These were my fave finds from last night’s beach walk at Gulfside City Park. I’m craving mac ‘n cheese for some reason now, aren’t you? heehee
I found the orange HORSE CONCH candies and this beautiful little perfect SAND DOLLAR in the higher wrack line. Unfortunately, this is the only photo I have of the SAND DOLLAR since … it broke. Rasher frasher.
But it’s ok … I’m happy with these sweet beach finds.
Clark was happy with his too since was such a nice evening to get out and enjoy the beach… until the no-see-ums got crazy for about 30 minutes at dusk. Time to go!
In the last few weeks we’ve had so many thunderstorms to keep us off the beach and now no-see-ums? I wish I had an answer for no-see-ums but I don’t have the perfect concoction to ward them away. I used to take an allergy pill every day and I don’t remember getting bit as much… but of course now “they” say daily allergy pills aren’t good for you- jeez- now I get no-see-ums bites. I use the same theory for no-see-ums as what I do when I hear thunder… time to get off the beach. Any time I get to spend on the beach curbs those beach cravings and its especially nice when I find a few treasures.
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Oh my goodness! I love that first photo! Have you considered making that one of your art pieces Pam?
I also love both your and Clarks beach finds, so pretty. And Clark found such a large orange scallop!
We are off to Southern California a week from today. It’s really nice there and there are some shells on the beaches, but really nowhere at all is like Sanibel!
those no-see-ums are the worst! I was going to ask you what you use for them, but it looks like you struggle too. does that spray that’s made locally work? looking for something when we’re there the end of the month. of course they get me worse than my husband. ha!
Ive tried everything and the Nooo Noseeum stuff works pretty good but I always forget to take it on the beach with me. so once i get in the water, it comes off and those little buggers go right to my ankles. grrrr. I’ll try to remember to take it with me and let you know if reapplying will keep them at bay
thanks! it was going to be my first purchase when we landed!!!
doTERRA makes an oil blend called Terra Shield that is awesome for keeping the little biters at bay. Smells good too!
Thank you for the tip. Can it be purchased at stores? I went to their website but it did not say where their products can be found.
where can i buy?! thanks!
Here in NJ I grow Orange Mint and rub the leaves on my arm. Sometimes I put a sprig in my hat as well. It smells good and keeps mosquitoes, green flies and gnats away. I don’t have no-see-ums here so who knows!
Thanks so much for my birthday Sanibel fix today…love the candies white tips and Clark’s so dark olive. The colors are fantastic!
Those no seems even get me thru the lanai screens! I read they don’t like the smell of sandalwood …? Sometimes it’s nice when it’s windy so it blows them away!
I have seen some insect repelling clothing available but have not tried any out yet. This might mean keeping your ankles out of the water. No see ums are the worst and are most attracted to the sweetest. My wife always gets murdered by them and they seem to usually skip me when I am with her.
Many years ago I used a combination of insect repellent like OFF and a heavy application of sun tan oil (the stuff from the 70s). The no see ums either hated me or got stuck in the oil. My poor wife got slaughtered and it happened on Sanibel on our very first vacation together. I had used my combo and we both hit the beach right at first light. So Pam, they are bad at dawn as well unless they have changed their dining habits since 77.
The things we will do for the fun of shelling
Love love love your “candies”and also Clarks’s orange scallop. i never used to be bothered by the no seeums over the years but last November and thi April I found I had a very bad experience with them, not just evening but daytime as well. Hopefully when I come in January I will figure how to cope! Won’t stop me from Sanibel beaches!!
I crave the beach everyday but my wife and daughters and friends are tired of hearing about paradise so I keep it to myself and cant wait until i’m back on the beach again mainly because I love shelling and that’s final !!!! sincerely r.g.stein
Just left Island Inn today. My weekend finds were so colorful, much like your finds. The jingles were plentiful as were pink scallop shells.
I love finding the mac and cheese, but I don’t usually find many. I see a nice sharks eye there too!
Do you find that the no-see-ums are worse in the summer when it is more humid? They eat me alive on every trip to Sanibel (Christmas and March) but nothing is going to keep me away from paradise!
I can’t speak for everyone, but we’ve been to Sanibel in January, late October/early November and late August/early September. The late August/early September trip we took last year was the first time we experienced the no-see ums. We’re headed back there again the end of the month. We’ll see how it is this time. It was BAD last year . . .
For No-see-ums, i use a Bounce Dryer sheet. Just rub it on your neck, arms and legs. It helps me. It is easy to carry it with you and reapply as needed.
Hello Everyone! My husband and I last visited Sanibel 5 years ago in September. Until then I had never heard of No See Ums. We had always gone in May or July before. Aside from a few mosquito bites in the past, I wasn’t concerned about anything else.
Well, as the gentleman said above, I got slaughtered. I had to go to urgent care on our 3rd morning because I could hardly walk from the pain and swelling. After giving me a prescription for quick 3 day dose of steroid tablets for the swelling, he also said to go buy bottles of Cactus Juice and Off! from Bailey’s Store, on the hardware side. He said to spray the Off! on the hems of my clothes, and apply the Cactus Juice (which is more natural) directly to my skin. WORKED GREAT! No more bites, and I could go out shelling anytime!!
We hope to come to Sanibel this Spring, and I will be heading out to get Cactus Juice right away! Good luck to everyone!!