Late Cretaceous Fun

When a friend asks if you want to go panning for shark teeth fossils in a stream, you should probably go.  I never knew you could even do such a thing.  Big Brook Preserve in Monmouth County New Jersey is the location of a stream that runs through ancient layers of sea floor sediment -  65 to 75 million years ancient.  It's boggling to ponder.

So you work your way to a very normal stream located in a local park and you begin seeing people in the shallows.  The banks of the creek aren't even all that high in most parts.  But you can see strips and layers of pebbled sediment in spots.  During heavy rains, the banks will erode into the stream, depositing prehistoric shark teeth, belemnites, and oyster shells.  We found an isolated spot and began scooping rocks and debris from the stream floor into our sifting pans.  It was slim pickings at first until a young guy who was passing through asked us if we found anything and we told him we found a tooth.  He showed us his technique and the best spots to pan and it was a night-and-day experience.  We began finding a bunch of various shark tooth fossils.  As you pass folk in the stream or as you're leaving the park, they all ask "Did you find anything?!" excitedly.  It was a really neat experience.  And the weather was perfect for sloshing through a stream in sandals digging up ancient choppers.

Some photos below...

The Lady Of The Lake

In the background there is a lake,
and beyond that, some low hills.

(The photograph was taken
the day after I drowned.

I am in the lake, in the center
of the picture, just under the surface.

It is difficult to say where
precisely, or to say
how large or small I am:
the effect of water
on light is a distortion

but if you look long enough,
eventually
you will be able to see me.)

- Margaret Atwood, This Is a Photograph of Me

A friend and I spent Saturday morning at the edge of a lake, sloshing around with a Lady, and a lot of tiny fish (and some hungry ducks).  Here are some of our photos...

(pics 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 11 were taken by me.)

Foggy Hike

Scouting out some photo shoot locations on a delightfully foggy day.

As For The Bus... Some Say It Sank So Deep That It Couldn't Be Found

It happened thirty years ago, on a late Halloween afternoon.  A school bus was on its usual route, but this wasn’t your typical school bus… and they weren’t your typical kids. There were eight of them, and they were… different… troubled… disturbed.  

Who's Got A Kiss For The Pickety Witch?

The Fountain

A stunning prop from Revenant Manor.  I rarely use the word mesmerizing to describe a Halloween prop, but it totally applies here.

Click below to see it in action...

Back To School

I looked out the window this morning and saw kids waiting for the bus on the corner.  Oh, how I loathed school.  In all of its many forms.  Sure, it meant cooler weather and Halloween, but what a cruel tradeoff.  

Speaking of school...

Behold the Dent Schoolhouse:

Click here for the main site.

Shoes

Click below...

Thanks, Jeanne!

Now Playing: She / Swimming

Some Sunday music by Moon Ate the Dark.

Click below...

There Was Only The Sky And The Wind And The Water And The Autumn Coming On Lonely.

"Strange," he said, softly. "Strangest thing I ever saw. She's been dead a long time."

I repeated his words.

He nodded. "Ten years, I'd say. There haven't been any children drowned here this year.  There were twelve children drowned since 1933, but we found all of them before a few hours had passed. All except one, I remember. This body here, why it must be ten years in the water. It's not---- pleasant."

I stared at the gray sack in his arms. "Open it," I said. I don't know why I said it. The wind was louder.

He fumbled with the sack.

"Hurry, man, open it!" I cried.

Ray Bradbury, The Lake

Ice Zombie

Another shot from the "Thin Ice" photo shoot.

Dark Waters

Scary Tub Lady To See In The Dark

The Lady Of The Tub

 

Mother: A Photo Shoot

It is essential that the forensic pathologist or medicolegal death investigator recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of immersed and submerged remains. The typical decomposition changes proceed more slowly in the water, primarily due to cooler temperatures and the anaerobic environment. However, once a body is removed from the water, putrefaction will likely be accelerated. 

Text source.

Thin Ice

Immersion

Image source.

Putrid Rest

Image by Raeleen PIKE.

Spelunk

Image source.