06-19-13 Water Line

On Day 4 of our BVI sailing adventure we made it to what is called the "Bitter End," which is the eastern most civilized reach of the Virgin Islands. We got here around 1:30 PM after some serious sailing against winds that were gusting to 25 mph and swells up to 5 feet. Great sailing conditions, if you ask me. Our 37' Beneteau under reefed main and jib handled beautifully. But the First Mate said "Enough's enough!" So we dropped the sails and motored for 8 miles or so.

The reward was the peaceful cove where this photo was taken. The water is a beautiful blue and the sky was mostly clear. My way of enjoying the Caribbean paradise surrounding our boat?: I tethered our float to the back of "Dakota Lullybye"* and worked on my tan.

This photo was taken with my GoPro camera, safely housed in it waterproof housing. The yellow line leading to the boat is a kind of an umbilical cord for me: it keeps me connected to my beverage supply. (Dehydration can sneak up on you in the Islands.)

*Yes, that's the name give by the anonymous owners we are chartering this boat from.

06-18-13 Sunrise Over Sandy Cay

We are at the Bitter End of the BVIs and I have wifi access! A true rarity. So here's a GoPro still shot of a little island called Sandy Cay, just off of Jost van Dyke. Deb and I had the island to ourselves shortly after sunrise yesterday morning. There's nothing quite like this where I come from. . .

06-14-13 Island Life

Yesterday morning, before Deb and I boarded the ferry to Tortola (BVI), we had some time to spend in Charlotte Amalie, the first stop on our Caribbean sailing adventure. Deb suggested that we hire a cab driver to tour the island but instead we got something better: Marge, one of the proprietor's of the Miller Manor B&B, where we stayed, took us on a personal walking tour, accompanied by her dog Sam.

At one point, when I was trying to find a way to photograph the Jewish cemetery, we encountered some locals, including this child, who initially gave me a forced smile but who then quickly ignored me. That's when I started taking photos. We only had a minute or two, but this is the best of the few I took.

There are a couple things I like about the photo. One of them is not the light. Some times you take what you get. But I do like two things: the fashionably dressed child, who wouldn't be out of place in most neighborhoods in the Western world. (Note the cool watch and plastic squirt gun.) But I also like the fact that there are two adults in this photo watching me take this picture. Both are clearly wary and maybe even a little suspicious. The child, of course, is oblivious. As a photographer, I like the child's attitude best. . . .

06-13-13 A Firm Grip

By Scott Shephard

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It is my wife's birthday today and we are observing it in the Virgin Islands, where are are going to be sailing for a week. But, of course, neither Deb nor I can stop thinking about Glenyce Jane, our new grand daughter, who is pictured here gripping her father's thumb.

As I look at this photo in the context of Deb's birthday I am wondering what Clint and Glenyce imagined about the future of their child, Debra. Would she be happy? Would she be healthy? And would she find success?

I would say that for Deb the answer is "yes" to all of the questions. And for Glenyce Jane, the expectations are the same. . .

06-06-13 The Indignity!

Glenyce Jane isn't even 12 hours old in this photo, which documents GJ's first serious bath. And serious is a good word for it - the health care worker, who was very good at what she did, didn't exactly treat our new grand daughter like fine china.

In this photo, GJ is getting her right arm pit scrubbed and I suspect that years from now, she will either be grateful for the documentation of such moments in her early life. Or she will be embarrassed. . . .

06-03-13 Really!

My Instagram followers will recognize this shot, which was published there yesterday. But my regular readers will know that redundancy is one of my hallmarks. So why not publish it here, as well?

The subject is, of course, our new grand daughter, Glenyce Jane S. The event was her first bath, being administered by a loving, efficient medical care expert, who did not pamper GJ.

I don't know know what kind of thought 10 hour old humans are capable of, but GJ's expression seems to be one of mild frustration mixed with resignation. She seems to be say, "If you really have to, I suppose. . . "

06-02-13 June Bug

Words fail to convey how I feel about the birth of our new grand daughter. But here she is, only three hours old. She's so new to this world that her parents (Brian and Katie) have yet to name her. But we like her nick name:"June Bug."

I suspect I will be posting a few more of this little girl from time to time. . .

06-01-13 Ready To Bloom

For a person who thrives on warm weather and sunshine, June is an important month. The grass is pretty green by now, the days are incredibly long and there is the promise of summer.

The iris pictured here is, of course, a symbol of all of that. . .

05-31-13 Different Seasons

The last time I had pondered my favorite little stone bird, he/she was standing in fallen leaves. On this ocassion it is standing stoicly in fallen flower petals from the same tree.

We have had a cooler than normal spring here in South Dakota and I'm wondering if that is why our flowering crabapple trees were so loaded with blooms. When the flower petals fell, they literally piled up in drifts.

05-30-13 Both Sides Now

So have you ever pondered the backside of a pink tulip? You have now. The title, as my friends from the '70s may recognize, is borrowed from Joni Mitchell's song by the same title, though in her case, she's talking about clouds.

And, yes, those are real rain drops on the tulips, which are bent over both by the wind and by age.

05-25-13 The Urbane Duck

When the sky began to grow light this morning, I looked out my den window and noticed something that gave me my first laugh of the day - a mallard standing on top of the building across the ally from our house. I quickly ran to get my camera and took several shots of him silhouetted against the sky. I thought he would fly away any second but it turns out there was no rush - an hour later he was still there. Maybe he sleeps up there? A room with a view. . .

This duck moved into our neighborhood this spring and seems to be quite comfortable here. My wife and I (and perhaps even our clawless cat Mac) have adopted a "live and let live" policy. And so has the rest of the neighborhood

The most strking thing about this bird is how cool and calm he seems as he scans the eastern horizon, balanced on one leg. Thus, my post's title: not the "Urban Duck" but the "Urbane Duck." (And how can you not be reminded of aboriginal men who also balance on one leg?)

05-23-13 Stately

Here's one more version of the pink tulips I've been posting for the last couple days. This is the side view of the same two flowers pictured two days ago.