Beach Combing and Creative ideas with Shells

Today I had some time to comb the beach. I found some wonderful treasures. I am collecting driftwood and shells and all kinds of sponges and coral.
There are a lot of different shells to be found on the shore.
Take a look:






I collect them because I like them, but also to use them in home decorations and give my beach house a total beach interior, when it is renovated.
You can make a lot of fantastic decorations with all these fantastic free gifts of nature. I will show you what I have found this week and what you can do with it. The only thing that you need to buy,
but most people have that, is a glue gun.
Here are some other finds:






this one I found today, it was the biggest conch I have ever found (my hand is on the right)




I will start simply but the projects can turn into really expensive art (when you have to buy it)

Let’s start with a simple mirror that you can easily turn into a great piece of art






I just saved my chandelier to make this fantastic looking shell chandelier





And there is more……………what about a table……



What about a wreath.......





and a lamp……………




And an old sculpture…………



What about drift wood, isn’t it fantastic what you can make with drift wood………





I love this table………………



And the table Christmas tree, isn’t it adorable………………



I bet you want to join me on my next walk on the beach……… you are always welcome





I hope you like the treasures that can be found on the beach in the Yucatan………

I got a fun link from one of my readers (thanks Dahmel) regarding creative shell work (LOL):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/laura_schlipf/4070306350/

Next time I will show you a bit about Merida, a colonial city with amazing architectural buildings ………. And some more……..till next time…….I hope you will join me on my trip to the city of Merida

The good, the bad and the ugly

Isn’t that an old western movie? That is how I call the beach houses over here. Come on and take a look at the beach beauties in my area:

You can’t tell if they are newly built or had a very professional renovation


this is the front of this gorgeous house



and another picture



this is also one of my favorites;




and one of the front (peeked through the gates with my camera)



but there is even a casa for guests in the front, take a look




This is my dream property, it is located on the beach of Chelem



here are some more amazing properties on the ocean (with huge lots)



and another one



These are the good ones


But we have the ugly ones, here they come:



They need a lot of work

Some have potential others don’t

There are a lot of environmental restrictions regarding building renovating on the beach. (and I hate rules and regulations!) There is a new law called Decreto 801. In most of the cases it is forbidden to built within 60 meters from the water line. It is not allowed to built a seawall anymore, that’s why you have to stay 60 meters back from the water line. I suppose that it will be difficult to get hurricane insurance when there is no sea wall. But renovating will be easier than building a new house on the beach. When the lot is small it could be allowed to built a house on stilts.

Now I am getting to the bad, that are houses that are in a very bad shape. I mean real bad. They are not restorable. What caused this collapse of these houses? Was it hurricane Gilbert? Were those houses badly built? I have heard that some houses were made with bad concrete mixing sea water instead of water.
I even get the creeps walking in front of those houses. They could collapse any moment............. fasten your seat belts her they come:








So it is important when you are going to buy your dream home. To buy a house with a lot of beach.
Some houses are already with their sea wall in the water. Now where I live the beach comes and goes. I got more beach last week around 10 meters extra (30 feet)
Always check the (or have it checked) sea wall.

Today it was quiet again. We had the whole beach for ourselves. The past two weeks were busy busy busy. A lot of Mexicans had vacation so everybody was going to the beach.



I can start again with beach combing finding little treasures on the beach.
I will show you what the catch of the week is.
Thanks for stopping by! Till next time!

Welcome!

This is my first blog, It starts with my move to the Yucatan in sunny Mexico. Moving from Europe to relaxing Mexico is a big step .........but in the right direction. Love it! I can recommend everyone to do whatever you want. Take a risk and never look back. This is the 2nd big move in my life. In 2000 we moved to Florida, We returned in 2007 and hated it! So this move is our 2nd. We moved with our 3 frenchies. Mary Lou, Chucky and Pumba. They love the sun although they say that french bulldogs are low heat tolerance this does not apply to our dogs. They will lay on the decking in the sun and when they get hot they will exchange their spot in the sun for one in the shadow.

Meet my dogs:

Here is my girl Mary Lou, she is from Hungary and a real bitch, she is the Boss!



Here is Pumba the youngest addition of the family, he is a real teenager in dog years, a true rebellion!



Here is a frequent flyer,went back and forth. from Europe to the US and back and now his latest journey from Dusseldorf to Cancun. Chucky, 10 years old, 70 years in dog years, his only interest is now: FOOD, FOOD AND .............FOOD



R.I.P. Chucky 27-9-2010
Chucky passed away on a Monday morning. It was hard to say goodbye. He died on my lab and we were grateful that he could spend his last 6 months her in Mexico. Boy… did he love it over here, the sun, the sea. We miss you dearly………


This is my house on the Gulf of Mexico it is a 2 story, 4 bedroom, 5 bath house that needs a lot of renovation and updating (I will keep you up to date on that proces)



and a view to die for:




The next time: I will show you some houses in the beach area!Thank you for stopping by!