SAYING GOODBYE TO A LEADER

Well, finally, the day has come. Our condominium association President Gary is moving to Florida. He left his office as President of the Condominium a couple of weeks ago. New officers have been elected and we will, if the veritable creek doesn't rise, move on. His loss has been a very difficult one for me and for many members of our resort association. Gary is one of those guys with a warm heart and an indomitable spirit: a guy who looks for the best in everyone, encourages change, works hard, and takes his time with issues when they come up. I have never seen him be sharp with anyone.

Our association had gone through some very difficult times before he became our President two years ago. We were a young organization and we inherited some big problems. We have gone through two major hurricanes and floods. We have had hasty evacuations. We had even lost our club house, for all intents and purposes. Everyone has pulled together and we are back on track, but much of our success, especially in getting into a positive spirit with one another, can be credited to Gary's leadership. Lots of folks have pitched in, and there are other board members who have worked hard, but we all know that Gary's leadership has been exceptional and has helped us through a very formative and stressful time. He has also helped us form better relationships with our neighbors and with all of the state and local agencies with whom we interact.

He says he'll be back someday and isn't selling his lot. That is the good news. We will miss him and hope that he and his wife have a good experience while they are living and she is working in Florida. In the meantime, until they return, I am sure everyone will be doing their best to keep the good times going and weathering whatever storm comes along.

ALOHA, ALOHA, ALOHA

AFTERNOON ALONG THE BANKS OF THE RIVER NEAR CHAPEL POINT

SCENES ON THE POTOMAC AND PORT TOBACCO RIVERS

Two of my favorite photographs of the Port
Tobacco River Bay: one taken in the early
morning and one taken at evening......

Canadian geese and Mallard female

A great blue heron in silhouette with Mt. Vernon in the background. Taken near Pascataway Park, Tayak. (Click it to look closer)

Some ducks raised by local camper

Marshes at mouth on back waters of the Port

Tobacco River. I call the photograph of the
heron at right "The Sentinel."

It was directly across from our camper and

used to stay there almost unmoving for

hours on end.

The photograph at right is the home of a local

artist who lives on the River. Someday I

would like to give it to her.

I hope she would like it.

The other is a photograph of a scene across the

river from where we live, and I took it because it

is a portrait of a friend's home as well.

Canadian geese nest in the vast marshes along Port Tobacco River. They fly from the marsh to spend their summer days in nearby rivers, lakes and meadows, only to come home in the late evenings and raise their babies in the safety of the tall grasses. Now it is early Spring and the geese are taking advantage of low tide to feast along the bare shoreline. Shortly after I took this photograph, the geese separated into two groups and flew off in formation across the grasses and high over the trees into one of the farms along the River. Many birds make their way along the exposed riverbed, feeding at the water's edge. Today I was able to capture this lone pelican as it took off in flight.

The picture above was taken in the Spring of 2006 when the rye grass was being plowed under at the Amish farm on the way to St. Mary's County. The farmer who was plowing was amiable with me and gestured his agreement to my picture taking. I was able to take several shots that morning and they have become some of my favorite photographs in my personal collection. So, imagine my pleasure when I was coming along the same road this morning and found the same farmer plowing his fields again. This time he was plowing more deeply, the first time for the season, and he was using six horses instead of the three he had used last year. The ground is being plowed for planting, whereas last year it was being re-plowed after rye grass had been growing for a while.

MARSHES ALONG THE RIVER AT SUNSET
Near Chief Turkey Tayac's Home on the Potomac River. Tayac was chief of the Piscataway Nation and is buried across the Potomac from Mt. Vernon. Once grown to adulthood, the chief of the Piscataway Indian Nation began using the surname, "Tayac," because the name itself was part of his family's oral history. Turkey Tayac's family traced their descent from a long line of Piscataway chiefs, traditionally called "tayacs." But, by the time Turkey Tayac was born, only a few Piscataway families remained to remember and transmit knowledge of their own vibrant Native American heritage. One can access the park and burial grounds near Accokeek, Maryland, not far from Hard Bargain Farm

SPRING IS COMING, SPRING IS COMING

Well, Spring is almost here. The campground has been closed for the winter and we have been down to check on our RV and refill our propane tanks on a few occasions. This is the first winter no one has lived there through the season.

When I went down this week there were flocks of white geese all along the estuary. So many of them. The robins have been waiting for the changed weather, having arrived back early after a warm period in early February. These pictures are of robins gathered in the trees waiting for the sunset and foraging in the snow.

The resort's water tank was damaged over the winter and had to be replaced. When I went to the resort on Thursday the old tank was on its side near the dumpster and the new one was in place. So today we are going down to open the trailer up for the year.

I can't wait to get out on the water and enjoy the Spring breezes and lemony green colors that change as the leaves begin to bud and unfold.

Awake, my heart, 'tis Spring: soon.

Yellow daffodils welcome the Spring

A Great Blue Heron built a safe haven in the marsh near our campsite. A beautiful and majestic bird, don't you think?.

An American Goldfinch enjoys the seeds from our Black-eyed Susan patch.

Port Tobacco River as seen from Chapel Point. On the right is The Clam Digger. Our retreat also includes a campsite, RV, along with a canoe and kayak available for round the year use.