Doing a little DIY project at Glover Gardens today, it strikes me how beautiful natural things are. I’m calling this picture Still Life: Seashells with Shellac on a Paper Bag.
The seashells are some of my most prized possessions, because they came from my Mom’s huge collection. She was in her element at the beach. In the summers while we were growing up in Gilchrist, Texas along the Bolivar Peninsula, we went to the beach almost every day. Mom went shell-hunting at the beach almost every day, all year long. We learned the names of all the shells organically, as we found them, looking them up together in a reference book. Good times. Good memories.
Some of these shells still had sand in them as I selected them for my project today, but that doesn’t bother me. Those grains of sand are from my childhood. The shells aren’t colorful, rare, or fancy, but they are treasures, nonetheless.
It’s the little things.
I love seashells. I have been collecting them my whole life, from everywhere I go.
There’s something magical about them, isn’t there? When I held these in my hands today, I could feel their history and my family history, too. I bet your collection is wonderful.
I completely agree. They are very magical. I have some very cool ones, I have to say, but they are getting harder and harder to find and to bring home. Most places will not allow you to collect them anymore.
Jeanne, I didn’t realize there were restrictions on shell-hunting (it isn’t happening here in Texas). Where?
I love this! Our memories are usually only in our minds or in the photographs we see. How blessed to have a memory you can hold and treasure and share, especially at a dinner table with family gathered around! What a beautiful gift from your momma that cost so little to give! But that’s what love is all about, right?!
Yes, indeed. What a beautiful way to look at this. Thank you.