Sunrise

This pine tree and sailboat live at the mouth of Callis Creek, which is off Stutts Creek.

The stuff in the foreground is part of an oyster farming operation. 

(I'll talk about the oyster farming operation later on.)

I am delinquent in talking about many topics of interest around here these days.  In spite of the fact that I am now a professional Empty Nester, I don't seem to have all the spare time I thought I'd have.  However, I'm not sure I could articulate exactly what I've been doing when I'm not working.

Truth be told, work does eat up the majority of my days.  The commute is brutal, and the days are long.  But I still have weekends off.  So what am I doing?

Well, I've been to Charlottesville a couple of times--and I'm going back again this weekend for Parents' Weekend at UVA.  Next weekend, Baby Sis and I will be in the Outer Banks for three or four days running another half marathon.  (She's far more prepared than I.)  A couple of weeks back, I spent a Saturday night in Virginia Beach.  I've been having dinner here and there with my parents and Middle Sister.  I have had frequent dinners with my friend Warren--who runs the oyster operation referenced here.  My sisters and I went to a few really great wine festivals.  I went to my first Mathews County Visitor and Information Center meeting and am excited about the possibility of being involved with tourism for the county.

And now it's Halloween.  Which means one blink and it's Thanksgiving Christmas.

Time just continues to fly by.

One sad news item I have to share is the passing of Captain A.J. Hurst.  He allowed me to tag along on a crabbing adventure back in 2012, Click here and here and here for those pictures and that story.  

The Look

Perhaps one of the most under-appreciated,

little known skills any good waterman should possess

is the ability to look.

To stare.

To gaze intently off into the distance.

Purposefully scanning the waters.

There are inquisitive sorts of glances like the one above.

****

And very serious ones like below.

When they both stare at the same thing,
something important has their attention.

However, I never took my eyes off them.
So I have no earthly idea what merited their unified gaze.

This is probably my favorite of  the 300+ pictures taken,
although I have many runner-ups

On a few rare occasions, 

they glanced towards the camera.

and let loose as if they'd been stifling a laugh 

the entire time we'd been out there.

To Whom It May Concern,
Please tell me how I can earn a living taking photographs of these guys.


To These Guys (aka AJ Hurst and Hollywood Johnny Pugh),
Thank you so much for allowing me to accompany you.  I can't wait to go again--that is if you can stand me it.

Love,
Chesapeake Bay Woman


p.s. Thanks also to Charlie and Elsa at the Gazette Journal for featuring these two on the front page of this week's paper.