Keeping it Local...

Shell Island....Florida





Yesterday, my husband and I got up around 5:45 in the morning, packed a cooler with breakfast items, drink, and other snacks along with our beach items, and took my husband's canoe to Ft. Desoto, launched the canoe from there and headed out to Shell Island.  Was a perfect beautiful morning.  We arrived to the island, and found a quaint little shaded spot to set the canoe.  My husband set up the travel grill in a clearing there, did a little fishing as I walked to the other side of the island to do some shelling.  The water was such a beautiful color of teal.  I had the entire beach to myself, not one other person out there, though there were other boaters off shore, it was so peaceful and beautiful, nothing but beautiful birds, the sea, crabs that scurried back into the water as I walked along the waters edge, white sand,  and thousands of shells.  On our way out, saw only one shark about 4 feet long, and about 200 stingrays.  There are certain areas that are very shallow, so that allowed us to see numerous conchs, both small and quite large.  I just love seeing the ocean in it's natural environment from off shore, different that seeing from the shoreline.   My husband made a fabulous breakfast on the grill - we sat around for a while and headed back.  We went through tunnel of mangroves, around various islands, and just took our time getting back.  We thought we would be home by around 11:00, but it was such a beautiful day, we didn't get back to land until almost 2:00...yes, I got a little too much sun.  Though I have lived here almost 30 years, I'm not one to lay out and bake in the sun, I try to always wearing sun protection, but not this time.  You know, being Latina, I thought I could handle it - wrong! I did wear a hat, but my arms and legs got the majority...was actually kind of a nice feeling for a change...nothing better than coming home, taking a long cool shower and have a tall iced Vanilla Chai Tea...perfect ending to the wonderful beginning of a long weekend.

Monday, we are heading a little more south to Sarasota, to go to some beaches, and have lunch at Tommy Bahama's - love it!!!.  Then down south a little further for some shopping and other beaches, trying to find some unique tropical colored pillows that I have in mind along with some tropical colored accessories to go with my new color theme in the great-room.  I located a few boutiques online, that I thought may have some items...I sure hope so, if not, it's off to HomeGoods, I can always find what I want there.  It's always exciting to get out of town and see new sights, even if I don't find anything, I know it will be a nice day, just being with my husband!!! 



Hope everyone has a fun, safe and happy Memorial Day weekend...enjoy!!!  God Bless!!!

Here are a few of the shells I found on Shell Island...I cleaned them well, but you know how hard it is to get all the sand out, will finish that tomorrow...some are broken, but they were still so beautiful, I couldn't pass them up.