Love For Beach and America

Because this matters. Love for family. Love for America. Love for all the living things around us that is our responsibility to protect so generations from now our family and their families are blessed to share all the same Love.

From sea to shining sea. Share The Love.

Lion's Paw Seashells

I Love Lion's Paw Seashells. I think they are amazing. The shape, the colors, how wonderful beach nature is it's beyond imagination. Every time I find one of these awesome shells at the beach, it's like a gift from the sea!

I'll be back hoping for more cool finds, some days it's a bag full of treasures and some days it's just a beautiful walk on the beach.

Advice For Anyone Moving To Florida

Here's some starter advice for anyone moving to Florida - lots of stuff we learned after we did move here. Lots of differences from living up North? Absolutely and yes, I would say all of these are true. 

Lots of spirit here in Florida and lots of straight talking fun in the Sunshine State.

ADVICE FOR ANYONE MOVING TO FLORIDA:

1. If you don't like the weather in Florida, wait 15 minutes, it will change

2. If you do run your car into a ditch, don't panic. Four men in the cab of a four wheel drive with a 12-pack of beer and a tow chain will be along shortly. Don't try to help them. Just stay out of their way. This is what they live for.

3. Remember: "Y'all" is singular. "All y'all" is plural. "All y'all's" is plural possessive.

4. Get used to the phrase "It's not the heat, it's the humidity". And the collateral phrase "You call this hot? Wait'll August."

5. Don't tell us how you did it up there. Nobody cares.

6. If you think it's too hot, don't worry. It'll cool down-in December.

7. A Mercedes-Benz is not a status symbol, a Jeep, Chevy, Dodge, or Ford is.

8. If someone says they're "fixin" to do something, that doesn't mean anything's broken.

9. The value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but the availability of shade.

10. The coldest spot in all of Florida any time of year is Publix. Don't forget to bring your shopping sweater.

11. BBQ is a food group. It does NOT mean grilling burgers and hot dogs outdoors.

12. Yes, weddings, funerals, and divorces must take into account for Gators,Canes or Noles Football games. 

13. Do not tell Floridians you hate snakes, gators or sharks. They were here first apparently and don't deserve your hate. 

14. DO NOT honk your horn at us to be obnoxious, we will sit there until we die.

15. We pull over and stop for emergency vehicles to pass. 

16. We pull over for funeral processions, turn our music off and men remove hats or caps. Some people put their hand over their heart.

17. "Bless your Heart" is a nice way of saying you're an idiot.

18. Did I mention absolutely every body of water in Florida is assumed to have at least one alligator and/or crocodile just waiting for you to visit.

19. Did I mention If you don't like the weather in Florida, wait 15 minutes, it will change!

Sea Glass and Seashells Treasure Beach

Sea glass and seashells that are my favorites were the treasures from the beach today. I love finding whelk shells, especially lightning whelks so I was thrilled with two perfect beauties I found today. Rounding off my bonus treasure day was my first piece of beautiful blue sea glass that was a thrill and I thought completed my great day until I found, with a gasp and a "no way.... is it really!" a beautiful lions paw seashell. Although it's slightly broken it's a rare find for me and so beautifully shaped and it's colors are amazing.

 Lightning Whelk Seashells and Beach Treasures

As if the beautiful lightning whelk seashells weren't enough for my shelling fun next I found a piece of beautiful blue seaglass. My first piece of blue and I hope not my last!

Sea Glass Treasures From The Sea Blue Seaglass

And then I was lucky enough to find my pride and joy this beautiful Lions Paw Seashell. Although not totally intact it's in very good shape it's proud shell formation beautiful, sturdy and it's colors are just perfect. This seashell treasure could be one of my most favorite finds ever. So far.

Lions Paw Seashell Beach Treasures

Visit our fishing, shelling and beaching adventures

BEACHES FISHING SUNRISE AND GIFT IDEAS 

BEACHES SHELLS FISHING AND FUN 

FIRE AND WATER FIREFIGHTER TO BEACHES 

Seashell Treasures Lions Paw Shell

The ocean must love me as much as I love her Today it graced me with this beautiful #lionspaw and blue seaglass, 2 gorgeous perfect lightning whelks and a beautiful sunny but windy day.

More photos to follow #shells #seashells #beaches #beach #sea #ocean #oceanside #oceans #treasure #beachcombing #beachcomber #beachcombers #shelling #iloveshelling #surf #florida #floridalife #floridalifestyle #seashell #seashellhunting #treasurecoast #nature #naturephotography #mothernature #fishing #surffishing #ilovethebeach #sand #coast #coastal #coastalliving #seaglass #seaglassaddict #iloveshells #iloveseaglass #beachlove

A post shared by Bonfire Designs (@bonfiredesign) on Mar 13, 2018 at 6:18pm PDT

Jetty Waves From Firefighter To Beach Adventures

The power of the ocean, the tides, the moon and the sea unpredictable, unstoppable. Standing at the top of this beach area is the horizon far and wide as you can see.  The view of the powerful waves washing right up to me was amazing enough until I looked down and found even more amazing treasures that were thrown right up to me. A Whale bone vertebrae fossil was this day's treasure from the beach. Read more and check out the whale fossils here





I had no idea I would find anything like this on the beach and in all fairness, I had no idea what these were when I first found them I just thought it was awesome looking and had to find out more. I brought it home and cleaned it up and it turns out I found an awesome whale bone vertebrae what's the chances.

