May Your Wishes For The New Year Be Realized

Twas A Few Days Before Christmas And All That Could Be Heard Was A Hawk, A Cricket And A Dog

A Beautiful Fall Day At The Tar River

Today was an absolutely beautiful Fall day here. Hopper (my dog) and I decided to do some very long walking. I would call it a hike but being from Washington State elevation is usually an ingredient when you think of a hike, there is not much elevation in eastern North Carolina. About a ten minute drive (at the most) from my place is an area along the Tar River which consists of some nice trails. At the beginning of the main trail is a series of some small lakes one of which has a fishing dock (see pictures below). As you continue on the main trail you come across a power line section. The vegetation changes considerably on the other side of the power line. The cypress trees in this swamp area are AWESOME! Cypress trees fascinate me and I could photograph them all day long. These areas remind me of a magical place where wizards and hobbits would live. Their formations and housing accommodation's for wildlife are amazing to me. During this stretch there a few trails that branch off to various creeks and runs I have not yet explored but am anxious to follow them. There is one that for whatever reason Hopper wants to follow every time we pass it. The other trails I am sure he would love to go down but this particular one has a hold on him so that will be the next one we explore. After the swamp area is the Tar River which appears to have some very nice fishing holes along with being very nice to walk along. The trail goes quite a ways along the river and we have not yet come to the end of that trail.

The pictures in the slide show are in sequence to the hike, oops I mean walk.

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

I woke up this morning at 3:30 am thinking it was 4:30 am. It seems I did not “Fall Back” Sunday night. I got home from the hospital on Saturday so maybe I have a good excuse. Anyway I woke up with a bad headache and a stomach that was putting out distress calls. At first I was going to reach for the pain meds but the way my stomach felt I thought maybe the damn headache was due to the PAIN meds. After deciding to put up with the nose pain rather than making the headache/stomach problem worse I got up and decided to do something soothing on the computer. No Salvia I don’t want to cybersex with your skanky ass!

I decided to do a post on a place that is close by that I went to a couple of months ago. Goose Creek State Park is beautiful, peaceful and has those mystical noises of a place like this. It is inhabited by many creatures as I was lucky to catch one of them with my camera. I then thought about a song to accompany the post. Naturally I thought of Goose Creek Symphony which I had not heard in eons. When “researching” the web for one of their songs I ran across the album art of the one Goose Creek Symphony Album that I had back in 1970. The song I have included here is from that album and is called “Talking About Goose Creek And Other Important Places”. See if you remember this album from the album art I have included.

I still have my headache but my stomach is better so I have made progress. Soothing does work but you need a couple of options. My first option was to call someone who is so very soothing to my spirit but figured she would not be equally soothed by my 3:30 am phone call!

By the way, yesterday I had a 10 am doctor appointment to get my packing out. I was getting very annoyed when it got to be ten minutes to 11 and I had not been called yet. I went up to the receptionist desk and sarcastically asked “was my appointment at 10 am!!!!” She calmly replied “Yes it is” It was not till 3:30 am this morning that I realized I had not “Fall'n Back”

Temporarily Closed For Repairs

Temporarily Closed For Repairs

Actually the repairs are not to the Blog but rather to the Blogger.

Friday I go in for sinus surgery and will be in a down mode for a few days. The song I have uploaded for this announcement is a little misleading. I actually do need a Doctor but not a Doctor like the individual's Doctor I met in the ENT surgical facility waiting room. We were sitting in the waiting room (I have a story about waiting rooms I will have to share with you one of these days) doing the usual killing of time. He asked me what I was in for and I indicated pre op sinus surgery. He said good luck and that he was in for post op follow up for the same thing. Well this got me very curious and wanted to find out how the experience thus far was going for him. He indicated he was still having problems but the Doctor told him that they were getting closer but might need another surgery to correct the problem. I said “another surgery?!!! Shit!!! What kind of problems are you still having?” He said “I still can’t breath through my nose but I can do a pretty disgusting trick.” Well my anxiety over my upcoming surgery was growing by leaps and bounds at this point. I asked “Who is your Doctor?” praying it was a different Doctors name than my own Doctor. Luckily he said a name that I did not recognize. So feeling a little bit better I took the bait and asked what kind of disgusting trick could he now do after surgery. What I saw was indeed disgusting. I could not believe my eyes in what I saw so I asked him if he minded if I took a picture. He said “Hell No, I am enjoying this notoriety” I ran to my truck got my camera and took the following picture. Remember to always ask around about the doctor you are seeing or if they have had bad results from a procedure you are do to have find out the Doctor’s name.

You may have to scroll down for the picture

It Just Keeps On Going

I hope you are having a great weekend. I have been listening to some John Prine and have enjoyed it so much I thought I would share one with you. The song is about the world that keeps on going. I have a feeling inside that just keeps on growing. I am looking for a song that reflects this. Maybe I will give John a call. Have fun and of course Keep on Rock'N

Edit: Ok, I could not just do one song

Of Flying Cavemen and Fawns

I have not really introduced you to the world that I view from my back porch. I have lived here for six months now and in that time I have seen and experienced some pretty awesome sights right from my back porch. I have captured most of them with my camera and would like to share them with you. It's a wide range of subject matter, from flying cavemen to lizards. Today I am posting a story that's very special to me. The saga lasted about 26 hours.


