Once in awhile-now and again-this is us

abalone shells are one of my favorite shells to find, but it’s rare to find a whole shell. lots of people collect them because you just can’t walk by one and not pick it up. people collect them to sell also, just look at Amazon. I’ve only found a couple in tact so far, and lots of bits and pieces. I’ve bought a few at thrift stores, and one in hawaii.
I have a lot buttons in my collection made from the mother of pearl. They make jewelry out of it also. Some of you may have them on your clothes or in your jewelry box.

abalone can live over 30 years, if a sea otter doesn’t get them first. it’s a staple in their diet. it’s pretty much a delicacy all over the world. I’ve never eaten it and don’t really want to even try it. have any of you tried it and liked it? it doesn’t look very appealing here.

I removed the abalone shells from my ‘stuff shelves’ to find another place to put them. I’d like to have them outside, but afraid they might disappear out front on our beach, like they do on the real beach’s. they are all so similar – yet so different.
my collection ~~

as you probably noticed, you can’t talk about abalone shells without mentioning sea otters. we’ve seen many in Monterey bay pounding the shell on a rock – they’ve put on their chest – to open it. abalone is a staple in their diet, and they keep the sea urchin population in check, which improves the kelp forest and gives abalone more to eat.
the sea otters on the California coast, from point conception in Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz, have increased for the first time since they were so heavily hunted in the ‘40s and ‘50s.

Since 1985, this has been one of our favorite places to watch the otters, the dining room of the Green Gables Inn. It’s in Pacific Grove near Monterey and within walking distance to the aquarium. The breakfasts are fabulous and wine hour is so enjoyable. We made countless trips there over the years and were fortunate to have a 6 day vacation for our 25th anniversary.

I never got a good closeup picture of the otters from the Inn. I wish we had those binoculars that took pictures back then. This is a google photo. Aren’t they cute?

We loved the otters so much we bought this painting in one of the galleries in town on that anniversary trip. We even met the artist there.

we’ll, thanks for staying until the end – and I’ve only scratched the surface, I sometimes get carried away on subjects that interest me

but you’re on your own to find out more

I hope you stay tuned

💗jilly