Let's (slowly) get started...

Everyone has interests, hobbies, talents, and creative ideas. It's great sharing - getting feedback and giving feedback when asked. Years ago, when I attended the Cleveland Institute of Art, we became a family with the Cleveland Institute of Music students. It was great - artists and musicians coming together and sharing thoughts.

I really miss those days of listening to others speaking about new innovations, sharing their thoughts and opinions. Sometimes, I think how sad it is that society has closed up a lot of minds - fear of sharing ideas and having open discussion.


When graphic art (fine art) totally disappears, humanities will be gone. Yes, we do have the technology of using computer software to create images. It's great having this tool - but, it's only a tool to enhance Commercial Art.

I hope the days of Picasso and other creative artists (using paint brushes and canvases) never stops or goes away.

Unfortunately, small art galleries are disappearing. Cities are attempting to save local artists by allowing us to hang our paintings in City Halls.

I am an artist. My first husband was a musician. Soul-wise, it was a beautiful relationship of communication, listening, and understanding each other. Artists and musicians are rare people (yet, we seem to be many). Creativity is rare (yet, many have the abilities).




Monday, January 31, 2011

Sea Shells - Third Group

From left to right starting at top:


Limpets - grows attached to rocks in cooler Atlantic and Pacific waters
Tellon Clams - large tropical family of sand dwelling clams
Lucina Shells - live in shallow warmer waters of Atlantic and Pacific waters
Top Shells - found in both shallow and deep temperate or tropical waters
Mussells - most abundant of all mollusks - common in cooler seas - attaches to rocks and wood by tuft of strong fibers it secretes
Tritons - found in tropical waters near coral reefs
Pen Shells - prefer warm deeper water where they grow attached to rocks - common in Atlantic Ocean


Hitchhiking (Barnacles)
Many Sea Critters travel thousands of miles (tiny larvae that drift, feeding as they go) on shells of other Sea Critters.  Others stay or can't move from where they are.  "Hitchhiking" also includes riding on plastics and tar balls.  Nearly 30 species of barnacles are found on turtles and another group on whales.  While other groups live on gelatinous plankton such as jellyfish and comb jellies.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Sea shells - second group

From left to right, starting at top:


Perwinkles - common on rocky shores in most parts of the world
Scallops - most common along Atlantic shores and prefer shallow water
Venus Clam - over 400 species found all over the world
Giant Clam - Largest shelled mollusk 2' - 4'
Whelk - known to both Artic and Tropical waters - Knobbed Whelk is         the state shell of New Jersey and is the largest shell found in the region 4" - 9"
Tulip Shell -typical of southeast United States - best known is Florida Horse Conch 1' - 2'


Mollusks (clams, snails, squids)
Anthropods (insects on land, shrimp, lobsters, and crabs in the ocean)
Enchinoderms (sea stars and sea cucumbers)

Many sea critters have not been identified.


Thursday, January 20, 2011

Look for the Light Houses in the area when you visit the Sea Critters

This is Brandywine Shoal Light House standing guard over sea vessels traveling  in the Deleware Bay (erected in 1850).  A new Lighthouse was completed in 1914 to replace the original outdated Light House. 


Imagine, all the years these Light Houses have stood, and all the storms that they have continued standing through - most of the older Light Houses were built in the 1800's.  There is a lot of Civil War history, involving take-overs of different Light Houses between the North and the South armies.  Light Houses played an important role in Navel warfare during the Civil War.


Light Houses are fasicinating; and are located near or around many beaches on shore lines (lake and bay areas included) around the United States. 


Wherever I'm near the water and beaches, besides "Shelling", I look for Light Houses in the area.  If I'm lucky, I can find one or two (if the sea and erosion haven't destroyed them).  Hopefully, the Light House will be open, for us to walk up to the top, and look out over the water.

Sea Critters - Sea Shells - say that one 5 times fast!!

I visit beaches everywhere I go.  There are plenty of interesting sea shells where sea critters once lived before leaving their shells (outer skeletons of mollusks, animals without backbone) on the beaches.  Mollusks are divided into two groups: univalves (shaped in one piece shell that are spiral in shape) and bivalves (two shells hinged together).  Sometimes the critters get eaten by other critters and sometimes they are washed up on the beach too far by the waves.  Other sea life found on beaches are coral, black pods, and sponge.  Large Horseshoe Crabs are found in multitude on the beaches of Delaware.
"Shelling" (finding shells) is best one hour before/after a low tide and exceptional from two to four days after a storm.  Check out the Surf Line or Drop Line (small lip of sand where waves break) and the Trash Line (small lip of sand that has formed) and the Flat Lines (areas of low tide).


