The 30th day of the sixth month already

The Mis-adventures of Missy

Or

Missy’s corn allergy

Or

Also entitled “The $2000 Ear of Corn”

This was written by my better half, Sheri.

Here’s another chapter in the adventures of Missy – a contender in the Guinness Book of Records for the world’s most expensive free dog ----

Tuesday night Missy snatched a half an ear of corn on the cob from my hand and inhaled it. I called the vet minutes later, who confirmed that a dog of her size (33 pounds) could not possibly digest or pass a 4 inch piece of corn on the cob; there would be a high probability that it could get stuck in her esophagus if she barfed or a high probability it could block her small intestine if it left her stomach the other way. Both potentially fatal. So, we set off to the Emergency Vet clinic.  (A place you don't want to go without first applying for a second mortgage).

They x-rayed her there to make sure it wasn’t stuck in her esophagus. They outlined two options, an endoscopy where the cob could be taken out back through her throat in a controlled manner, the least invasive – or if it couldn’t be retrieved, surgery to remove it from the stomach. They called in a surgeon, Dr. Feder, who got there in 20 minutes. He looked at the x-ray and said that he couldn’t do an endoscopy then because she had other food in her stomach and there was too much danger she could aspirate that food during the procedure. Said could try again in the morning after she had time to digest the other food.  (Now, Dr. Feder is one of those persons you wish you had as a personal doctor.  Caring, kept us completely in the loop, and while expensive did not screw us the way one would suspect in this day and age.  A fine, fine doctor with a human heart)

He went in with the endoscope Wed morning, but there was still too much food in her tummy and he couldn’t find the corn. He went down into her small intestine and verified that the corn cob wasn’t blocking the intestine yet. They brought her out of anesthesia to let her tummy work on the food some more. He went back in with the endoscope Wed afternoon, found the corn, discovered it was actually in two (2-inch) pieces (so Missy had managed to chomp it in half before inhaling it). He spent over two hours trying to get a grip on the corn pieces and pull them out - and said he was just about to give up when he got the first piece out, and then the second. Said it was one of the most technically difficult procedures he had ever done.

They kept her for another day on pain medicine to recover from the procedure, and then to make sure she could eat normally before they released her to my “care.” She has to be on soft food for a few days and “then back to a normal diet (dog food only)” [I’m quoting directly from the vet’s release form].

She’s back home again now, sleeping it off in her bed.

Poor Miss, she’d have a good life if she just didn’t have parents that tried to kill her off. Aunt Pat and Uncle Dick almost finished her with Hardee’s hamburgers (pancreatitus). Then Aunt Pat broke her leg with the recliner. Then Uncle Dick ran her on the golf course after they’d sprayed it with herbicide and poisoned her. Then Skip let her out to storm chase during one of the worst lightning storms ever. (She actually barged through a partially open door....in my own defense).  Then I feed her a corn cob.

The 29th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

Speak about "Emergence"

Or maybe "Continuance" is the proper term.

Congratulations must go out to the University of South Carolina baseball organization (Gamecocks), Coach Tanner,

 et al. The team won the World Series of College Baseball for the second year in a row.

The last to win in fabled Rosenblatt Stadium and the first to win it in TD Ameritrade Park.  That no one can take away!  They set a whole bunch of other records as well.

This team just kept coming at their opponents and never let up.  Just found ways to win.  Thanks guys for a wonderful series of pure baseball and spirit. 

Ya all done good!

Parade photo's are sure to come, stay tuned.

The 28th day of the sixth month of Emergence

GEOMETRICS

Nature can come up with some pretty neat lines when viewed from a certain perspective.

The 27th day of the 6th month of the year of Emergence

JUST FOOLIN WITH YA!

Remember to double click for full screen.

I have simply accentuated the curl on this wave.........just for fun!

I will be watching the South Carolina Vs. Florida World Series of College Baseball game tonight.  Good clean sport!

Also just for fun.

