell myself I need to get out there in the morning more often.
As I was shelling at the waters edge, I met a family enjoying the cool morning while collecting shells along the same path. Rick, Cindy, Sarah, Harley (she’s peek-a-boo-ing between her mom and dad’s legs- heehee) and Richard from Virginia were tickled with their finds.
Cindy found a beautiful PAPER FIG and ANGEL WING while Rick was finding juvie WHELKS, CONCHS and pieces of shells with cool BARNCLES attached…
Cindy found this awesome BRITTLE STAR on the beach which we thought was too dry to still be alive but while we inspected him and all ooohed and aaahed, the little guy started waving one of his arms to tell us he still had some life in him. Omigosh! He needed water! Cindy hurried to get this guy back to the Gulf Of Mexico.
Sarah found her first WENTLETRAP!
I should have known I would see award winning SAILORS VALENTINE artist Constance Miller shelling at the lighthouse because the Sanibel Shell Festival this week. She loves to find her own WENTLETRAPS and other mini shells to use in her gorgeous designs.
Clark and I walked just south of Bowman’s Beach to catch sunset and saw the perfect Sanibel Stooper shelling the sand bar just as the sun reached the horizon. So beautiful!
Just after I snapped the photo, that Sanibel Stooper walked back towards the beach so I approached him to tell him I got a fun photo of him at sunset. Holy Cowrie! It was Rick again! LOL Yes, that was the same Rick that I had just met in the morning shelling at Lighthouse Beach. He and his son Richard (Marley’s dad) were still shelling but this time near Bowman’s too. It’s a small island, huh?
These are just a few goodies they pulled out of their shell bag. Lots of treasure!
If you are near Sanibel Island this week Thursday- Saturday (March 6,7,8 2014) you shouldn’t miss the 77th Sanibel Shell Festival. It will be lots of fun AND…. I am entering into the show for the very first time. I have two pieces that will be judged in the artistic division so I will definitely show you pictures later in the week after they have been judged. Yes, judged… Ack! Pressure! Please wish me good luck! And of course I will be blogging about all of the other exhibits as well. I hope to see you there!
Goood luck Pam I know you’ll place if not win. Your finds are way too spectacular. I wished I lived there to compete
Good luck at the show with your entry. Wish we could be there.
Loved the picture of the lighthouse and the empty beach, for a moment it looked like a deserted island :-)
Pam, best of luck with your entries. How exciting! Someday I hope to be able to attend the Shell Festival. But for now I enjoy your reports about it. As always, thanks for keeping us close to the beach, even as we await the next big snow storm.
Can’t wait to hear about the show…AND your entries!
Wow y’all! thank you for sending your lucky vibes And for responding so quickly! Y’all are THE BEST! xoxo
We’re going to the fair for the first time this year, can’t wait to see your art! We’ve been shelling for mini’s at the Light House this week as well. Thanks to you I found an Arrow Dwarf Triton. I’m certain I would never have noticed it were it not for your post last month. Once again, a big thank you for the time you take to educate us on all the beautiful shells, we truly appreciate it Pam.
OMG Sue! Im so happy for you that you found an Arrow Dwarf Triton! Its a really great find! While Ive been sorting shells, I found one in our stash…. ONE… in all of the hundreds (maybe thousands) of minis. Was yours in the same type of tidal lines that you find the wentles?
I found it in one of those dry “mini piles” at the high tide line. I was on my hands and knees with reading glasses and tweezers, lol. It was one of those piles that has more of a mixture of tiny welks, top shells, drills, etc., versus the piles that have lots of white bi-valves. It wasn’t in the “coffee ground” wentle area. I am so glad you found one too Pam in your mini-sorting!!
Hope you get a ribbon! Have a great time on the cruise tomorrow. Wish we were there. Pat
Yes, yes, yes…thanks for the grand pics. I needed the views today…forecast to be the coldest high temp ever recorded in March in KC. Wishing you luck, that you don’t need, for the shell fair.
