September was a busy, yet fun month. We finally completed “The Shanty” project in the woods. My son came up with an idea for our campsite area. He wanted to build a shelter mostly out of materials we already had laying around. With some planning and help from Shane, they were able to make the dream a reality. It is yet to be officially named, for now, I am calling it The Shanty.
One afternoon we headed out to put the finishing touches on The Shanty and discovered someone had left us a mascot. We have named him Jack. We love the peg leg and hook hand.
Our cat, Sir Purrs seems intrigued by him.
The Shanty/campsite area has also become my creative, outdoor space. This month I spent some time out there practicing with my flash, using myself as the subject. Self-portrait photography is a new arena for me but so far I have learned a lot simply by practicing.
I have a lot to learn and now I have a quiet space all to myself to use, complete with a shanty & a pirate. The best outdoor “office”!
We found this little guy curled up outside on top of our door. After some research, we determined he is a harmless water snake. (No snakes were harmed during this photography).
Lastly, I have read some fantastic books this month. Here is my September list.
- “LION” by Saroo Brierley (273 pages). If you have watched the movie, I highly recommend reading this book. Excellent narrative and such a heartbreaking yet heartwarming story. This was a page turner for sure. Find a glass of wine, a blanket and a cool night to curl up to this one.
- “Swimming Lessons” by Claire Fuller (350 pages). This was also a page-turner. I could not wait to find out what happened.
- “The Stranger in the Woods” by Michael Finkel (203 pages). Excellent book, well written. This was such an interesting real-life story of a hermit who lived in the woods for 27 years. Incredible story!
Until next time, be kind to those around you!
Ralphie Rough Road 
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