Happy 2016!
It’s gonna be a shelltastic new year if the shells keep rolling in like they have done the last few days all along the beaches of SW Florida. From Sanibel’s Bowmans Beach to Blind Pass Captiva there were mounds of shells piling up then washing out with the tide. They come and go… come and go… come and go.
We also did some island hopping around the out islands to find some very cool treasures. We don’t find the little BAY BEANS (on the bottom right in the next photo) very often so I’m always thrilled to find those cute little SEA BEANS.
I love finding different types of seashells and beach bling… i Love everything there is about Shelling. Beach combing gets us out to the beaches to explore and learn about the ocean and wildlife that surrounds the sea… but it’s also a restoration of the soul, don’t you think? Walking the beach is like meditation- we get lost in the moment with the sounds of the waves, the warm sunshine on our skin, the salty breezes and the search for beautiful things. And there are so many beautiful things its hard to decide which beautiful things we need to hold and take with us. We can’t take the sun or the waves or the breezes with us although they are embedded in our minds. But there are the gifts from the sea like those sweet little WHELKS and that cute little BAY BEAN we want to put in our pockets so we never forget the glorious days on the beach. Hmmmm… so this made me think…. how many shells do I need to keep? Granted, I collect more than the average sheller because I have this blog in which I share my experiences so we can all learn the different variations of shells and bling that wash up around the world. I also craft with shells and give gifts of shells… but there’s a time to …errrrr… diet. I think I need to go on a shell collection “diet”. So…
My New Years Reshellution!! Here it is…. I will comb the beaches as I normally do but at the end of the day, I will choose only a few treasures to bring home with me- less than 8. I will take photos, then leave the rest or give them away on the beach. I’ve been doing this for a while but then there are days when I get too excited and forget to pick out my faves and put the rest back. From this handful of goodness, I chose to keep the dark HORSE CONCH (wow- what a great size!), that teenie tiny cutie little LACE MUREX, the NUTMEG, the OPERCULUM (under the NUTMEG), the middle dark LIGHTNING WHELK and the WORM SHELL (it’s hard to leave a WORMIE!). But from now on I have to remember that I don’t need to over indulge- less is more- that’s why I love the minis!
And plus… There have been so many beach combers on Sanibel lately, we don’t want to take away any of the treasures from anybody else. So many happy people finding shells. Happy New Year!
Pam, I love your New Year’s Reshellution! Giving away shells to others is so nice!
You didn’t keep the bean????? I’ve made that same resolution myself many times. I have cut back tremendously. Only brought a jar and a basket full home this year. But it’s so hard.
Hi Barb- yes! I kept the bean. Haha I found that after I took that pic of the shells in my hand.
My family and I were able to spend some time on Sanibel this past week.So many beautiful shells and memories.Sandi C.
If it were me, Pam, it would take all the strength & will power I had to keep that reshellution!!!
Happy New Year to you & yours, Pam; and to all the rest of the shellers and wanna-be-shellers on this board!
Meditation walking the Beaches- my thoughts exactly !!
Pam you hit it right on the head! Beach combing is like a form of meditation and those precious times those of us you only visit occasionally are what keeps us going. And the shells and beach “bling” we find serves as a reminder that we are blessed to have experienced Sanibel and drives us toward our next trip! Love ya, girlfriend. Wish you and Clark and blessed and most happy New Year! Keep the blog entries and pics coming!
p.s. was bummed that we couldn’t be there this Christmas for the full moon and low tides!
We’re so excited, January 7th, we’ll be taking a shelling cruise, and then we’ll hit the beach! We’re a group of homeschoolers and can’t wait to find a variety of treasures to take home! With all your guidance, I know we’ll find our way!
Thanks for sharing your Reshellution! Not over harvesting shells is an important part of ethical beachcombing and protecting the amazing ocean ecosystem. :) Happy New Year!
Hello Hawaii Shells- I love your guidelines of ethical beach combing! thank you for sharing that. I have thought of posting a list as well and would include some ethics towards other people on the beach as well. :)
That horse conch and the nutmeg are nice ones.
I would have kept the two top shells-I haven’t found that many in such good condition. Wish we were there, maybe next year. Pat
We live in the Whitsundays in Australia, so we don’t have the access you guys enjoy, but we give our excess shells to our local nursing home for the craft inspiration to continue
“but it’s also a restoration of the soul, don’t you think? Walking the beach is like meditation- we get lost in the moment with the sounds of the waves, the warm sunshine on our skin, the salty breezes and the search for beautiful things.”
So true! Its why I Love Shelling!
Tim
Hello Pam, Jeanne Richards from Vt here..I was digging around in the rubble about a quarter of a mile north of the Blind Pass breakwater today and believe I have found a “plastered Wentletrap” thanks to your shell identification information. I would very much like to show it to you if possible.. I honestly thought it might be a “wedding shell” when I first saw it, because in thirty plus years of shelling on Sanibel and CaptivaI have never seen anything quite like it. It is exactly like Donnie’s. I will be here for about eight weeks and if you are going to be in the blind pass area please let me know and I will bring it down for you to give me your expert opinion. Thanks so much, Jeanne