Comments on: The Wonder of Shells http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/ To create, to engage, to inspire Tue, 14 Jul 2009 17:23:23 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: 4×4 Sources of Writing Inspiration: Unpopulated Places « Lives Less Ordinary http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-2523 4×4 Sources of Writing Inspiration: Unpopulated Places « Lives Less Ordinary Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:14:53 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-2523 [...] other thing that I just adore about visiting the beach is beachcombing. In a post back in February, The Wonder of Shells, I [...] [...] other thing that I just adore about visiting the beach is beachcombing. In a post back in February, The Wonder of Shells, I [...]

]]> By: nengaku http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-2025 nengaku Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:36:51 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-2025 I've done quite a bit of beach-combing and compulsively picked up thousands of shells never even imagining anything bad could ever happen. When I started scuba diving, however, I had to restrain myself. The cowrie shell houses a critter that carries a *deadly* neurotoxin in it's stinger! And some of the most beautiful shells (cowrie and otherwise) I saw on the ocean floor were still occupied - it was so hard to leave them there. But I did. It just didn't seem right to admire something so much and then kill it. That's the beauty of beaches - they are already dead (usually). I once took home a hatful of shells I collected on the beach and put them in the galley sink. I woke up in the night to strange clattering noises in the boat. The hermit crabs were trying to climb out. I didn't even know they were there..... I’ve done quite a bit of beach-combing and compulsively picked up thousands of shells never even imagining anything bad could ever happen. When I started scuba diving, however, I had to restrain myself. The cowrie shell houses a critter that carries a *deadly* neurotoxin in it’s stinger! And some of the most beautiful shells (cowrie and otherwise) I saw on the ocean floor were still occupied – it was so hard to leave them there. But I did. It just didn’t seem right to admire something so much and then kill it. That’s the beauty of beaches – they are already dead (usually).
I once took home a hatful of shells I collected on the beach and put them in the galley sink. I woke up in the night to strange clattering noises in the boat. The hermit crabs were trying to climb out. I didn’t even know they were there…..

]]> By: amypalko http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-2010 amypalko Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:44:41 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-2010 The coastline of Scotland has lots of sheltered coves, bays and kyles, Hensteeth. Perfect for shells! If you're over in Scotland, I'll take you beachcombing :-) Well, Kelly, I don't know if we do warm sand here in Scotland. Sliding and glinting, we can do, but warm? ;-) Anything for a bit of warmth, hey, Nicholas? That sounds a lovely score, Craig! Isn't it lovely when we come across little gifts like that? The coastline of Scotland has lots of sheltered coves, bays and kyles, Hensteeth. Perfect for shells! If you’re over in Scotland, I’ll take you beachcombing :-)

Well, Kelly, I don’t know if we do warm sand here in Scotland. Sliding and glinting, we can do, but warm? ;-)

Anything for a bit of warmth, hey, Nicholas?

That sounds a lovely score, Craig! Isn’t it lovely when we come across little gifts like that?

]]> By: Craig http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-2000 Craig Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:10:55 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-2000 A few weeks ago I found a small pouch/bag on the beach. I now keep my hanko (personal ink seal) in it. Freebie! A few weeks ago I found a small pouch/bag on the beach. I now keep my hanko (personal ink seal) in it. Freebie!

]]> By: Nicholas http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1999 Nicholas Tue, 05 Feb 2008 06:09:32 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1999 I remember beachcombing in Scotland many ears ago, looking for interesting shells, stones or anything else that took my fancy. And also driftwood, to chop up for the living room fireplace. I remember beachcombing in Scotland many ears ago, looking for interesting shells, stones or anything else that took my fancy. And also driftwood, to chop up for the living room fireplace.

]]> By: Kelly http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1997 Kelly Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:52:13 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1997 I love the shells! I am a huge fan of sand dollars and the sand itself really. I love the glinting, warm, sliding sand. Great pictures. I love the shells! I am a huge fan of sand dollars and the sand itself really. I love the glinting, warm, sliding sand. Great pictures.

