Clint & Barnacle
Turning Island Finds Into Memory Pieces
Greetings from the island everyone. Hope all of you are doing well and adjusting to the weather extremes that we’ve had the past month, going from shorts and t-shirt one day, to sweats and a jacket and 40 mph north gusts the very next. Come on Mom Nature, let’s make up our mind already. Poor Barnacle is panting from the heat one afternoon, and huddled far under Grandma Frieda’s feather comforter later that same night. I say bring on Spring already. And of course yesterday was the first official day of that wonderful season. Yay!
I just never know what I might find washed ashore along the four mile stretch of Gulf of Mexico beach on this barrier island, or along the Matagorda Bay shoreline. Of course 95% of the time it’s the same old debris – plastic containers, driftwood, trash from cargo and cruise ships, heck I’ve even found washing machines, computer monitors and televisions washed up – not to mention a Browning semi-auto 12 gauge shotgun, what the heck??
But I also occasionally come across some neat finds like beautiful seashells and starfish, and assorted marine life. Recently I found a four foot alligator washed up along the beach, already decomposed and apparently had been floating around for awhile. There is no telling where that thing came from, but it’s the first one I’ve found washed ashore.
When I come across a marine animal find, I try to preserve the memory and beauty of these creatures by cleaning and displaying them for others to see and enjoy. I just take it for granted I guess, but I’m always amazed at the number of island visitors, especially kids, that have never seen marine life up close and personal.
After my morning walk, Barnacle and I went back and removed the head from the gator, which was in a very stinky way. I then used an old turkey fryer pot and boiled the head outside on a propane burner until it was fairly clean. Umm, the smell during this process, yuk! I then soaked it in a bucket of bleach/water for a day, and it turned out very nice. I have it displayed in the downstairs kitchen area with other nautical and marine island find treasures.
A few days later I also came across an old bottle-nose dolphin carcass washed ashore on the bay shoreline. These are beautiful and graceful mammals that I could sit and watch for hours, and often do. Again, to preserve the memory of these magnificent creatures, I cleaned and made a manklace (island word for man’s necklace), from the salvaged teeth, using recycled fishing tackle parts. This turned out to be a beautiful piece of nature made jewelry.
The natural loss of marine life is simply a way of life, I try to carry forth and familiarize these creatures to others, especially the kids, who are always fascinated with these items.
Well the tomato seedlings are on their way. I planted seeds on February 23 and have already potted-up (transferred to larger peat pots), 26 little seedlings, intending to put 15 healthy plants in the ground in about three more weeks.
Well, that’s it from the island for now, everyone take care and have a great day.
Alligator Head
Dolphin Teeth Necklace