This whale fossil could be hundreds of years old who knows. Just when you thought you figured out the beach, you learn quickly - you can never figure out the beach, the ocean or change the tide of the sea.

Whale Bones Found On The Beach

Whale bones I found on the beach still leave me amazed at how big the ocean world is, how old and how diverse.  I love finding beach treasures. Always searching for some great seashells, pieces of old treasures like boats, sea glass and some other great unknowns that was ashore. But whale bones! This treasure I did not expect.

The ocean waves were serious the last few days. Even low tide was rocking the beach and covering most of the sand with every wave washing up with it plenty of shells and strong enough to move the beach rocks on some of the beaches (more about that later).

To be honest, I had no idea when I spotted this pretty amazing looking specimen on the beach what exactly it could be. I just knew it was like nothing I had ever seen before and anything you find on the beach, is some kind of crazy treasure. I cleaned it up and started my google research and before long I was able to easily figure out this is for sure a whale bone vertebrae fossil. 

Maybe it was the winter storms that were raging to the North of us that helped send this whale fossil my way, or maybe it's been dislodged from an old whale graveyard from hundreds of years ago and just found it's way to land now. Whichever it is, I feel pretty honored it chose to share this find with me. 

Seashell Planter Home Made DIY

My seashell planter is one of my favorite homemade projects. It was one of those things you think about and never get around to. Every time I looked at the plain planter on the outside of my screen door I would think I really should replace that planter. It has a great aloe plant growing in it that was a baby clipping from a great big aloe plant that we never thought would take, but my daughter babied it and it was now thriving. I didn't really want to transplant it but I could. But I didn't. And I really like the shape of the planter that fit really nicely in the little plant stand. So really for months I did nothing. Except for say I really should do something with that planter, at least 3 times a week.

Aloe Plant In My Old Planter Pre Seashell Renovation

Then it happened. The great idea and motivation from out of nowhere. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could cover the planter with some of the great seashells I am always collecting from the beaches I love.

Seashells From The Beaches I Love

Out came the seashells. Tons of seashells. All different sizes, shapes, colors. Out came the tacky glue, mod podge and then finally, the only thing that really worked to hold the naturally shaped shells to the curvy shaped planter (with the aloe plant still inside the whole time) was the hot glue gun.

Seashells Work Great With A Hot Glue Gun

I have used tacky glue and mod podge with other great projects including shell art home made projects before with great success but this planter was not going to happen. The shells slid almost immediately so unless I held each one in place for about an hour it just was not going to work. Out came the hot glue gun and a fresh new package of glue sticks.

Seashell by Seashell. One by one I chose from the great colors and shapes from the sea that I had handpicked over the last few months just because they all just were fascinating to me.

Seashell By Seashell Hot Glued Onto The Planter Project

Choosing the right shells to fit any kind of pattern on the interesting shaped planter was no easy job. Pretty small crown conchs, olive shells in every size. Whelks and cockle shells and pretty scallops. So many to choose from. To fit in to the right spot. I also decided to add some pretty cool white decorative rock accents to give the planter that southern beach feeling so they got hot glued on also.

Seashell By Seashell Hot Glued Onto The Planter Project

It took a couple of days dedicating every minute and hour I could possibly run out to work on the seashell planter but I loved it as it started coming together. The family would come out to visit. There were many cups of coffee. Lots of eyes and helping me sort through even more shells. Plenty of fun DIY home artists in my family and lots of great advice. And more coffee.

Seashell By Seashell The Planter Was Really Starting to Come Together

A seashell project of love it took lots of time, hot glue sticks, seashells and coffee but I love my seashell planter

I was determined that every spot of the original worn out planter would be covered with something beautiful. Layer by layer. Shell by shell. Burned hot glued finger by burned hot glued finger this seashell planter was starting to look great!

Shell by shell. Burned hot glued finger by burned hot glued finger this seashell planter was starting to look great!

It took a ton of hot glue sticks, initially for the shells and rocks and then another layer in and out around every shell wherever I could to make sure this planter would make it through the harsh weather of down South Florida.  So far so good. Everything is holding on. As the summer comes and time goes by we'll see if the hot glue can stand up to the hottest sun in the world. 

I really am crazy about the seashell planter. Now I look at it every day and smile. It reflects who am I, what I love and what I love to do. Take things that are pretty cool and make them even better. The aloe plant seems to love it's new look too it's still growing like crazy.