Good luck, Pam -hope to see you there. I’ll be out in the shell tent most of the time.
I’m so happy that you entered in the Shell Festival! Just seeing the posts of what you have made, how you decorate your house with kitties and all, and how you lay your shells together for pictures makes me know you are a true artist at heart. Lots of good luck wishes, but if at least one of your entries doesn’t win, then it’s not you-it’s the judge(s)! I can’t wait to see what you made! A fan of your blog and you, Lynn
Hope you do well with your entries! Thanks for that beautiful shot of shells with the 2 flowers—that’s two of my favorite things, shells and flowers!
No wonder I couldn’t find any at Lighthouse Beach yesterday- you and Constance Miller beat me to them! ;). Good luck on your shell fair entries! I will look for them (and you) next Saturday at the Shell Fair! Your posts are a wealth of information, and always bring a ray of Sanibel Sunshine into my day!
Good luck Pam!!!!!
I was there last year, it’s a wonderful show!
Good luck
Mary Ann
East Granby. CT
Best of luck Pam!!! We will be traveling from Michigan to Orlando to see my daughter that weekend and sure wish I could come!!!
Gorgeous sunrise pic Pam, thanks. I can’t wait to see your artistic entries to the show!
I just wanted to thank you again for our educational and shelltastic posts. You bring such happiness with each and every post to a cold upstate NY household. Best of luck at the Shell Festival…wish we could be there!!!
Three weeks from today, I will be on my way there. I can’t wait! Wish that I could have made it for the show though. Save some shells for me!
My husband and I made a quick trip to Sanibel last week. We were staying in Kissimmee and he suggested we shoot down for a day. I thought it was too far for a day trip, but he reminded me that Sanibel is my “favorite spot on earth” and he thought we really should go. So glad we did! We found a few great shells, totally relaxed to the ocean waves, soaked up some sun and had a wonderful time! Before leaving the Island, we stopped at the Island Cow for a fabulous meal (highly recommend the seafood tacos)! Am I married to the greatest guy in the world or what???
What a wonderful treat! Wow, you sure have quite a great keeper husband!… but… if you don’t mind too much, can he share the title of “greatest guy” with Clark? :)
Absolutely, Pam! Clark sounds like a wonderful husband — we are blessed!!!
Best of luck, Pam, with your entries. I was pleased to see such treasures found at Bowman Beach. We have bypassed that beach thinking there would not be good shelling. I would be thrilled to find some banded tulips there.
Will be in Sanibel on May 3. Can’t wait. Also going to the keys. Any hints on the best place to look for shells in he Keys?
Good luck Pam!!
Good Luck with your entries Pam!!! Please show us lots of pictures from the show and your creations. Always looking for ideas to show off my shells as well. Brought home many treasures in late January this year.
Best of luck to you, Pam. Can’t wait to see your creations.
Good luck at the shell show. Very cool that you bumped into Connie Miller. She is wonderful! I saw Connie’s entries when I was there last week. I wish I could see the entire show. I know you’ll put up some good pictures later this week. I’ll be back in a couple weeks. Hope to bump into you shelling some morning.
Love your use of the pen shell “canvas” for your beautiful arrangement, Pam, especially after your great pen shell tutorial. We will enjoy seeing your entries, but until then, congratulations on being accepted into the competition. Now take a few deep breaths, know we’re cheering you on, and enjoy every moment!
What a beautiful arrangement of flowers and shells in a common old pen..it looks grand..I know you will have a blast at the shell festival. Good luck for a day full of excitement and surprises!! You know you and your site make lasting impressions on so many!! ;)
Pam,
I can’t wait to see your artistic entries!! I know they will be fabulous!!
Good luck – not that you really need luck – you are definitely an artist!
I have loved watching your photography evolve over the years. I can def see artistry in your photos so I know your shell art will be beautiful too.
Xoxo