Furry blacks & browns, big pink tongues- and a person!

 

Well, here it is, August- already! And, I haven't posted since June= tsk, tsk! I have been ever so busy. Running around with friends, the yard, photographing a baby shower, and I can't really think of all the things that occupy my time and make it just slip away. Happily, one of the things with which I have been busy is doing portraits!!!!! These are the ones that I have done since the spring. The first is for one of our new pharmacists= she had it done as a surprise for one of her best friends. The second is a dog which belongs to my vet. The third was a father's day gift to a young lady's husband and she happens to be one of Emory's best friends. The woman's portrait is a birthday gift from her husband with whom I work. She is a school principle and he got it for her to hang in her office. Lastly, is Boomer, who unfortunately got run over and died. His owner is the other half of one of my very good friends, and he is a tattoo artist and I am bartering with him to have some color added to the dragonfly tattoo on my right shoulder to make it all pretty.

RED - The Color of the March Against Monsanto

How has Monsanto gotten away for so long with their evil? Animals dying, crops failing to meet production expectations, increased use of pesticides, super-weeds, killing people as well as increased disease and mental conditions, suing innocent farmers, taking away their heritage and livlihood. Now, they're killing bees. Their pockets are deep,  ex-Monsanto  heads are situated in government positions. I've never felt so passionate about anything. It's beyond comprehension what Monsanto is doing to us and the world (they are being banned now in Europe, halleluah!) But, the fight will be long and hard. I want to be part of it, so I participated in the March Aganist Monsanto on Sat, May 25, 2013 being held here in Charleston. It was actually a world-wide held event, with thousands of concerned people globally marching on the same day. After Jeff read up on the company, he was on board as well and so succinctly and eloquently spoke to those that came up to us with curiosity and questions. How long till the people are victorious and we once again control our food- our nonGMO, organic, natural food.- and not some evil, greedy corporation? Time will only tell......

Flowing Emerald Green Graduation Robes

 Sunday, May 12, 2013 - traditional graduation day at William and Mary on Mother's Day. And, my baby boy, Travis Cory Gunn, was graduating from William and Mary School of Law. He and a couple of others had ranked #4 in the class of 219, but while he and I were wandering about in a book store, Trav received an email from the college saying that they had moved up to #2 in the class!!!! I started crying right there- hell, I didn't even cry at his wedding! But, what an accomplishment. The day before, we had gone to the awards ceremony and Travis, along with all other qualifiying recipients, was inducted into the Order of the Choi - those in the top 10% of the class. Plus he had been published, one of 10 accepted, into the William and Mary Law Review. And...a couple of weeks later, we learned that Travis had entered a legal writing competition and had won first place - and, $500!!!!  Proud doesn't even begin to express how I feel about his accomplishments, his intellect, his sense of humor and humility. And, to think that I maybe had a little bit to do with whom he is and still becoming - I am honored. Now, it's the ole nose back to the grindstone as he commences studying for the bar at the end of July.....

Nicole and Chris' Multi-Hued Charleston Visit

 

Well, one month ago today, on May 1, 2013, my niece, Nicole, and her husband, Chris came by for a 2 day visit on their way back from Myrtle Beach. Two of Chris' friends that he had known since childhood had moved here from New Hampshire to work at the fire department on Isle of Palms. After their short stay here, he was ready to move down as well (something about all the outside activities, the beach, and the lack of snow...) It was a bit of a whirlwind, trying to get everything South Carolina on the agenda. Had to share Shem Creek and Vickery's as well as Poe's Tavern on Sullivan's Island. Alas, the wind was beyond blustery, with gusts up to 48 mph, I believe they said, so the trip out to Fort Sumter was nixed. But, we did make it to Magnolia Gardens- a plantation with plenty of wildlife for the mega animal-lover that Nicole is, and the Audubon Swamp for Chris, who was delighted at the sight of that big ole 'gator. When visiting Charleston, one must enjoy sauntering its streets, which we did, ending up at the Robert Lange Studio where we got to talk with Robert Lange himself, who had lived in New Hampshire for awhile. Then, down to the battery, where we stood up to the gales and got to see, to everyone's joy, 3 dolphin swimming in the waves. Nicole and Chris are such a wonderful couple- I so enjoyed them- perhaps they can stay a little longer next time....

The Tannin Color of Swamp Water

 

 

On April 13, 2013, Jeff and I visited the Francis Biedler Forest, located somewhere towards Ridgeville, SC.When travelling between Charleston and Columbia, I always see a sign for it, and would read about programs that were offered which piqued my interest, so I kinda put it on my bucket list. It's situated in Four Hole Swamp (45,000 acres) and, covering 1,700 acres, it is owned by the National Audobon Society which owns a total of nearly 17,000 acres. A 1.75 mile boardwalk meanders through stands of new-growth trees, courtesy of the destructive force of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, heading back towards the lake then round again so one loops through some of the older, more established trees. It is a swamp- a beautiful, gorgeous blackwater swamp of cypress and tupelo gum trees, (tannin from those trees give the water its dark color), with more cypress knees than I saw at Cypress Gardens. And,many of those older, more established trees are up to 1,000 yrs old - in fact, 4 Hole Swamp has the largest remaining stand of virgin Cypress/Tupelo Gum swamp forest left anywhere in the world!

How to choose which photos? It was difficult- love the refections of the trees in the water- it's practically a mirror! the twisted, hollowed out stumps, looking like homes for gnomes or elves. The bright yellow prothonotary, the swamp's mascot, utilizes the cypress knees for its nest. Luck and timing determines which of the animals in their natural setting will just happen to delight you with their presence. I was extremely fortunate to come across a barred owl as he was chomping away on a crayfish, then turned around for a perfect photo op before deciding to wing his way to a tree behind me, passing only about 3 feet away from my head. Spotted some ibis between the trees, saw a cottonmouth and brown-banded water snake sunning themselves, and came across a juvenile yellow-crested night heron. Only saw one regular turtle! But, did see one big ole snapping turtle scuttling across the bottom of the swamp before coming to rest. I definitely plan to return....