A Nest of Driftwood and Mussel Shells

Tonight the wind is howling outside, which means tomorrow may be a good day for beach combing. Taken on a summer day, this picture shows the type of driftwood we often find washed up on shore here.

Here's something Henri and I made a couple years ago. Using a crudely constructed bird house that I picked up at a thrift store for a couple bucks, virtually everything else used on this bird's nest came from the shore. Henri cut and assembled the driftwood to a platform he made out of wooden planks also found on the shore.

It is still is one of my favorites, so that's why you get to see lots of pictures.

Still with me? Or are you bored yet?

Okay, on to the details. These are mussel shells that I layered up for the roof, using my glue gun.

I really love the triangle shape entrance.

This is a sliver from a lobster buoy that once belonged to a lobster man. I found it just like this on the shore. The number on there identifies who it once belonged to. I decided the bird's nest needed an address.

A tiny bit of driftwood for a perch and some unraveled rope strands in an aqua color serve as nesting material.

More shore finds for display on the platform.

And finally, you've reached the last picture.

The wind is still blowing hard outside, and so now I'm off to dream about what I may find on the shore tomorrow!

Fussing With The Food Table

On Thanksgiving, I decided to set up all the food on a separate table from where we will dine. Thinking a candle or two would be nice to have here, this "Message in a Bottle" candle holder was easy to do with some peel and stick letters.

For a focal point, I'm using driftwood sticks that I collected from the shore and plopped into one of our raku pots.






Fussing with the food table makes me hungry, so I decided to try out the recipe for the Blackened Salmon Fillets that I will be making next week. Here's a shot of it sizzling in my cast iron skillet. This is a very good recipe!

Here's the lovely serving dish that will hold the salmon. It was a gift from our friends.

Here fishy fishy . . .

I just love my fish platter!

What Do You Sea?

October winds make for good beachcombing.

And for finding unusual pieces of driftwood.

I see an alligator in this one.

Today, when I found this one, it reminded of the head of a cardinal or blue jay. And it fits nicely in an old glass bottle.

Although pretty, this is not real sea glass. Can you tell?

This sea glass bears the unmistakeable mark of the ocean.

Beachcoming for me, has become far more exciting than any mall could ever be!

2 Apples, a Stick of Driftwood and a Piece of Lavender Sea Glass

A few things I picked up today during our walk.

The apples went to Simon because he prefers them to store bought ones.

I added the driftwood to my collection of sticks.

And the lavender sea glass was a heart shaped gift from the shore

that I just happened to find right after I picked up the driftwood stick.

SEASIDE SHOPPING

A couple treasures from today.
More gifts from the sea.

The ocean's mark is lovely on these found objects.

The distressed finish of this board needed only a few wooden letters.

The colors are often brilliant and the supply is plentiful.

Nature's little luxuries that were meant to be freely enjoyed by all.