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Archive for the ‘Seashells’ Category

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Surfside Jetty County Park (Upper Texas Gulf Coast)

Posted by Jody on April 9, 2013

Surfside Jetty County Park, Texas

Surfside Jetty County Park, Texas

Surfside Jetty County Park is the perfect day-trip destination on the Texas Gulf Coast! Two of my top reasons for heading to this particular family friendly beach park are 1) the ample paved parking available right up close to the beach and 2) the well maintained permanent restrooms (both are very hard to come by on this part of the upper Texas Gulf Coast). The park offers so much more, though: a grassy lawn for flying kites and a play area for the kids to romp, covered picnic tables, a sandy beach, and a .6 mile long jetty jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico that’s just right for a leisurely stroll.

Surfside Jetty County Park on the Upper Texas Gulf Coast

Surfside Jetty County Park on the Upper Texas Gulf Coast

The Surfside Jetty was packed with folks fishing from its protective riprap on the sunny spring day we visited, but there was always room for us to pass.

Surfside Jetty, Texas

Surfside Jetty, Texas

The adjacent sandy beach is a wonderful place to beachcomb for seashells. According to the Village of Surfside Beach website, “600 known shell species found among our 27 miles of sandy beaches of Brazoria County.”

It’s also the perfect place for children of all ages to build sand castles, watch the surfers, and swim or splash in the water. *Note: No lifeguards are stationed at Surfside’s beaches.*

Beaches Full of Treasures at Surfside, Texas

Beaches Full of Treasures at Surfside, Texas

Lots of families came  much better prepared than we were – with camping tents, shade shelters, furnishings of all sorts, well-stocked coolers, and enough packaged food to stock a couple of small convenience stores… I do believe I’ve heard these super organized, ultra-ready people referred to as “beach contractors.” Next time, and there will definitely be a next time, we’ll come better outfitted (with own big top and plenty of provisions) to sit back, relax, and spend the whole day having fun on the sand and shore.

Beach Contractors at Surfside, Texas

Beach Contractors at Surfside, Texas

~~~

 Here’s a peek at some of the beach treasures we found at Surfside Jetty County Park beach!

Surfside Beach Treasures: Oysters, Scallops, Cockles, and Ark Shells

Surfside Beach Treasures

~Oysters, Scallops, Cockles, and Ark Shells!

~~~

Have a great day at the beach!

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Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , | 14 Comments »

The Oyster Shell

Posted by Jody on April 2, 2013

Upper Texas Gulf Coast - Eastern Oyster Shell

Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica)

“I am very fond of the oyster shell. It is humble and awkward and ugly. It is slate-colored and unsymmetrical. Its form is not primarily beautiful but functional. I make fun of its knobbiness. Sometimes I resent its burdens and excrescences. But its tireless adaptability and tenacity draw my astonished admiration and sometimes even my tears. And it is comfortable in its familiarity, its homeliness, like old garden gloves when have molded themselves perfectly to the shape of the hand.  I do not like to put it down. I will not want to leave it.” ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift from the Sea

~~~

I simply love beachcombing for oyster shells – the knobbier, the better!  Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast beaches are often loaded with these one-of-a-kind beach treasures.

Here are a few interesting Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) tidbits:

Oysters are more than a seafood delicacy! They help the environment in the following ways:

Filtering (adult oysters filter up to 2.5 gallons of water per hour, improving water quality in the process)

Providing habitat (oysters build reefs, which provide habitat for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other animals)

Controlling erosion (oyster reefs are natural breakwaters that protect shorelines) Source: SC.gov

Other names: American Oyster, Atlantic Oyster, Common Oyster, Virginia Oyster

Eastern Oysters are plentiful in shallow saltwater bays, lagoons, and estuaries, in depths from 8 to 25 feet – with water temperatures between 28 and 90 degrees F.  They are native to the Atlantic shores and Gulf of Mexico coast of North America from Canada to Mexico.

Eastern Oysters range in color from a very light cream or tan to greyish/brown and from grey to black.

The Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is the official state shell of both Virginia and Mississippi.

Louisiana’s state gemstone is the cabochon (shaped and polished as opposed to faceted) cut gemstone, made from the Crassostrea virginica! Check it out: Louisiana’s State Gemstone.

~~~ Happy beachcombing! ~~~

Helpful links: Texas Parks and Wildlife, Maryland.gov

Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , , | 9 Comments »

Imagine the possibilities!

