Archive for Sunsets
Walking The Beach Warms The Soul
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Even though we aren’t wearing our usual tee shirts and shorts here on Sanibel Island because of this cold 40 degree weather, walking the beach warms the soul.
“Espeshelly” since cold weather brings shells!
Sanibel Lighthouse beach has load of shells washing up about a half a mile west of the Lighthouse.
There were lots of live CONCHS… and lots of empty ones too but my fave was this empty sweet striped PEAR WHELK.
Beautishell!
There were shells starting to come in at Island Inn Sanibel too (my second picture from the top)
There were also shells starting to come in at Blind Pass too (CLICK HERE for map)
Were you hoping for a video to warm you up? You Got It! I walked down the beach on the gulf side of the Sanibel Lighthouse….ummmm… maybe about 1/2 mile west or so. I mostly found empty minis (like the 3rd photo) in the washed up shell lines and live FIGHTING CONCHS and STARFISH (like the first photo) in the water near the Lighthouse but when I walked further down the beach I found this… 
One more photo to sooth the soul… The evening warmth of shelling at Blind Pass at sunset last night.
Sanibel Sky Is Feast For The Eyes
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If you were outside last night in Southwest Florida, you were lucky to witness a gorgeous cool evening that started with colorful overcast September summer sky …
At Lighthouse Beach on Sanibel, there were scattered lines of common white CLAM and SCALLOP shells on the beach and in the surf… but… it was hard to look any further after seeing hundreds of MOON JELLYFISH (Aurelia aurita).
It was a little creepy to see so many in the water and washing up on the beach since I’ve been stung before (CLICK HERE) but after the initial shock of seeing the MOON JELLY masses and remembering this one doesn’t sting humans, it was so cool to stop and see really how beautiful they are.
Then I looked up at the sky when I turned the corner to see the Sanibel Pier.
I found just a few minis (a few BUBBLES, juvie CONCHS, juvie OLIVES and one TINTED CANTHARUS) and as I looked up again the sky changed to lavender…
Then it changed to a deeper purple…
Then to orange…
Although I didn’t collect many shells… the evening was magical with a feast for the eyes.
Sanibel’s Sizzling Summer Shelling
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In the last several weeks, most of our SanCap beaches have been surprisingly sparse for finding The Sanibel Six or any of the larger shells washing up on the shore. The only beach we have been finding good shells like GAUDY NATICAS, LACE MUREXES, NUTMEGS and ALPHABET CONES is Gulfside City Park. Clark found a sweet little mix of those and more (top photo) this weekend at low tide in the evening. Mid days have been sizzling hot but absolutely beautiful with bright blue skies and pretty calm gulf waters.
To avoid the heat in the last week, we have preferred to only go out to the beach in the early evening which just so happens to be low tide anyway. This is the time of day in the summer when the clouds blow in to cool things down and reward us with a few beach treasures like a few of my faves…
While at Gulfside City Park beach I had the pleasure of meeting Josh, Heather, Tiffany and Brian visiting from Ohio and Washington DC. With every beautiful shell Heather and Tiffany collected, they had sweet memories of their grandmother June, who taught them the art of shelling.
June sure taught them well! These are just a few of the beautiful shells they found.
George and Beth from Long Island, NY were making new memories collecting shells with Lauren who already had the art of shelling mastered as well. She knew the names of every shell in their shell bag.
Even the sizzling summer days on Sanibel there are treasures to be found, memories to be made and sights to behold. Clark and I can attest to this… we celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary this weekend! Since day one together, beachcombing has been a constant routine in our lives. No matter what, witnessing the strength of the sea and the beauty of the beach always reminds us what is important in life.
