King of the food chain

The American Alligator is a beast that can grow up to 11 feet!

 I cannot imagine coming upon a gator that large. 

The one they call Chuckie at the Gulf Coast zoo actually escaped 

for a time after hurricane Ivan. 

I've photographed him and he is huge!

Alligators can reach 1,00 pounds as well. 

They love to congregate but cannot regulate their own temperature. They must bask in

the sun to warm up, or go in the water to cool down.  Speaking of water, they can travel 

up to 20 mph while swimming, but only 11mph on land. I once worked with a guy that said they got taught how to outrun a gator by zigzagging. 

The females lay 10 to 50 eggs and stay nearby to protect them. When it comes near the time for hatching, the female will uncove the nest to make it easier for the babies. 

They come out at about 6 to 8 inches and are full on eating machines.

I have eaten alligator as well and if cooked correctly they can be a harvested meat. I've had it done well, and also eaten it tough to chew. The first time I had it was in Louisiana and I have not had any to compare since then.

King of the food chain, 24 x 24 shadowbox canvas, Acrylic

Day 20 of the 100 days~100 paintings 2018   

Don't be fooled by my toothy smile!

Yet another shadowbox canvas leaves the easel today. I am delighted to be able to paint another alligator. The last one I painted on a shadowbox sold before I could even photograph it! While not a common species in the sea, I have seen them swim in the brackish waters of our Mobile Bay as well as the Mississippi sound off the coast of Horn Island. For that reason I include them in my marine life  this year. I once tried to get my husband to Kayak over to about a 4 ft juvenile near 5 rivers so I could photograph him. 

He wanted nothing to do with that adventure!

(Same scenario with a caribbean grey reef shark in the Florida Keys. He never lets me have any fun, but he keeps me out of trouble......) Love ya honey!

I also ordered a dozen 24 x 24 canvases today. They are on a deep sale, and we cannot build them that inexpensively! A dozen more! It's a good thing I love painting them!

Don't be fooled by my toothy smile! , 24 x 24 inch canvas with a 12 x 12 opening, 

Acrylic , Day 4 of the 100 Days~100 Paintings

Sunlit Alligator

We all have "Gators" in our lives. Things and people that eat up our time but don't feed our souls. They gulp us down, without a thought or a thank you.
I am grateful for friends that love me, family that loves me, and doing what I love to do for a living. Most of all, I am very grateful for a supporting spouse that wants to do everything to please me.
Our house is in transition now, Chris and I are still waiting to hear about the house in Fairhope~there is a problem with the Title that the broker seems to think is very small and fixable. I only pray that they "fix" it so we can sign the paperwork, get the key, and start cleaning/sorting out the garbage this weekend. Jere', (our son) had his last day in the Coast Guard. Jessica, our oldest lost her job at the salon (although it is probably for the best). Christina our youngest, starts her last year of college next week.
In the middle of the trips to Fairhope (to bug bomb the house), calls to the city of Fairhope (for permission to remove trees and for trash removal), and handling some phone calls for my womens organization. I am still commited to a painting a day. Today makes my 42nd entry and I am pleased with my progress so far.
"Sunlit Alligator"~ Oil on Canvas 10 x 20