A Nice Little Day Trip.....Trying To Upright My World

  It's been a long time and  don't want to explain...'cause it will make me cry.  If you want to know why or where I have been, you can check out my Blog: No Frills Debbie....Just My Life at http://nofrillsdebbie.blogspot.com/.
Today I traveled a familiar route but with different results.  I was alone and the rivers are flooding, which makes for some good photo opportunities.  I say I was alone, but not really, I had my puppy Gracie with me and I had Don in my memories.  I would like to share with you what we saw and did today!

 





So here is my riding partner for the day.  My youngest fur baby, Gracie the Spoiled Little Poodle!  She really is a good girl.

So this was the first dirt road we encountered this morning on the way to the Zirkle Dam.  I have written about Zirkle before, if you need backgrounds info just check out my previous posts.  Today the water should be high and give us a little something different, not to mention it is just a beautiful and quiet place.  A Special Place.

Well, I am on my own today, so I don't think we will travel these mud puddles that look like they could swallow my truck.... on foot we shall go!

These are the remnants of the steel dam.  Usually you can see at least part of the dam all the way across the Little Satilla River, not today.  But it is so quiet except for the sound of the rushing water, birds singing and squirrels chattering.

 I was looking at the moss on the tree and I was surprised at how intricate and beautiful it is when viewed up close.  And then I found some interesting Fungi on a fallen tree branch and it looks so much like the shells and clusters you can find on the beach.  Nature is so simple, yet so beautiful.

 

Then on the way to Lumber City, I drove passed this little building, I don't know why but it caught my eye.  I pulled another U-turn and went back.  I don't know if it was the contrast of the colorful and patriotic American Flag and the sun washed wood...either way I like it!

As I was approaching the bridge, I saw the freight train crossing and was really surprised, I didn't think they used this bridge anymore.  I pulled the truck over and jumped out to try a get a good shot, but I missed the engine and this is all I could manage.  I cannot believe how high the water is.  I never knew the Ocmulgee River was that wide.  Last time I was here, you could just about wade across the river.  It seems so weird, I usually park next to the trees on the boat ramp....Not today!

We also saw so Georgia Snow....A cotton field!  Now that is my kind of snow

 Gracie and I continued onto McRae so I could get a pic of the windmill and old house.  Which looks bad, but it looks a lot better than it did the last time I saw it.  I think someone bought it and is cleaning the area up.

Then of course I had to stop in Gardi to once again photograph the Old Altamaha Apiary.  This is another I don't know why...but I like this old building.  And by the looks of the cracks in the walls it may not be around too much longer.

 Once again, I apologize for having a long lapse in posts.  My whole world has been flipped upside down.  It is going to take me some time to get back in the groove.  But I will get there.  Until then, remember to take the time to notice the Beauty That Surrounds Us.

 

 

Georgia Shrimp Boats...Working Art in Motion

Well, it feels as if we are into the dog days of summer and it is only the first part of July.  We should be totally deep fried by August and then burnt to a crisp by the end of September!  In all honesty, I prefer this to snow...this girl can't handle the cold anymore.  Well enough of that, I was trying to think of a topic for today and as I was coming over the Sidney Lanier Bridge I saw a few shrimp boats heading out for the day and I thought that's perfect!  I love photographing the old wooden shrimp boats.  They have personality, if they could talk; the stories they could tell:

This photo was taken probably eight years ago or better when the Brunswick City Dock was full of the shrimp boats that helped build the culture of Brunswick.  This particular bunch of boats caught my eye because of the first one...the Himroid.  Which is how I feel about my husband's boat and it isn't a shrimp boat or any near as big!  The Himroid sank in the Brunswick River not far from the Sidney Lanier Bridge.

       

 The photo on the left is an old one also of the Dock behind Knights Seafood.  I don't believe any of these three are still in service.  The Sunrise shot is in Darien and I am happy to say I have seen both of these boats recently.

 This is a shot of part of the shrimp fleet in Darien.

This boat The Mary B was once owned by Jeff Brannen and was named after his wife Mary.  Mary had asked me a few years ago to photograph this boat and it seemed I could never find it while it was out working.  Then this spring I was out on Jekyll in the early morning and there she was.  I met Mary's son at one of the festivals and he bought this picture for his Mom.  I later found out that Mary passed away that night after a hard battle with cancer.

