I wiped away the weeds and foam,
I fetched me sea-born treasures home.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I love seashells. I have them all over my house, in baskets and glass jars everywhere, collected up from my family's many hours spent beachcombing. Our collection includes shells of all kinds, from the tiny, iridescent jingle shells, to some very large whelks and conchs. We also have many cool sharks teeth we have found as well. Those wicked black teeth are pretty amazing, but they do not bring me the same sense of comfort that my shells do. In all of our years of beachcombing, I think we have saved just about every shell we have ever found, because they are each like a bit of ocean treasure that we cannot put back once discovered. The thing I like about our seashell collection is that it does not consist of many perfect shells. In fact, our perfect shells are few and far between. Although I do love the beautifully formed whelks, tulips, olives and murex that we have, some of my very favorites are the worn out, weather beaten shells or fragments of them. They have such wonderful character. Like a salty old sailor who has ridden out the many seasons of the ocean, and, enduring, stood the test of time.Another thing I like about shells is how many ways you can decorate with them. For example, my sister creates beautiful shell art, and someday I would like for her to use some of our collection in one of her lovely designs. One of my favorite gifts from her is a wreath she made me out of grapevine that she distressed and then covered with faded, broken, weathered shells and coral from her own shell collection placed all over it. I'd like to work on designs of my own as well, such as using our shells to add some personality to the tiles around my fireplace.
I love our diverse collection of shells, and when I am not near the ocean, but here at home, they are a lovely reminder of the place I love most.