And the good news is, if any shells do come off, I can always go back to the beach and collect some more seashells to replace them! 

 Searching For Seashells At The Seashore

Love Art and Beach Shells

Love art from the beach has to include seashells for our family and we love using the beautiful shells we find on the beach to create art, signs, decorations, photo frames, seashell planters...  You name it we love sharing our love of beaches, sunshine and shells all over our home.  My family gave me the greatest gift this Valentine's Day an awesome seashell art canvas that clearly spells out how much they Love Me.

Every beautiful shell was handpicked from our beaches including some of my favorite whelks, conchs, kitten paws, olives and some of the amazing beautiful sea glass my daughter the beach whisperer always finds every wonderful trip to the seashore.  Heart shaped rocks and shells decorate our home made shell art while pretty little seashells of beautiful colors become a magical butterfly.

Be creative in your home too. If you find some seashells big or small, round or long make something wonderful out of them and show someone oceans of love from the sea and from your art from the heart.

Seashell Solar Lights

Seashell solar lights are perfect because I love lights especially solar lights out in the garden, along my path, on my deck, in my planters, everywhere I can. I even have solar string lights for the holidays. They save energy because you don't need electricity. They look great and really light up a dark night. Solar lights are a great way to give a cozy we are home feeling to every house. Solar lights are even great on balconies and terraces if you live in a condo or apartment.

I also love seashells. My new passion is seeking out seashells because that's a great reason to go to the beach. Now that I have moved down South and the most beautiful tropical beaches are just a few miles away, going to any one of the beaches is the best way in the world to clear your head, leave reality behind for just a little bit and remember that out there, the sky meets the ocean and everything possible is on the horizon. Seashells are a token of that visit. They are big and small. Sea shells that are hard to find and some very common but every size, shape, color and type are just amazing and beautiful. I quickly have brought home so many seashells I love that I need to keep making things I love out of things I love.

We happened to have two leftover tiki candle cans that we had never used (I never set anything on fire with actual flames if I can help it probably due to my firefighter career (you can read more about that here) and had used the big tiki candles with two solar lights in it to light the back area of the house until they kept getting knocked over when we trimmed the bushes. The tiki torch holders were long gone but the cans and solar lights we still had. Tiki cans with no cool holders are just not that great looking. So out of the garage came the cans ready for a diy seashell home renovation.

First thing my husband did was clean off the can including any rust it had accumulated then spray paint it black so the writing and old stuff was all covered up and looked much better already.

Seashell home art projects often require the work of a glue gun. Shells are so irregularly shaped sometimes the mod podge and tacky glue just doesn't work. Your hot glue gun will work with seashells on almost every surface but you have to definitely have patience and definitely have fingers that will probably have to hold up to a couple of hot glue gun burns!

Slowly but surely my husband worked his way around the cans sea shells and glue, choosing some of our favorite calico shells, olive, clam shells, small conch shells, all the colors and shapes that would fit into each spot. Every single shell we found with our own hands, during so many visits to the seashore every day new finds now DIY fastened to a cool new home light project. 

Not to say there wasn't any under the breath cursing every time a finger met the glue or the shell moved or the glue dried before it was in the right spot, but it was worth every minute. It took a couple of days between spray painting the light cans, hot gluing the shells to the light but it was like adult arts and crafts that ended up a DIY project we really use and love.

After both lights we decorated with shells, the hot glue all set and the lights cleaned up and charged by the sun we covered the entire beach shells surface with mod podge to seal it up hopefully keeping the harsh weather from breaking down all of our hard work. So far, so good!

We hope you will join us on Facebook at Bonfire Designs and share some of your home DIY projects, fun beach adventures or share your love of beaches with us too.

Beach Carts For Seashore Days Fishing and Shelling

Beach Carts For Seashore Days, Fishing and Shelling On The Beaches is my latest recommended you really have to think about one of these for your own. Check these out.

Beach carts are what you need to get your gear down to the beach for an easy trip with this beach buggy, carts and wagons. Foldable for storage when not in use (although we keep everything for the beach like our beach chairs, insulated coolers, kids beach pails and shovels stored away and ready to go in ours when not in use) and they will help you get through the sand and beats carrying your beach chairs, towels, beach bag, lunch bags and insulated coolers as well as fishing gear and sunscreen in your arms.

Beach carts and fishing buggy loaded up with everything we need to hit the beaches

Beach Buggy Cart loaded up with chairs, umbrellas, shovels and pails, plenty of room for insulated cooler and beach bags

Whether you are shelling, shore fishing, tanning on the beach or surfing the waves these beach carts are really exceptional. The wheels are made not to dig into the sand instead to roll over the sand making the push or pull of the beach buggy easier than a little red wagon. (we upgraded our wheels but the ones ours came with also worked great, we just really load this up and go a long ways on the beach so we can also do some shore fishing away from the swimmers.