Fire Departments of Delmarva | the Crisfield Volunteer Fire Company

The Crisfield Volunteer Fire Company is located in Somerset County, just a short distance from the downtown area and docks at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay. While I've had the chance to see a few of their vehicles here and there, and to stop recently for the pictures of the firehouse itself, I haven't been inside or seen the rest of the apparatus.

Images by Altered Art | Outstanding Dreams Alpaca Farm in Preston, Maryland

On a beautiful afternoon in November, as the Delmarva Peninsula was fading into soft shades of golden leaves and orange colors, I had the chance to visit and tour a nearby farm. I wasn't sure what to expect, how interactive the alpacas might be (or might not be?), and I didn't know how the entire concept of raising animals would seem to me. Did the owners care about them, where did concern for the well-being and happiness of these creatures rank and would I feel comfortable seeing how they lived and existed? After all, while we can and do label many things in life as "it's a business", what did that really translate into for the alpacas themselves? I headed north-west from Fenwick Island, up through Delaware via Route 404 and crossed into Maryland. The drive is a peaceful one, winding through farms and open country fields, and once I left 404 it was another five miles down a quiet two-lane road. I pulled up at the foot of the driveway and paused to take a few pictures of the scenic autumn landscape.