Shellseeker

Hello, hello! I hope you had a wonderful week?

It's grey and gloomy here but when I looked out at the beach the other morning I saw---The Invasion of the Giant Trucks had begun.

Yes the local road crews [somewhat prematurely, as we are expecting snow or sleet tomorrow] have removed their overused snowplows and replaced them with their shovel and/ or sand rake blades. All beach grooming must be finished by April 1st when the piping plovers arrive and begin nesting.

I watched the guy who does our beach as he energetically shovelled sand in and out of the dunes. These guys always look like they're having so much fun. They begin at dawn, lights blazing, diesel engines fuming. Shorebirds fluttering in distress.

I suddenly realised that, if I wanted large white clam shells for my shell strings, I better hustle out with my collection bag to stock up. The sand rakes remove all but the tiniest shells and beach treasure. Kinda sad.

I brought home a good haul though. The biggest clams are larger than my hand, maybe 7-8" across.

I didn't find any good lobster pot rope however. And I was appalled to find out at the local marine supply store that ''cordage'' whether nylon, cotton, hemp, or polyester, is very expensive! I'll have to work harder to save what I see on the beach. Often I just pick it up for the recycle bin.

I love making my shell strings! Whelk shells are rare and I only make one a year at the most, but large clamshells are there for the taking after a winter of storms and high tides.

 I am thinking of selling them in my etsy shop.

Yes I know my friends cringe when they're blessed with a shell string gift, but if people will buy those driftwood strings I've seen, who knows?  Usually they hang from the eaves of the house, on my deck, but I bring them indoors in the winter to protect my windows in a gale.

Mo of course found the clams quite interesting.

They come from the beach ocean-washed and scrubbed pristine white by the sand and wind, but they must retain an interesting smell that attracts Mo. He'll gnaw on them like bones if not scolded away.

ribbon reel I see, not a clam after all.
Poor Mo, gets blamed for everything.

Back home my pockets produced useful finds: The first ''cash find'' of the year, a nickel;  a heavy rusty weight for a shell string's end, a purple toy starfish. I also have a little blue boat to use, and lah di dah, an iridescent glass sanddollar.

Drilling and knot tying is a fun break from sewing!

love

lizzy 

gone to the beach