Sanibel Dreaming...

As many of you know, my daughter and I went on vacation to Sanibel Florida last month...  I am so proud of my 7 year old for all the hard work she put into being able to go on this trip!!!  She walked countless miles for a year and picked up aluminum cans that others had carelessly tossed around parks, lakes, and the side of the road...  She was able to purchase her round trip tickets with a portion of the money she earned...

The flight was so relaxing for a full time stay at home/work from home parent of two and part time parent of one...  With my husband out of town for weeks at a time, I am a single yet married parent all the time and loved the few hours of quiet!!!

Of course the moment the plane touched the ground, the action started...  First we headed to the condo, leaving all our things in the car, and ran for the beach...

We thought it would take us a while to find one of the loggerhead nests, but they are everywhere you look... 

We enjoyed learning the "rules" of Sanibel and all about the wildlife...  The "rules" are so simple and most of them are just common courtesy...  They include having no light on the shores after dark, not littering, and not leaving anything on the beach that could be an obstacle or hazard to the wildlife...

We took a wildlife adventure cruise to learn more about the many things Florida has that is so very different than our landlocked home state...  While waiting for the cruise to start we went over some of the reading material we had gathered...

Sanibel is one of the world's best shelling beaches...  The shells vary by location on the island and you may only take them if they are not live...  For those who don't want to get in the water there are plenty on the shore waiting to be selected and treasured...  For those who choose to go in the water, shelling is an art that you quickly learn feeling with your feet or watching the waves going out and catching the shells rolling by...  Either way you go, the shells are more than plenitful and they are everywhere!!!

The island is a paradise all it's own and life there is so very laid back...  My daughter and I have never been so laid back, at harmony with our surroundings, and balanced with nature!!!  The flora and fauna is captivating and catching sunrise or sunset is unforgettable!!!

We have a ton more pictures to show you.  However, we will not overload you with it all in one day...  We just strongly recommend you go to Sanibel and enjoy the beauty yourself!!!  In the meantime, we'll be plotting and planning our move to the lovely island where we feel more at home than anywhere we have ever been...