My New Mini

While we were in Charleston, I found a guitar store that carried a small-bodied guitar I'd been looking at online.

It's called a Taylor GS Mini. It's a high-end student guitar, much better than something you would pick up at Walmart, anyway. I'd been checking forums online and the Taylor had been highly recommended as having a clear, crisp sound considering its size. If you follow the link, you'll see it's not that expensive for a guitar.

However, I wanted to play one before I made the purchase. I seized the opportunity while we were out of town, and ended up buying it.

The guitar has a different look than most western-style instruments. This one has a mahogany color. It sounds nice, though it has taken me a while to adjust to the smaller fret board.




My new little baby.



My new baby next to my Takamine classical parlor-sized guitar. It's just a little smaller than it's older sister. Note
the difference in the size of the neck and the fret board.

Many guitars come in what they call a "dreadnaught" size. I simply can't play them well because I can't hold them. I also have trouble reaching around them because I have problems with my back. They are big guitars.

This little mini seems to be working out well, and I am playing more. That was the goal, to play more. I used to enjoy making music but had let that get away from me during life's other pursuits. Now I'm hoping to return making lovely sounds.

Thursday Thirteen #415 - When Turkeys Fight

I thought turkeys fought like roosters, using spurs on their legs to go after one another. But a turkey fight outside my house Monday morning proved otherwise.

They fight with their heads. Essentially, they try to strangle one another. Here are 13 photos I took of this event as it occurred outside my window.

First they butt heads.

Then they started wrapping their heads around one another. There was another turkey there acting as referee.

The fight was quite vicious.

Here they go, each one fighting for dominance.

Trying to wrap their heads around one another.

They are locked in a deadly battle.

Joined so tightly they look like conjoined twins!

The referee did not intervene.

They turned around. Look how red one of the bird's head is.

At times they fanned their tail feathers as they fought.

I was sure one of them would break the other's neck.

It was rather terrifying to watch.

Finally, one caved in, and the three moved on.

Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; there is a list here if you want to read other Thursday Thirteens and/or play along. I've been playing for a while and this is my 415th time to do a list of 13 on a Thursday.

Charleston - Downtown - Part 7

During our September visit to Charleston (before the rains and the major flooding), we took a bus tour downtown. Unfortunately because of my health issues we could not spend much time walking around the city. Most of these photos were taken through the bus glass. I also have no idea where the structures are, for the most part. So few captions. The homes are old and huge, massively impressive structures.






I think this is called Battery Park.



The pink house to the rear is for sale for $7.5 million.

Learning to Color

Coloring has become the new meditation practice, I think. I've read many articles about how adults are using it as a stress reliever.

Over the summer I bought a coloring book, planning to use colored pencils on it. Of course, I never picked it up (and at the moment I don't even know where it is, probably in some pile in my office). Then the local paper put out an entire page to color and challenged adults to have at it.

So I did.

I started on this page the day it came out, September 6, and finished it last week. It took a very long time to do in colored pencil. It was also difficult to get bright, brilliant colors with those coloring utensils.

Now I want to find some kind of magic marker that doesn't bleed through to use on my coloring book when I find it. I am not up on my coloring tools, though. Anyone have any ideas?

Charleston Trip - Part 6

I am stunned at the news photos of flooding in Charleston. It is hard to believe I was there only 10 days ago. The rains began the day we left. I feel sure the area I am about to show is completely underwater at the moment. I am sorry for the folks who are having to deal with this terrible situation.

One of our favorite outings was a visit to the Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site.  This is the original location where English settlers landed and set up camp, so to speak, in 1670. They remained in this spot for 10 years before abandoning it for the peninsula that is now Charleston. The park was very picturesque and the exhibits informative.



Husband at the entrance to the visitors center.



Interesting map that shows early European settlements on North America



A model of the ship that took them across the sea.



Inside exhibits showing English settlers meeting Native Americans.

Information about slavery in South Carolina.



Dearest husband looking at an exhibit.

The park grounds were beautiful and well kept.



An animal park was available, but it was a long walk so we did not venture there.

Backside of the wooden palisade around the settlement.

A beautiful expanse of cypress trees.



An incredibly old oak tree.

Another old tree. (I wonder if it lost its limb in this flooding. I hope not.)



A rendition of a boat that was used to bring merchandise to the settlement.

Boat innards.

Our guide on the little boat.



The marsh around which the park was situated.

Cannons on the battlement for protection.



A common house used for many different activities.



A little shed made of sticks.



Our guide around the settlement in the palisade area.

If this hasn't flooded out entirely, I suggest a visit to this park if you vacation in Charleston. This was such a lovely and quiet spot that I didn't want to leave.