30 July 2010: Girl Power

So the sisters were back together again. My middle niece had been home with her parents because she had a softball tournament while the other two were here staying with us or their grandparents. I finally got the three of them together and have decided they were like the Spice Girls - Posh Spice, Sporty Spice and Baby Spice and if Angelee was still her she could have been Ginger Spice!

I also got to do some photos of "Sporty Spice" by herself. Did I mention my brother in law better be nervous as these girls enter their teen years and beyond! We also went to fashion show of the oldest's Fashion Design Camp she'd been attending all week. She made that pink polka dot dress!!! Beauty and talent in everone one of these girls!

2 May 2010: All Aboard!

Choo Choo!!!

30 April 2010: Rickety Bridge

I've driven under this bridge hundreds of times. The closer I got to it to take a picture, the scarier it became. I may start taking the long way around. I certainly never want to be going under it while a train is going over it!

28 March 2010: Eleven Weeks And Counting

The Jamesville Balloon Festival is coming and so is our annual party! Can't wait... http://www.syracuseballoonfest.com/

3 October 2009 Photo(s): Perfect Fall Day

After a VERY long week on the road and being sick, I finally had a day free to spend with Bill. We went to the Farmers Market, went to see a fellow photo enthusiasts show at a local coffee shop and then we went wandering about the area near our house. The trees are still not in full peak but we found some great photos around the Jamesville Reservoir, Fiddlers Green Park and the side of the road (while trying not to get hit by passing cars). It was a wonderful afternoon with my wonderful husband!

27 August 2009 Photo: Fall Is Coming

The humidity is finally gone and the fall seems to have arrived - at least temporarily. I woke up this morning with a chill in the air and mist coming off the water. I am eager for the fall as it is my favorite time of the year but sad to see the long days of summer come to end.

23 August 2009 Photo: Blowing In The Wind

Wind chimes hang all over our yard much to Bill's dismay. It is not that he doesn't like them, it is just sometimes when it is very windy, they will wake him up. I love them in all sizes, sounds and designs! Here is the website of an amazing windchime artist: http://www.coastchimes.com/index.html

10 August 2009 Photo: "Beach" Blanket Bingo

I have my niece for a couple of days and today we went to the "beach" since it was the hottest day of the summer. Beach is in quotations marks because as someone who grew up at the ocean, I still can't seem to buy that water and sand at a lake or reservoir is truly a beach. I mean really...where are the waves, seaweed, saltwater? There are seagulls but they are just looking for dumb people who leave food open on their blankets so they can steal it.

5 July 2009 Photo(s): Fear Of Flying

After I said goodbye to my weekend guests this morning, the water was calling me. It was the first perfect day in over a week. No clouds in the sky, no immediate items to check off the list so off I went for a morning paddle. Kayaking was amazing as always and allowed me to relax and re-energize.

My first greeting was from a seagull which always makes me think of the book Jonathon Livingston Seagull. In the book Jonathon explains his theory...

"The same rule holds for us now, of course: we choose our next world through what we learn in this one. Learn nothing , and the next is the same as this one, all the same limitations and lead weights to overcome"

Next I came upon some baby ducks but the mama would not let me get too close. As I was watching them, I saw a heron fly overhead and land. I also was not able to get too close to this majestic bird but captured the photo above.

I love to watch birds in flight and dream of being able to do the same. The closest I have ever come to that feeling was the hot air balloon rides I have taken. Maybe in my next life...

4 July 2009 Photo(s): Yankee Doodle Doggie

Happy Birthday America! My very patriotic puppy insisted on being the photo of the day and since she was singing Stars And Stripes Forever while posing in front of the flag, I had to accommodate.

Later in the night we walked across the street to our neighbors to see the Ring of Fire. This is a yearly tradition the lakefront homes do every Fourth of July using flares. The rockets red glare bursted in air while we were watching as well. All in all a good birthday celebration!

14 June 2009 Photo(s): Magical Moments

By 9AM this moring, I had a pretty magical day. Bill and I went across the street to our neighbors who live on the water to watch the 6am balloon launch. When we got down there, the water looked so inviting that I decided to take the kayak out to watch the balloons take off. I love kayaking and love hot air balloons so it was a perfect combination. I put my camera in a plastic bag and off I paddled. The rising sun with the rising balloons...it just couldn't get much better than that.

Afterward when we got home, Bill was taking Mona out and came across a baby woodpecker who was learning to fly. I had come across the same scene last year so I knew the baby would be ok so I ran to get the camera and take some photographs. As we were standing around, the bird started hopping toward my sister and she kept moving back to let the bird have space but it continued to follow her. I told her to stand still for a moment and the woodpecker hopped right on her foot and started climbing up her leg while saying, "Are you my mommy?" We were AMAZED and enjoyed this magical moment until I removed the baby and placed it in the tree out of harms way. All this followed by a lovely morning under the gazebo reading the Sunday paper...I just wish everyday could start off so perfect!

13 June 2009 Photo(s): Plenty Of Hot Air To Go Around

It was Day 2 of Balloon Festival. The balloons went up last night and this morning but unfortunately for my guests, they did not fly this evening. We had a fabulous time despite the lack of hot air in the balloons...if you knew my friends, you know that the hot air was still flowing!

I went to the balloon field this morning with Bill, my sister and my in-laws and we had a spectacular show as more than 20 balloons took off. As we were watching, Bill called them gems in the sky and I liked that phrase. The morning and early afternoon was lovely and pretty much as soon as my guests arrived, so did the rain. Despite the rain and no balloons flying, we had a great time catching up. The 2 little girls are Carlea and Nina after a rousing game of rug twister. Both of their parents also have blogs that you can check out to see more cute pictures...

http://jenndavisblog.blogspot.com/

http://joesfamily.wordpress.com/

12 June 2009 Photo: Let The Festivities Begin

The Jamesville Balloon Festival begins today and in preparation of our party tomorrow, my sister and I decorated our traditional balloon sugar cookies. I like how the forks looked after mixing in the food coloring to the royal icing. Don't the cookies look yummy. We tried to make hotair balloon cake pops but it was not successful so we just made regular cupcake pops.

28 March 2009 Photo: Dog and Cat Tails

Mona, Bill and I went for a walk this morning down to the park. It is a warm day today and the lake is finally all thawed. Mona went in and took her first dip of the season but it only last a few seconds because I imagine the water is still pretty cold.

The cat tails are spreading their seeds and getting ready for the new season to begin. So as not be to outdone by the cat, Mona also felt the need to spread her seeds all over the park as well by marking her territory.

21 February 2009 Photo: Stare Down

I made it home despite the snow storm in Chicago. In the airport in Portland, I was buying a diet coke and looked behind me and saw Joe Piscopo. I then looked down on the counter and he was buying "bear poop" candy. I was not able to get bumped up to first class because he was sitting in my seat. What's up with that...does he think he is a celebrity or something?

Anyway, I didn't get a picture of him but on the way home we past the farm down the road and the cows and horses were out. I had Bill pull over and found this one staring at me!