The 26th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

I am still scanning old slides and it is a tedious, not so boring, job.  Can only do three at a time and each pass of three takes about ten minutes.  I have no idea how many there are to do, but I am culling what ten years ago I thought was the next Mona Lisa and now are obviously, painfully not.  I probably started with around thirty thousand images and two thirds of them will be found at the bottom of a large green thing on the curb every Tuesday morning.

The upside to this exercise, if there is one, is a visit to nostalgia land with each image.  Strangely enough, I remember almost each image, the place it was made, and story behind it.  Most of the time there is a story, but often as not.............not.  This one today is of a duck called a Scaup. 

There are two Scaups, a lesser which prefers to find fresh water such as ponds and lakes.  The greater Scaup is more comfortable in salt water.  The greater is about a half pound larger than the lesser.  They are almost identical is shape, color, and range.  This one is probably a Lesser Scaup because of the almost crown on the head.

This bird was captive and kept by the world class duck carver Jim Sprankle.

http://www.sprankle.com/bio.htm

Jim had a place on the Eastern Shore of Maryland which I visited along with two photography friends.  The ducks were kept in a pen with a pit dug in front of the pond from which photographs could be made.  The whole arrangement was locked behind a heavy mesh fencing to keep the birds enclosed.  When we broke for lunch, one of the other photographers locked the cage and the two of us left to get sandwiches.  The remaining photographer had no idea how long we would be gone and ended up getting unintentionally locked up with the ducks for a couple of hours.  Talk about mad.  It took a few days just to get some conversation out of her. 

Most people think of ducks and "Quack, quack" comes to mind.  Well they don't always talk like that.  For instance a Wood Duck whistles and only the Mallard gives the standard quack.  The Lesser Scaup female makes a grating "Garf Garf" sound.  Sound familiar?  Males in display produce a husky whistled phrase that the effect is more peeping than bubbling; almost a quiet whistle pilt.  Sure, if you got somebody "Garfing" at you all the time, a peep is probably the appropriate response.  Sounds like the human counterparts.  You know the new male, metro sexual, castratie!

A "Memorable Day", the 25th of the sixth of the year of Emergence

This is my baby!

 Well no longer, and within a year of teenagehood!

  Meet Emily!

It's her birthday...........isn't she beautiful?  I think so and am so happy to have been able to get to know her for these past 12 years. 

Folks, this is a pretty neat young lady who just may become president some day.  Or a Hollywood star (hope not).  Or maybe an astra-naut (notice the a for ladies).  Or a chemist or lawyer (NOT).  Maybe a farmer-ette or cowgirl.  Or the toughest job of all, a mother.  God, please let me be alive to see all that.

Emily, here's to you on your day.  I love you and hope you nothing but a fun day. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

The 23rd day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

Not on time, but as promised!

Isle of Palms, SC

One of the better beaches in South Carolina, this scene is at Wild Dunes were we were fortunate enough to stay for three nights.  Lots of pool time as well as other recreation.

The first annual Willits~Wild Dunes volley ball embarassment.  Followed by grandson Ben's first redfish.

This is one of the fresh water canals on the island.

Sheri, Ben and Isabelle on the beach.

 

The second day of summer of the year of Emergence

Hank's early!

Cerviche and sweet tea!

Doesn't get any better than that!

Probably on of my favorite restaurants ever, that just happens to be in Charleston, SC.

http://hanksseafoodrestaurant.com/

The food is fresh and the service impeccable with a price that will choke some, but is OK with others.  Six for a hundred and a half is not exorbitant, unless of course you are one of the 18 or so percent unemployed in this country because of oppressive government policies that strangle small business.  Then it is a bit much.  End of rant!

My daughter-in-law commented to me that she wanted to see "Rainbow Row", a street in Charleston.  Surprisingly enough, I looked around as she pulled up an image of same on her phone and it just so happened to be where we were standing.  I have to admit we are not too bright as tourists go.  Rainbow Row is about a two block section where each row house is painted a different color, giving the allusion of a rainbow.  That was a cool discovery.

