Saturday, February 27, 2010

Crisfield Watermen

 “The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore” ~ Vincent van Gogh


 Let me reiterate: I admire the captains who work the Chesapeake bay. They are out in all kinds of weather, leaving their homes long before many people go to bed.  I just can't praise them enough, so here is another photo, taken from the dock at Glenwood Evans in Crisfield on a cold and windy day. It was filtered to resemble a painting.

Note: The passing boat in the foreground belongs to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Spring, where are you?

 “Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~ Robin Williams

I am so ready to party.

The snow missed us but the wind was a killer. Since we are all tired of snow photos, not to mention the brutal cold, I pulled this happy photo from my files to remind everyone that spring is just around the corner. Don't we hope?

This photo warms my bones. Ah, spring.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

More snow?



Another round of snow is headed our way. Keep up with the forecast at my newspaper's web site (see side bar). Also, be sure and check out all the photos (look for the photo gallery) that our many photographers will be taking over the next two days.

People do not realize that when the weather turns bad, and they are toasty warm and dry in their homes, news photographers are out in all kinds of inclement weather. We love it. We hate it. But we do it for you, the reader.

Stay warm!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Bike Ride

"Look at the trees, look at the birds, look at the clouds, look at the stars... and if you have eyes you will be able to see that the whole existence is joyful.  Everything is simply happy.  Trees are happy for no reason; they are not going to become prime ministers or presidents and they are not going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance.  Look at the flowers - for no reason.  It is simply unbelievable how happy flowers are."  ~ Osho


I was riding my bike recently and came upon this tiny house drenched in vines that were preparing to awaken for the coming spring.. How happy they seemed in the morning light.

You never know what kind of treasure you will find if you keep your eyes open.

You gotta love the Brownies!

Brownie Smile Song

I've got something in my pocket
It belongs across my face.
And I keep it very close at hand
In a most convenient place.

I'm sure you couldn't guess it
If you guessed a long, long while.
So I'll take it out and put it on
It's a great big BROWNIE SMILE!


The members of our Brownie Troop 111 are always doing something. You can't help smiling when you see them. I captured them selling Girl Scout cookies in front of Fresh Pride this past weekend.

Oh, and don't forget to buy those cookies!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Seagulls Everywhere

Seagulls
by Louis Jenkins

There were no seagulls in the harbor, none at the marina. I saw none in the air. There were no seagulls at Canal Park, or McDonalds, or at Russ Kendall's smokehouse, or at the Kmart parking lot, or any of their favorite hangouts. It's winter and snow is falling, but I don't believe seagulls fly south. I've often seen them standing around on the ice all day, as if they were waiting for a big bus to come and take them to a casino. Where are all the seagulls? This is not a question I ever thought I'd ask myself. You get used to someone being around and if they go away you miss them. That's how life is. But seagulls are primarily a nuisance, and if you can't count on that, what can you count on? 

Wonderful poem. Our seagulls are full-time residents. Some regard them as a nuisance, but we would miss them if they left.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Woman's Best Friend

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.  ~ Ben Williams

Could there be such as thing as posting too many pet photos? No. I photographed this lady yesterday taking her puppy for a walk. It was windy and cold but at least the snow was gone.

Bells for Barry

“Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” ~ Tennessee Williams

Well, just one bell. Can you see it? I was working away at the computer when my BlackBerry told me it was time. No time to run outside. So from our humble little studio to you Barry, a bell rang at 2:00 p.m. - exactly.

I rooted my husband from his easel to take a photo of me ringing the little bell that had been hanging from our ceiling fan since our last trip to Germany.

For those not familiar with the story that goes with all of this International bell ringing check out Barry's site.  In a nutshell, Barry, who lives in Toronto, has been fighting cancer for a year. Today, at 2:00 p.m., he completed his last chemo treatment; it is a ritual for those completing treatment to ring the bell at Princess Margaret Hospital. Barry's followers joined in and rang bells over the world, not only for Barry, but for everyone  battling cancer.

Barry and his wife are wonderful people who have been fans of this blog for almost a year, so that  makes them part-time residents of Crisfield. Crisfield is proud to be a part of the bell-ringing.

Get well, Barry!

And do visit Barry's blog. Avid readers will adore it.


And the time was exactly...

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Crab Shanties in Crisfield

The snow has left us but Old Man Winter is still around. I captured this photo at Jenkins Creek. I love the way our crab shanties remind us of the warm weather to come.


The Shanties of Summer

The sun retreats behind winter clouds that come and
       stay playing their evilistic games – was there ever a
       summer or was it only a dream that crept under our
       bed-covers while we slept piled high with
       cotton and down?

Was there a ever a time when the sun touched our
       skin and permeated our bones so that we
       felt like indolent paralyzed sloths that could not
       would not move? Oh, the importance of doing nothing.

Was there a ever a time when we squinted our soulful eyes into the
       warmth of a setting sun – sky ablaze and turned
       away feeling not fit to gaze upon her godly colors?

Was there a ever a time when we rose to
       the gossip of birds a golden patch of softness tickling our
       cheeks bidding us “rise and shine?”

The winter demons that fly round
       our heads are no match for sleeping fishing
       shanties – they slap us in the face validating that
       winter is a malevolent lie that nags nags.

Throw off the winter lies that detonate the ennui in your
       mind prepare for the ecstasy of summer  – she is
       real!  Just ask the shanties the shanties the
       shanties of summer.







Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Somerset County Volunteer Fire Departments

But sound aloud the praises, and give the victor-crown
To our noble-hearted Firemen, who fear not danger's frown
~ Frederic G.W. Fenn, "Ode to our Firemen," 1878


It is that time of year again when the volunteers from our county fire departments and EMS have their annual banquets. I so love these people. They are always there for any type of emergency and in any kind of weather.