Posted by Jody on March 28, 2013

Mix and match: sun, surf, and sand!

~Imagine the possibilities~

Beach Treasures Under Glass!

Beach Treasures Under Glass!

Upside down glasses, beach treasures and beach scented candles, it’s that easy!

~~~

Posted in Beach Treasure and Seashell Crafts, Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Decorating With Beach Treasures, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , | 11 Comments »

A Sea Glass Treasure Trove – Surfside Beach (Texas Gulf Coast)

Posted by Jody on February 7, 2013

Surfside Beach, Texas

Surfside Beach, Texas

The Village of Surfside Beach, Texas, is a little bitty seaside hamlet located on the Gulf of Mexico. Fishing, birding, picnicking and kayaking are just a few of the choices beachgoers have when they visit the shores of this little coastal community.

This stretch of sandy beach on the Texas Coastal Bend is already well known for its wonderful shelling. In fact, according to Surfside’s website, there are 600 known shell species that can be found along the  27 miles of Brazoria County’s beaches. Our family searched and searched for those hundreds of types of seashells and did find many a fine specimen, but, sadly, quite a few had been broken to bits by the trucks and cars that are allowed on so much of this section of  Texas’s coastal beaches.

Surfside Beach, Texas

Surfside Beach, Texas

Never fear, though! All is certainly not lost. (It never is on a day at the beach!) In my book, Surfside Beach is one of the absolute best strands that I’ve ever come across for collecting sea glass!

Beach Treasures from Surfside Beach, Texas Gulf Coast

Beach Treasures from Surfside Beach, Texas Gulf Coast

Greens and blues, pinks and browns, lettered and patterned and smooth; all types of glass in every stage of sea-tumbledness can be found on the sands of Surfside Beach. I won’t share how I think the wave-worn beach glass originates, but I will site rule #11 from the village’s Beach Rules web page, which states: “NO GLASS CONTAINERS ON THE BEACH” (all caps). *This is a great place to caution you to wear shoes on this stretch of shoreline.* The vehicle traffic that easily crushes those 600 species of seashells also breaks glass into pieces which can result in some very sharp edges. Discrimination is the key. It can be very hard for kids of all ages to resist picking every beautiful, glittering, colorful beach treasure they see, so little ones need to be closely supervised here!

Evening Picnic at Surfside Beach, Texas

Evening Picnic at Surfside Beach, Texas

Before or after you’ve filled up your buckets and bags with sea glass and shells, you may want visit Surfside Beach’s Jetty Park which runs along the Freeport Jetties.  It has picnic areas, restrooms, a playground and fantastic views of the gulf and ship channel. You can walk the jetty, fish from the rocks, or simply settle in and watch the huge container ships come and go through the jetty channel.

Surfside Beach is located in Brazoria County, 15 minutes southeast of Lake Jackson, Texas where TX-332 meets TX-257 (Bluewater Highway).

Have a great day at the beach!

~~~~

Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , | 18 Comments »

Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

Posted by Jody on February 5, 2013

Common Fig (Ficus communis)

Common Fig (Ficus communis)

“Don’t compare yourself with anyone in this world… if you do so, you are insulting yourself.”

~Bill Gates, Microsoft Co-founder 

~~~~

Related post: This Common Fig Doesn’t Grow on Trees

WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge: Unique

Posted in Seashells, Today's Special | Tagged: , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Rayed Cone Snails ~ Findings and Lucky Finds

Posted by Jody on January 24, 2013

Reblogged from Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches:

Click to visit the original post
  • Click to visit the original post

The Rayed Cone snail (Conus radiatus) is a delightful find, but only if you find the empty seashell.  If you find a live one, you would be well advised to leave this marine snail alone!  A member of the  Conidae family of venomous marine gastropod mollusks, the rayed cone snail is found in the waters of the Central Indo-Pacific seas. 

Read more… 393 more words

Today I've decided to share an oldie but a goodie. These Rayed Cones are some of my favorite beach treasures!

~Enjoy~

Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

What the heck?

Posted by Jody on January 18, 2013

I just received a note from Tonya who was lucky enough to be on the beaches of the Outer Banks of North Carolina last weekend. She found this very interesting looking beach treasure at Hatteras and tells me: “It was on the beach along with some other odd looking shells I never have seen.”

Tonya's Beach Treasure from Hatteras, North Carolina

Tonya’s Beach Treasure from Hatteras, North Carolina

Let’s have some fun!

Can anyone identify this peculiar looking beach find for Tonya? Thank you for playing along!

