I had a phone call from a lady yesterday who heard about our shell club...she
said she had lots of shells she and her husband had gotten in Panama back in
the '60's.  She described a few shells that I recognized, and then asked if we
would like to have them.  She said she didn't want to sell them.
 
I told her we often have auctions, and also fill lamps with the profits going
to our scholarship fund.  (I was so excited to get these Panamic shells!!!!)
 
We've made plans to meet tomorrow and she'll give us the shells.  Before she
hung up, she said, "I don't know if this makes any difference or not, but we
varnished the shells."  (There went my balloon!)
 
If there are any really good shells in this donation, is there any way the
varnish can be removed without ruining the shells?  (I'm assuming it was clear
varnish.)
 
Carol