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| Many are very delicate and along with some nearby shells and sand patterns become beautiful painting subjects. I would love to do a photo show with the just the feathers I find. |
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| A lovely composition very naturally formed without any assistance from man is captured for all times from its fleeting existence. I think that is the enchantment with photography. The catching of a moment and being able to hold it and recall that time just by revisiting it. |
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| Or sharing that moment with a friend who can also appreciate the beauty you saw in it. |
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| From watching the Pelicans and the Osprey's as they hit the water with such force I can certainly understand why there would be such an abundance of them. |
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| Not all is pretty feathers, but almost feather like in their movements in the water are the Jellys. This one is a very small one. There are lots of them on the beach now. I guess the winter-like winds and currents make a difference when you are dependent on it for your direction in life. |
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| I'm not sure of this fellows direction as he was on the river side of the jetty. I think he was just enjoying watching the world around him. |
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| The iridescence of the inside layer of the Pen Shell is a rainbow in a shell. |
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| This was a fine day for treasure hunting. It was very cold and I really had no intention of staying any longer than required to walk down check the nest and get back to the gallery. The wind had picked up from the Northwest. It was really blowing hard, so much so that it was affecting the tide. The water level was extremely low...a negative tide. It left things above water that we don't normally find. This sponge was a good example. I have never seen one with this kind of color. It had already been torn loose from its moorings so I took it to the gallery. A great treasure. When it dried it lost some of its brilliance but is still a great gift from the sea. |
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| A wide low beach was very pretty to see. What I thought was a tree washed in front of me turned out to be a flock of birds in an unusual formation almost in a line across the beach. |
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| I had to use my camera to actually see what was there. I did not disturb them and turned the other way. With so much treasure why not explore the north end instead. |
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| A new beach friend, Sarah, was out for her daily jog. She has only recently moved here and you will be sure to notice her as she is very beautiful with amazing dreadlocks. I did mention that it was very cold that day. I showed her our turtle nest. |
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| Another original one of a kind feather composition with a sea oat seed feature created by mother nature. |
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| Surf and sunshine combine to dance reflections on and through the sides of this very fragile Pen Shell. The patterns in the sides of the shell are so perfectly and yet randomly placed. |
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There
have been a large number of Horseshoe Crab shells on the
beach. A lot of people have been concerned because it looks
like we have had a Crab catastrophe of some kind but instead it is
their molting season and what happens when one has outgrown
last year's clothes. They shed the old and the new one is
underneath. I have collected several and they sit on my front
porch looking like greeters for my gallery. When they are
just the shed shells, you can collect them without the smells that
accompany a dead one.
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And "Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your
garden grow with Silver Bells and Cockle Shells and pretty maids all
in a row?" This Cockle does not adorn a garden although lots of them
adorn my flower beds. I collect them for that purpose especially the
large ones. They are one of my more favorite shells that are native
to our area. The light and shadow of this one makes a dramatic
statement with just a hint of glitter thrown in from ole Mr.
Sun.
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With the extremely low tide brought on by
the moons pull and the strong westward blowing wind revealing a lot of
living sea critters not to be taken but to be left or returned to the
water. With the water still going out I picked up a number of
living Sand Dollars and tossed them back into the water to protect them
from being nabbed by unthinking humans.
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| Another variety of young Jelly has found its way on shore. There is no way to get them back where they are not going to just wash back on shore. The other day a friend had a bag of fresh ones collected from his fishing trip. He was taking them to a neighbor who thinks they are good to eat. He says he thinks they are pretty tasteless. |
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| Another pretty Pen Shell with the light playing through it making some very rich colors. |
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Probably
my favorite shell to find on the beach here is the Olive.
This is the first time I have seen one that is still alive.
Their shells look like they are laquered when they are fresh.
In my dad's collection of Native American Artifacts (legally aquired)
necklaces would include shells from the coastal areas especially these
and the Cockles. Can you imagine how long these men were gone
on their trading expeditions in order to acquire ocean shells to use in
their jewelry in the mountains of East Tennessee.
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| I saw these strange trenches in the sand. The sand at this level had been patterned by the wind blowing the receding water and is rough and hard on bare feet. I couldn't figure out what was making these funny curved trenches. It looked as if someone had taken their finger and dug the trench. I dug into the end and found out it was my favorite shell fish, the Olive Scribe trying to figure out how his world had suddenly become so waterless. I left them alone thinking they would not be noticed by others less inquistive than me, besides there was no one out except Sarah and me to see them. |
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Another
Sand Dollar had almost managed to hide itself with its thousands of
tiny hair like feet underneath, actually tube feet. A
variation of those tube feet function like gills and are arranged in a
star-like pattern on top.
 A last delicate feather as I leave the cold windy
beach for the warmth of the gallery. A good time was had by
all. Exploring the edges of the sea at a depth I don't
usually get to see was too much fun to leave without an extended stay.
The Monarch Report:
Our
Chrysalis is still in its beautiful lime green form. I will
try to get photos, but mine fastened itself very near the side of the
lid of it's 'home'. I will probably just use my friend
Sandy's photos as she has a beautiful set of one doing its
transformation and if you've seen one Monarch you've seen them
all. I do know that when the Monarch gets close to emerging
it will be evident because you will start seeing the colors of the
wings through the walls of the Chrysalis. Cross your fingers
that it waits until the weather warms. We have another very
cold front coming in on Sunday afternoon. Oh well, it is
winter I guess.
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