Park It

We got a safety recall notification about the sun roof on Lenore's car. Apparently the sun roof glass could at any time fall from the roof of the car and squash you. Naturally this got our attention and we called about getting it repaired. They responded that we could get it repaired for free at the nearest repair facility. Here is where living in a small town becomes a major disadvantage. The closest place was an hour and a half away in Santa Rosa. After six months of waiting during which the sun roof could have fallen on us at any moment the repairmen called and we set up a time for it to be repaired. I asked for a time in the morning so I could go down early in the morning and squeeze in some photgraphy at Howarth Park before the appointment.

I drove down this morning and was able to get in about forty five minutes of photography at the park before I had to go get the car repaired. The lighting was nice early morning light and there were plenty of subjects. One of the advantages of photographing at a park is that the birds become accustomed to people and are more approachable than they would be out in the wilds. I was able to walk within ten feet of a Black Crowned Night Heron. Something virtually immpossible to do anywhere near where I live. I wanted to spend more time photographing but that had to wait until another day. There was a Kingfisher that I want to get to know better so I will be going back.

God' preciious love to all,

chris

Catsup Day

I'm playing a bit of catch up today. Thus the play on words in the title. My brother Eric loves catsup. He and his wife Sue came for a visit a few weeks back and we bought an extra bottle of it just for his stay. He is a really superb photographer and Sue is an exceptional writer. Together they have teamed up on articles in magazines all over the U.S and Canada.

While they were here we took my Ultimate Watercraft Kayak and my Pelican Bassboat (it's tiny) over to Clearlake for some photography. We got there about eight in the morning and immediately unloaded the boats and headed out onto the water at Clearlake State Park. We split up and Eric took the kayak and I took the photobarge. Which is my nickname for the bass boat. It was lucky for Eric as there was a connection problem with the electric motor so I had to paddle it, which isn't an easy thing to do in that boat. I still managed to find some good photography subjects even though I couldn't paddle very fast or far. Immediately I located a Black Crowned Night Heron. I photographed a flock of American Pelicans for awhile and later found some Mallards and a Pied Grebe. My brother had much better luck capturing the same subjects as well as an image of a River Otter and a Great Blue Heron both from a short distance away. This was a good trip and it was really great to spend some time with my brother and his wife.

God's light and love to all,

chris