Please do not take live shells from the beach, meaning any shell with a live creature inside it (includes sea urchins, starfish, and sand dollars).  These sea critters are alive - beaches and water are their homes.  Only take empty shells.


If you see these shells (starting at top left to right):


"Cowies" - common in deep tropical waters; one of the best known mollusks over 200 species
"Northern Moon Snail" - common on all Atlantic and Pacific beaches; common in shallow water    with sandy or muddy bottoms; it eats as many as four clams a day by drilling through to soft flesh 4"
"Eastern Oyster" - most valuable shell fish; common in shallow warm water of all
oceans; the most common edible oyster in eastern U.S.A. - found in saline waters, especially in the
Chesapeake Bay 2-8"
"Auger" - long, brightly colored; sand dwellers; common to tropical waters
"Conch" - popular large shells found on sandy bottoms of shallow tropical waters
"Wentletraps" - deep water species; some rare forms bring high prices from collectors
"Pearl Oysters" - common in warmer waters; source of most pearl and mother-of-pearl
"Cone Shells" - found in Atlantic and Pacific tropical waters

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Sea Critters have now joined together and stories will start........

Another lobster and crab showed up and they decided to visit their friends.  They are just passing by.  They have other places to travel.



OH NO!  IT'S A BOOHOO! 
He wants to go to the beach and play with the Sea Critters.  Maybe, jump in the water and play with them on his visit!  He loves the water!!!  He also likes watching the monitor screen and everything that moves on it.  Once in awhile, he'll be popping in with some of his crazy episodes - he's a pretty funny kitten who is 5 1/2 months old.  He's very mischievious! BooHoo enjoys turning the light on in the closet by opening the bi-fold doors and pulling a metal chain.  He uses his paws as good as we use our hands!

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Undersea characters:

"Whaler" has lots of stories and is somewhat a blow'hard.

"Star Fish" keeps on smiling and has a happy disposition.

"Turtle Neck" gnaws through obstacles and keeps trudging and moving on.

"Shark Mouth" only appears vicious and scary and sometimes he scares himself.

"Octopus Mouth" has many different abilities, talents, skills, and is very agile.

"Snail Shell" moves slowly, cautiously while remaining in his shell most of the time with a sour disposition.

"Fish Eyes" is easy going and sweet along with being very patient, tolerant, and respectful.

"Seal Face" is a little professor with a scientific outlook.

"Lobster Belly" has a scrumptious and delicious outlook while looking for happiness and sweetness.

"Wormy" keeps on moving while wiggling and squirming everywhere and mostly hangs out in driftwood.

"Frog Tongue" keeps on hopping and keeping spirits high along with his distinctive speedy tongue going.

"Sea Pony" travels fast while doing his rsponsibilities and helping others along his many journeys.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Meet some of my friends....

Water is amazing.  The warm breeze above the water, moving currents, waves coming to and from the shore, "sea critters", and sandy beaches is a land within.  Every beach is different. It's all part of nature and life. 

"Sea Critters" has a society also!  One of fantasy and one of reality - whichever way you want to look at it.  This blogsite will probably consist of both viewpoints.  Left side of brain - right side of brain (fantasy and reality).  The brain is marvelous - so many places that have not been seen nor used!

Combining Something Special Designs with Sea Critters and More!

Friends have all different personalities.  It's wonderful that each individual person is one of a kind - and no one else is exactly alike. It gives everyone an opportunity to share talents, abilities, skills, thoughts, opinions, and feelings with one another.
 
Or, not share.  Unfortunately, many people are afraid to show others who they are as individuals.  So many beautiful facets go left unseen.


I think, artists have a larger perspective on life - it's easy to share with others.  It's easy to show feelings and thoughts, present their artwork, and talk.  It's all out their, in their artwork!!

I'M FINDING THIS INTERESTING!

       The sea constantly moves, like life moves. 
We all need some happy and friendly faces along the way!!!!!!