Frank Picchione

Michele's Turkeys

This is the message Michele sent along with the turkey pics.  I believe the "some kind of blue bird" is actually a blue bird.

"We lost a baby turkey - the smallest one. We don't know what happened to it, but it's very sad. We moved the feeder last week so they could be away from the road. Kevin put it outside our living room window so we could still watch. Here are some recent pictures - look how big they are. They now run in and fly up the stone wall to the feeder. Also, I took some pictures of some kind of blue bird going into it's home - the feeder on our back tree."

A Sealed Fate Exhibit

Saturday I went to the 401 Projects gallery to see Nigel Barker's photography exhibit.  For two weeks Nigel observed and photographed the harp seal pups in their nursery.  In that short span of time he watched them change from pure white to dappled gray.  He described lying on the ice with his camera as baby seals came up close, and even pressed their bodies against his as he stroked them.  At the end of those two weeks the hunt began, and Nigel watched as the little ones he had come to know were brutally and painfully slaughtered.  I stood there listening to him, feeling sick and angry and sad.  I cannot imagine how he put himself through what must have been both a rewarding and devastating experience.

 

I held the bat you see in Nigel's hands in my blurry photograph.  It felt lighter than a baseball bat, and incapable of smashing a tiny skull in one strike.  He said the hunters are untrained and often miss their target, instead breaking a shoulder or merely wounding a pup.  The hook on the floor at Nigel's feet is used the drag the seal pups along the ice while they writhe behind in bloody agony.  When he was finished speaking to the group I walked over and asked him to tell me what it was like to hear the echoes of thousands of skulls cracking.  I had once heard a woman, who witnessed the hunt up close, describe how she would never get the sound out of her mind.  Nigel told me that he observed from a mile away and could not hear, but that some of the baby seals screamed out when attached.

 

"The juxtaposition of the Harp seals giving birth and toddling around during the first two weeks of their lives in this beautiful, icy landscape with that of the sealers crashing through the ice leaving a sea of blood and guts in their wake was a sobering moment to say the least.  Rarely in my life had I felt so dehumanized by another's actions." - Nigel Barker

Nigel in the Nursery

Nigel Barker, world renowned fashion photographer and judge on America's Next Top Model, is exhibiting photographs and a documentary that provide an intimate look at the lives of the baby harp seals targeted by Canada's annual commercial seal kill.

Nigel took the images this year while he was on the ice in Canada with our Protect Seals team just days before the seal slaughter began. His photographs from the seals' nursery capture the beauty and innocence of these gentle animals.

I intended to be the first one at the exhibit, but since it started two minutes ago I guess I didn't make it.  I will go over the weekend and report back on the blog.  Hopefully with photos of the photos.

The event is free and open to the public, but R.S.V.P. is requested.

July 25-27, 2008
12:00-6:00 pm
Visit on the hours of 2, 3 and 4 pm for group tours with Nigel
401 Projects
401 West Street
New York, NY 10014

Greenwich Polo

Last Sunday turned out to be a day pristine for polo and picnicking, so Dudley and I joined the family at the Greenwich Polo Club.  Bright sky, bright colors, children, dogs (of course), Champagne (of course), and an amazingly close, exciting match between Peter Brant's White Birch and Peter Orthwein's Airstream.  In the end White Birch prevailed at 12 goals to 10.

This family photo should definitely have been more posed.

 

 

Greenwich Polo Club owner Peter Brant was at one time the highest handicapped amateur player.  Brant received the Most Valuable Player award on Sunday.

 

White Birch's Mariano Aguerre is one of just over a dozen 10 goal players in the world.  His pony Chocolate was awarded Best Playing Pony.

 

While everyone else was stomping divots Dudley and I were socializing.  Here we are with our friends Melissa and Monty.  When Mel posted a couple cute photos of Monty and Dudley on her site this morning, she kindly failed to mention that my Duds nearly removed her finger along with the treat she offered.

 

When the peach Champagne was running low Nick, Heather and I went in search of a bar.  We discovered one under a tent where I found my friends, David and Catherine.  Catherine Zadeh and Ivanka Trump were selling their jewelry at opposite ends of the field.  I took this photo of Catherine, David, Nick and Heather just as the teams were entering the field.

