Update on a wonderful Day - April12,2008
Pardon if I regress since this is my first real entry into the blogging world. You know, if you have visited my webpage, angelsharestudio.com, and my entry bio who I am and generally what I am about - environment/nature, photography, poetry (my new book ‘Sunrise to Sunset (and all that lies between)’ is out in selected stores now but will be formally out in May, 2008.
I regularly survey migratory waterfowl for the National Fish and Wildlife Department at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge south of Rock Hall, Maryland. The ducks, geese and swan have now gone to their spring/summer nesting grounds. The osprey and newly arriving eaglets are on scene as are the regular seasonal song birds. The warblers will be coming through possibly as early as late April and through May. I’ll keep you posted of any unusual sightings.
Today began as with all days with a visit to ‘Play it Again Sam’ the local coffee shop here in Chestertown, Maryland. I schmoosed with the regular crowd then went on to the Farmer’s Market held each Saturday Morning until 12 noon. My usual is a jar of fresh honey and fresh granola made by a local Amish baker. Today kale and fresh eggs were added to my list.
Miss Anna (a Kent County treasure) the proprietor of Scotties Shoe store (the local newspaper outlet and boutique) turned another year today. I delivered the card that I had made for her and sang Happy Birthday. She was thrilled - patrons had been in with cards and presents. The regulars serenaded her in Mexican sombreros. My card had a photo of a Gondolier (shot in Venice) and a picture of the David (one of the copies in Florence) and my ‘author’s photo’ taken from my recently released book of poetry. The message was: Happy Birthday Miss Anna - I thought you could use a couple of good men in your life. Well, off to Annapolis to my accountant for my yearly preparation of my federal ‘tith’ actually I would prefer a ‘tith’ my bracket seems to be somewhat in excess of that. (Although it probably couldn’t pay for a set of wheels on one of our Humvees in Iraq!)
Have a good and I will be reporting in with hopefully more interesting news. I hope to journal my tour across the US starting late August, 2008. The month long odyssey is a means to recharge my muse, take many images of the sights along the way and possibly do some readings and book signings. If, and I stress if, I get a lap-top between now and then and the appropriate access I’ll be reporting frequently during the trip. Talk to you later. HEM
April 18, 2008
The past several days have been perfect weather wise allowing for some wonderful out-of-doors activities. For me, two kayak outings - see Kayaking category. I have been working very hard at matting and Framing pictures for the Rock Hall Gallery and my up-coming exhibit the month of June at the PNC Bank located on High Street in Chestertown, MD.
Yesterday I received the advance publications to be sent out by my publisher, ‘American Literary Press’ to prospective vendors. As you may know from my web page I have books already in local stores in several counties in Maryland.
Tonight Lynne (my wife) and I will sample the oyster fritters at the Blue Heron, here in Chestertown. I haven’t had them in some time and oysters will go out of season this month.
Tomorrow we will be attending a performance by Tom Paxton at the Mainstay in Rock Hall Maryland. If you haven’t been to the Mainstay you are missing a treat. The Mainstay is a small venue setting with great audiences and even greater performers from around the country and the world. Jazz musicians find the venue particularly fitting to their playing with many of them passing the word to other performers around the country.
Who would expect to see someone like Tom Paxton, Tony Trischka, Frank Vignola, Joe Ascione, Steve Abshire, John Dalton, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chuck Red, Joe Byrd, (Charlie Byrd made several appearances), Gene Bereoncini, Bill Alred’s Classic Jazz Band and the list goes on. Over the past ten years there have been over 500 performances at the mainstay (Lynne and I were privileged to be in attendance to most of them!)
I will be manning the Rock Hall Gallery this Sunday April 20, 2008 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - drop in to visit and chat (or even buy one of my books or pictures.)
I am now waiting for the Atlantic Broadband tech to arrive and install a fast cable and wireless hook up for the house - I have lived too long with the slowness of dial-up email etc.
If time allows I hope to get out on the water again today - it is just too beautiful out there to be sitting here inside. HEM