~~~~

Be sure to check out some of the other responses in the comment section below!

Posted in Atlantic Coast Beaches, Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Seashells, Today's Special | Tagged: , , , , | 22 Comments »

Mele Kalikimaka lā ‘Oe: A Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches Last-minute Gift Guide

Posted by alainaflute on December 17, 2012

Rock Barnacle Found Beachcombing at Newport, Oregon (Photo ©Jody Diehl)

Haven’t finished your shopping yet? You could be cutting it pretty close! Never fear, though, because you can still get or make these fun, beachy gifts before the holiday.

We’ve divided the gifting ideas into two categories: one for people with ready-access to the beach and one for those who live too far away to get there and back before Christmas. Many of these ideas are described in greater detail somewhere else on this website, so I’ve added the links so you can take a closer look!

For those of us living by the beach:

There is still time to make some lovely crafts to give, decorate your tree, or to jazz up your gifts!

1. Find a number of shells (or stones) from the beach that have a hole made by Mother Nature. Thread some ribbon through them for a quick and easy gift decoration or ornament. You could also make a very giftable pendant by this same technique.

A happy (limpet) memory for our Christmas tree!

2. The sea shell salt shaker: always a lovely and thoughtful gift. Head over to your local Target, Walmart, or wherever clear, glass shakers of all sizes are sold. Depending on the yield of your sandy shores, pick an appropriate shaker size for your current collection or head to the beach. Simply scoop up some shells and smooth beach glass! Be extra careful to make sure you only take home shells that have lost their residents. At home, you may want to clean the shells and set them out to dry. Place them piece by piece into the shaker to give it a personal touch. We often cover the top of the glass with plastic wrap before screwing on the cap, or you can cut out a bit of thin card stock, so that the shaker won’t leak shell bits if upturned. Tie a ribbon bow to the top to give it a festive touch!

"On Display" by Jody Diehl

Salt Shakers “On Display”

3. A short while ago, Jody and E.G.D. had a wonderful project of turning large bivalve shells into angels and carolers. Everything you need to know is here.

Seashell Christmas Ornaments (Photo by Jody Diehl)

Seashell Christmas Ornaments (Photo ©Jody Diehl)

4. A fun idea for children to make and give is the classic Beach in a Bottle. This thoughtful and inexpensive gift can stay on Nana’s shelf year-round.

For those of us living far from the sea:

If the receiver of your holiday gift-giving merriment is a fellow beach-lover, then here are some ideas to help share the love for those of us who can’t get to the beach.

1. Cookies! Homemade Christmas goodies always make wonderful gifts. You should be able to find beach-themed cookie cutters at a local cooking store (for us, it’s Now We’re Cooking). You have free rein: the sky is the limit to your creativity! You can decorate gingerbread seashell shapes or simply make a sugar cookie you can decorate with fun, Sunset Tellin seashell colored icing (or any color, for that matter).

Sand Dollar Cookies Heading into the Oven

If you don’t have a specialty store with an extensive cookie cutter selection nearby, you can easily make the “Festive Sand Dollar Cookies” that Jody made last week. We’ve been eating them happily for days!

2. If you’d rather buy than make, that’s perfectly okay! A candle is a  beach-inspired gift you can buy. Yankee Candle makes a variety of beach scents: Beach Walk, Beach Wood, Christmas at the Beach, Coconut Bay, Pink Sands, and Sun & Sand. A plus of going to Yankee Candle is that you can mix and match a dozen votive candles, so you can gift a variety of scents. If you don’t have a Yankee Candle store nearby, you might be able to find what you’re looking for at Cracker Barrel or Kohl’s (they both carry Yankee brand along with other brands). You can also shop online, but it will cost a little more in shipping to have it arrive on time.

3. Give the gift of music this holiday! One way to get into the Christmas spirit is to listen to your holiday favorites. Here are some CDs that remind us of the holidays and the sunny seashore with links to Amazon (only so you can see the album covers, not because we endorse shopping at Amazon).

The Beach Boys: Merry Christmas from The Beach Boys/Christmas with The Beach Boys/The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album

From Hawaii: Hawaiian Slack Key Christmas/Kī hō ‘alu Christmas Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar/Hawaiian Style Christmas/Hawaiian Style Christmas 2

Hopefully our list got you thinking of more holiday gift ideas! Please feel free to share them with us in the comment section. We’d love to hear about your last-minute and beachy gifting ideas!