On that same morning I also was able to photograph this boat the Gambler as it passed by Little Cumberland Island.  The Gambler is currently docked in Woodbine, Georgia and is still currently shrimping.

Here is the Miss Harley shrimping of the coast of St. Simons Island.  She is no longer in service.  The other is the Kevin and Bryan along the shoreline of Jekyll Island, they came in so close I thought I could climb on board.  The Kevin and Bryan is docked in Darien and I believe it is still in service.

 I find the wooden shrimp boats very interesting, a piece of working art.  I find it very peaceful watching them heading out in the early morning.  I realize it is a lot of hard work for the people that work these boats.  This one is the Hard Times heading out past Jekyll.  I think the name says it all.  The price of fuel going up, imported shrimp running the prices down, high cost of insurance and the long hard days can make for some Hard Times.

And all to often they meet their demise, some times just wear and tear, the carelessness of others, the victim of unseen sandbars or they fall prey to the ocean....

 The Sunhippie was originally out of Key West, Florida but wound up on the hill in Brunswick to be scuttled.  She looks as though she put in many years of service.

 

The Capt JW was at the dock, when another boat came in and pushed against the pylons and she sank and was later stripped down of all valuable parts and she eventually wound up in the same heap as the Cobia shown below.

  I was told at one of the Art Shows, where I get to meet many of the people who work and own these boats, that the Captain of the Cobia had a heart attack, wound up running aground and passed away.

This last one is All that Remains of the south end of Jekyll of the shrimp boat the Marianne.  Well, this is just a small collection of some of the shrimp boats I have photographed.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.  Keep the shrimpers and their families in your prayers and remember friends don't let friends eat imported shrimp.  Wild caught sweet Georgia shrimp Only!!

Good Girl...Gone Redneck

  I was raised in Pennsylvania and I had a great childhood, good schools, formal dinners, fast paced lifestyle, traffic everywhere, people everywhere, not many wide open spaces.  My Dad and I use to go out for rides on the weekends and we always managed to find the quieter side of life, along the creek, fishing,  Linvilla Orchard, Ridley Creek State Park, small game hunting in Chester county and big game hunting in the mountains of Pennsylvania.  Our family use to vacation at a different State Park every year,  The peace, quiet, wildlife, trails, I always loved our vacations.  I always liked the more rural side of life.

 I have lived in Georgia for almost 24 years now.  This is my home.  I love it here especially, living  along the coast.  I love the slower pace of life, less traffic, warm weather,  marshes, beaches, dirt roads and the  abundant wildlife.  Now don't get me wrong it gets hotter than hades down here sometimes and the sand gnats could disappear and it would not hurt my feelings, but, overall I love it.  Since I have moved here I must admit, my English is not so proper anymore, I can't remember the last time I wore something other than my jeans, let alone a dress.  Things are much more laid back and less formal.

My Mom often says I have gone redneck...My Dad even bought me a ball cap that says "Good Girl Gone Redneck".  I take this as a compliment.  Rednecks are friendly hard working people, do what you have to, to get by, they are very mannerly and polite, always willing to help and lend a hand.  And if having a good time is a weekend camping on the river, running the dirt roads, cooking out, having Thanksgiving Dinner under a circus tent on paper plates;  then I guess I fit the bill!  Holidays are meant to be spent with family, enjoying each others company, relaxing and kicking back.  WHY ON EARTH would I want to have to cook all day, set a fancy table with dishes and glassware that cannot be put in the dishwasher, clean dishes and pots for the next two hours and have to wear a dress on top of all that???  It's just not me.

Now I don't mind dressing up for a special occasion, I'll do my hair, wear a nice pair of jeans,,ok maybe slacks, shoes... other than my boots, put on the jewelry, (I do like my bling), and if I'm in a good mood...maybe even a little make up.

But redneck, take me as I am, suits me just fine.  I'm a jeans and t-shirt kinds girl who doesn't mind getting her hands dirty.   I don't try to be anything I'm not.


Just Me

Peace and Quiet along the Satilla River

Playtime on the River