Whirligigs and Things
The Backyard Naturalist has a natural curiosity about the elements -- rain, sun, wind -- in his or her backyard. Whirligigs and mobiles, by capturing these earthly qualities, bring the naturalist inner peace.
Gig of the Month
Who better to start this series with than the most famous boater in the Ozarks? Here is a man who know no fear. I once saw him laughing, hysterically, while caught in a dangerous nose pin. Another time he actually boated the entire Browns Canyon upside down! His skills are so advanced that he once ran the killer rapids of Swan Creek without a boat! But he has put some of his wildness behind him, and can now be found paddling with his wife, Cathie, and their faithful dog. This fabulous threesome is commemorated in this early gig manufactured by Bullman Enterprises, in which we find Ted doing all the paddling, with Cathie and dog yelling (barking) commands from the bow. This is intended as a spoof, of course, because these days Ted never paddles, just fires up his trusty Raftanic for a jaunt up the Finley.