Mele Kalikimaka lā ‘Oe!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Monday Miscellaneous, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , , | 15 Comments »

Christmas with Sanibel Style

Posted by Jody on December 7, 2012

Island beaches, seashells, a lighthouse and Christmas! Does it get any better than this?

The Sanibel Island Light, Sanibel Island, Florida

The Sanibel Island Light, Sanibel Island, Florida

Christmastime ~ The Sanibel Island Light

Christmastime ~ The Sanibel Island Light

Merry Christmas on Sanibel Island, Florida

A Merry Christmas on Sanibel Island, Florida

The striking Sanibel Island Light stands on the eastern tip of Sanibel Island, Florida.  Located on the Gulf of Mexico, it was built to mark the entrance to San Carlos Bay to guide the ships calling at the port of Punta Rassa (across San Carlos Bay from Sanibel Island). The surrounding grounds are open to the public, but there is no entrance to the functioning lighthouse itself.

Seashell strewn Lighthouse Beach wraps from the Gulf side of Sanibel Island around to the bay side.  This area of the beach is very popular with beachcombers looking for “minis,”  the teeniest-tiniest of seashells. We’ve seen folks equipped with long surgical type tweezers patiently examining nearby seashell piles.

To find Sanibel Island Light  just turn left on Periwinkle Way from Causeway Road. Head all the way to the end of the road. Here you’ll also find a fishing pier and a boardwalk nature trail winding through the island’s native wetlands.  Facilities include restrooms and outdoor shower,  plenty of 24 hour paid parking in the large lot and fee-free bike racks. Pets must be kept on a leash around the lighthouse grounds, and on the beach.

Would you like more info on Sanibel’s world renowned shelling beaches? Here are just a few more posts on Sanibel Island:

Beachcombing? Shelling Regulations Abound. Know Before You Go!

Top Ten Florida Beaches for Seashells

Sanibel Island, Florida: A Beachcomber’s Bonanza

But wait, there’s more! :-) You might also want to type “Sanibel” into the search box (Treasure Hunt!) on the top left of this page.                    

Merry Christmas and Happy Beachcombing!

  ~~~~~~~~~

Posted in Beach Treasures - Beachcombing, Friday Finds, Gulf of Mexico Beaches, Lighthouses, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , | 28 Comments »

Festive Seashell Caroler and Angel Ornaments

Posted by Jody on December 5, 2012

Easy Christmas Ornaments: Seashell Angels and Carolers

Easy Christmas Ornaments: Seashell Carolers and Angels

Here’s a quick and easy idea for family-time creativity and crafting! Seashell Christmas angels and carolers are just perfect for the Fraser Fir, and they’ll add seaside style when hung on drawer pulls and cabinet knobs for the rest of the year!

Elisa and I had a blast last week putting these little seashell Christmas angel and caroler ornaments together.

List of doodads and tools we used for our evening of holiday fun:
□ seashells: scallops, oysters, cockles, etc.
□ wooden beads
□ 1/8 inch ribbon on spools
□ pipe cleaners
□ pre-made ribbon flowers
□ rickrack
□ glitter and glitter glue
□ buttons of all sizes
□ permanent markers (or craft paints)
□ hot glue gun and glue sticks
□ scissors

~Click on the photos to enlarge and scroll through~

Hairdos and faces were drawn on some of the wooden beads with permanent markers. A few of the angels have glitter glue painted on their seashell skirts. Buttons were used as hats. Halos and arms were made from pipe cleaners. We made our angels’ wings by simply looping the ribbon around a hand a few times and tying the center with a knot.
Just to be sure, a few the of the seashell ornaments were stabilized by hot gluing buttons to the backs of the figures (where the seashells met).

There we have it: festive, fun seashell Christmas ornaments and year-round seashore keepsakes!

Here are a few more ideas for using your beach treasures as Christmas tree ornaments:

Seashell Crafting for All Ages

Shellabrating Christmas in July

Rock Barnacles and Rough Keyhole Limpets: Ready-made Ornaments

Merry Christmas and Happy Crafting from our family to yours!

~~~~~

Posted in Beach Treasure and Seashell Crafts, Decorating With Beach Treasures, Seashells | Tagged: , , , , , , | 20 Comments »

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