Carrier Love and Prickly Finds

handful of seashells

These shells could CARRY me through till next week! See that way cool CARRIER shell? My best one yet! I also spy a tellin, a lace murex, a nice apple murex and a whole lot more.

carrier alone

Here’s another close up of that CARRIER shell. Oooh, she’s pretty.

Prickly cockles

And some colorful cockles, including some PRICKLY cockles (they have the little spikes on them). Gorgeous inside and out.

A Rainbow of Scallops With Some Jingles

scallop rainbow

I just love the colors that you can find in scallop shells. All colors, all sizes. My sister loves the zigzag scallops so I always pick up some of those for her 🙂

jingles

I also found a handful of jingles in just a few minutes. The black and orange got me thinking about fall already and it’s not even summer.

lace murex hiding

This was my last fun find of the day, a lace murex hiding amid the wrack line. Score! Now, it’s your turn to Go To Shell!

She’s a fatty and I love her

fat tulip

I found this fat tulip today while shelling on West Gulf Drive. I also found these two colorful lightning whelks. I am so attracted to their dark color – and yes, they were both empty! These were both in the water, found them about 20 minutes apart while walking.

whelks

By the way, today’s sunrise was one of those I’ll remember forever. Take a look at those cotton candy clouds.

Sanibel sunrise to remember.
Sanibel sunrise to remember.

Mermaid’s Purse and Double Cones

Double alphabet cones

Today had me seeing double! These two alphabet cones are a little worn but for being on the sand, they’re in pretty good shape. I found them on the low tide line near the water at Turner Beach.

mermaid purse

This mermaid’s purse was also found on the low tide line at Turner Beach. I didn’t keep it. I gave it back to the mermaids who lost it in the Gulf. Have you ever found one? Did you keep it? What did you do with it?

Minis and a Redfish

Tiny little mini shells from Sanibel
Tiny little mini shells from Sanibel.

Good things come in very small packages! Here are some of the mini shells that I found at the Sanibel Lighthouse today. In that mix: murex, cockle, juvenile fighting conch, sundial, lightning whelk, tulip, shark eye, king’s crown and even a  kitten paw.

While I was shelling on one end of the island, my older son was fishing at the J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge. He scored, too! A monster redfish! Yes, he put him back in the water after the photo. The big fish swam off in a hurry. Very cool.

Dusty with his redfish, caught at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.
Dusty with his redfish, caught at Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

Blind Pass at Sunrise

blind pass sunrise

There is something magical about being on the beach before the sun rises over the horizon. It’s quiet. So still. All you can hear is the sound of the waves and the wind. It’s my favorite time of day.

This morning, I was shelling at Blind Pass on Sanibel and I found some interesting items. The first one was this shell fossil. I like it!

FullSizeRender

Then I found this absolutely gorgeous Florida cone. As you know, I’m really attracted to the orange shells (Go Canes!) but I about lost my breakfast when I turned it over and there was actually a critter inside! NO WAY! UGH! Critter was orange, too. Stupid critter! So, I took a good photo and put him back. Dang!

Florida Cone Shell, occupied!
Florida Cone Shell, occupied!

Oh well, he’ll be there again someday…empty. Until then, go to shell!

Starfish and a Cockle

nine-arm starfish and big cockle shell on Sanibel.
nine-arm starfish and big cockle shell on Sanibel.

You never know what you’re going to find on a beach walk. This morning, I found this beautiful nine-armed starfish and a gorgeous, big cockle. The starfish was on the move, too! He was dancing in the morning light. Low tide brought out some incredible sights. Hey, that rhymes!