sea foam shells sanibel

 The shells were bubbling up in patches around the islands this week. On the east end of Sanibel at the Lighthouse Beach, Clark found an awesome ALBINO FIGHTING CONCH. You can tell this shell didn’t turn white from being old and sun bleached because it is still glossy. It may look like it has a little scum on it but that yellowish stuff is the periostracum which is like a skin that will scrap right off with your thumb nail. Those are the signs that it is a true ALBINO.

albino fighting conch

 See how glossy it is? Okay, this side (the aperture) has some scum on it (not just the periostracum) but I’m sure you can still see this shell never had color to it.

albino fighthing conch

 Most of the shells were alive at the Lighthouse beach but Sharon and Pierre (from Curacao Island!) and her mom Irene (from Holland!) were happy seeing all of the wonders of our sea life and found a few keeper shells as well…

sharon, pierre, irene holland

 But hold on to your sun hats, folks! Maria D. posted this on the i Love Shelling Facebook page…. she found 3 ALPHABET CONES this week! She said she found them mid island around the Island Inn.

alphabet cones Maria DeLellis

 Then Jen L. posted this awesome photo of the shells her family found at Bowman’s Beach. She found this unbelievable LION’S PAW! Wow, it looks like all of the knuckles are still in tact! Her dad Tim found the ANGEL WING and her mom Joanne found the huge FLAT SCALLOP. Nice finds, Linnan family!

lions paw angel wing flat jen linnan

 My friend Susie (a long time Sanibel resident) still gets excited to find a FIGHTING CONCH…

Susie fighting conch

 She couldn’t wait to show me all the other colorful shells she found. See? After years of living on the island, the beach still delivers simple happiness…

seashells bowmans beach sanibel

I even heard that Bind Pass Sanibel was still delivering too but after seeing these shells and what shelling sisters Jamie and Lauren found on my last post Bowman’s Beach is rockin!

horse conch sanibel seashells

 Soooo, now that I’ve caught you up with the shelling news… let me catch you up on my news.

Drum roll please…. ddllllrrrrrrrrr…..

I am now a partner of The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel as a SWFL (SouthWest Florida) Insider. I’m the designated shelling insider for Lee County! Here’s my new badge so click on it and it will take you to the program information just launched on Facebook…

Insider blog badge

Okay, and I more excitement this week! Clark and I were interviewed by this REALLY nice gal that happens to be a reporter for …

okay, another drum roll…. dlllrrrr….

The New York Times!!! Crazy, huh? She wanted to know about shelling on Sanibel and happened to find iLoveShelling! So, pleeeaase keep your fingers crossed that the story is featured and makes it in the paper. I was going to keep it a secret to see if it really showed up in print, but I figured if I could spread good vibes, it can’t hurt this little ol’ shelling blog. I’ll keep you posted. Shelling fingers crossed!

seashell fingers crossed

 Oh, and one more thing… I promise, this is it for today but I couldn’t help but sing a little. LaLaLaaaa… Okay the vocal cords are warmed up.

Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birrrrthdaaaay dear Super Sheller Claarrrk. Happy Birthday to you!