2010 Marion/Somerset County Strawberry Festival - Little Miss and Mr. Strawberry

 "There are no looses in 'kid' pageants. Everyone is a winner, and at the moment they enter the stage, braver than most adults."

First, let me say that I was not going to post the Strawberry Festival photos until this weekend, but I have so many photos, I thought I would at least post the Little Miss and Mr. Strawberry photos. Be sure and check back on Monday for more photos.


Thanks to Crisfield Events, the Crisfield Heritage Foundation, and the Somerset County Arts Council for all their hard work. 

Miss Delmarva calls the cue for this cutie.

And before I get to the winners (remember, everyone was a winner), Here is a little photo essay...

 "I'm not too sure about this."

"If I hide, no one will see me."

"Well, let me check this out again."

"Nope. Back to my strawberry patch. Can't this man see I'm a "sleeping" strawberry? Wake me when it's harvest time."

"I think I'll take a peek at him while he's not looking."

"Well, he seems nice. Anyway, it's too nice a day for "berry" sleeping."

 Kudos to Adam Riggin for bringing out the best in all the contestants. Adam is a pro at that!

The tension rises in the crowd.

And the winners are...

Everyone!

I now present you with the new 2010 Little Miss and Mr. Somerset County Strawberry Queen and King...

Be sure and check back on Monday for more photos. And don't forget Freedom Fest is Sunday, July 4, at Somers Cove Marina. Fireworks, tributes to veterans and military, and just a lot of fun. Photos from Freedom Fest will be posted by July 7. I am a busy gal; did someone say I was retired? Say it ain't so!

Crisfield Election

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." ~ John Quincy Adams

I have been running a little behind on my posts. For those who enjoy political photos, here are some from the mayoral and council election. Congratulations to all the incumbents, each of who retained their positions.


No matter what side of the fence you are on, voting is a privilege. Thank you to everyone who voted in the election.


Nothing like a small town election. Sure beats those big-city lines.

Across the road from the election hall, candidates await the outcome.

Even the young people pitched in.

Hungry volunteers found time for a little lunch.

And then was a recount...

And the winners are...
Mayor P. J. Purnell, left, and Councilman Kim Lawson. Not present were Councilman Barry Dize and Councilman Raymond Anderson.

And after all was said and done (and counted), I had to take a creative shot.

Congratulations to the winners. No matter where you live, register to vote. Votes are what makes the world go 'round! Well, some people say it is love, so vote for the candidate you love the most, and kill two birds with one stone.

Reading in Crisfield

"Today a reader, tomorrow a leader." ~ Margaret Fuller

I had to put my breaks on the other day when I saw this young girl stretched out on the porch railing, reading a book. With video games, cell phones, and TV, a lot of kids don't read much anymore. It was refreshing to see this girl enjoying an afternoon feeding her brain.

This scene also brought back memories of my youthful days hanging out on the porch - people don't do that much anymore, at least in the big cities.


My family used to gather on the porch on hot Georgia evenings for reading, conversation, and a cold drink. On Sundays we had home-made ice cream. Peach was my favorite.

In those days, everyone did a lot of reading. The family would pass the Atlanta-Journal Constitution around, and I would read the "Funny papers" or books from my "kid" library. I also enjoyed looking at advertisements in the newspaper, especially the ones from the department stores like Rich's and Sears. I wanted to grow up to look like the models, so I studied them in hopes that would help. It didn't.


Back then, the fifties-style models, many of them wearing hats, were not real photos - only black and white sketches of long-legged ladies with thin waists, and half sketched-in faces. Still, their grace and mystic intrigued me.


Thanks to the young girl who brought back the memories of those long-ago summer days in Georgia.


If anyone has a porch, gather the family together for an old-fashioned evening together. If you don't have a porch, gather in the backyard or living room with some reading material, if only for an hour. Enjoy a little family time together. 

I must say, I do see a lot of people in Crisfield enjoying their porches. Some traditions never die, especially in a close-knit community where family is important.

Geese in Crisfield

"Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and more." ~ Vincent van Gogh 

I found this little jewel when I was cleaning out some files. I posted it last year, but that was in the days when I ran smaller photos. No matter what the size, this is a precious photo. It has a tiny bluish tint to it because I shot right through the window, as not to disturb the mother and her babies.

Delegate Page Elmore

In memory of Delegate Page Elmore

~ May 31, 1938 - June 26, 2010 ~

"Judge a man not by his party, but by his heart."

 I have had many opportunities over the past three years to photograph Mr. Elmore. He attended a variety of events, often handing out awards and proclamations. I could tell he was "The people's man" - loved and respected by people from all walks of life.

I never saw Mr. Elmore without a smile on his face. It was a good smile, one that made me happy. I will miss his smiling face at future events.

Mr. Elmore is survived by his wife Carolyn, three grandchildren, and five grandchildren. Like all Somerset County residents, I extend my sympathies to his family.

Moving the crabs

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish  and you feed him for a lifetime.” ~ Proverbs

This Crisfield waterman is all smiles for the camera as he prepares to unload his bounty at a nearby crab house.


Every time I see crab boats coming and going, or waterman working the trade taught to them by them by their great-great grandparents, I can't help but think of all the boats and workers in the Gulf Coast affected by the BP oil spill. The oil spill has turned their smiles into frowns and their boats sit idle in harbors.


Many say that BP will pay the waterman in due time. But being a waterman is not all about money. It is about being a "waterman", and no one but a waterman can understand the joy of bringing in a truck load of crabs or oysters.


When the bounty is great, waterman laugh, smile, and celebrate together. When a bad season comes around, they find comfort in each other. Waterman are people bursting with pride, learned and self-taught knowledge, and camaraderie. To have their livelihood taken away is one thing; to take away who they are is entirely another.


I have talked with many waterman in the area, and I can say that their prayers and thoughts are with the waterman of the Gulf Coast, as well as with their families. The people of Crisfield also send their prayers to the waterman and their families, to the businesses, and to the citizens of the towns affected by this oil spill.


We wish a speedy return of smiles to the waterman of the Gulf Coast.

Fill your treasure box in Crisfield

“A box without hinges, key, or lid, yet golden treasure inside is hid.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien quotes

Living in a small town is a blessing. Living in a working water town is a double blessing. Many working water towns have been taken over by fancy marinas and condos. Here in Crisfield, one can still go down to the marina or docks and get a glimpse into the past. There is no traffic in our little town, or our marina. Life goes by at a slow, even pace.


 If you want peace and quiet, and a taste of working life on the water, Crisfield is the place to be. Not only will you see crab and oyster boats, depending on the season, you will see tour and ferry boats, as well as tug boats and barges.


I have lived in a large city, and I have lived in the "burbs", and before moving to Crisfield, I thought I had lived in a small town. But Crisifeld is one of those magical places where, if you look for all the Easter eggs that nature and man have laid out for you, you won't want to leave. For those who do leave, you must make sure that you put all your pretty-colored eggs in the treasure box of your mind, take them home, and save them for those rainy, stress-filled days.


I thought about all the city people, working hard in their cubicles when I saw this tug boat and barge pass by, ever so slowly.  A lingering moment of tranquil time, pressed into your memory, can last a life time, getting you through those stressful days.