Applying Art to Different Areas

It's been a long time since I've posted anything to my blogsite.  I have not forgotten, I've just gotten busy.  I have more time and I'm in the process of setting up some type of daily schedule on a weekly basis; yet, I have not been able to get any organized days.  I paint; but, I'm painting birds.  I still love Sea Critters and the sea, light houses, and beaches.  Yet, I think my Dad would be happy to see me painting birds.  He's a caretaker of birds in heaven.  He always had bird houses around the yard until the day he passed.  I'm working with the computer, painting, reading, working part-time, and having a social life with friends, family, and loved ones.  I'll be adding some more Sea Critters. 

Over the Edge.......

It's June ...... the year is passing quickly.  Freezing cold to boiling heat .... in two months.  It's enough to take you "over the edge" (painting is from a photo of looking down from Grandfather's Mountain in North Carolina).  Chuck took the photo before a large overcasting storm hit the other side of the mountain (where he was) opposite direction of where  my daughter and I were playing around a small pond at the bottom of Grandfather's mountain.  We discovered a water snake (poisonious) slethering around the rocks where we were sitting and playing (poking sticks into the water).  I always like water, wherever it is!!  So, beware of surroundings when playing around water!!  We stepped back quickly, and walked away until Chuck came down from the "mile long rope bridge" (that attracted him to experience the mountain expedition).  My daughter and I never saw the storm on the other side of the mountain, and he never saw the water mocassin that slethered in the rocks by the water .... it was a fun day.

Chuck had fun watching the storm move in and I enjoyed the photos that he had taken while at the top of the mountain.  It was hard to believe there was a storm with lightening and dark clouds on the other side (where he was).  I half heartedly believed it was as bad as he described - but, when I saw his photos after having them developed (no digital camera back then) I was in awe!!  He's always practical; I just didn't believe it was as bad as it was... considering, my daughter and I saw nothing - only a blue sky!!!!

Millway Marina

New England states have many weather worn older buildings.  It's interesting to visit older homes and buildings, including the ones located on Martha's Vineyard Island, and Delaware (first state), and Massachusettes.  These buildings represent the beginnings of this country - where we started, when we arrived on the shores of this country.  Simple and plain, with honest intentions and neighborly respect - sharing and helping one another as a family and community.

Millway Marina

Waiting for Spring

Frogger:


Just got over a very large snow storm , and I had two days off.  Stayed in most of the time (didn't want to take any chance on falling again). 


Sea Critters don't have to play around on computers, or go goofy from trying to upload programs onto hard drives. 


They swim around all day trying not to be eaten by larger Sea Critters.  


Frogs hide under lily pads, between rocks, or stay in the reeds that grow on the shores and in the water.


I've always liked bull frogs.  They have different sounds, especially at night or early evening.

Time to go.  Listen for frogs croaking this summer!!

Sea Shells - Third Group

From left to right starting at top:


Limpets - grows attached to rocks in cooler Atlantic and Pacific waters
Tellon Clams - large tropical family of sand dwelling clams
Lucina Shells - live in shallow warmer waters of Atlantic and Pacific waters
Top Shells - found in both shallow and deep temperate or tropical waters
Mussells - most abundant of all mollusks - common in cooler seas - attaches to rocks and wood by tuft of strong fibers it secretes
Tritons - found in tropical waters near coral reefs
Pen Shells - prefer warm deeper water where they grow attached to rocks - common in Atlantic Ocean


Hitchhiking (Barnacles)
Many Sea Critters travel thousands of miles (tiny larvae that drift, feeding as they go) on shells of other Sea Critters.  Others stay or can't move from where they are.  "Hitchhiking" also includes riding on plastics and tar balls.  Nearly 30 species of barnacles are found on turtles and another group on whales.  While other groups live on gelatinous plankton such as jellyfish and comb jellies.

Sea shells - second group

From left to right, starting at top:


Perwinkles - common on rocky shores in most parts of the world
Scallops - most common along Atlantic shores and prefer shallow water
Venus Clam - over 400 species found all over the world
Giant Clam - Largest shelled mollusk 2' - 4'
Whelk - known to both Artic and Tropical waters - Knobbed Whelk is         the state shell of New Jersey and is the largest shell found in the region 4" - 9"
Tulip Shell -typical of southeast United States - best known is Florida Horse Conch 1' - 2'

Mollusks (clams, snails, squids)

Anthropods (insects on land, shrimp, lobsters, and crabs in the ocean)

Enchinoderms (sea stars and sea cucumbers)

Many sea critters have not been identified.

Look for the Light Houses in the area when you visit the Sea Critters

This is Brandywine Shoal Light House standing guard over sea vessels traveling  in the Deleware Bay (erected in 1850).  A new Lighthouse was completed in 1914 to replace the original outdated Light House. 


Imagine, all the years these Light Houses have stood, and all the storms that they have continued standing through - most of the older Light Houses were built in the 1800's.  There is a lot of Civil War history, involving take-overs of different Light Houses between the North and the South armies.  Light Houses played an important role in Navel warfare during the Civil War.


Light Houses are fasicinating; and are located near or around many beaches on shore lines (lake and bay areas included) around the United States. 


Wherever I'm near the water and beaches, besides "Shelling", I look for Light Houses in the area.  If I'm lucky, I can find one or two (if the sea and erosion haven't destroyed them).  Hopefully, the Light House will be open, for us to walk up to the top, and look out over the water.