Holden Olives

Olive Shells (those I found this past week pictured right)
Family: Olividae. Number: about 400 species.

These small glossy gastropods are found in tropical and warm seas. Shaped like pointed olives (more like torpedoes to me), they have been used for jewelry and ornaments since prehistoric times. Each shell has its own color and design, due to a dye the animal secretes continuously over its lifetime. Using its large foot to pull its prey down, the olive snail feeds on worms, bivalve shell animals and crabs. Olive shells are popular with collectors because of their almost limitless range of patterns and colors. Most markings in olives consist of zigzags, chevrons and small tent-like (inverted V) markings.

The shell of the lettered olive, Oliva sayana, is the state shell of South Carolina in the United States. The shell coloration can vary from cream to a greyish exterior with reddish-brown zigzag markings. The common name of this species is derived from the darker surface markings that sometimes resemble letters. (See shells below darker center shell and to the left).
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In case you're wondering, I've included this brief informative entry on Olive shells because we became absolutely obsessed with finding them. So help us, we even planned some of our activities around the possible "prime Olive shelling" times. Maria is a pro. Honestly, I felt like a beach-combing virgin trying to keep up with her.

Interject: Phelps just CRUSHED the World Record in the 400 I.M. I don't miss swimming, but WOW, that kicked ass. Go U.S.A!

So, since it was our last morning today, Maria and I rose at 6 a.m. to search for the last of the Olives. While the beach wasn't loaded with the treasures for which we searched, we did find enough to make the trek worth it. Of course the champion of the week was Abby, who on Thursday found a fully intact Sand Dollar, almost without any effort at all!

Maria, double-fisting the caffeine while I snapped her photo under the pier

Saturday morning's sunrise

Me at sunrise (at this time in my life this is a RARE sight!)

Probably more latent Holden news to come. We had a smashing good time!