I've been working really hard.  And, sometimes when I'm in a groove, it's hard to get me out of the office.  I'm so glad the boyfriend did.  It was maybe the prettiest day this fall, and being out on the water and visiting a barrier island for the afternoon was just what I needed to get refreshed and ready for another week.  Very great day shelling; lots of  interesting goodies washed up.

Starfish

Banded Tulip

Dancing Starfish

Calico Crab with some kind of parasite that was growing on the shell.

Channeled Whelks

Carcass of some unknown animal...kind of gross, but of course I was intrigued.

Florida Wormtail

Calico Crab Shell

Cherry Grove Sunset

Cheers!
Margaret

Casually Chic featuring the Horseshoe Crab Scarf

I feel like I am always able to find something to pair my scarves with, but Polyvore gives me the opportunity to think of new ways.  I love this outfit featuring the Horseshoe Crab Scarf.  If I can picture myself wearing this outfit does it mean it really happened?  That is, without having to buy it all.

Cheers,
Margaret

Great White Shark back in North Carolina

Holy sh*t.  I know I shouldn't be that surprised that Mary Lee, the 16 foot long, 3,456 lb Great White Shark who visited New Hanover County last year, is back, this area is lovely.  But, I am.  She was off the coast of Wrightsville Beach just on Sunday.  If you want to freak yourself out, you can follow her here..  Right now she is off the coast of Carolina Beach. 

Check out the article, with some incredible pictures of this gorgeous animal that may or may not give you heart palpitations here.

Mary Lee - credit OCEARCH

Cheers,
Margaret

Menhaden

Menhaden is a word that has been in my vocabulary even before I knew what having a vocabulary meant.  I used to go with my Dad to catch menhaden for his trips offshore growing up.  I remember seeing loads of these schools of shiny fish when I was younger.  Not so much any longer, at least not in the creeks and channels where they used to be plentiful.  My theory is that the flood of hurricanes the Wrightsville Beach area had in the late 90s disrupted the normal menhaden migration.

Two years ago, fishing at low tide on a shoal at Cape Fear, I experienced one of the coolest marine events involving menhaden.  We were catching pigfish and whiting, so our focus was narrowed.  That is until we could hear the menhaden approaching.  It took some time for the 200 yard school of menhaden to reach us, and even longer for them to move south along Frying Pan Shoals.  But, those 30 minutes were ones I will never forget.  I just wish I had it all on camera.  It was if the menhaden planned on giving us a show of our lifetime.  My sister, my friend with her young son, had just arrived on the shoal to shell, when the shark show started.  The menhaden were popping along the surface when the shark fins starting shooting through them, sometimes jumping out of the sea.  I think a tarpon even got in on the fun.  I managed to film a small bit, it doesn't do it justice - but, you can see the menhaden.  You never know what you will witness hunting and gathering along the coast.  It's better than any TV show or film you pay money to watch.

Recently, while shelling on Masonboro Island, I came across another school of menhaden.  Hoping for another shark attack, I filmed for a bit.  But, I only captured the action of the school swimming in the breakers.  Maybe next time.

Happy hunting and gathering!

Cheers,

Margaret

Bird Island Hunt and Gather

Last week I was determined to find sand dollars.  And, low tide was nice enough to come early in the morning.  I was so determined that I woke up wide eyed at 4:45 a.m.  Patiently waiting until the sun came up, I did a little work before combing the beach.  And, because of the cloudy weather, I was the only one walking towards the Little River Inlet Jetty on Bird Island. 

This Sand Dollar had a suction animal on it.  I removed it, but I think that's why it's discolored.

Gorgeous cloudy morning.

Bird Island Reserve

Calico Crab Shell

Sand Dollar

Baby Sand Dollar

Sand Dollar

Mornings like this are the best way to start the day.  The feeling of having an island to yourself is almost heavenly, and then to find these treasures just laying on the ground is joyful.  If you see me on the beach talking to my gems, just ignore me.  I already know I'm slightly crazy.

Cheers!
Margaret

Masonboro Island Hunt and Gather

Horseshoe Crabs and Whelk Egg Case

Horseshoe Crabs and Whelk Egg Case

Keyhole Limpet

Keyhole Limpet

Keyhole Limpets

Masonboro Inlet

Lettered Olive

Star Coral

Jetty Minnows

Keyhole Limpet

Scallop

Masonboro Island, beach side; surfers are the black dots in the water.

Lightning Whelk

Largest Keyhole Limpet I've ever found.

Happy Shelling!

Cheers,
Margaret

Little River and Bird Island Adventure

Today was the perfect boat day, and because I am a self-employed entrepreneur - modern day hunter and gatherer with dreams of being a hermit, I could enjoy it.  On my new boat.  Well, it's my boat and the boyfriend's boat, but in essence, that means it's mine.

We took the boat down the Intracoastal Waterway through Little River, exploring the channels along the way to Little River Inlet, and the ocean, ending with a shell at Bird Island.  I haven't felt more like my true self in months than I did on that boat today.  And, that my friends, feels very good.

Bird Island is on the southern end of Sunset Beach, NC, and is a North Carolina Coastal Reserve and National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Basically, that means it's a undeveloped barrier island.  And, that puts it on my list for favorite places to visit and shell.

Bird Island was littered with broken sand dollars.  I managed to find some gems, and despite seeing so many broken ones, I enjoyed myself thoroughly.

Little River Waterfront from the Intracoastal Waterway

 

Shrimp Boat in Little River Inlet

Little River Buoy

Bird Island Crab hiding in the sand around the jetty

Bird Island Sand Dollar

Bird Island Sand Dollar

Bird Island Sand Dollar

Bird Island Sand Dollar

Bird Island Sea Oats

The weather is perfect for hunting and gathering.  I hope you can hunt and gather soon too!

Cheers,
Margaret