Summer Shells & Memories

You know it's summer at my house when the seashells go on display. I've collected them for years, from all over the place, and love finding new ways to show them off during the warm months of summer. I fill glass vases with them, as above...
I've nestled pillar candles down into glass vases filled with shells, and lined them up on a simple muslin runner on my dining tableIn the center of all of those vases is this BIG glass dome. It fits over a round platter that I have, making it a perfect place to display special things all year long. Right now, it showcases a 'Found Treasures' NeSt I made last Labor Day, when Bob & I stayed at Cama Beach.
Another big dome with pedestal and several smaller domes gather on the buffet (um, yes.... she's back in the dining room. I sold my black buffet at Farm Chicks, and when we came home I decided that Miss Phoebe Buffet really looks better here than in my room....). The bowls under the domes hold assorted shells that I gather on our beach walks. I didn't gather these starfish on a beach walk, but they do look lovely with the oyster shells that I found recently on our shores. Bob says if I collect only five shells a day on our walk, by September the beach will be bare! Now that we live here at the beach, I think I may just leave the shells out all year. I could even do an all-white Christmas tree with seashells!
My summer decorating is completed with the placement of one very special item: This photo of my kids, circa 1994. We had just moved to Washington State, and discovered Mukilteo Beach. Our family made a habit of visiting it often (it was about 45 minutes from home) and one day, a huge log had washed up onto the beach. The kids all started climbing on it, and this photo op presented itself. It is my absolute favorite photo of my four children.

I have vowed to reproduce that photo one day with all of their spouses and children in it, too. (I think it will be on one of our lovely beaches here on the island, though.... perhaps we'll do it next summer, when Bob & I renew our vows for our 30th Wedding Anniversary!) I'm sure we'll collect lots of shells, too.....

And don't forget, Monday July 6th at midnight PST is the deadline to enter my Anniversary Giveaway!