Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Find of a Lifetime! “The Junonia”

My girlfriend, Della and I both found a Junonia shell on the Gulf Coast of Mexico and joined the few that have been fortunate enough to discover one. We were at the same beach but one week apart. Della, from Del’s Shells actually found two and has one that is more whole than the one in my mosaic!

D&DJunoia

Wikipedia says this about this rare find,

“The shell was historically greatly prized for its beauty and apparent rarity. However, the shell is still very hard to find naturally cast up on beaches, so people who find a junonia while shelling on Sanibel Island, Florida, often get their picture in the local newspapers.”

DSCN4216

We were at Belleair beach not in Sanibel but we both took photos to share with all of you!

DSCN4219

It was a shell seeker’s dream!

I’m joining Mary for Mosaic Monday

and Diane for Beautiful Sunday

and Sunny Simple Sunday !

45 comments:

Vee said...

How pretty! We have one here that was purchased for I don't believe that any family shell seekers found it. How fun for you both to find one, to know each other, and to have found it on the same beach (even if it was a week apart)!

Kim@Snug Harbor said...

The shelling pixie has dusted you both! What beautiful finds.

Anonymous said...

wow, it is a beauty, lucky you both are!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

They are beauties! When I was on Sanibel I looked and looked but as you say those are a rare find! hugs, Linda

Danni@SiloHillFarm said...

Oh how wonderful! You and Della make me so jealous! It is my dream to go shelling one day! If I ever make it all the way to Florida, I know where to go and who to call!

Diane Writes said...

Hi namemate! I love the name "shelling sisters" cute and unique :D

You are so lucky for that rare find. Did you take it home?

I noticed that you changed your blog header. I like it.

Thank you for linking up and wishing you a great week ahead!

Susie said...

A beautiful lucky find. I wish I could find some shells.:):) Be safe.xo, Susie

JoAnn SweetPepperRose said...

These are so pretty! We've been wanting to go to Sanibel for a long time, and now that we have a travel camper, hopefully it will be soon ;)
JoAnn

Maureen Wyatt said...

Many years ago, when my girls were little, we stayed on Sanibel. That shell looks very familiar and now I'm thinking I'll look through my stash and see if I had one. Glad you got lucky.! ~ Maureen

NanaDiana said...

That is a rare find indeed! I have one from the early 70's and that one was given to me. I didn't realize back then how unusual it was. Blessings to you and your shellin'sistah! xo Diana

Sunny Simple Life said...

Oh you find the best shells there. Our surf is so much rougher and breaks most shells here plus the water is colder so I think not as many creatures with cool shells. How fun.

Trace4J said...

How cool and exciting.
Beautiful shells and friends.
Hugs
Trace


www.grannytracescrapsandsquares.com

Ricki Treleaven said...

Well how neat! I think you should be in the newspaper for finding one, anyway!

ImagiMeri said...

Wow, did you get your picture in the paper???? I didn't know those were so rare...it will make me appreciate them that much more.

Hugs,
Meri

cucki said...

Wow it is a beauty xxx
Hugs :)

Cranberry Morning said...

Congratulations on the find! It is beautiful. I had no idea those were rare. My dad was in Guam during WWII and collected shells (sea shells, fortunately) while there. I remember that Dad had a box of shells in his dresser drawer when I was a kid, and once in a while we'd pull them out and look at them. He had a few that looked just like that one. I had no idea what that was until your post. We enjoyed looking at them and I wish I knew whatever happened to that box of shells.

Barbara F. said...

That is such a pretty and unique shell, Diane. How is the weather by you? xo

debra said...

lucky you / so pretty! :)

flyingbeader said...

What a FIND!!!! I'm heading down to Sanibel in November & will keep my eyes out for one of those beautiful shells...wear my lucky shoes I guess.

dot

Unknown said...

What a beautiful shell! That is so cool that you and your friend both found one! I don't have one like that in any of mine! Will have to go to the Floriday coast. :-)
Have a great week, stay out of the way of the storm brewing.
Dorothy

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

What a lovely find. Enjoy your new found prize.

The Boston Lady said...

Beautiful! I will miss those beautiful FL beaches already. Ann

The Bear's Blog said...

Hi Miss Lavender Dreams,

It's me - PRUDENCE, I'm back from summer camp. Missed you bunches.

Oh, your treasure is "bee-u-tee-ful" it looks like it was painted.

You and Miss Della are so pretty.

Heaps of Hugs ♥
Prudence

eileeninmd said...

It is a pretty shell, congrats on your find. I love looking for seashells at the beach. Love the mosaic of the shelling sisters.

Cheryl K said...

I just love that picture of you and Della, "Shelling Sisters"...you are so lucky to have each other. Beautiful junonias!

Ames said...

Beautiful shell and beach! Lucky for you both too! Did you get your picture in the newspaper yet?~Ames

LANA said...

Beautiful shell! I never seem to have much luck with finding them. I hope all goes well for you and your home this week with the storm coming. My thoughts are with you. Batten down the hatches!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Cool and very interesting! I better look thru my shell collection and see if I have one!
Warmly,
deb

Della said...

This is my favorite mosaic so far! Love this! I'm still grinning ear to ear over our Junonia's! This has been an amazing summer my friend. Big Hugs to my shelling sister :)

pam @ iLoveShelling said...

Wahoooo!!! Congratulations to you both!! Awesome awesome. I'm sure your hearts havent stopped pounding yet, right?

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Treasures are so much better when we find them by the beach!!

Karen said...

I had no idea those shells were so rare. Very interesting!! I'll certainly appreciate them a whole lot more now... even though I will probably only find them in shops.
Thank you for your visit and comment!
Have a great week!
Karen
Ladybug Creek

cynthia lee designs said...

How fun that you both found those shells that are rare...and on the same beach!! Too cool!!
hugs,
Cindy

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

What a beautiful shell and a fortunate find for both you and your friend, Diane. I hope it will be a lucky charm!

Glenda/MidSouth said...

It is a very pretty find. Great pictures.
Thanks for stopping by. Grands really enjoyed the aquarium.
Have a great week.

Kaybe said...

Yay Team Ocala!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Wow, I guess it would be like you both making a hole in one a week apart! Gorgeous shell

Carol

Pondside said...

I'd have been excited too. I love to beach comb and always come home with a little sac of shells.

Unknown said...

Well congrats girl!!! I think your shell is absolutely beautiful! :D I also dropped in to check on you, with the hurricane and all, Im worried! I hope everything is ok with you! :)

Hugs,

Mary said...

What a lovely shell and find~ I didn't know they were so rare! I'm always happy to find a shell that is whole with no creature living inside :)

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

What a great find on the beach. Are you in the way of the hurricane? Hope not. Valerie

Yael from Home Garden Diggers said...

That is a beautiful shell. And given how rare they are, it is wonderful that two friends found them on the same beach, albeit a week apart.

Yael from Home Garden Diggers

Chenille Cottage said...

Oh, what a treasure! And, how amazing that your sweet friend found one, too!
Isn't it wonderful getting to see the fingerprints of God in such tiny creatures?!
Have a lovely week, my friend,
Blessings,
Carolynn xo

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Yay! What good shellers you two are! I love that shell and would be so happy to find one. Maybe next season!

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Lovely shells, and I have one of these, but I purchased mine;') oh well;'(~I apologize for being so late and yet I have arrived;')~