Family Hieroglyphics

A cute fad. I captured this one because I had never seen so MANY before. Even twins and a baby. Cute.

Friday night game

A hill overlooks the ball fields at the Anderson Civic Center. I was pleased with the view.

Country or city?

Hard to believe this is smack in the middle of Anderson’s business district, huh? Just over the trees is the Anderson Mall (with the soon-to-open anchor store Dillards) and just behind where you imagine the photographer to be is a busy construction site and intersection.

Man-made tree

I’ve been trying to capture this bottle “tree” for what seems like forever! I couldn’t get a good angle. And I’m not happy with this one — for it misses the tree part, but I think for now it’ll do. I want one of these in my yard! It grows at the Anderson recycling center near the Civic Center.

How cool is it that Selma Daily Photo and I posted bottle trees on the same day?! Hers are quite nice. Love the reds. Bottle Tree Orchard.

Curious

This cute little one was playing at Chris Taylor Park on Saturday evening. She was near her mother and looked over at us, fascinated by the dogs, I imagine. Such a cutie!

Unfortunately, on Saturday at the park I gained a hard-learned realization about the dogs — Maggie in particular. Ever since I got her, Maggie has always been timid, even ruled by fear. She runs when I point the camera at her. She cowers at new furniture or new “stuff” placed on the floor. If I move my feet too quickly on the couch, she jumps up with a yelp as if I’d beaten her. When attacked in obedience class by a spaniel half her size, she simply put her head down, only moving when I dragged her away by the leash. She refuses to walk on solid floor covering, and I’m sure she wouldn’t walk in my own house if it weren’t solid wood throughout. Bridges, docks, and sidewalk drainage holes are out of the question. After injurying her smallest digit on her left-front paw, she now never places it on the floor: not even when stretching or walking. I only realized what she was doing when the nail grew much longer than the rest.  If I grab her collar, she will react as if she were to bite me, though she never has. For she really is a sweet dog. And as you can tell, she has my heart. HOWEVER. I now realize her fear leads her to not being a good dog for children. Or even adults (and other dogs) she doesn’t know well. She nipped a child on Saturday eve. The child reached behind Maggie’s shoulders to pet her, scaring her, I guess. I should have been bending down, holding Maggie’s head, but I felt too secure and was enjoying talking to the child’s mother. Oh, the pain. The shock. I ache when I remember the child’s fear and screams. The place on the child’s face even oozed a bit of blood. The father carried the child away and she was soon still and calm. The mother and I were quite shaken. I can’t castigate myself enough for being so foolish. Nothing can make up for that occurence. Maggie may be a sweet, loving dog, but she is still a dog. An unknown quantity, that may react in unforeseen ways. I should have taken precautions. I should have been more alert, more careful for the child. I realize now, that I can’t risk that happening again. As much as I would like my dogs to be welcoming to all children, I have to guard them and the children by not allowing contact. Maggie’s personality doesn’t mix well with people she doesn’t know. How foolish to not recognize her signs, to realize too late that she may bite in fear. I take the time to write this — as hurt and ashamed as I am about it — so others may learn from it. It seems silly and unbelievable that I wouldn’t see this before. So I state it clearly to my own heart and others: as loving as a dog may be to her owner and her owner’s friends, she still has the capacity to bite and hurt.

Simple pleasures

Saturday evening. Chris Taylor Park. The lake (pond?) isn’t very big — but big enough to attract ducks, geese, and children. (And a few fishermen.)

Mall Road Construction

Since I’ve been in Anderson (about 8 years), the back of Anderson Mall has been surrounded by trees. Development has come to the back! I can’t tell what this building will be, but I like the metal lines. Intersection of Mall Road — oops, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. — and Civil Center Blvd.

Thanks, Mom

What a fun little birthday party this was. Yes, her mom made the mermaid cake, with a tail of green icing, that produced this face of wonder. For all you mothers out there — thanks for making us feel special. Happy Mother’s Day!

Empty

Lily knocked this can on its side. It was upright, in the center of this sidewalk corner, all by itself. Weird. That’s why I noticed it. I walked over to look because of a friend’s story from his past job in a grocery store. Cans such as this, but mostly whipped cream, were found routinely empty, placed back on the shelf. So much so, that it was one of his duties to check the cans for “empties.” The theory is that huffers used the cans in the restroom and placed them back on the shelf. Weird.

Growing

Since I’ve been noticing the flora and fauna of Anderson — it has surprised me how in one part of town the Oak (?) trees are full of leaves, and then this little guy…He’s growing at his own pace. As long as he grows, that’s all that’s important.