Big Birds
This past week I carried my longest lens while walking in the morning in an attempt to capture some big birds in flight. I was in luck with lots of eagles, ospreys, and great blue herons around to shoot. I’ve also thrown in a great white egret image from the neighborhood just for fun.




Thanksgiving
Janny made a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner for 10 (guest brought great side dishes and deserts). Here is a pic of one of the perfect pies that met its demise on Thursday.



Manatee Sighting
Friday morning we spotted a couple of manatees in the canal behind our house. These huge beasts hung around all morning. One photo shows the six-foot-plus creature back under a dock while the other shows a manatee getting a drink of fresh water.



Pups Across America
When we take our boat down the canal, our friend’s dog, Jed, comes out and the barking starts. Jed, the Little One’s mortal enemy, makes fierce sounds as he races back and forth on his property keeping pace with our boat. Mitzy yips and Jerry howls as he flies back and forth from bow to stern. Oh, the language these dogs use is enough to make one blush.



I’ve also added a shot of both Jerry and Mitzy wearing their stylish life preserver vests. Plus another shot of Jerry being cuddled by Auntie.



Painterly Pups
This week I’ve added a painted version of Mitchell, the Dachshund from last week’s pup shoot.



Come back next week for some more pup pics.

Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience
Janny’s cousin is James Dylan, the lead singer for the Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience. Janny, Cousin Jeff, Auntie, and I drove over to Clearwater to hear him play in person. What a phenomenal concert! The whole band is excellent, but James is just outstanding—a rare combination of deep talent and splendid stage presence. Check out the five pics of the concert including one backstage shot of Auntie and James. If you haven’t seen them yet, here is their schedule: http://www.jblze.com/index.php?page=Tour. Get your tickets and go. You will love it.




Off to the Twin Cities
In the middle of the week, I flew to Minneapolis to share my experiences during a half-day workshop for 50 or so services leaders. Great group that was fun to work with. Here is a shot of them hard a work.



Goat and Eagle
Just for fun I included a shot of Billie the Goat, and an eagle that hangs out where I walk the pups in the morning on Pine Island.



Pups Across America
Tuesday morning before flying off to Minneapolis, I did a dog photography shoot (with the help of Auntie and Jan) of Mitchell, the Dachshund—what a chowhound this low-to-the-ground guy is!



Of course I had to include another shot of Mitzy on the move.



Also, while walking the other day I ran across Gauge and his dad, Tom, playing in the park. Here is an action shot of this fun-loving Lab.



Painterly Pups
This week I’ve added a painted version of one of my favorites, the frisbee-chasing Sheila. What a gorgeous gal.



Come back next week for some more pup pics.

Low Key Tiki Benefit (Sunday)
As a mentioned a couple blog posts ago, an arsonist burned down the Low Key Tiki, here on Pine Island. Many of the local establishments and local bands pitched in free food, drink, and help, and great music. Lots of money was raised to support the Low Key wait staff that are now all out of jobs. Gotta love this Island. I’ve included a few pics of that event.




Flying Dolphin (Thursday)
Jan and I took Mitzy and Jerry out on the boat late afternoon hunting for dolphin (Jerry stands on the bow and when he spots one, he barks to get him to follow our wake). It was a beautiful afternoon and we did see a few dolphins, but they appeared to be too busy eating fish to follow us along. We were heading back home when Jan shouted, “Look to 10:00!” There was a solitary dolphin leaping out of the water one time after another. As we motored over I was sure he/she would be done having fun by the time we got close, but I was sure wrong. For the next 15 minutes we watched him make at least 30 more jumps. I was able to get a few nice shots. What a treat.



Soccer and Lacrosse (Saturday)
Jan and I took the Kids up to Apopka to see Auntie and her family. Here are a few shots of Kami’s soccer and Haley’s lacrosse. While waiting for the lacrosse game to start, I spotted a hawk across the road and took this photo.




Pups Across America
Here is a shot of an eight-week-old miniature schnauzer named James. What a cutey.



I had to include a shot each of Mitzy and Jerry—if they read this and they aren’t in it, there is the devil to pay!



Painterly Pups
As promised, here is my next installment of a past picture I’ve taken and “painted.” This week I chose that loveable puppy, Jackson.



Come back next week for some more pup pics.

Week at a Glance
This week our good friend Donna was down from the North Country and we spent some time with her on the boat and just hanging out. I flew out to Massachusetts to do a two-day account management workshop in the middle of the week then hunkered down and enjoyed the cold front moving across Florida.

Painterly Pups
I’ve been experimenting with an iPad app that gives a painterly effect to photos. I really like the look for certain subjects in certain settings in certain light.

Here is one of my favorites: a photo I took of Sweat Pea on Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterrey with the app applied.

What do you think? (Go to my Photo Gallery to see a full-size image.)



I plan on adding a Painterly Pup Pic each week. Check next Sunday afternoon for the next installment.

It’s been a fun October here on the Island. The weather has been marvelous, and it has been great catching up with our friends.



Big 25th!
We spent a quiet 25th wedding anniversary on the Island. Here is a shot of us that I took with a timer. Of course, Mitzy didn’t miss the opportunity to get in a pic with Jan while I was adjusting the camera. Janny’s Mom, Nancy took us out for a great meal at Reds. Twenty-five more years to go and then I’m going to re-negotiate my contract :’>>>.



Hockey
Janny’s nephew, Keifer, had an ice hockey game down at Germain Arena in Estero. Keifer’s grandmother, Auntie, drove him down and stayed with us for a week. The four of us plus Nancy drove down to watch Keifer (K-Man) play. As an aside, Keifer has won national honors for his play as a goalie. His coach was nice enough to let me hang with the team and shoot from their box.



Ninja Austie
I didn’t take this image, but I just had to include this shot of Grandson Austie, now enrolled in Ninja Karate. I wouldn’t want to mess with him, would you?



Low-Key Tiki Fire
An arsonist set fire to one of the favorite places on the Island. I shot this the next morning.



Janny Art
Here are a few shots of a work that Janny was commissioned to do. I’d bet there is nothing else on the planet that looks like this! Cool stuff. Check her out at www.janalexanderart.com.




Play the Ace
Mitzy has now teamed up with Janny in an attempt to squash my card playing prowess—they are doing a pretty good job of it here.



Chicklet Island Outing
Auntie, Nancy, her neighbor, Mark, and his Yorky terrier, Baxter, joined our good friend Donna and us for a pontoon ride to the annual Pine Island Boat Club to Chicklet Island (actually it is a sandbar only visible at low tide). This is an annual event in which attendees eat, drink, chat, stroll, and pontificate. The outing ends, however, when the water rises up to your waist. At that time it is grab the cooler and head back to the boat.







We have been to many of these outing over the years, but this was the best. A perfect blend of a really low tide that made it easy to investigate sea critters, all sorts of birds hanging around, dolphins and manatees within 30 feet of the beach, lots of Florida sunshine mitigated by a gentle breeze, and laid-back friends all enjoying a magnificent point in time. Most of this post’s pics are from this event.







We’ve got lots of fun stuff planned, so come back and visit soon.

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