The Beauty is in the Details

     Well, I haven't really been anywhere new lately.  I haven't had many adventures since I lost Don.  This is not to say that I haven't been taking pictures but, it's just different.  I have discovered that I do really enjoy writing.  I usually have a plan before I start my Blog.  But not today.  So, I'm going to put together some things that have caught my eye over the last few months.  I guess we'll see what happens. 

Well, I guess this is as good a place to start as any.  Lately I find myself getting wrapped up in the details.  The little things in life that we often overlook.  There has been a new Wildlife Management Area acquisition here along the Georgia coast.  The Altama Plantation

  which is just a stones throw off the interstate.  So of course I had to go check it out.  As I am riding down the many dirt roads and trails, I noticed these little yellow wildflowers, you can't help but notice them, just about everything else is brown or going brown.  I don't care for winter.  I like the spring, when everything wakes up and is alive.  Anyway,  I stopped at this little cluster of flowers and found this one with some kind of bug perched on it.  But I started looking at it and it is an interesting and pretty bug.      Another thing you also can't help but notice are the red maple leaves, they so colorful and vibrant.  Now believe it or not as I was riding down the dirt road I actually spotted the little fly on the leaf.  I guess I just get amazed at how detailed and intricate they are and all we as people want to do is swat them away.  Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing; I don't like them flying around my face or buzzing my ears and of course the usually have a ferocious appetite.

 

Then of course, everywhere we look in the south we see either palm trees or palmetto bushes.  But have you ever taken the time to notice the color change in the leaves, the patterns, color transitions and lines that make up that one frond.  The sun was just hitting this one and it caught my eye.  I don't know why but  I really like this picture.  I'm weird and I know it...and I'm ok with that.

 

I had one of my friends come see me at an Art Show shortly after Don passed in December and I remember him saying that he was looking forward to seeing if my focus would shift on my photography.  I didn't think much of it before, I have always found beauty in the details of a dragonfly, butterfly or a flower, but never intentionally thought about the patterns and lines on leaves, flowers and believe or not fungus.

 

I found this unusual fungi in the woods along the Little Satilla River in Zirkle not far from the old Dam.  It was on a dead tree, that was lying on the ground, but only on one branch.  When I first saw it, I was thinking seashells.  It was just layers and layers of these pieces that look just like seashells to me.  Anyway, maybe it just me being weird again... I don't know, but I found interesting.  Remember, I told you I didn't have a plan on where this was going to go.  As for the little mushrooms, I just thought they were a cute little colony.  Again all bunched up around one dead tree branch.  I guess it show that life can come from death or that death and decay actually feeds new life. 

Gracie and I were walking through the woods later that day and it was so quiet.  I couldn't hear anything other than Gracie moving through the leaves and the wind blowing through the tree tops.  I got that peaceful feeling that you sometimes get knowing that you are alone, the only one here, just you and nature.  I can't really explain it, but then again it didn't last very long.  Because as I am walking around in the woods, my eyes are everywhere but right in front on me and I came within a gnat's butt of running into this big, fat, ugly Golden Orb Weaver's web.  I feel pretty sure that I have covered the topic of spiders and I before in my writing.  To say I hate spiders is a bit of an understatement.  I would rather walk up on a snake or an alligator than walk into a spider web.  The first thing I think of when you feel that creepy web across your arms or God forbid your face is:  Great, I just crosses a spider highway, the question is where was the spider along that highway and is he now hitchhiking on me.  So you ask, if I despise spiders...why would I stop and take a pic.  Because, I can appreciate the beauty in the details....from a distance of course.  I can appreciate the beauty in the spider, no I really can't.  They are creepy.  That's enough of that. 
Gracie and I got back in the truck and headed down another dirt road (without the spider I may add).  Our last stop was at a clearing in the woods.  You could just picture Bambi and Thumper prancing through here looking for berries.  Apparently, that is exactly what happens here, when I came across this old homemade tree stand in this grand oak.  I love the way the weathered wood works up the tree, the resurrection fern growing and climbing up the tree.  It looks like it has been along time since anyone has used this stand, but I can almost picture them with their back propped against the tree and rifle in hand.
Well, I hope my ramblings have not bored you, I just feel the need to write and I think everyone should take the time to see the beauty in the details.  Until next time, take care.

My Saturday Morning "Me" Time

As most of you know by now, I like to take off in the wee hours of the morning on the weekends to watch the sunrise and watch the world wake up.  A sunrise bring me inner peace and relaxes me after a busy week.  This morning I took off for Jekyll Island.  Jekyll is my favorite nearest faraway place.  When are the tourist are still in bed that is.  Not that I have anything against tourists, I'm glad that they enjoy our little Georgia Jewel.  But it is very difficult to charm the critters or capture that serene moment on Driftwood Beach with people every where.  So, I came on to the island and hooked a left at the round about and the first thing I see is this little happy family of locals:

Mom

 

Dad

Baby

How perfect is that to start your day.  They were just strolling along the edge of the trees nibbling on leave and grasses.  I was able to pull over on the shoulder of the road and watch them for a long while.  If every one had been up and moving about; some one would have surely blew the horn at me or sped around me and scared my new friends.  After they wandered off into the woods to find a cool place to lay down I moved on to watch the sunrise.

I stopped at the Jekyll Club entrance to the beach and started out.

 Peace and Tranquility

The beautiful early morning light even made my poor old pick up truck look pretty! 

From there I moved on to Driftwood Beach for a few moments:

The beach was surprisingly empty and quiet.  All I could hear was the sound of the waves coming in against the rocks...and the Dora F as she was out there running her shrimp nets.  I was able to capture quite a few good shots of her.  I love watching the old boats and it is amazing how all the birds appear out of nowhere when the nets start coming up.