Every time I go to Charleston, I find some new nook or cranny.  This is the graveyard at the Circular Church which was built in 1681.  That's older than even me! One of the amazing parts of this town is the fact that you can find spots like this almost devoid of people.  The the sidewalk on the other side of the church is at the same time mobbed.

Finally, the tourists in chief!

That's the "I wish you were here, but your not, so Ha Ha" tourist photo.

Love em all!  Tomorrow, Isle of Palms.  Can you stand it?

The 17th day of the 6th month

I will be in Charleston from Friday till mid day on Monday with my son and his family doing the tourist  thing.  Hope to get some decent shooting in and a little fishing.  You all have a great weekend!

In the mean time, I leave you with an image of a little green back heron.  One of the smallest of the heron family and one of the most elusive.  Remember to double click for full screen.

The 16th day of the 6th month of the year of Emergence

HERE TO SERVE

I am sure you can think of all kinds of captions and notes to apply to this greeting card with just the right message to the right person.

Be the coolest kid on the block!  Send a greeting card.  Sure it's old fashioned, but that's the point. 

 Nobody else is doing it. 

Just what the country needs right now!  Leadership!  You can do it.  Show your friends.

Be Cool!

This moment of insane comercialism is brought to you by Skip Willits Fine Art Photography and the loon that runs it.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/here-to-serve-skip-willits.html

The 15th day of the 6th month of the year of Emergence

FLY SEASON!

Yesterday we went out to the lake, Lake Murray that is, and sat on the beach fully intending to swim and take in the sun.  I did manage to take the fly rod and educate some brim and one white perch with a woolly bugger.  This is not any kind of angling feat, but does pass the time and the occasional large mouth bass or striper might just swim by.  Furthermore, it does tend to sharpen my casting skills. 

This time of year in South Carolina, as elsewhere I am sure, the flies seem to swarm to any uncovered skin.  And these suckers bite!  Now I know there is a reason why God put those things on earth, but it does make it hard to fathom why.  At any rate the experience brought to mind the saga of "Lucky Duck".

I spent the summers of my youth on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, in fact on the shore.  It was a great place for a fourteen year old kid to grow up.  Water, fishing, swimming, wildlife and boating.  Ended up spending fifty plus years there.  There was, of course,  and still is a huge congregation of waterfowl including ducks, geese and swan.  But back to the flies.

As my father and mother, rest their souls, aged they became more intrigued with their immediate surroundings.  That included watching the birds and ducks and feeding the same.  They had a pair of resident mallards that hung out around the dock looking for handouts.  Remember to double click for full screen images.

They made a rather handsome pair.  But as life would have it, things got naughty or at least reproductive and a family was soon created.

Pops was proud and told everyone about his expanding family.

Mom, on the other hand, yearned for quieter times without the old man and the kids.

But this is nature kiddies, and mother nature does not show any favorites.  The brood ran into the usual predators.  Turtles are the most threatening of all.  And soon the brood swimming around the mother duck dwindled to one.  The "Lucky Duck"!

Dad took after the last duck with a dip net after watching all of it's sibling succumb to the turtle monsters that lived on the bottom of the bay.  Angry and intent on beating mother nature at her own game he caught the little thing.  For two or three years they took that duck everywhere.  Travelling from Maryland to New Jersey and Florida.  Ahhh, what we do in our senior years for fun.

Now the fly part.  That little duck could walk across a porch floor or outside deck and catch flies quicker than a snake strike.  It was absolutely amazing the accuracy of that little thing.  Long story short, he grew up to become quite the country gentleman.  Hanging out at their dock until it became his turn to raise a family.  Sorta like myself.

Flag Day, the 14th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

Happy Flag Day America!

The 13th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

OK folks.

