Into the light of Suwannee

The light came from behind the cloud cover and lit the big shoals today.

Light unto these Shoals

The corners cropped due to the stacking of filters causing the barrel affect.

Cypress Abstraction

The foam swirls from the big shoals at the mouth of Roaring Creek on the Suwannee.

After Carlton

Saw a grand photograph by Carlton Ward of a Tupelo on the Suwannee with the red tannic in the foreground. I had his photo in mind when I took this.

Roaring Creek Falls

Took an early afternoon visit to the Roaring Creek Falls and Big Shoals today. The water levels have receeded enough where I was able to hop the creek. The sand and mud deposited in the creek bottom from the recent high water levels was thick and soft in areas.
I did not bring a tripod, which I later wished I had. At the Big Shoals I stacked filters only to get the circle affect in the corners, requiring cropping, which I do not like to do.
I am currently going through one of the many slumps I have where nothing I produce is satisfying. I had stopped posting to Facebook until I feel my level of my own like has returned.
I do not get enough likes anyhow to bother, at least I need to like to myself.

Break of Dawn

Up way before daylight, early morning late night talk radio too much to listen to, too depressing. Melanie was already up trying to log onto her work computer. I saw there was fog out so decided it would be a good morning to try out Alligator Lake in the kayak. By the time I made the coffee and loaded the kayak, most of the nice fog had lifted. I got to the ramp around seven-thirty by the High School and headed toward the cypress stand.
Most of the birds had left the trees. I paddled quietly into the cypress hammock and sat still a long while, watching the Limpkin catching apple snails, cracking them open with their long sharp beaks and eating them.
Saw two deer sneaking in the woods. The sun played around and did not fully make it through the clouds.
The time or two it did, it lit up the dark hammock nicely.
Paddled around to the other side of the dike, stopping frequently. Much nicer kayaking by myself. No agenda, no getting a workout. Wind picked up and I paddled over to the white lotus patch. An effort to keep the camera and kayak positioned. Tried several angles. Paddled back to the dock, headed home.
I think the shots were nice, but I am lately comparing myself to others so I am not too pleased.
Took the hot seat out of the bottom of the kayak I had ordered and the foam back. My alterations just made the boat uncomfortable.

Snake in the moss

Just sitting here on this Wednesday in September, going into my 4th month of my unemployment, getting quite discouraged since even the Unemployment has stopped as I missed the claim weeks date. I will have to call and start it up again. A pain as they expect at least three job applications weekly and frankly, there are not three jobs out there weekly. Melanie said you are just going to have to settle for something you don't like.
I think back to the time at JCPenney, that day in April on a Friday when I was called into Calise office, Lana and Carolyn I think were there, witnesses. Calise told me today was my last day, he was letting me go, they would accompany me out the door after I gathered my things.
I had known that day was coming as he and the District Manager had ridden me relentlessly, writing me up for every little mis-step, building a file on me.
It was a relief and at the same time a time of panic. I had made it up to 50K a year and that was now gone. 600K lost since then. Retirement spent. Gone.
Though I worked with Sears around six of those years and one year with FPL, I have never recovered.
Retail left a really bitter taste.
I am thanking the Lord that Melanie at least is working from home and we can make it for now on her income alone. 
Yesterday I opened a fortune cookie and it said "New and rewarding opportunities will soon develop for you."
I laughed, sort of as Sara did when the angel announced she would have a child in her old age.
In my golden aging years of 58, what opportunities exist out there in the Obama crazed society?
So the reason for the photograph.
If ever you are walking down a primrose path where all seems good and everything is hunky dory, beware of the snake(Calise)lurking in the grass, keeping tabs on you, waiting for his moment to strike.

The Great Blue chew

Had a good time watching this Great Blue Heron attempting to down this water snake. He finally managed to get him down head first.

Seven Tin Shed

At the beginning of the Woodpecker Route out of White Springs on the right is this shed under the towering Live Oak. I took this from the vehicle as I was travelling back from the trip up to Prospect Primitive a few weeks ago.

false frost

 

Holy Leaping Limpkins Batman!

 

Elephant Stampede!