More Stars

Has he escaped from SpongeBob SquarePants? He isn't pink, but doesn't he have personality? Doesn't it almost seem like he's going to start walking and talking? Well.........OK........maybe I have been out in the sun too long.

Is holding hands with a star the same as wishing on one?

The sea is full of stars although some had to be rescued after the tide had marooned them on the beach, and thoughtless tourists had stomped them into the ground.

This guy is a star too, but he's a conch. The live ones scare me because they are so aggressive and relentlessly try to attack you with their ugly slimy foot. Yuck. Nevertheless, their shells sure are pretty.

Lots of mussels were left high and dry also. However, the seagulls had already dined on their yummy interiors. Fortunately for us, we discover that Doc Ford's serves them up with a tasty tomato-garlic-basil- wine sauce.

Slurp!

Bonne Etoile

'Twas a very low tide on a very cool day, but the water was warm and clear - and all of us sea critters were soaking up some sunshine.

The horseshoe crab is a rare sight although they used to be all over the beach. I saw in a documentary that scientists catch them and bleed them for some kind of research and release them back into the sea.

Twinkle......twinkle......this is the largest sea star I have ever found. I wanted to take him home, but he had places to go, things to do, and people to see.

Upside down. Notice he has an injured arm - leg - tentacle (I really must look that up when I have time), but remember..........they regenerate. In fact, not only can they grow a new appendage, but they can grow a complete new star from the severed limb.

Adieu, ma petite etoile de mer.

Thanksgiving

It's Turkey Day and we're counting our blessings at the beach. In fact, this is our second beach visit of the day because the DH indulged his fantasy of stopping on the causeway and picnicking with the fishermen. No tourists here. My take - any beach is a good beach. At any rate, it's very easy to find things to be thankful for by the sea.

I forgot that we travel with our beach chairs in the trunk of the car - always. However, who needs expensive luxury items when you've already got it all?

Hmmmm......there was a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on the menu, but, as long as we were dining on the water, the ubiquitous grouper sandwich seemed like the logical choice.

It's not pumpkin pie, but we did dine at Gramma's on Thanksgiving Day.

No Turkeys Here

How can Thanksgiving be right around the corner, and not a turkey in sight?

Brr...@ the Beach

The TV weather guys keep touting the coldest temperatures of the season. Don't remind me. How can it be 40 degrees in Fort Myers? This is Florida for pete's sake. Well, at least, that's not snow I'm standing in. I'm not wearing socks either.

Beachin'

Another sunny day at the beach.

The seashells must have been partying all night and didn't notice that the tide went out and left them behind.

My face is smiling, but my foot is bruised from that previous unexpected encounter with a lightning whelk. Gotta watch out for dark clouds even on the sunniest of days.

Seashells at the Seashore

Only the shell in the middle is a keeper; the others are still alive and are not permitted to go home with anyone. See.......I'm putting them out in deeper water so they have a better chance of escaping both low tide and greedy tourists. In fact, I confronted one woman who was wading through the water clutching three whelks and searching for more. I inquired whether she was aware that Sanibel is a sanctuary island where it is illegal to harvest inhabited shells from the beaches (first offense is a $500 fine), and she promptly dropped one on my foot! Ouch! Like they say, no good deed goes unpunished, or as the DH informs me - MYOB. I don't know whether I felt compelled to rescue the gastropods from a horrible fate because I was concerned for their welfare or because if I couldn't have them, I didn't want anyone else to have them either. Truthfully, I could never kill any sea creatures - not even those pesky seagulls. After all, they are right where they should be. We, on the other hand, are merely intruders.