]]> By: hensteeth http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1995 hensteeth Mon, 04 Feb 2008 23:49:09 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1995 Oh, gosh, thank you. I am a seashell lover. I come by it because I grew up on the rural Atlantic coast. The sea was so rough that an intact shell was its own little miracle. And your pics say express it all. Oh, gosh, thank you. I am a seashell lover. I come by it because I grew up on the rural Atlantic coast. The sea was so rough that an intact shell was its own little miracle. And your pics say express it all.

]]> By: amypalko http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1993 amypalko Mon, 04 Feb 2008 22:02:05 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1993 I loved it too when I saw it, Autumn Song. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it before. Glad you liked the photos, Penelope Anne. That sounds lovely, Daz. I so miss living close to the sea. I used to be able to look out at the kyle and watch the tides whilst I pottered about in my kitchen. I can see I'm going to have to get myself to a beach asap! I've been to New England a couple of times, Mrschili, but I never made it to the beach. Next time I get to a Scottish beach, I'll make sure I get some photographic evidence of white sand! I loved it too when I saw it, Autumn Song. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like it before.

Glad you liked the photos, Penelope Anne.

That sounds lovely, Daz. I so miss living close to the sea. I used to be able to look out at the kyle and watch the tides whilst I pottered about in my kitchen. I can see I’m going to have to get myself to a beach asap!

I’ve been to New England a couple of times, Mrschili, but I never made it to the beach. Next time I get to a Scottish beach, I’ll make sure I get some photographic evidence of white sand!

]]> By: mrschili http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1992 mrschili Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:20:28 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1992 Really? WHITE sand? For reasons I have no way of backing up, I always imagined that the shores of Scotland would be much like the shores of my native New England; grey, rugged, more populated with smooth black stones and the remains of crabs and mussels than pretty seashells. I don't spend much time on New England's beaches, though I live literally minutes from the water (and have for going on 25 years). It's just something that we don't take the time to do. When we're on vacation in Florida, however, we spend a great deal of time on the shore, and we love combing the edge for treasures that we could NEVER find at home: pink shells, delicate and shimmering; sand dollars; cat's paws and all manner of wonders that delight native Yankees whose greatest shoreline finds are whole crabs... Really? WHITE sand? For reasons I have no way of backing up, I always imagined that the shores of Scotland would be much like the shores of my native New England; grey, rugged, more populated with smooth black stones and the remains of crabs and mussels than pretty seashells.

I don’t spend much time on New England’s beaches, though I live literally minutes from the water (and have for going on 25 years). It’s just something that we don’t take the time to do. When we’re on vacation in Florida, however, we spend a great deal of time on the shore, and we love combing the edge for treasures that we could NEVER find at home: pink shells, delicate and shimmering; sand dollars; cat’s paws and all manner of wonders that delight native Yankees whose greatest shoreline finds are whole crabs…

]]> By: Daz Cox http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/the-wonder-of-shells/#comment-1991 Daz Cox Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:55:12 +0000 http://liveslessordinary.wordpress.com/?p=260#comment-1991 I can walk to the beach from my apartment here in New Jersey. When the air is dry I can see New York city right across the bay. In the summer it is dragged by a tractor to remove the driftwood and trash but right now it is cleaned only by the scouring tides and seagulls. We have those huge prehistoric horseshoe crabs here and they are pretty fascinating to see. They fit this place, tough and beautiful in their own peculiar way. I think my favorite find so far has been a peice of driftwood I use to prop open my kitchen window when the weather is warm. I can walk to the beach from my apartment here in New Jersey. When the air is dry I can see New York city right across the bay. In the summer it is dragged by a tractor to remove the driftwood and trash but right now it is cleaned only by the scouring tides and seagulls.

We have those huge prehistoric horseshoe crabs here and they are pretty fascinating to see. They fit this place, tough and beautiful in their own peculiar way. I think my favorite find so far has been a peice of driftwood I use to prop open my kitchen window when the weather is warm.

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