Welcome to Assateague Island - A National Seashore

Last weekend, I took a drive out to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Virginia. There's a long barrier island, just south of Ocean City, Maryland, that's famous for it's wild ponies - technically horses. This island is technically in Maryland. However, the southern tip of the island is closely linked to another island on the Virginia side of the Eastern Shore. 

This is Assateague Island. 

Assateague Island was originally slated to become an island community in the 1960s - similar to Ocean City, Maryland - but a hurricane put an end to those plans. There are a few remaining bits of evidence of this planned community in the northern part of the island with huge chunks of asphalt and an old ferry landing.

After the hurricane, Assateague Island became a designated National Seashore. There's also a Maryland State Park and a Wildlife Refuge. Each section has hiking trails, beach access, and plenty of wildlife. 

Which brings me the most famous part of Assateague Island - the wild ponies.

 

There are many theories as to how the Assateague and Chincoteague Island ponies came to be on the island. The most popular legend is that a Spanish Galleon wrecked off the Eastern Shore coast and the horses on the ship swam to shore, became wild, and adapted to living on the island. However, the actual origins to the wild horses has been lost to history.

I first learned of Assateague Island and the amazing wildlife there by reading the book Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry in grade school. I was never really into horses as a kid (it was my cousin's thing, so it couldn't be my thing), but the story always stood out to me. It's loosely based on true events and includes the famous pony swim between Assateague and Chincoteague - complete with saltwater cowboys - and explains some of the history behind the famous annual event.

In the 1920s, two fires swept through Chincoteague's tiny town's main street, devastating the area. Chincoteague's fire department were the ones to propose a charity event where they would round up the horses on the southern tip of the island, have them swim between the two islands, parade them to town, and then action some of them off for charity. The event raised enough money to help the town rebuild. To this day, the Chincoteague Fire Department still technically owns the horses on the southern (or Virginia) side of the island of Assateague. These horses are kept in fenced off areas with around 40 in a smaller paddock closer to where people can see them and a larger paddock further north with around 100 horses which is a bit of a hike to get to.

The horses in the north (or Maryland) side of the island have a very different living situation. The wild horses are allowed to roam free, often enjoy prancing on the beach, and occasionally sleep near someone's camp site (the northern part of the island is the only area you are allowed to camp and bring your pets). Though you don't want to get too close to the horses (you'll want to keep about a school bus or 40 feet or 10 meters away from the wildlife), they can come up close and personal to you if you aren't paying attention. 

The only warning my parents kept reminding me before I went to Assateague was that the horses will bite and/or kick if they don't want you near them. In fact, if a horse is seen as being "too aggressive" the horse will be retired to a sanctuary elsewhere in the United States. These are wild animals and should be treated as such.

The two sides of the island are only connected via a hiking trail. You cannot drive between the north and the south. Pets and camping are also not allowed on the southern side of the island as it's a wildlife refuge, while in the north there's a lot of camp sites - including the opportunity to camp on the beach and backwoods camping that can only be accessed by kayak or canoe. There are a lot more hiking trails in the southern area and a really cool Civil War lighthouse that is still maintained by the Coast Guard.

However, both sides are worth a visit. I stayed in Chincoteague, but could have easily camped or stayed in Ocean City as an alternative. 

Assateague Island National Seashore and the Chincoteague Wildlife Refuge are both part of the National Park system. If you have a park pass, you're visit is free! However, you will need to purchase additional permits for camping, off road vehicles on the beach, fishing, and clamming. There are opportunities to rent bicycles, paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes. Beaches do have lifeguards, but they only seem to be available during the typical summer months (Memorial Day to Labor Day).

Wild horses are not native to the United States, however they are common throughout the country. Many western states have wild horse populations such as Arizona and California that were reintroduced to North America via the European colonialization period (mainly Spaniard) - horses had been native to North America, but died out some 10,000 years ago. You can even see wild horses in the western areas of Virginia mountains and the Outer Banks barrier islands.

Assateague and Chincoteague Islands are beautiful and the horses are amazing to see. The Chincoteague Island Ponies (which are really horses) have recently become the state mammal of Virginia. If you're curious about the famous horses, I recommend starting with the fictional story Misty of Chincoteague or one of the documentaries released by the National Parks Service. 

The islands are well worth a visit.

Until next week. 

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope you like hearing from me.

Welcome to Creativity in Multiple Mediums

 One might say too many mediums.

Yesterday, I was given an hour to talk about my creative projects. My many, many, many creative projects in multiple mediums. I was asked by the leader of the Writer’s Group which I joined in New Jersey and have been able to stay in contact with (after moving several states away) due to Zoom. 

Naturally, I put together a presentation in PowerPoint that I breezed through in 30 minutes. This included my reasons for why I try so many different creative outlets (it boils down to boredom) and some examples of my work. I had a short diatribe on where I post and share my work (i.e. Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Comic Fury, etc.). I even included a slide on transmedia storytelling (the technique of telling a single story or story experience across multiple platforms and formats using current digital technologies.) - something I have dabbled in, but found overwhelming to do on my own - to show how knowledge in multiple mediums allows flexibility and a layer of interactivity in creativity.

Somewhat coincidently, I went to a meeting of my Art Club earlier in the day. 

Normally, the Art Club I go to is a free time for creative expression. Everyone brings in their work in progress (as long as it’s not too messy, we do meet in libraries) and spends a few hours chatting while being creative. Drawing, watercolor painting, and digital art are some of the more popular artistic choices. However, we have our fair share of knitters, cross stitchers, and collage makers.

