New Blog

I started this blog back in 2004 - I called the blog: Man in the Maze after the Tohono O'odham motif. The Man in the Maze motif is used liberally in the American Southwest by the Tohon O'odham culture. The Tohono O'odham live in the desert South of Phoenix- they are also called Pima. According to O'odham oral history, the labyrinth design depicts experiences and choices we make in our journey through life. In the middle of the "maze", a person finds their dreams and goals. When one reaches the center, we have one final opportunity (the last turn in the design) to look back upon our choices and path, before the Sun God greets us, blesses us and passes us into the next world.

When I created this blog, a lot of my friends were not online. I didn't know how to solicit your participation. Everyone is "websavy" now. Consider it a vitual place for self-expression - post recent artwork, writings, photographs, art reviews, art endeavors, art experiences, etc. I invite you to participate. Michael just shot some great photos at an airshow- post some of your photos, Michael.
Nathan just finished a class in creating collages at VCU - post some of your work, Nate. Post some photos, Vickie, post your drawings, Seth, photos of your latest tattoo? Whatever, you feel is your creative interest or self-expression.
Oh yeah, the address: http://maze311.blogspot.com/
As the cutline in the above image states: this is a blog dedicated to exploring the creative potential in all of us.

A Florida Native - Mangroves

Mangroves are one of Florida's true natives. They thrive in salty environments because they are able to obtain fresh water from saltwater. Some secrete excess salt through their leaves, others block absorption of salt at their roots.

Florida's estimated 469,000 acres of mangrove forests contribute to the overall health of the state's southern coastal zone. This ecosystem traps and cycles various organic materials, chemical elements, and important nutrients. Mangrove roots act not only as physical traps but provide attachment surfaces for various marine organisms. Many of these attached organisms filter water through their bodies and, in turn, trap and cycle nutrients.

Our friends, Karen and Erik (Dr. Noonburg Professor at Florida Atlantic University)and Karen's friend, Julie invited us to kayak a local mangrove area. It was a beautiful Southern Florida day - Susan and I loaded the kayaks on the jeep and drove down to Ft. Lauderdale and met our friends. The mangroves are not far from Erik's place - There are some in site as we look north up the intercoastal. Actually, they are everywhere in Southern Florida. It was an interesting kayak trip, as we have not been so immersed in the tropical fauna. Thanks you guys! good day on the water.

Thank you, Mary Lou!

Dear Mary Lou,
I'm sorry I haven't written to tell you how much it meant to me to find a baggie full of your cookies on our doorstep in Hampton the day we were leaving. Your note made me feel so special. I can't thank you enough for your thoughtfulness. So, I hope it doesn't embarrass you that I'm doing it this way....I promise I will write again....soon. Thanks, too, to you and Wayne for including us in Morgan's birthday celebration at the Yacht Club. What a fun night!

With Much Love,
Susan

You say it's your Birthday . . .

Susan and I flew back to Virginia - to Highland Springs, to be with my Mom, Mildred Louise Poole Baker, aka "Millie". 84 years on the planet - Her Birthday wish was for the family to order out Chinese food. So, we did. It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon of April 9, 2008 - Chicken Chow Mien, yellow-with blue and green stripes oil cloth over the table, uneven table top from years of elbows pressing down eating Mama's fried chicken or corn on the cob, fly swatter on top of the fridge, a sand painting of a deer from a souvenir shop in Arizona, coffee mug circa 1964 - Order of the Arrow-BSA, sterling silver flatware case, Flinstone collectable jam jars that have become drinking glasses, ceramic pot I made in 1971, plaque with some seeds suspended in clear resin, a dish towel hanging over the sink, tier country curtains on the kitchen window, Peterson Bird Book next to the lazy Susan in the middle of the table, marks on the paneling over the door from Lauren and Carly's Johnny Jump up, bathroom door always ajar, you can almost hear WRVA's Alden Aaroe on the radio that sits on the hot water heater, or Doris Day singing in the background. Happy Birthday Mama. We love you.

"Jonah"

Susan and I went to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach (next town up the coast). We had heard about the Loggerhead named, "Jonah". http://video.aol.com/video-detail/jonah-the-loggerhead-sea-turtle-at-the-marinelife-center-2/1625679817 . It seems that a couple was fishing off of the Juno Fishing Pier and caught a fairly large Blue Fish - threw the fish in a live well and the fish coughed up a small hatchling loggerhead turtle. They took the hatchling to the near by Loggerhead Marinelife Center - the little hatchling became the ambassador for the Marinelife center. For the past two years, Jonah has been seen by thousands of tourist and school children.


Jonah has now grown to 44 cm in length and will soon be released into the ocean. He is ready - watch the video cited above and you can see him swimming anxiously about his tank. Jonah is healthy, big enough to ward-off predators, and is able to dive for his own food. He is ready to be released back into the ocean. This will be a bittersweet experience for those who have cared for the hatchling for the last two years, and for those who have visited the little guy and snapped thousands of photos to see him let go. It is what is good and natural for the turtle. The release will take place in a few weeks on a beach near Melborne, Florida.

check this out if you want - quite amazing and enlightening

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/229