Leaving Leland, NC

John Messmer was a Facebook acquaintance for a while before I met him in person about four weeks ago. Now I can say that he and John are my friends. They opened up their beautiful home to me without hesitation and showed me everything North and South Carolina coasts have to offer. 

I never leave my host homes without taking their picture by MotelMiguel and this was not going to be any different. I literally took this tonight because it has been the only time you could get both of them at the same time. Poor John M. Was already in his pajamas, please don't judge him just because this is the South!

From the very first time I met John M. He was a true southern gentleman. He took my friend Mark and I around and showed us the beach, the Fort Fischer Aquarium, took us to Caseys Southern Buffet where I ate pigs feet for the first time....

The pier at Wrightsville Beach.....

This guy having a blast with his dog. I don't think he had planned to go out n the water with him but sometimes impromptu fun is the best kind of fun to let go of lifes pressures!

This seemed to be the end of surf season and most of the vacation crowd was gone. I really enjoyed going to the beaches and enjoying their true beauty without any crowds....

Columbia beach was so peaceful and quiet. I liked going out and just looking for shore birds and anything else that caught my eye...

Like the sand sculptures left behind during low tide....

Making a connection with the birds....

Getting to meet Norma Jean, the Standard Schnauzer, being silly and digging in the sand....

The free souls of youth....

The first time seeing wild dolphins and actually capturing a distant photo of one totally out of the water. 

Sometimes a simple feather on the sand made me go off into another world, for a moment forgetting all of the negative life challenges us with on a daily basis....

I will always remember Dawn, the beautiful lady that helps John around the farm...

And her grumpy husband Sam. I'm sure most of the time it's just an act but deep down he's a softie!

I'm thankful for being around friends on Thanksgiving that have just come into my life but made me feel as part of the family. 

Being here for about three weeks has done my soul a lot of good. Being at certain spots like this one below at the right time and place to capture it makes me realize that I made the right get choice in doing this adventure. 

I was walking down Holden Beach the morning I captured the picture above, I got very emotional because it really made me think how thankful I am for all of my friends and I had to scribble it on the sand and capture it to remind myself not to take anyone for granted. If it weren't for friends back home helping me, family being there for me and everyone else who has been a part of my life the last year opening their homes to me, all of this would not be possible. 

My feet touching the Atlantic Coast for the first time ever...

I stopped and watched this man capture the beauty of the carriage horses in Wilmington waterfront district. 

There are many historic sites around the coast and Fort Fischer has some beautiful scenes...

The trees are incredible...

The shoreline is bright with all the vibrant colors...

It's waves attract many surfers. I met one that welcomed me to the area and even told me to take as many pictures as I wanted. 

The bird life in the area is incredible. I got some amazing photos of many birds and other wildlife. 

There is so much I'm missing here but have saved in my heart, in my mind and in the memories I take with me. 

Thank you John and John for all that you have given me these last three weeks. You guys have huge hearts and a beautiful home. 

Until we meet again!

Thanksgiving 2015 in N Carolina

I'm so thankful this year for my family back home, I really miss them, and I know they miss me. I'm extremely thankful for my friends all over the world but especially to all the ones who have been so gracious in opening their homes to me while I'm on my adventure across this great country of ours. 

This year I got to spend Thanksgiving with John Messmer and John Barrett along with Dee Barrett, Jim Huskey, Ken Kimbro and some of their friends at their home here in Leland, N Carolina

They really went all out for this dinner and their home looked beautiful with all of the decorations starting right at the front door. 

The entry is beautiful with the snow flocked trees!

Dee Barrett in the entry hallway. 

The sitting room is very peaceful and also has a beautiful tree in it. 

The glass room has this magnificent tree in it decorated with full size peacocks. 

Hard at work in the kitchen checking on the turkey. The Johns really did a great job on the feast for the evening. 

The table was beautiful!

Dee brought a chocolate sleigh and I bet it's delicious!

The kitchen is always a great gathering place before enjoying the meal!

John, Ken and Jim hesitantly sitting for my camera!  

Thank you John and John for having me at your table this Thanksgiving. Your home is beautiful and I hope you get the opportunity to come and visit me in Los Angeles someday. 

Visiting Jeffery Richards

Last Saturday John and I took a trip out to Jeff Richards place in S Carolina. I had been told that he had acquired Isolee Smiths collection. I had visited Isolees home back in California many years ago and I was very impressed with her collection. 

As we got out of the car this beautiful baby greeted us. 

We did not have much time to spend down there so Jeffery showed us his collection of game birds and cranes. 

Miss Piggy is so tame and imprinted on him that she will not allow other birds near him. 

The Storks were sunning in the warm day. 

The Kookaburra was also soaking up the sun. 

Seriamas have one of the loudest calls I have ever heard and if you are going to keep them you need to live out in the middle of nowhere!

One of the rarest birds in American Aviculture is the Barefaced Go-away birds. If anyone knows where there might be a male, this female needs a mate. 

Another rarity is the West African Crowned Crane. 

The East African Crowned Cranes are much lighter and the facial markings are different when compared to the West Crowned Cranes. 

Demoisell Cranes are tiny compared to all other cranes standing at about three feet total when stretched out. 

The group of Sacred Ibis have done great in a colony and regularly produce young. 

Stanley Cranes can be very aggressive and one needs to be very careful around them. 

The Spur-winged Goose is oddly beautiful and you do need to be careful around them because se they do have Spurs on the bend of their wing that can cause damage. 

These two Magpie Geese were arguing over the male!

I remember the Razor billed Currasows at Isolees place. They are also very rare in American Aviculture and I'm glad to see that they are being worked with. 

A beautiful male Greater Curassow. 

The strange looking Northern Helmeted Curassow. 

I love the soft look of the Coscoroba Swans. 

The male Andean Goose was displaying to his hen. 

Part of the security patrol!

As we were leaving the baby East African Crowned Crane was exercising his wings along the driveway!

And she has liftoff!

The drive back to N Carolina was nice and I of course need to take pictures of old barns!

Thank you for your time and tour Jeffery!