 

And with my nephew and two of my nieces, Nicholas, Brooke and Tatum.  It was the best day!

 

How cute is little Nicky in his Polo polo shirt.

 

Behind Tatum's head are my father's cap and my mother, Irene, a regular commenter on the blog.

Berries and Birdies Updated Together

My friend Maryanne was kind enough to photograph these wild raspberries, before and after picking.  Look how the color has deepened since I posted here.  I wish I could have taken the pictures and eaten those berries myself.

 

Peggy and Pauly hatched a baby.  Yippee!  Lori and I named it Pat, after the Saturday Night Live character whose gender was indeterminable, because we obviously cannot tell if it is a boy or a girl.  We are still waiting for the second to appear.  We think its name will be Perry.

 

I tried to get Peggy's ass of that little new born just long enough to take its picture, but she was furious, and puffed up something awful, and began pecking the window like a crazy buzzard.  We will keep working on getting that photo because she has to go for food sometime.  For now you can see the cracked open egg.  Lori watched as Peggy chipped away at it with her beak in order to set Pat free.

Little Louis

It seems like everywhere I turn it's baby birdies and baby doggies.  This little Frenchie is named Louis.  Doesn't it look as though his mouth curls into a smile?  He and Dudley had a great time playing.  My niece Tatum really got them riled up as the three of them ran up and down the lawn.  The Kerry Blue terrier is Dudley's Connecticut girlfriend, Kelsey. She was not so interested in puppy play, but struck a dignified pose when Louis attempted to engage her.

More Turkey Babies

This morning a new turkey family joined Michele's original turkey family.  I guess someone has been spreading the word about the smorgasbord on Range Road.  I think it is cute that the babies have become mini replicas of their mother. They kind of look like little dinosaurs in the grass.

 

Perhaps we aught to bring another species into this conversation beyond dogs, birds and rodents... However, I do have new dogs and birds (without rodents) for the next two days' posts.  Polo ponies and people on Monday!
 

 

Nature Walk

Over the weekend Dudley and I went for a glorious nature walk in Wilton, Connecticut.  We saw tons of wild raspberries, or rather, tons of wild raspberry buds and under ripe berries.  I plucked the reddest one I could find and popped it into my mouth. Disappointingly tart.  Just two days later, when we revisited, they had become soft and sweet, and unlike any raspberry you would find in your market's produce section.  I do not know why the birds had not discovered them, but they probably will before I return to pick a basketful.

 

Unfortunately, while I was discovering wild raspberries Dudley found a nasty little carcass of unknown origins.  He was contentedly chomping away when I turned to see what he was up to.  I completely freaked him out when I dove upon him and jammed my entire hand to the back of his throat to retrieve a fistful of slimy bones.  Poor thing.  He had ghastly diarrhea for the rest of the weekend.

  

A short distance away I saw my first mimosa tree with its feathery blossoms and frond like leaves.  The breeze wafted its delicate and exotic fragrance through the air.

Baby Turkey Update

Michele sent photo updates of the baby wild turkeys. She claims to have seen them fly, and it does look like they have fully feathered wings, but I am a bit skeptical. My niece Tatum, who is six for another month, took the picture of the brood crossing the street all in a row.

Welcome Walter

The other day I walked Dudley down 72nd Street, turned the corner at York Avenue, and came face to mushy face with this guy!  His name is Walter.  He is just three months old and is the smallest English bulldog I have ever seen.  I stopped his owner in his tracks in order to say hello.  Walter lives in the new building just next door.  He was on his very first (very slow) walk around the block.

The next day, as Dudley and I were heading out again, Walter and his owner (whose name I forget) were walking by our front door.  "Stop!" I commanded.  "Please give me two seconds to run for my camera!"  I handed Dudley off to my neighbor from downstairs, who was outside with her Boston terrier, Fenway.  When I returned a small welcome wagon had gathered around Walter, including Sally, the blurry Westy who lives next door.  Little Walter was a bit overwhelmed, but enjoyed the attention.