Unwelcome Visitors to Bird Feeders

I would love to credit the photographers who took these photos, but unfortunately I don't know who they are.  At the same time, I have to share them.  They were posted in an online article that I found while researching bird feeders for my garden. The sub-topic had to do with trying to dissuade unwelcome guests.  I thought these were hilarious, especially the bear!!

Sea Island Aerials

Since the weather and the winter season have not been very conducive to gathering new aerial material, I have been going back through my 2016 folders and pulling out some images that I had not previously spent much time on.  My favorites have to do with the lowcountry barrier islands, particularly at low tide, because the sand bars and tidal action make wonderful patterns in the oceans and creeks.  These are a couple that I found this afternoon.  We live in a most beautiful part of the world.

Foggy Live Oaks Take Two

It has been a little chilly for outdoor activities lately so I spent some time at the computer playing with some images that I took at McLeod Plantation a few days ago.  This is half the fun of photography; taking images in different directions after the fact, depending on your mood or whim.

Nice Oyster Roast Weather

While winter storm Helena is ravishing much of the Carolinas, Virginia, and New England, Charleston has dodged the bullet.  Aside from a couple of brief flurries and some admittedly chilly weather (relatively speaking), we chived right on.  Friends had scheduled their annual New Year's Oyster Roast at their beautiful Johns Island home, and as the day wore on and the clouds cleared out, the way was paved for a perfect afternoon. Happy New Year!

Adventures with Mum

Right now my Mum is struggling in a hospital thousands of miles away.  It's hard to accept that age catches up with you with all its misery.  The body doesn't want to cooperate anymore in many ways yet the spirit doesn't age.  Such a profound conundrum and one that requires such wisdom and compassion.  I wish I was able to be there, but failing that, I'm so glad that I was with her just a couple of short weeks ago.  As an example of that irrespressible spirit, here are some images of her at age 87 joining me on a helicopter flight over the Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa.  She was feeling pretty poorly at the time, but that didn't stop her.  Mum, you are amazing!

McLeod Plantation Oaks in the Fog

This morning when I woke and saw the fog thick outside my window, I took the opportunity to scoot down to McLeod Plantation to take a few moody shots.  I have photographed McLeod over the years, indeed it is one of my very special personal places, and I knew this morning would be perfect.  Not many folks would come crowding early in this weather and I supposed (correctly) that I would probably have the place to myself.  I am still going to edit some of these further to give them a different, arty look, but here are a couple pretty much straight out of the camera.

Merry Christmas from Charleston, SC

Wishing all a very Merry Christmas. May the spirit of Christmas remain with us throughout the year. "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests".  Luke 2:14  This was Christmas Eve on Folly Beach this morning.  Gotta love Charleston!