Friday - June 8, 2007
An event occurred today that I feel very fortunate to have experienced. Early in the morning I was out on my deck when I noticed something moving in the tall grasses in the field out behind my place. It was pretty far out and I really could not make out what it was. It sort of looked like a bobcat. I watched a few more minutes but could not see it anymore. I went inside took a shower and ate breakfast. I went back outside on the porch and looked where I had seen the movement and saw it again. This time I quickly came in and grabbed my camera, set it at 200 mm so I could take some pictures to help me find out what it was. To my surprise it was a very young fawn. I watched for quite awhile, taking pictures and wondering where mama was. I came back inside thinking mama was close and the fawn would probably be gone in a little while. Later on I remembered I had heard what sounded like a single rifle shot the night prior and started to worry that it had been mama.


That afternoon I was on the porch again checking on my fawn and it was in the very same place. It would graze right next to the "bush" it had been then go behind the bush and lay down. The fawn stayed at that same bush the whole time I experienced the 24 hour event. One of the pictures I took showed the fawn laying down behind the bush and appears to be looking at me. The temperature was around 95 degrees. That was it for me. I called someone who works with the animal control here in Greenville that specializes in wildlife rescue. I told her what had transpired so far that day. She told me that real young fawns get "left" behind sometimes when the doe goes grazing and that the mama would more than likely be back for the fawn that night. She understood my concern about the rifle shot I had heard and said to call her the next morning if it was still there and to keep an eye out if anyone approaches that area. The fawn needs to be left alone. I did as she told me but I sure wanted to carry a bucket of water out there! It was a very hot day and not much shade at that bush.


Around 8:15 that night (around dusk) I was out on the deck and noticed two deer at the edge of the woods that are all the way across the field near the swamp. (see picture) I thought to myself that I sure hoped that was mama and that she would get the fawn later that night. What a special ending that would be.


The next morning I popped out of bed threw my jeans on and went out on the deck. I could not see the fawn anywhere and a big smile came to my face but I still was not sure if it was just laying behind that bush and I just could not see it. I had to be 100 % sure in case I had to call the agent. As I was walking ever so carefully in the field to an angle where I could see the back of that bush I started thinking "boy I sure hope that I don't see that fawn laying still on the ground in a very bad way". Much to my delight the fawn was not to be seen. Mama had come to the rescue just as the agent told me she probably would do. It was a very special experience for me and I took some time to reflect on how special. Not very many people have seen this saga unfold and I was even luckier by being able to capture it on my camera!


I called the agent back to tell her the happy ending of my story. She appreciated it and shared with me some other stories. As she was talking to me she was feeding a baby racoon who had incountered some tragedy. I could hear other critters in the background. She invited me over sometime to meet the other temporary members of her "zoo". I will be sure and take my camera when I do :).


The slide show below starts out with some photos of my "backyard" and then my first sighting of the fawn. The next few shots are of the fawn going around the bush eating and then taking a nap. That night I took the pic of what I hoped to be mama. The last shot is a few months later of mama and her fawn grazing together. I have seen them many times together during that time span from my back porch.

A News Story From Yesterday I Could Not Pass Up Commenting On

Ahhhh the sweet smell of fresh cut grass, burning rear wheel lawnmower tires and the taste of pavement.


Updated: 5:56 p.m. ET Oct 3, 2007

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A man accused of drunken driving reportedly tried to outrun the police, but his vehicle wasn't up to the task.

Michael Ginevan of Bunker Hill was driving a riding lawnmower on Runnymeade Road about a mile from his home when a Berkeley County sheriff's deputy attempted to pull him over. Ginevan, 39, allegedly sped away, and Deputy J.H. Jenkins stopped his cruiser and gave chase on foot, according to magistrate court records.

Jenkins caught up to the lawnmower after a short chase, but Ginevan allegedly wouldn't stop, so the deputy pulled him off the machine. Ginevan refused to take a field sobriety test and was arrested. Jenkins then found a case of beer strapped to the lawnmower's front, court records show.

Ginevan was charged with fleeing while driving under the influence and obstructing an officer. He was being held Tuesday at the Eastern Regional Jail on $7,500 bond.

A person who answered the phone at the jail did not know whether Ginevan had hired an attorney. There was no telephone listing for Ginevan in the Bunker Hill area.

The clip below is not from this incident but a similar one a few months ago. I imagine it was about the same situation.

A Very Sunny Sunday Afternoon

Back Porch Shots goes to other back porches for some shots sometimes and on Sunday afternoon I went to a very special back porch for these shots. It was a beautiful day and was the best Sunday afternoon I had in awhile.

The images are displayed in a new tool. By clicking on the note on the lower left corner of the slide show you should see the link "A Sunday Afternoon" it should take you to a full browser slide show. I would appreciate any feedback as to how it works for you, thanks.

A New Land To Explore

I am now setting foot into a new frontier to explore. I am in process of building my vehicle to travel in the blogasphere. Be patient with me until I quit crashing or floating off the screen. If I do disappear on occasion you will know I am retooling and will be back!