in spite of our Ocracoke Island vacation being very “damp” each day was special…
on one of the clear days we took our traveling tea cup to the beach letting the Atlantic Ocean waves wash up around it with me squealing and dashing at one point to rescue it from being washed out to sea (Mr Magpie was laughing so hard he couldn’t snap many photos of it happening)…
we ventured out one rainy night splish splashing through puddles to enjoy a really special concert with Ocracoke Island’s very own Molasses Creek band at their Deepwater Theater and Music Hall…
last year we shared our excitement about the shell “spirit” tree we helped create on the beach here…
and were delighted this year to find a different piece of wood lodged in the sand waiting for us…
so we got busy because we came prepared…
in our efforts to downsize and let go of things Mr Magpie emptied a BIG tin of seashells around the tree that we brought back to the beach from our Outer Banks shell collecting over the years…
we do have a weakness for shells…
and could wander for hours on the beach totally entertained by Mother Nature…
this year for the first time ever I found not one but TWO perfect Scotch Bonnet shells…
it is not uncommon to find tips and fragments from these shells but to find them in tact is a bit more rare…
back to the shell tree…
above you can see some of what other people added (a lone flipflop, toothbrush, colorful sand toys along with a plastic glow stick that was finished and a small plastic oil container that probably washed ashore from a boat … that we removed and recycled)…
it was fun collecting mostly shells with holes in them stringing them onto natural twine that we brought from home to make shell garlands to tie onto the branches…
wish I could send each of you some seashells but you probably have collections of your own…
thank you very much for all of your good wishes … a broken toe is such a small pain compared to what so many others are going through…
here’s wishing you a very Happy T Day along with everyone over at Elizabeth’s Altered Book Lover…
Magpie's Nest ~*~ Patty Szymkowicz 
Loved sing more delightful photos from your vacation. Live the shell tree and the mandala too ♡♡♡♡ I love shells but really have too many sea shells. ..now fresh water she’ll I have in abundance. 🙂
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Goodness, I was super impressed that the shell tree was so popular. And to think you started this project last year. It seems others have added to the joy of it. Letting go of shells is hard. I had lots and gave them all away a few years ago, except for a few special ones. Now I use them in art, so thankfully, I have found a new use for them.
Your traveling tea cup looks wonderful in the various places. I had to laugh at your squeal as the cup was being pushed out to sea. I even saw it start to tip, too. Great photo of that.
Thanks for sharing your traveling tea cup, your vacation photos, and your fun trip (minus the broken toe, of course) with us for T this Tuesday.
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Adore your Tree … what a beautiful idea. Also have a huge weakness for shells … so beautiful. Looks like you are having a marvelous time! hugs, Donna
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Wonderful post, love the photos, and of course, the travelling tea cup! Have a great week, take care, happy T day, hugs, Valerie
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An amzing post dear Patty! Gorgeous! Wishing a great week to you and a happy T-Day!
oxo
Susi
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I want a tree like that for a Xmas tree…haha.
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I love all the images on this post. The spirit tree looks so beautiful in these shots. I also love those images of abundant shells with all their different hues and markings. Shells have always been magical to me. What a wonderful place your enchanted isle looks, Patty – just like Prospero’s island in The Tempest. I love the idea of how the sea changes that which it touches, turning it into something ‘rich and strange’. xx
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PS I didn’t know you had broken your toe, Patty. I am so sorry to hear this. I do hope you will be soon healed and that it’s not affecting you too badly. xx
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Thanks for posting more photos of the beautiful island. I loved looking at all the photos. You (or your hubby) are a good photographer. The shell tree is a fab idea. It caught on too by the looks of it.
That must have been a great concert by Creek Molasses. I’ve just spent quite some time playing all their videos from the website. I love that music.
I hope your toe is now much better,
Have a good week,
Lisca
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Oh a broken toe can bring much pain and discomfort.
The shell tree is a thing of beauty, showcasing the wonder of Mother Nature.
Wishes to you,
Lynne x
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What a delightful visit I just had with you…I felt like I was there, helping to decorate your spirit tree and watching you run after your tea cup…the sea can be greedy! But, it also shares such wonderful bounty.
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Oh my- I love every little bit of this post Patty! I must remember to make a shell tree on the beach when we go again with our friends to Delaware the end of the month. What a great idea-and fun! LOVE your shell mandala too-we have two small ones on display, and yes, we have SO many shells collected over the years also…thanks for sharing and a happy T day!
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oops-forgot to say how sweet the animal vignette of photos is:)
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I have a huge shell collection, too. A lot of them serve as memories of vacations or special occasional. Now I collect a small stone that catches my eye wherever we go. I love that the shell tree seems so popular. Glad you didn’t lose your traveling tea cup! Hope your toe is much better, too
Thank you for your email–I appreciate the info and will check out the Renwick, too.
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Hello and Happy T Day Patty! What a fun post to take us on, love the decorated tree, so neat to do that. The shells all look so pretty, nice collection of them you had. YAY for finding rare ones too. Hope your toe is doing better. Thank you for sharing this special place and moment with us. Have a good week!
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Beautiful photos and mandala. Those kitties are so sweet snuggled together. Love the idea of the shell tree. I enjoyed the one you shared last year as well.
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Ouch! A broken toe is painful! I hope yours feels better soon.
