Thankful for Everyone

 

"And the cows in Switzerland were always dirty."

The Star of the herd.

Thanksgiving is a time of year when families get together and enjoy each others company. This year we finally convinced my parents to accompany us to the Peckham's ranch to enjoy the gathering the way someone else does it. I think John was tickled to show others his spread, dad was amazed at how gorgeous his Red Angus cattle looked and it brought back all those memories for my mom of taking her families dairy cattle out to the fields and early morning milking. I think Patty was amused how differently they did things. Great fun on a beautiful day for all even if my nephew Michael would not get out of the Kubota.

Christmas Trees

   The yearly lighting of the City of Ft. Worth Christmas Tree is to take place today and in preparation I shot some photos as the crews decorated the giant blue spruce. It is displayed in the center of Sundance square right next to the fountains which create wonderful shapes as the water spouts up and returns with the pull of gravity. Frozen in time it almost looks the part of a winter scene even thought the water is still liquid with the temperature in Texas being far above freezing.

Horse head splash and christmas tree.

Looking Over Georgetown

  On my final day in Georgetown, Devon the chef mentioned to me that I could go up in the lighthouse that delineates the confluence of the Demerara River and the Atlantic ocean. Since the water in the whole area is all as opaque and approximates the color of chocolate milk it is certainly impossible to find the junction from the jetty. Of course I jump at the chance although the safety precautions and liability waivers that North Americans are accustomed to do not apply in the southern continent.

The Lighthouse on Water Street.

   One hundred and thirty eight steps lead the way to the top of the hundred and three foot structure that has stood in one form or another for almost two hundred years on Water Street in the heart of the Kingston neighborhood. Even with the oppressive heat and humidity, the view from the top over the city flushes you with a sense of accomplishment and beauty and keeps the smells from the open sewers from reaching the nostrils as well.

Panorama of the city of Georgetown, Guyana.

Biting Jungle Flowers

  In Texas, and the desert southwest the claim is that everything either pricks, bites or stings. At this point I would describe the jungles of Guyana the same way. Ants that can shred the leaves of a mango tree in one night and sting like wasps. Trees with spikes like a saguaro cactus skewer anything that passes. Snakes that carry enough poison to take down King Kong.
   These pretty blooms are held up with vine like stalks that are lined with sharp little teeth that rip flesh better than a serrated kitchen knife. Bloody forearms were found rather amusing by our guide Toby who was marching thru all this thicket in a pair of adidas shower slippers. Just not that tough unless you live in the jungle.

Deceptively pretty thicket.

Results of trying to pass the flowers.

Guyana and The Market

Play in the low tide plain at sunset.

  Humans have evolved to the point of specialization that none of us, even in a third world country, produce all the things that we consider necessities for our daily lives. With that comes the market, where you get the full assortment of items not created by yourself to survive. Those markets can vary from smallest road in Africa to the biggest Mega Mall you can think of. The only requirement is that the be traffic flowing past to help increase the sales percentage.The Stabroek Market in the heart of Georgetown, Guyana is an overload of sights, smells and sounds. They are not all pleasant but they certainly verify your existence. The stench that hangs in the back of your throat, the sights that stick in your mind and come back as dreams in the dark. The crescendo of barkers, horns and trucks making your ears ring and your mind race. It is all about increasing total sales by being the brightest and loudest.

A bowl of chilies.

Moonrise over the seawall.

A shopkeeper in Stabroek Market.

Climbing aboard a river taxi.

Fish and prawns unloaded at the wharf.

 

Rolling Thru the Garage

  Republican candidate for Governor of the State of Texas and current Attorney General for the state Gregg Abbott rolled thru the the garage at the AAA Texas 500 at Texas Motor Speedway meeting fans and looking for votes. He met a fellow from Brooklyn, New York that was in town just for the Nascar races.

Gubernatorial candidate Gregg Abbott with a fan.