2013 Potomac Watershed Cleanup, Alice Ferguson

One day each year my family and I walk across the street to a National Park and help pick up trash.  We've been doing it since our sons were toddlers.  It's become a tradition everyone in the household looks forward to.  We are lucky enough to live near the C&O Canal and the Potomac River and as we pick up trash we are teaching our sons about stewardship and an appreciation for nature.

This year we got to know the river very well as I lost my phone during the cleanup.  I spent most of the day retracing my steps until the third (or was it fourth time) I fished it out of leaf covered water by the shore.  I thought that at least finding it in the water would save me from needing to buy a replacement case for the new phone I would be buying later that night until I realized that the phone had turned on.  It had been lost for six hours and was submerged in about a two feet of still water and debris on the side of the shore.  I don't know how I was so lucky to not only find it, but to also find that it still worked, make phone calls and even connect to the Internet.  I was afraid I wouldn't find it until next year's clean-sweep!

Here are some of my photos from the 2013 Alice Ferguson Potomac River Watershed Cleanup.

Point of Rocks Group

Fueling Up

Empty bags at the start.  I think some of the bags were even leftovers from past years.
Talk about conservation.

Fishing….for a CD.
  Wonder if it still plays and if the library in which it was borrowed from will waive the late fee.

We found a lot of golf balls.

One of the most unusual items was a ski that I found.

Send the kid into the chained off area for some trash.

My son (in red) is taking lots of grief from the hooligan in the jean jacket.
He wants my son's golf balls and won't just sit back and enjoy the found rubber duckie.

Start 'em young!

Cleanup Crew

My husband with a "Relax" Beer huggie that he found.

C&O Canal Walk and Photo Session, Point of Rocks Photographer

I know this family very well, so a walk on the tow path at the C&O Canal was a good choice.  The boys have a lot of energy and enjoy running, jumping and playing with sticks. Getting them to sit still is another thing.  Using the example of the "Whack a Mole" game at the county fair is fairly close to accurate since the boys move so fast. Once you get one posed and then try to get the other, the first one is up and gone!  I've always admired their parents who handle it in stride.  The photos of them as a couple show their love and warmth for each other and their relaxed nature as their children play behind them. 

I admit I love photographing young children showing their age on their fingers.
My father did that with me as a child. 

Sometimes you just have to be silly!

Jump!

2nd Annual Art at the Point, Point of Rocks Photographer

Views from my art tent at Art at the Point, September 24, 2011.  

Point of Rocks, Maryland

Rebecca hoopin' it up!

Main Line Gravy Soppers

Virginia and her visiting Katydid

Gravy Soppers joined by Ernie Bradley

Views of Paul Rhymer and Carolyn Thome work

Kids and Music

First full day of spring, March 21, 2011

First full day of spring, March 21, 2011 C&O Canal at Lander Road