A double dip recession is looming in the minds of some and only we can stop it.  Well that's probably not totally correct but it is a starting place. 

Buy a greeting card!

This accomplishes a couple of things.  I get a sale.  The company doing these thinks for me, Fine Art America, gets a sale.  The post office sells a stamp and keeps more of our federal bureaucracy's working for another six minutes.

And YOU LOOK REALLY COOL BEING THE ONLY ONE IN YOUR BUNCH that actually communicates with meaningful thought. 

It says you took some time and you gave it some thought.  How cool is that.  And you'll likely be the only one doing it.  How else can you personally do all that for less than five bucks.  It's almost like welfare!

Looking for a date?  Try this!

I am so adorable, lets go out!

Or maybe, I am so adorable you should be thinking of me all the time.

Or maybe,

I am so adorable, but you may be too!

Who cares.  It's the thought that matters.  And the effort. 

"Be Cool" series brought to you by this crass commercialization of my art. 

The 11th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

I am giving you the opportunity to become the coolest of the coolest of your friends.  Be the only one on the block.  Better yet break away from the keyboard cramp and actually put pen to paper and send a greeting card or three to your friends. 

You know those people who you want to really impress. 

 Show them you're the fashion leader in communications. 

It's an old niche and you can fill it. 

And I have just the greeting cards to fill the bill.  They are 5x7 inches with envelopes, and are an actual photographic print.  I have just started listing images which would be appropriate for such cards and there will be lots more.

Got somebody you want to stick your tongue out to?

Gottchya covered.

http://fineartamerica.com/featured/blaaah-skip-willits.html

You can order them in singles or in packages.  I need your business and the post office is in worse shape.  But now you have a chance to be a leader in communications.  Bring back the art of writing and the delivery technique of the note or greeting card.  Believe me, you'll be the only one in your group to do it.  How cool is that?

THE 10TH DAY OF THE 6TH MONTH OF THE YEAR OF EMERGENCE

KILLDEER

These birds are most at home in farm lane, fields, and gravel driveways.  Has a distinctive call and is very like some of the shore birds.  They are however, not acclimated to the shore at all.

Remember to double click the image for full screen.  It is a wonder that these birds reproduce at all.  The love to build their nests in the middle of gravel driveways.

As you can see, the nest is virtually invisible.  If the bird were not standing above it, we probably would just drive over and keep going.

One of the most interesting traits of the nesting birds is the display when the nest is threatened.  The mother will run from the nest and then act as though she has a broken wing.  Thus drawing threats away from the nest and to herself.  She always gets away.  Always!

But I guess it is all worth it.

Because after all when it's said and done...........Our biggest contribution to doin good, is the great kids we nurture and leave behind.

The 9th day of the 6th month

HEAT WAVE!

Here's how you handle it!

The 8th day of the sixth month of the year of Emergence

BEACHES!

Let's see if I can get this right.  Double click for full screen image.  Top to bottom.

Jersey shore

Hunting Island, SC

Outer Banks, NC

Rehobeth Beach, DE

Cape Point, NC

Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, VA

Hereford Inlet, NJ

Cape Hatteras National Seashore, NC

Edisto Beach, SC

The second of the sixth month of Emergence

Has been a long weekend and I have neglected my duties to my faithful!  Pushing a hundred here in Shangra La yesterday and feels like it will do the same today.  Putting better half on a plane for Chicago and a wedding this week end, so will be playing the bachelor roll.  Just the two dogs, the bird and me.

I admit that I stole the idea for this photo from another photographer on the web.  The concept is to take photos, stretch them, and make a color collage.  In this case we have some or part of some of my images of sunsets and sunrises from primarily from South Carolina to New Hampshire.  It does make for an interesting color statement, but I probably will not list it on any of the stores.  I want to try one of beaches, oceans, and waves but still working on that.  I have two other projects going on for the stores with we'll roll out this coming week if not sooner, so stay tuned.

Remember you can double click on the image for full screen.