Anna’s shells

I am one of those lucky women who was blessed with in-laws with whom I actually enjoy spending time. I have heard the sad tales of friends whose in-laws leave much to be desired and every time I hear one of these stories, I remember just how blessed I am.

We went to see my husband’s mother today, stopping at the hospital to visit my brother who is finally going home tomorrow, if all is well. (He looked good and actually giggled a couple of times).

Anna (my MIL) is a lover of the beach and collected these shells on the gulf coast of Florida earlier this year.

 

We have been to see my husband’s folks several times since they returned from their winter sojourn on the gulf. But each time we visited, I had forgotten my macro lens. This morning, I remembered because I wanted to take pictures of the beautiful shells Anna has on display in a little basket.

 

Anna loves to tell a good story and has a fun sense of humor. Godfrey is quiet, like the son to which I’m married.

And he reads my blog.

(Hello, dad.)

 

Anna and Godfrey instilled a love of nature into their three children, taking them camping and visiting as many national parks as they could after their emigration from the UK in the 60’s. I don’t remember ever going camping as a child and it wasn’t until I met my husband that I began my life-long love affair with sleeping outdoors in a tent.

It was terribly chilly here in Maryland today and although the wind has died down some, it’s still quite brisk.

I’m in the middle of watching a movie on Netflix and it involves a series of letters written back and forth between people in London and a woman in New York City in the 1940’s. It’s ‘84 Charing Cross Road’ and I’ve never seen it before.

This is a sea urchin shell and it’s covered with something but I have no idea what it is. Here’s another photo of a sea urchin that I took while visiting Maine last summer.

All of these photos were processed using Florabella’s Vintage Summer II action and lowering the opacity considerably. On some of the photos, I added texture.

I love shells.

Have a beautiful Monday, my friends. Until tomorrow, then . . .