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Ohhh, it's here... I mean... IT'S here.  No, not the latest 2 inch thick Sear's and Rowback catalog.  So, don't take the old one out to the shack in the back, just yet.  

I'm talking about the latest issue of The Crab Cracker... the one with my little painting and startling revelation of the migrating snow elephants returning to our lovely Pacific northwest.   

Go out and snag one of these literary and pictorial delights for yourself... before I have them all tracked down and have absconded with them stealthier than a bailed out Wall Street banker.  

They should be able to be found at a number of locations around Camano Island, or Stanwoodopolis on the mainland.  Ahhh, to my readers from distant lands, Stanwoodopolis probably will not show up on a Google Map search because the name of this sprawling megalopolis of some 4,000 folks and lost souls from the "other" political party, has been listed as Stanwood, WA 98292.

So, if you see a mud caked Jeep that is a little lower in the rear end, it could be that it is loaded with Crab Crackers, or it could just be that I've just returned from enjoying an stack of blueberry pancakes at the Elger Bay Cafe. 

Below is a copy of the cover story:

With the start of winter, my thoughts turn to spring.  Sort of like the business owners who start to think of the Christmas season in July...  goodness, the displays seem to go up earlier each year.

Much like the return of the sparrows to the Mission in San Juan Capistrano,  there is the annual return of the Canadian Snow Geese from Mexico, Arizona, or  even a couple from Florida, or wherever it is they choose to spend their time.   However, one can easily recognize the geese returning from Florida by their white shoes and checked pants.  Of course, no one really knows for certain where the white elephants spend their winter time.  It is so sad that there are no missions on Fir Island or Camano Island for monks to ring bells upon the sighting of the first snow goose, or white elephant. 

I can almost hear you gasp... "white elephants?"... "you've seen them too?"... sightings are so rare... and, yes, they are only usually seen when they "let their hair down" distracted by a close flying snow goose who wants to play.

I anticipate the spring, seeing the geese in the fields around our wonderful Pacific northwest... flying in and out, and playing with the occasional white elephant.  Yes, be certain to be on the look out... not many of them have been captured on film.  However, for your reference, I've provided a plein aire painting of a sighting from around the Fir Island area.

The Crab Cracker is a delightful publication that comes out twice each month.  We folks up here look forward to reading each issue to discover the island activities, to learn about some of our fellow islanders, and read short stories about humorous adventures of the area, note the ads of the good people who make it possible, and view art work by islanders.   It's sort of a literary digest for gentle folks who inhabit the woods and bluffs of Camano Island.

Well, here it is, Sunday evening, Nairy and I have  just finished watching 60 Minutes, Thumper has just completed her paw licking for the moment, and I decide to check my e-mail. Well...  Goodness!  and other words that one uses at such times... there it is, an e-mail from Jim Shipley, the publisher of the Crab Cracker, telling me that my little painting "White Elephant playing in a Field with Snow Geese" and my story about how white elephants can be observed playing in fields with migrating snow geese about this time of the year is going to be on the cover at the end of this month.  

Granted, it's not like being on the cover of the Rolling Stone, however, I'd rather have folks read one of my stories in the Crab Cracker than in one of those publications one sees at the checkout counter of the grocery stores.

Keep coming back to this blog... I'll post a photo as soon as I get a copy.