Great colors, interesting shape

On the way to the beach I passed a friend who said the colors this morning were particularly spectacular. She was right and I have this lovely photo to share with you. 

Interesting cloud shapes as well. And to think I had to drag myself out of that comfortable bed. It was worth it once I got started... the getting started part was the most difficult.

The Shell Seekers

Admittedly I'm sick and tired of the media's Irene frenzy. I'm sorry for any suffering caused by Mother Nature but she does that on occasion.

However, Irene's high and violent surf left us with lots and lots of shells... Shells at the tide line as far as the eye can see.

We usually don't have too many shells on our beach, but for the past several days I've come home with pockets full. Including sand dollars, sea urchins, olive shells, paper thin muscles, both sides of various mollusks in all shapes and sizes...
This morning I had to laugh when I saw one very dignified beach walker without his shirt. Thinking to myself "I've never seen Sam without a shirt, it's not that hot... " then I realized he was carrying his shirt and it was stuffed with shells.

So here is a sampling and the only way I can share. The only problem is that I'm running out of space for beach treasures on kitchen windowsill, on coffee tables, etc. I think I'll manage somehow as my treasure trove grows.

Can you imagine a lava rock!?
Love the sea urchins, sand dollars, the rare long and shiny olive shell and the spiral sea auger.

Soft and supple sea flowers attached to a muscle shell. Lovely and tiny but I don't know their proper name.

The sharks eye shell is perfectly named and in all my years, this is only my second one.

Wonder what treasures I'll find tomorrow?

Irene screamers

Imagine you lived in the 12th century without the technology and the loud whining voices of meteorologists that we have today. If you were on the beach you'd know that something big was afoot. Yesterday the air was charged with a rare and unusual power. Surf was up, the wind was up a bit and birds were flying with what I'd call purpose. A large osprey was fishing with her three young in the churning surf. Pelicans and sea gulls were flying in haphazard array. It was exhilarating.

Later in the day the sky turned a pinkish yellow.

We got a bit of rain overnight and some light breezes. Then this morning (August 26) a couple more on-and-off showers and some spectacular surf. It started raining again just as I took the picture below so that's all I've got. More later.

So, thanks for the excitement, Irene. And thanks for staying out to sea off Florida. I'm sorry for the rest of the east coast but hope they can enjoy the phenomenon without the fear and worry and too much destruction. (Think 12th century.)

Thanks for the laughs, news people. I loved the guy standing at the edge of the surf as high tide approached. He seemed amazed that the water was getting higher on the beach. Well, THAT'S what high tide means. His feet got wet as the 6 a.m. high tide hit its mark. Made MY day.

Green Turtle Day! Hurrah

In anticipation of some increased surf and maybe some storms at sea I headed to the beach to find some towering clouds, and an early (or late) fishing boat.

What I also got was a wonderful surprise — the best of all — a green turtle returning to sea after laying her nest. The video is 7+ minutes and I don't expect any of you to be as thrilled as I was but she was lovely to see. Our August nest counts have been a little slow so watching this gal (a rare green turtle at that) just made my day!

Free handouts anyone?

Well, I've been really lax this month about posting new photos. Doesn't mean things haven't been fulfilling or even exciting on the beach. Just means I've been a bit lazy.

Lazy like this cute little egret, waiting around for a free handout instead of finding his own breakfast.

Later I'll update you about the foxes on the beach—cute but raiding turtle nest eggs—and about the total decline in new turtle nests in August. Old wives tales-turtle nests-hurricane connection notwithstanding it's a strange happening. So there's your tease, more later.

August dawns

It was a beautiful start to the month of August — always my favorite month of the year for many reasons and it has been for as long as I can remember. Happily some things never change.

This first day of August was warm but a nice breeze made it ultimately comfortable. While enjoying the sun's ascent I was questioning why "they" use wind-chill only in the winter when the wind was so very pleasant on this summer morning. Likewise why don't we have a warming index in the winter when the humidity is up? You know it's 40º but since the humidity is high it feels like 45º. What am I missing in this?

Definitely not missing the sun starting to hide behind that cloud. Not missing the towering pink, blue and white of other clouds.

Happy August! Have a wonderful month!