It’s gray today. The skies have been dark, cold and cloudy with drizzling light showers throughout the day. But there’s always something so good to find in a day like today in SW Florida … take for instance the spotting a few beautiful brown dots in the gray sand at Blind Pass this morning. Well, how about that- a beaming little fragment of JUNONIA sitting right in the middle of the new sand bar that formed again last week.
I found more sunshine to go along with that piece of polka dot shell. There was no thunder or lightning- thats so important so we could still be on the beach safely in the rain. Then… I found Ka’Sha, Stephanie, Aunt Andrea and E’Mia from Iowa laughing and cheering at every piece of shell they found on the BLIND PASS bar and in between rocks. They collected pieces of SAND DOLLARS, pieces of FIGHTING CONCHS, pieces of WHELKS and pieces of ARKS to put in their ziplock bags. It was their first time seeing shells wash up on the beach and they were enjoying every single minute- gray skies or not and broken shells or not. Happy.
After leaving Blind Pass, I headed to Gulfside City Park (I know, I know. I just can’t get enough of it these days!) to see the changes there since we’ve had a little cold front move through. Yes, there are a few new shells coming in with the tide but the best thing was to see the Iowan girls again. They were even more excited!
Combing the beach at the shoreline, there were a few nice treasures like this LETTERED OLIVE…
and this teeny tiny LIGHTNING WHELK.
Then I heard a scream… E’Mia found this big LIGHTNING WHELK completely empty. Awesome!
Since we have many shells still to be sorted in the Shellaboratory, I’ve been trying only to collect shells with different patterns, colors or sizes to take home from my beach walks. Today, I will have to find a place in my Shellaboratory for a juvie orange FIGHTING CONCH, a dark maroon spotted ROUGH SCALLOP and a dark striped juvie LIGHTNING WHELK. Ok, we probably have lots of similar ones to these…. but really- I’m trying my hardest to be selective. I want to leave more for YOU!
When I got home, I received a note from my shelling sistah CShells. She knew I couldn’t hit all the beaches this morning so she gave me an update on where she went and if there were any shell piles she saw (which she said “nothing major”). But she made me smile as she told me she saw a LOGGERHEAD TURTLE and a BALD EAGLE – “Some people would think it was a yucky day, but it’s amazing the wildlife you see when it’s raining. It’s a good day.” Yes, I agree. It’s always good to see the good through the gray.
Come shelling with me! Here are my next dates for my Shelling Adventures… CLICK HERE
Yes, it was a good morning and a lazy afternoon. I can’t believe I missed a rough scallop. I found 3 today and a lace murex. We talked to people from Iowa at the Lighthouse and we suggested they head for Gulfside. Iowa must be in the “house”.
keep them rolling in Pam! Patty and I will be treasure hunting this weekend!!!
Always love to read your posts on shelling – you always find the positive side!
Thanks Pam ;-)
We went to Ding Darling and took so many pictures of birds. Got my first pic of a roseated spoonbill, been trying for 8 years. Tomorrow I’ll hit the beach again!
Husband and I will be on the Dec. 7 cruise to Costa Cayo. Our second one with you. We are counting the days!
I am so excited to be coming to Sanibel this weekend!! for 7 days this is my dream come true I can not wait to get so many wonderful shells! this has been my dream for a while now! I will be there sun hope I get to see you on the beaches I love doing virtual shelling thru your posts and blog!
Kim Buca
Novi,Mi
still a good post they were happy to find anything that was a shell ,cloudy,rainy,soggy doesn’t matter its all in the eyes of the beholder and can make a bad day look as sunny as a good day—it sounds like they found the love of shelling and that’s a good thing from snowy ohio r.g.stein
I agree, as long as there is no thunder and lightning, the beach is the place to be!
Every day on the beach to shell is a gift, rain or shine!!
I have a request: I found a crucifix shell on the I love shelling cruise on Nov.10. Can I put in the Miracid Acid to “restore it’?
I hope to attend a Shellabaloo some year. I love Island Inn and it is on my bucket list to attend!!
thanks Pam for all your enthusiasm and information.
Hi Cindy, yes I remember! :) i think you asked that question on another post? I replied last week (“Beach Treasures and Willit Birds” maybe?) … But anyway- I would not use muriatic acid on the crucifix shell.
quite beautiful rough scallop&love the coloring on the lightning whelk!Gray skies bring welcomed treasures!
Are the sea squirts gone? Really made shelling a “rich” experience! We found fighting conchs with a beautiful purplish and even butterscotch hue to them! They were just gorgeous! Came home to below freezing temperatures in Illinois?! Really miss the beach but enjoying evenings sorting/crafting with shells we found!
The sea squirts are all dried up and blending in but still there on the highest wrack. They aren’t as stinky any more either:)
There were a lot of fighting conchs this morning and some were empty. I even picked up a butterscotch. Lots of sponges, sea whips, sea urchins and I think even better shelling tomorrow. It was definitely chilly, I had to put a beautiful live lightning whelk in my scoop and put back in the water.
Beautiful!
It is exciting to know there is a new sand bar forming at Blind Pass! There was one there about the same time last year. My wife and I were happy to have met you on that sand bar by the dawn’s early light last year on December 16th at dead low tide where we found a perfect alphabet cone. We had such a nice time we scheduled another trip this year around the early morning low tide December 7-9. Do you stop at Blind Pass or Gulf Side City Park or try to hit both first thing in the morning?
Heads Up! There were shells on the sand bar at Blind Pass today. I’m getting a cybershelling video together but I don’t think I’ll finish it tonight so I wanted to give y’all a heads up in case you wanted to know. Should be good at most of the beaches tomorrow!