Two weeks ago, with a ton of snow and ice on the roads, the hearty volunteers of the Crisfield Fire Department did not let the weather cancel their banquet. I thought about not making the trek to the firehouse, but the thought of knowing that if our house had been on fire in such weather they would not have whined about the weather and road conditions. They would have beaten a path to my door. And so I beat a path, a slow path, to their door.

This weekend I covered the Fairmount banquet.

Thank you to the men and women, and cadets, who serve our county so well. All photos have been posted on the staff photo gallery at my newspaper's web site (see menu bar to the left).

Crisfield

 This is Chief Bill Reynolds, who is a retired Coastie (Coast Guard) and his lovely wife Kathy. Super people!

 Fairmount

 Chief Emory Ford and his wife Terry. Ford is the new Fairmount chief for the year 2010.

So as you look at the firefighter with his rake, hose or axe,
His beet red face or ice covered mustache,
You should know why he goes through that smoky front door,
And is forced to crawl like a baby down on the floor.
He does it to save both lives and property,
All that is precious to you and to me.
So take a good look at this modern warrior who serves his call proud and true,
And know that he would die just to save me and you.
~ Robert J. Athans

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Please support your local fire departments.
 _________________________________

BTW, at the Fairmount banquet I got on the other side of the camera to have my photo taken with Donnie Howard, left, of the Marion Fire Department (their banquet is coming up soon - I'll be there),  James Ring, past-president of the Somerset County Commissioners, and Somerset County Commissioner James East. I cover so many events that I feel like I am around family sometimes. Thanks to everyone who is just as sweet as apple pie to me - old Georgia saying.

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day

“Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness.” ~  Allen Ginsberg

Friday, February 12, 2010

Snow Daze

“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” ~ John Ruskin

Kids love the snow...


Some people work in the snow...

Some people find work in the snow but take time to enjoy the beauty...

Some people try to find work in the snow...

Some people like to commune with nature...

And sometimes snow creates art out of ordinary things...
 This fence caved in to a combination of snow and wind. I filtered it in Adobe CS3.

Snow drifts made for some dramatic photos.

Fuel for Smith Island

“Whether the weather be fine, whether the weather be not, whether the weather be cold, whether the weather be hot, we'll weather the weather, whatever the whether, whether we like it or not.”

Just across from the Crisfield city dock lies the county dock. It is used for loading heavy equipment and supplies onto barges that go to both Smith Island and Tangier Island. The captains and dock workers work in all kinds of weather, and boy, have we have some bad weather lately!

From left, Craig Stevens, captain of a barge, chats with  Mike Sterling, an employee of DMO Oil and Propane, as he pumps oil into holding tanks. Sterling trucked in 2000 gallons of fuel oil to be delivered to the good folks of Smith Island.



We have some really happy people in Crisfield.

Oh, and here is Captain Larry Laird who runs a mail/passenger boat from Smith Island to Crisfield. He was headed back to his boat after enjoying a hot cup of coffee and some good chatter at Gordons.


Thanks to all the good people who make our lives better by braving the elements.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snow for Vancouver Olympics?

"For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every day has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously."  ~ George Gissing

I had thought Old Man Winter was gone for the time being. I mean, shouldn't he be headed to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics? It was 48 degrees in Vancouver today.

We got another round of snow today. And to top that the wind was gusting to 60 mph, the sleet hitting hard against my face.  It was difficult to stay planted in one spot long enough to get a good photo, and I had to rush home to beat a deadline before the real blizzard arrived. We are now in complete white-out conditions.

I do love photographing Mother Nature, even when she is at her worst. And today, she was in a very foul mood. Still, she always poses well for the camera.

Be sure and check my newspaper (see link on side bar) for staff photos from around the entire area and to see the weather forecast.

The first photo is for Vancouver. Hey, if you need snow, come on down. I am sure we can get someone to load you up.







And some black and whites:

Monday, February 8, 2010

More snow photos? Why not?

 “When it snows, you have two choices: shovel or make snow angels”  ~ Author unknown to me (I will add "take photos" to the list)
 

The snow just keeps coming. I know. It seems my snow photos may now be reaching overkill. But we don't get a lot of snow in Crisfield.Who knows when we will see this much snow again? Well, more is on the way. But next year, we may see little or no snow.

To make it less of bore, I present some black and white photos:


For the next round of snow, here here is a recipe for snow cream.

  • 1 gallon snow
  • 1 cup white sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups milk - soy milk works well but use plain (no flavors or sugar)
  • You can add strawberries or blueberries
Directions: Place a large bowl (I like to use a stainless steel mixing bowl) outdoors. When full, stir in all ingredients, except milk. When mixed well, add milk or soy milk to proper consistency.
 

View from a Super Bowl party

 "This is for everybody in this city who's had homes who used to be wet. This is for the city of New Orleans." ~  Saints Coach Sean Payton


Thanks to Barb and Dan for hosting another wonderful Super Bowl party. Since everyone in the world saw the game last night I thought I would share a scene from your dining room they did not see.


And I just had to share this photo of two "fans" who preferred food over the game.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Another round of snow for Crisfield

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Robert Frost

What a winter this has been!  Here are a few photos I took today. Check out our staff photos for more Crisfield photos and other snow photos from around the area (see newspaper link to right).

 Somerset County trucks ready to roll. These guys do a great job.
One of my favorite places located on the marsh, facing the bay. The snow arrived mid-day.

This biker heads home with a sump pump.
Picture perfect.


Stocking up on groceries.


The Somerset Lower Shore Ambulance Squad, on the ball.

Man's best friend, waiting for his owner to return to his pick-up truck.

And then the snow really fell...



By the time I got home all the roads looked like this, and the snow fell for another two hours.