Typically, I work on my digital blackout poetry project - turning every page in Jane Austin’s Northanger Abby into a blackout poem (see example not from the collection below).

I'm pretty sure this is an example from the novel Phantom of the Opera

This week, we had a theme. For two hours we took turns posing and being models for figure drawings. The shortest poses were held for 5 minutes, while the longest were held for 20 minutes. I held a seated pose for 10 minutes. Sketch books were out. Some people only used pencils, while others had charcoal, pastels or watercolors. Three of us (myself included) were working digitally - two tablets, one computer.

I still work with physical mediums like canvas and paper. I love turning my pictures into paintings with watercolors and acrylic. However, I’ve also been using digital mediums for a while now. 

Technically, the majority of my written works (including this blog) are in a digital space. I may still outline on pen and paper, but my final short stories and blog posts are created on my laptop or tablet (rarely, but still possible, on my phone). My webcomic started as me drawing in pencil and pen on paper and then scanning onto my laptop to post, but is now 100% done on my tablet.

I'm just not as good at drawing on my tablet, like I am in one of my sketchbooks.

At the beginning of my presentation for my Writer's Group, I stated I wasn't sure why I was given a whole hour to talk - that seemed like too much time. I ran through my slides in 20 minutes and reiterated my thoughts. 

And then the questions and requests came in.

The wonderful people listening and watching my presentation had loads of questions and wanted me to drop links to my social media pages. I showed them my webcomic (The Mighty Detective Mortimer & Lou actually does come up first in my Google search), my food blog (Cooking with Spirits), and my art/poetry Facebook Page (AJ's Corner of Cyberspace).

Needless to say, I filled that hour up.

I also have my cross stitch, knitting, and crochet projects (some of which I need to finish sooner rather than later). 

I admit, having all of these projects is a lot. And difficult to juggle. 

As I've gotten older and busier, I've found that balancing all of the projects is getting tougher and tougher. At some point, I will need to let some of these projects go - especially the long term ones that I've been working on for nearly 10 years (see this blog). It'll be hard and emotional to say good bye to them.

But if I want to keep evolving as an artist and writer, I have to be willing to move on to the next project.

I know I mostly discussed my art today, but I am also an avid writer (see my two blogs - you're reading one of them) and have published several short stories and poems in different literary magazines, zines, and anthologies. I'm not stopping writing any time soon, which adds another level to my creative balancing act.

Until next week. 

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y'all like hearing from me.

P.S. You may have noticed that I didn't mention anything about video production or music. I have actually worked in the visual medium space and have zero desire to turn it into a hobby (even vlogging sounds like too much work). Music is fun and I can (kind of) play two instruments (my family may disagree) and was in a music sorority in college, however, it is also an expensive hobby that I can't return to for a while.

Welcome to Scary Blossom

 I am a local to the Washington DC area. I spent my formative years within reach of the heart of the city center. I know this city, it’s seasons and it’s moods. 

This past week was the start of our tourist season. Bus loads of sightseers and out of town visitors are swarming the city. Traffic is worse than usual and everyone is driving five miles under the speed limit.

It’s Cherry Blossom time y’all.

Otherwise known as “Scary Blossom”, the DC cherry blossoms at peak bloom are truly beautiful. However, the tourists make navigating the city nearly impossible - even worse than the forth of July and protest season. (Okay the 4th of July might be a bit of an exaggeration because the tourists are also insane, but Cherry Blossom is when the chaos begins).

No more is Washing DC for the locals to the DMV (DC, Maryland, and Virginia tri-state area). Now, we’ll have bus loads of school children visiting our world famous (and mostly free) museums, monuments, and government buildings. Protests will kick up activity in about a month - though they are easier to navigate. No one will know where they’re going (not just the tourists, but the new construction will create new,  longer routes to get to work).

For an event that lasts about a week (depending on weather, wind, and temperature), the Cherry Blossoms are an important part of DC culture. The original Sakura trees were planted along the Tidal Bain in 1912. These trees were a gift of friendship from the People of Japan to the People of the United States because of a correspondence between First Lady Helen “Nellie” Taft and the then Mayor of Tokyo. The original 3,000+ trees are over 110 years old and one of the icons of the city.

We put these flowers on everything DC related - along with the Washington Monument and Capital Building. Coffee mugs, pins, patches, chocolate bars, and more have pink blossoms and white buildings on a blue sky background.

One of my paintings of the event.

And yes, they are beautiful.

Sakura or Cherry Blossoms are incredibly pretty. When their petals fall, it looks like pink snow swirling through the air. They are the unofficial signal spring has begun and that warmer weather is around the corner. 

And they let the residents of the Washington DC area know that tourists are coming.

It is worth it to see the DC Cherry Blossoms once in your life. The Tidal Basin is a lovely area and the trees frame the backdrop of many of the monuments. My favorite area to see them is around the FDR (Franklin Delano Roosevelt) memorial all the way up to Jefferson. I haven’t done that walk in years, but it is beautiful on a clear day.

Another of my paintings of the Cherry Blossoms

However, I can’t stand the traffic and clusters of tourists standing in the middle of roads and pathways while they decide where to go. Parking is a nightmare and the metro is overcrowded at all times, not just peak rush hour.

I love DC. I love the Cherry Blossoms.

I don’t love the tourists.

But that’s part of the life being a resident of Washington DC.

Until next week.

If you enjoyed this post (or it really pissed you off) please like, share, and/or leave a comment. I love hearing from my readers and I hope y’all like hearing from me.