South Florida Balloons To Beach Bling
By
A relaxing walk on the beach with Clark this evening at the lighthouse end of Sanibel was exactly what I needed this evening. I was happy just to find the most common of shells like KITTENS PAWS, ARKS, SCALLOPS, COCKLES, SLIPPERS, JEWEL BOXES, CROSS BARRED VENUS and COQUINAS.
The island is finally slowing down so I can finally get back to taking a quiet, casual stroll on the beach so I could look through the minis.
I found three SPARSE DOVE shells…
I even got a little giggle along the way after I found the funniest little half eaten pacifier washed up in the beach bling. I decided to keep it to add a little color in the odds and ends jar instead of throw it away.
The lighthouse beach looked a little more eroded exposing large chunks of brick and concrete along side the those concrete slabs we’ve sent through the years. I’m going to do some research to hopefully find out where these aqua colored pieces came from. If you have any idea, please let us know!
I needed a little peace and quiet this evening because I didn’t get much sleep last night. I had a very exciting early morning adventure starting at 4 am. Nope, not shelling. I went to the first annual Immokalee Hot Air Balloon Festival which started at 6am. It was awwwesooome! It was too windy for the balloons to launch but to see dozens of brilliant balloons bunched together on the ground in Southwest Florida was so thrilling. It was well worth that 4am wake up call. I can’t wait for next year!
What a great way to relax – by the water with your honey, picking up shells…. oh, can’t wait!
I would love to be there and walk the beach every day too. Beaches on the east coast in Melbourne have nothing like Sanibel beaches!
Pam every Memorial weekend we have a festival here in Simpsonville SC that is called Freedom Aloft and for 3 days we have around 50 or more balloons every morning and evening go over our house (we live a block from where they launch) I know people don’t believe me when I say we can almost touch them hehe it’s really awesome to see.. Glad you got to enjoy your Island I miss it soooooo!
Melody
My dream is to live in Florida & walk the beaches every day someday. For now, I have to be happy to vacation there every year, something I look forward to!!
Nice dove shells! I would love to get back to those Lighthouse Beach patches where there are all the delicate, super tiny, beach drift shells. There are all kinds of fabulous treasures in that stuff!
A couple of days ago I sent Jose off the four tiny species I found at Lighthouse that I think are new to his SW Florida database. I will also try to remind him that it would be good to photograph the 4 species of tusk shells he has in the collection, and put them up on the database too.
I feel so homesick for Sanibel and the beach and most of all, gathering the seashells!! But how can I feel homesick when it isn’t my home!! (sigh!)
Beautiful, beautiful, pictures. Thank you very much!
I know there usually isn’t seaglass found on Sanibel, but those aqua pieces imbedded in the larger piece sure look like seaglass to me.
Those aqua pieces are gorgeous. Can you make some jewelry out of them?
I love those aqua chuncks as well. Gorgeous in a bowl on the table!
Thanks for the link to the balloon fest. Sorry you couldn’t witness a launch because of the weather. It’s always a spectacular sight to see them fly.
Thanks also for sharing your daily finds and for giving such wonderful facts about life in Paradise.
~m
I’m with you Pam, the smaller the better with the shells! I could comb thru a sq ft in an hour, love it!!!!
Have fun fir all of us!
Mary Ann
Can’t make Sanibel but we leave for 18 day cruise thur Panama Canal out of Ft. Lauderdale on 4/20. Since we don’t snorkel anymore may not be able to find anything on the beaches. Understand Grand Turk is my best bet.I’ll check out all the shops for unusual ones, but nothing like finding your own. You are still on mu bucket list and hubby promises, next year!!
Janet In AZ
Hi Pam, I finally made it to Sanibel Island! I left Apr 1 and went to Delaware then drove down the coast to Orlando and picked up my partner on Apr 11. We finally made it to Sanibel today and went to the beach around the lighthouse. We found scallops, a paper fig, olives, kitten paws, an 7″ whelk, conches, augers, cockles, a murex and others. But no wentletraps. We found these by the cement blocks in the water. Also found a large horse conch egg case and what looked to be a sea pork. We decided to stay the night and booked into Mitchells (got the last one!). Going out for dinner, then will walk the beach. Tommorow we will go to Blind Pass and try our luck there. This is such a wonderful island. We took an earlier tram ride through the Ding Darling Reserve and our guide was wonderful. We are looking at coming back for sure! Your site was a big factor in planning this trip. Thanks for posting all the information!
Carolyn,
It sounds like you are having a great time and finding wonderful things. You will like Mitchells. We were there in March and really liked it. Plan a longer stay next time.
Good luck at Blind Pass today.
Very cool finds again-my inlaws just got back from Sanibel and brought me some shells and sand! Yey