counting down to this, and more

Is this spectacular, or what?? You've got to click on this picture and see it up close.

We'll be here in exactly 2 months, 11 days, 16 hours, 10 minutes, and 24 seconds. Okay, so we can't narrow in on the minutes and seconds exactly, but we're counting down the days. This will be on Day 2 of our two week trip to the coast of California, Yosemite National Park, and the coast of Oregon.

If you look closely, you can see the only waterfall in the country that empties onto a beach. It's fed by an underground spring and is 80 ft high.

my valentine roses

Peach roses for me...Peach! When we were engaged (15 years ago!) Craig affectionately dubbed me "Peach." He loves peaches and couldn't believe I didn't like them, or rather, had never TRIED one. I've been Peach, or Peaches, ever since. Even had a license plate for a while that said "peachs." I have since tried peaches, and will eat them mixed with other fruit, but would rather not. The name, however, I do like, because I'm completely in awe of the affection and love that's behind it! I love you, Honey! Thanks for a wonderful 14 1/2 years, and they just keep getting better!

at least it's pretty

This was my view out the window last night. Just gorgeous! We had "freezing fog" and "freezing mist" and a little freezing rain. I set the camera on the tripod and set the exposure for 10 seconds.
























Here's the frozen stuff in the daylight!

the good, the bad, the annoying

I've had to resort to taking pictures of my foot to test settings on my new camera because no one will pose for me (everyone here knows one picture means one hundred). Craig took the day off work today and was sweet enough to take me on a date with my camera. I was ready for some real challenges in the real world.



We went to our favorite pizza place and got our usual Caprice (garlic, basil, tomato). YUM! Didn't really get any good pictures here, but the pizza was fabulous.

Then we were off to the local conservatory. In all the years we've been going here, I don't think I've ever gotten a picture of this waterfall that I liked (though I kept taking them anyway). I think I like this one!



and this one!














Then we had problems. I was setting up the camera to take a picture of Daddy and Sophia and this little boy comes out of the cactus room and says, "Wait for me!" and runs over to join in the picture. I politely smiled and asked him to move. He wouldn't budge. I asked him again, this time with no smile. I begged him. I told him he was ruining my family picture. He wouldn't budge. We asked where his mommy was and he pointed to the cactus room. I was not a happy camper because the place closed in 5 minutes.

Somehow Craig convinced him the perfect place for him to sit was over to the side on a rock. I kept my fingers crossed and pushed the timer button and joined in for the picture. Our little tag-along trotted over too and saddled up to Sophia, with a few seconds to spare before the camera snapped. Now granted, I could have easily cropped him out in Photoshop, and the picture is overexposed anyway, but come on! Afterwards he wouldn't leave my side and asked if he could see the picture! The nerve! I wouldn't show him. Mother finally found him and told her sweetie he needed to come along.

If he had ANY idea I was putting this picture on for all to see, I wouldn't give him the pleasure, but since he'll never know, I can show you all what a goof he was!


















Not all was lost. I managed to snap this beauty before the place locked up.

raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

I can't carry a tune, let alone like Julie Andrews, so instead of singing about raindrops, roses, and kittens, I can photograph them!

I love these raindrops,


roses, and my lil' kitten Sophia.

be my Valentine

When Sophia grows up and starts considering the kind of man she'd like to marry, she's going to have a great example in her Daddy of how a lady should be treated. I love watching their bond.

This Valentine's Day my heart melted as I watched him, with a twinkle in his eye, give a bouquet of flowers to his littlest Valentine. She gleefully accepted!

not Wendy's again!

Papaw has a steady girl (in addition to Nana, of course). He goes to Wendy's nearly every day and she fixes him lunch. He always did like redheads.

We thought he deserved to be treated extra special for his 65th birthday, so we spared no expense and gave him a Wendy's gift card and this fancy birthday card.



The rest of us like REAL FOOD, so he had to choose a little finer dining for his birthday dinner and Carrabbas was a delightfully delicious choice.

Sophia forgot to wipe her mouth before this shot so I had to wipe it for her in Photoshop.

Aren't they sweet?

Happy 65th, Papaw!

Shocking, isn't it?

Where'd the hair... I mean TIME go? We love you for your sense of humor...
your sweet ways...
and your stand for Him.

these are a few of my favorite things

Here's a short, 50 second clip of a few cool shots made by my favorite ball player. First, a pick which leaves him wide open for the basket, followed by a couple of free throws, and finally a rebound, fast break, awesome passing, and the score.
Go, baby! (er, Isaac!)

who you gonna call?

Some say laughter is the best medicine, but Isaac and Sophia think Nana is the best medicine! Isaac is fighting off a cold, and he called Nana at the first sign of his sore throat. He knows who's got the goodies. She whipped him up some noodle soup and brought some cookies and "medicine." "Take one pill every hour, or as needed." Needless to say, they didn't last long.

And...........after hours of research and knots in my stomach, I now have butterflies over my new camera! I don't actually get it until Tuesday, but I can't stop staring at it! It's way more camera than I know what to do with, but I'm hoping to be a fast learner. Just maybe I'll have it mastered before it's outdated.