Tuesday views - Be OUTRAGED and take action...

This morning as I watch the glum news and hear that a report is out today stating the housing foreclosures are up 57%, I wonder what people do when they can't afford a place to live, their credit is ruined and their lives on hold. So I have to get away from all the sadness and go take a look at the little nest my cranes have made for their new egg, they too have hope, they look forward to their offspring, you might call it instinct, but I see it first hand in how protective they are when they have their young. At least nature give me hope. The actions of some people scares me more than the continuing cycle of nature, we are the ones who screw it all up, we must also be the ones who protect our young against the predators out there who want to take our land and urbanize it. Yesterday there was talk about making a wonderful wildlife center that has existed for thousands of years, Mosquito Lagoon, and possibly place a launch pad out there -- WHY? This is so repugnant, we should all be up in arms! Save as much of our precious wildlife as we can, call your Representative, or Martinez or Nelson, tell them we have more at stake by losing what we are known for, our flora and fauna than by a new Cape Canaveral launch pad that destroys wetlands and marshes loaded with great fishing and birding, but benefits the pockets of lobbyists and special interests. Please let them know your feelings... below is article...voice an opinion
Fishing Hole Could Fall To Commercial Launch Complex
Monday, February 25, 2008 10:52:32 AM
NASA Vs Fishermen
Additional Information
Titusville City Council
TITUSVILLE -- A favorite fishing spot could be taken over by the Kennedy Space Center, and concerned fishermen will get to voice their opinion on Monday.

The space center wants to permanently close Mosquito Lagoon from Haulover Canal South to build a new commercial launch complex on the site.

Fishermen, though, consider that area the redfish capital of the world.

The spot is one of two sites being considered. The other is just south of the existing shuttle launch pads..

NASA will hear from fishermen and other concerned residents Monday at 1 p.m and 6 p.m at the Titusville city council chambers.

Two other meetings will be held Thursday at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the New Smyrna Beach Public Library.

Sunday am Hawk watch

Early, around 7:30, I decided to take a walk. I was hesitant because it looked like it might rain, but decided to take my body and give it some exercise. Just next door as I was almost home, I saw a hawk in the ground eating something.
A fish I think. I stopped and it looked at me, I took out my cell phone to use the camera, but that was worthless, it looked like a non-descript blob. So I hurried home, grabbed the Kodak and snapped away. It let me get within about ten feet, but it flew it's kill up to a tree branch and still was patient I continued to take it's handsome imprint for memory. When I left I did thank him and told him to enjoy it's meal. Maybe I will walk early more often...

Wer'e expecting!

I am so excited to say my cranes will be expecting here for the 4th time that I know of. For several days this week they have been building a nest fast and furious, picking grasses and building a platform. They are actually on a small wet island and it is very low and a big rain scares me now, and as I write this, it is raining...
But on Thursday or Friday, she began nesting, (see what happens when I don't fish one night, (Thursday) I saw the nest Friday and she got up and could see one big egg.
They are two months early this year for some reason, the warmth I suppose. They have hardly had their honeymoon phase from rushing their kids off and here we go again.
Love it!
You know who will be monitoring for the next 30 days, that's about all it takes...

Eberweins

Had to go scope out the places I am going to be exhibiting my photos and the first place on the stop was Eberweins, a really cool 'hideaway' on 417 S. Sanford Ave. It started out as one side of the old Stokes fish market with Surfaces on the other, but Surfaces is gone and Eberweins tookover the other half. I must confess, I don't get out much at night, but rumor is this place is really hoppin' at night. It's a place that looks like you could make yourself at home as soon as you enter. And Lisa who was in charge when I came was very warm and easy to talk to. The artwork on display is excellent, several artists have work up. I'm feeling intimidated...ummm. The owner, Julie is an another one of those gifted artists and a few of her pieces are exhibited toward the back,(note the picture of the dark nude upside down).
I'm excited by the opportunity and hope I will be seeing some of my friends stop by in May to check me and the place out... Should be fun...