And although this sweet little red balloon adds a spot of bright color along the edge of the water, this is not a good thing.  I know people like to release balloons at their wedding and they always seems to get away from small children, but the are also very hazardous to sea life.  Especially the sea turtles that nest on the island.  They can mistake the balloon for food and ingest it causing life threatening problems for them later.

And I wasn't completely alone on the beach.  There were many fiddler crabs

and these other creepy insects.  I'm sorry I don't know what they are, and I'm not a big fan of bugs.

I left Jekyll Island and headed south on Highway 17 toward Woodbine.  The further south I drove the foggier it started to get.  Before I knew I was in a heavy fog bank.  Which by the way can make for some awesome photo opportunities.  I came across another family, the turkeys!  They were along the roadside feeding in the high grass.  Unfortunately, fog doesn't make for the best turkey pictures.

But I had fun watching the hens trying to keep the chicks in line, I think she said she had enough of this and headed for home down the dirt road.

I shall wrap this up for now.  I hope you don't mind me sharing some of my "Me" time with you.  I'm all about sharing my experiences after I have had my quiet time.  Until next time, be safe and remember to enjoy all the Beauty that Surrounds Us.

Sunshine Festival: Getting Ready for the Show

I apologize for not writing sooner, but it has been a very busy time for me.  My husband had a few medical appointments, which I am happy to say all went well an we will be moving on with trying to get his airway repaired and him talking again...God Help Me!  Just kidding.

It has also been busy at my real job at Kings Bay and I am trying to get ready for the Sunshine Festival on St. Simons Island for the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July.  I will be set up in Postell Park in the Pier Village on all three days from 10am to 5pm selling my photos.  I have lots of new inventory, I have been real busy taking pictures, processing them, matting, wrapping, bagging and tagging.  My pictures are available in 4" x 6" all the way up o gallery wraps measuring 35" x 27".

He is a small sampling of my work:


My Booth - I am on the front row along Beachview Drive.

The Gullible Pelican

Hazel's Cafe on St. Simons Island

Gould's Inlet

Painted Bunting - Most colorful bird in North America

Our beautiful Sidney Lanier Bridge at Sunset

The Gambler off the coast of Jekyll Island 

So, if you are in the neighborhood this weekend, please stop by and say Hello!  I love meeting new people, talking birds, wildlife, nature and photography.  Actually, I probably just like talking...Ha  Hope to see you there!  I will quickly get back to our nature walks next week!!

Snowy Egrets: The other white bird

The other day I wrote about the Great Egret well, the Snowy Egret is the other white bird you often see in the marshes and along the ditches with the Great Egret.  I have had many people inquire if these were "baby" Great Egrets.  The Snowy Egret stands about 24" tall with an all white body and long slender neck, much like the Great Egret, but, the Snowy Egret has a Black bill, long slender mostly black legs with amazingly bright yellow feet!  During breeding season, they too get thee long lacy feathers to use to entice their mate and they eye patch which is usually yellow turns red.



 Here are some Snowy Egrets hanging out on the bank of Clam Creek on Jekyll Island.  This is probably their idea of getting together for lunch with friends, hoping whomever catches the minnows or tadpoles will share their good fortune.

This sassy little Snowy shown above was in a quiet little pond in a residential neighborhood.  She still has a lot of the breeding plumage along the crown, chest and tail.  But, I think she may be embarrassed about her yellow feet. 

The net two photos shown below were taken at the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.  As I mentioned before if you want to be able to get up close a personal with some of the wading birds this is the place to go.  The first one is a Snowy displaying its fancy plumes in hopes of finding a mate. 

 

In the photo above is a Snowy tending to its nest and carefully turning the eggs.  I was able to get almost within hands reach to lovely bird.  Yet she paid me no mind, she obviously has her priorities straight; Family First!

Jazz and Arts on the Satilla

On Sunday I set up my Wildlife Personalities and Scenery Booth at the Woodbine Riverwalk for the Jazz and Arts on the Satilla Festival which was sponsored by the Woodbine Woman's Club. Here is a picture of me and one of my faithful assistant and husband, Don.

We had absolutely beautiful weather. The sky was a clear bright blue, the azaleas were in full bloom with splashes of color everywhere.

My friend Lydia Thompson was also there display her wonderful artwork. She does etching and intaglio print making. Please stop by and check out her blog at www.coastalgeorgiabirding-lydia.blogspot.com/. Here is Lydia at her booth.

In all I thing there were between 20 and 30 artists such as painters, quilters, photographers, pottery and jewelry. Sunday was a chance for local artists to set up their displays along the Riverwalk between 2pm to about 6pm. There was recorded Jazz music playing all day. But at 5pm at the Gazebo the live music started. There was quite a crowd who showed up just to listen to the music and enjoy a very relaxing evening.

The Woodbine Woman's Club has had the City of Woodbine classed as a bird sanctuary. They are also working to get Woodbine a designation on the Colonial Coast Birding Trail. They had many birdhouses put up along the Riverwalk as well as feeding stations with the help of Lydia and Wild Birds Store on Jekyll Island.

All in all I had a very nice day. It was a great chance to meet and talk to people and network with fellow artists. The ladies of Woodbine did a wonderful job of coordinating this event and were more than helpful and polite. I like to give a special Thank You to Lori for feeding my husband and checking on us.

Woodbine is located on Highway 17 in Georgia, exit 14 off Interstate 95. It is also the Home of the Annual Crawfish Festival which is held the last weekend April. The Crawfish Festival is always an opportunity to enjoy entertainment, great food and plenty of Arts and Crafts Booths. Woodbine Georgia is an example of some of the small town Beauty that Surrounds Us.