SOBX

well, we just got back from one of the very best vacations ever. the skies were perfect every day and the water was perfect to play in for hours on end.

the kids had never seen so many sand crabs, so they chased them every where. and when they were not chasing them, they would sit and watch the little creatures dig and dig, scurry all over the place only to find another hole and dig again. what was really interesting was when a crab went into one hole that was already occupied. they would do this cool dance and one of the crabs would raise it's bigger claw, then the other would simply lower it's body to the ground. i guess it is a territorial dance, which is why the stronger one always stayed. the one crab in the picture did not have any claws. i wonder how it will eat and defend itself. it was very quick and did not have trouble moving sand out of it's little hole, but i still wonder.

there were not as many shells as in years past, but there were certainly more conch shells to be found. we found three totally in tact. the one i decided to post here just looked pretty on the sand, but no way would it make a good home. i just wonder what creature got to the conch or, if time and wave pressure simply broke the shell.

and the egret put on the best show for me. he let me get fairly close to him and was having a hey day with the sand fleas. he must've eated 30 while i was photographing him. i do not know why i love taking pictures of birds so much. maybe it is because of the pretty colors or the way they move with those long legs, but, i could have sat for hours watching this little guy.

i am going to clean up my photo card and try to figure out what is exactly going on with my camera. i can't change the lighting, so i guess i will have to get it to the camera doctor this week. i know for sure that i will need that lens i keep talking about.

i hope to get through the three thousand pictures i took this trip and to post more, so, until then...

Memorial Day

well, let's see...i missed Memorial Day, which happens to be my very favorite day of the year.  the reasons were good, as i was in the er with my oldest child who decided, on sunday before, to go to the skate park and try some "narley" tricks.  well, needless to say, he suffered a compound fracture of his left forearm, requiring a short stay in the hospital, a steel plate, 6 screws, 16 stitches, pain meds and some serious bed rest.  so, i hope all can understand the reasons for not being here, until now.  cast today, so hopefully, he won't feel so confined to the house with nothing to do.  a waterproof cast will allow him to get into the pool, and maybe even go back to diving where he can hang with some friends and get some stretching in that long body of his!  

BUT:  the week before Memorial Day, my husband and i went canoeing and found some serious flag flyers.  there were so many American flags, that i took probably 50 or 60 pictures and wanted to share them with everyone.  i am only gonna post a couple of the ones that i like the best.  

i pray that our veterans are not forgotten now that Memorial Day has passed.  We still have flag day coming up in a couple of weeks, so, i guess we can remember them on that day too...

Veterans, please know that we love you and appreciate all you do for us and for our country.  

we love you.

today was the first canoe ride! we had been planning and planning on going for weeks, but the weather has not been cooperative.

so, even though the temperature was forty degrees, we decided that we needed to take advantage of the last tuesday the kids would be in school!

with the past week i have had, this little day trip was more than wonderful. it was relaxing and renewing. anyone who knows me, knows that i have an intense curiosity with two creatures. one of those being the heron. i could just sit and stare at these birds for hours. the way they fly, the way they wade and fish...but mostly just their beauty is what draws me to them.

in our little canoe, we rowed for almost three hours. we sat in several little coves for about two. i took many pictures and was so glad to capture these pictures. this guy wanted me to photograph him. he flew where ever we were and would just pose and stare back at john and me. this day was a completely happy and adventurous day and i feel so satisfied. i think this canoe is going to be used more that we ever imagined!

i am so glad to be back on this blog that i just can't hold in my excitement! so, family and friends who have missed me for so long...i am BACK!!!!

i was wondering if i would ever post here again.

i accidentally deleted all of my software for photo's off of my computer when i was trying to save money and not take it to an expert.

guess what? i learned to take it to the experts.

hopefully, i won't be so long in posting again.

Flat Lands

arrgghh...trying to post here lately is a supreme pain in the neck....

AHHHHH...it is good to be back!

after almost a month of not being able to upload a picture, i am back. beware, because i am feeling to lost time and have taken some fan-dandy pictures! have a great day and i am going to make up for some lost time by responding to some old friends.

this picture was taken on our way home from clemson university in south carolina. we did not get a drop of snow, but boy, did south carolina.

until thursday!

Finally! SOME snow in the mountains!

well, we finally had some of the beautiful white stuff. only enough to get the kids out of school for one day, but enough to play in and make snowballs. the schools closed for kid-sympathy, i think. this is the only time our school system has closed since we have lived here in maryville!

while there was not enough snow to make a snowman or to cover the grass, there was plenty enough to admire and make the world just whimsical enough for all. i love the snow...it makes everything so enchanted and peaceful. and the laughter of all of the neighborhood kids made the whole day perfect! we are expecting more snow as the month ends, and we all hope that this time, there is enough to cover the streets! and for school to be out too!

we can only wish...