weeping angels

I decided to take some photos over at the cemetary in Winter Park. The day was beautiful and soft and lighting good. The first thing I noticed was how the many trees seemed to be bent over and intertwining with the branches of other trees in an effort to protect the spirits within.
There were lots and lots of headstones, few mauseleums, but had fun looking at names and dates and inscriptions.
This angel next to a small indescript marker said so much more than all the beautiful words expressed on the many 'high end' marble pieces. It stopped me and suddenly I thought of that article I had read about a bride who died yesterday in her husbands arms at their wedding reception, and what about the latest soldiers killed in the Iraq war, or the brutal ethnic cleansing in Africa? This one tiny piece of plaster angel took the weight of the world upon itself for me today. I kissed my finger and touched it to the top of it's head then walked on...

The Evil Eye

When I fish I have company, usually it's my neighbors cat Ringo with those striking blue eyes, or Church, my gray cat, and now, sometimes Sammy the black cat from next door now visits, though Ringo chases him off, it's a dominance thing. Tonight all three were watching me fish, the heron came down too. It becomes a chore though if I catch something as Ringo is always at my feet waiting to eat the smaller fish. So in order to "form a more perfect union", when I hook something, I have to kind of sneak the fish in fast, hurry and reel and then hold it up above Ringo's reach and try and get it off without a battle. If I want to feed the heron, I have to unhook the fish, hold it in the right hand, scoop up Ringo under my left arm and toss the fish to the heron who will fly over and grab it while Ringo struggles to get free and sometimes bites me. It is quite a balancing act. Sometimes the fish get off the hook and into Ringo's mouth and he runs away before I have a chance to grab him.
Today twice I saw that other visitor, that big moccassin near some brush by the lake. (click on the photo and look into his demon eyes.) He watched me, I watched him. The snake had the look of a pervert staring, scrutinizing my every move. Ringo did not see him which is good because Ringo will try and test wills with it and this one was large! Ringo has saved the day a few times when a water snake thought it might rest nearby, Ringo will grab them and kill them as fast as any mongoose, well, maybe I do vastly exaggerate, he likes to play with them a bit before he actually kills them.
Ringo is as wild as they come, he has a loving home but you can't tame him from his Florida panther alter ego. Those ear tufts, his larger than normal cat size, that ringed raccoon looking tail that moves as if it in itself is it's own entity all suggest he's got a bloodline crossed with some feline shaministic cat clan. He's a devil sometimes -- you can pet him and think he's going to be so sweet when suddenly he will wrap those paws around and unleash needle like claws and dig in for a hell-of-a-bite on the leg or arm. He's bi-polar for sure.
The Florida moccassin is a very aggressive snake, I have pictures on an older post of a tremendous one that was dead, (thank goodness) by the road. I hate seeing them anywhere nearby. They make me paranoid about their intentions. If I am down by the lake to fish, I will take a long metal rake and use it to startle the snakes to make them glide away into the water, but the problem is, where will the damn thing surface? On what part of the shore? So in certain cases, it's easier to leave the beast where I can keep an evil eye back at him.
This particular snake has been mating, I caught it earlier in the day with another smaller moccassin. Tomorrow, I will go out and dismantle that brush pile where he has been 'squatting' - somehow the thought of moccassin offspring doesn't excite me like crane babies.
I have handled plenty of snakes in my day, my son Aaron has always been a mini Steve Irwin! We had ball pythons, yellow rat snakes, red rat snakes, Texas long nose snakes and Brazilian rainbow boas. We even mated red rat snakes and hatched about 18 babies. We have lost snakes in the house for weeks at a time, found them under laundry piles, in video boxes, even climbing our stone fireplace once. I have been bitten about 5 times, one yellow rat snake was feisty and grabbed me twice one day. When those fangs bury themselves inside a wrist or hand, it's painful, and scary, not like an annoying cat, a snake sometimes likes to tear at the flesh a bit...and you better clean the wound good too!
In my wisdom about snakes now, I don't ever want to see another caged one in the house again! The snakes outside can go where they please as long as it is not in my direction, but if any snake gets in the way of fishing, you better believe I can be as aggressive as they are, from behind a rake with a eight foot handle...