Walking along that beach is such a peaceful thing, yet there’s so much power there. I love your photos, and the shell tree is a wonderful idea 🙂
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Yep — I have jars of shells mostly in one of the bathrooms. Very hard to find those with holes in them. I would like to make necklaces with crochet or use them to string up as decorations. I like the idea of your shell tree on the beach. Mostly are beaches here are filled with garbage because no one can clean up after themselves. 😦
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So many amazing stories your teacup could tell, if it could talk, dear Patty.
Even one of almost sayling into the ocean 🙂 such beautiful photoes, and lovely to see you and Jim hanging shells onto the tree. I remember it very well from last year. And so wonderful that you brought a big portion from home, to get back to their normal surroundings,- they are so beautiful. On my little island there are only tiny blue-shells, which are almost always broken from the waves . I`m sure this wea a vacation in totally harmonie with weather and nature, dear friend.
Hugs,Dorthe
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Love the shell tree, and how sweet that you returned some shells to the beach from your collection! Wonderful photos….and you made me smile about the waves threatening to carry off the traveling tea cup! Happy T day! ♥
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Your posts are always a fiesta for my eyes.
Yes, I do collect sea shells, and have hoards of them……now I think I will take them back to the sea and make a spirit tree too. Such a lovely idea. Thanks for sharing
Happy T-day
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love your shell tree what a fab idea and your photos are always a delight to see..armchair travel
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Once more gorgeous photos, such an invitation to travel towards this picturesque island!
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What a delightful post! *Sigh*, I feel all relaxed just reading and looking at your fabulous photos 😉 The seaside always makes me feel like that; it is my most favourite place to be if I’m not at home. Yes, we too, have a large shell collection 🙂 I love the idea of stringing the ones with natural holes in them; perhaps I will try that once we enter the warmer seasons once more 🙂
Your animal pics are very lovely, especially that blue eyed dog 😀 And the mandala is gorgeous! 😀
Happy T Day and many thanks for your comment on our holiday/T post 🙂 Hugs fae bonny Scotland 😀 xox
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I so love that you see beauty in everything! That melt my heart everytime I see it 🙂 Thank you for letting me be part of your enlightened life and sight of the world! Big YESS for the Shell Tree, haha!
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And oh my heart skips a beat…travelling cup nearly washed into the sea?! pfeeew hubby saved her, now I am calm again 😉
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I love that you went prepared for your spirit tree – and love how others added to it! Beautiful! Hope your foot is improving! Chrisx
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I simply KNEW I forgot to compliment you on the mandala. We really need to make more of those, but I don’t have the “raw materials” to make anything as nice as those shells you used in yours.
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The idea of your shell tree staying there through however long it lasts with the ocean’s whims is a wonderful thing. My husband said to me yesterday what can we do with all the glass we pick up off the beach? Got me thinking. There is also a great downed tree that lends itself perfectly for some decoration. Might take your cue and do a thing of two some morning. xox
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Such a lovely post! I admire the two of you for giving back the seashells…I have so many and my mister always asks, what will you do with all of these? I say , admire their beauty- for now at least! Perhaps someday, I too will take tin cans to the shores and leave some beauty for others to admire as well!
huge hugs my friend! xoxo
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I seem to be late everywhere these days but I did get a good laugh picturing you chasing the Traveling Tea Cup. The shell tree is terrific. A great idea.
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Hello chère Patty, j’ai adoré ce petit reportage de vos vacances, humour et beauté, ces plages ressemblent aux miennes et les coquillages aussi, j’en ai beaucoup dans mon jardin pour la déco.
Quelle bonne idée cet arbre aux coquillages, j’essayerai de le faire dès que je vais à la plage.
Merci pour ce partage autour d’un bon thé.
Bizzz
MAPY
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i fully understand your weakness for Shells and i share it, though here is no beach nearby. i especially love the photo with the colorful Shells and of course the Shell tree is a hoot!! thanks for sharing!
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Imagine coming prepared to start another shell tree, that is so tremendous.
Isn’t it interesting that other people added to it, though maybe not with your artistic eyes.
Glad you rescued the teacup, I would have been squealing too.
Your holiday sounds fascinating and your photographs, as always, are such a delight.
Pretty pattern with the seashells.
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Beautiful gorgeous photos, and lovely things you do in life for a better world. I could read your blog all day. I just sat here for a time scrolling back and admiring all of the beauty from your past posts, I am notoriously bad about blogging these days, seems never to be enough time. Your blog, your writings, your photos are so beautiful….and you spend the time to show us.
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So much lovely holiday impressions you show us dear Patty, so we have a little holiday whilst watching it. I visited the homepage of the Molasses Creek Band and heard some of their songs and must say that I like that kind of music.
Hope you feel fine,take care of you.
Dearest Greetings
Sabine
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I don’t think a broken toe is a small pain at all – it just plain hurts!! I loved seeing the seashell ‘tree’ – what fun! Reminded me of the blue bottle trees that I’ve seen sometimes.
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Delightful post my friend!I love shells too and the sea is my friend.I look through the window and it is there looking back!Love your seashell tree!Just fabulous!Happy T day!
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Gorgeous sky, Patty. And I love the mandala! It’s simply perfect.
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Wonderful photos Patty, I absolutely love your shell tree, it’s so beautiful! xxx
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I was laughing about the tea cup almost getting washed away! Too funny! It would’ve been a nice adventure for it……. great ending I think! hahaha! Love the tree you added to and that you returned the shells to the beach! It’s always so tempting to take shells home. I know I have a few myself. Love your adventure!
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Thank you for these wonderful, moody photos!
The shell tree is a true object of art, great! You must be a very, very happy woman, because everything that you show us, is full of harmony and balance! Always so inspiring! Ulrike
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