water getting scummy

Amazing how three warm days in the 80's affects the water. The past 4 winters there has been no scum on the water till late spring. Suddenly two days ago, algae 'stuff' seemed to be gathering across the surface in little pockets. I tried to cast out in the clear areas, but many times caught the hook in algae and had to pull it back to clear the doughballs of green scum. It is nasty and slimy!
Tonight there was a south/east wind lightly blowing the scum closer to shore. Tomorrow morning I will go look and rake off what is close to the water line.
The weather feels perfect, so warm and nice. Last night I either saw a hawk or osprey high in tree dive down and grab a fish, it happened today too. He was too fast to get a picture. I hope at some point I can get a photo of it.
The cranes are in courting mode jumping up and down, dancing and amusing each other, they are so happy to be rid of their offspring. It still seems everything is still too warm for this time of year and the birds and reptiles are all responding to this.
the clouds are always fun to watch. Caught a bass last night and took a picture of his big open mouth. Tonight I caught one catfish, they are not what I like to handle...

Sad/glad Sunday

It's official, no not the superbowl today, it's official that the sandhill crane parents have finally run off their last remaining child, (actually called a colt.) Their son left over a week ago, but I think the remaining young crane was female, she was my favorite. Timid, she held behind the others, she would wait as her brother and Mom got a head start and then she would finally feel safe enough to chow down. The last time I saw her, yesterday, and even the days before that, you could see the parents wanted her out. They would peck at her and chase her away, and poor thing did not want to go. The picture of the rumpled, bent over crane is the daughter they have been harassing to leave, the last pic I have of her. In the picture with the three of them taken yesterday, you can see her standing far away from the parents as they kept going after her.
Now the parents this morning arrived looking quite like the honeymooners without any colts to look after. (above pic) They ate and happily walked away together. They ran off these colts a couple months earlier than last year, maybe because of the heat down here. They usually don't run them off till March and breed in May or June, the babies come a month after being layed. Will have to see if we have 'colts' earlier this year. Even the heron babies came earlier this year, the warm weather is tricking nature. The bullfrogs who remain silent till almost spring, can be heard loud and clear around 5pm, two months ahead of schedule.
Oh well, nothing can be done to change it so I am happy to document and enjoy it all, that's the glad part of Sunday. I'll let you know if the daughter shows up...

Lake Mary Events Center

A very washed out day and had to run some errands. Went down Country Club and thought I would stop at the brand new Lake Mary Events Center. They just have opened their doors for bookings. Gunnar Smith, the recreation Supervisor was kind enough to show me around. When you walk in the main entrance there is a two story foyer. The windows run across the building and sunlight comes giving lots of beautiful natural lighting. Unfortunately it was a very dreary day, and there was a little 'fine tuning going on, so the ballroom has a bit of clutter, but I wanted to give a glimpse for public consumption.
Straight ahead of the foyer is a lovely rotunda, windows showing off West Crystal Lake. There is a door that goes outside to the Lakeside porch area where there are wonderful arches, a pergola of sorts following toward the water. The Grand ballroom had wonderful window views also along with a 300 person capacity. They can divide the ballroom into side A&B. There is also a conference room and meeting room which were rather dreary in comparison. The view is what draws you immediately to the ballroom and rotunda, and of course the porch, it's very calming.
Gunnar told me they are booked every Saturday through 2008 and 90% were weddings, the rotunda looks like a visual dream for a wedding. They have a list of caterers and prices galore for different days and different needs. The city of Lake Mary owns the land and purchased and took down 3 homes off to the left side for the aesthetics.
I really did not do the front of the building justice by photographying it close and not standing back to get all the magnificent trees surrounding it. I promise to go back and get a long shot when no vehicles are blocking the front doors like they did today. Will pick a nice afternoon light to do that in.
They should be able to pay off the debt of this thing fairly quickly, when I was there several people were getting tours and inquiring about open dates to reserve. I hope that Gunnar will remember the local art community and consider having art exhibitions in the front hall or off to the long hallway to the left of the front door.
For info about renting the different spaces, contact Gunnar Smith 407-324-3097