God's Blessings

This is Meeko. She showed up at our house about 6-7 years ago. A stray, we don't know where she came from. Meeko just kind of took up residence in our pump house and has been here since. It reminds me of the verses in the Bible where we are told to give shelter, aid, food, and clothing to those who need it. We just accepted Meeko as ours. And I guess she accepted us as well. She got into a scrap a couple weeks ago. You can see the result in her right eye. We believe she is probably blind in this eye now. The pupil never really changes in shape or size. Meeko is such a great cat. We love her. I hate the fact that she got hurt in this fight. She has never lost one before - of course, we don't know that she lost this one either.

This is one of Meeko's kittens. I've posted a couple other shots of this kitten on this page already. She seems to like to have her picture taken. She won't let us hold her - but she'll sit still all day to get her picture made. Silly cat :)

Gator Country

Even though today is the 4th of July - my son still had to work. Not all life comes to a halt because it's a holiday :) I went into town to take Jason some lunch, knowing he was probably working alone and wouldn't be able to leave to get lunch for himself. As I rode through the University of Florida campus, I came across this guy at the intersection nearest the football stadium. I shot these pictures from my car, through an open window, at about 15 yards away. If you click on the third one and enlarge it, you can read the names of some of the people who contributed to have this Albert statue made and erected.

This tree is located in our back yard. For years the woodpeckers have lived in it, made nests in it, and raised babies in it. I haven't wanted to take the tree down because I don't know where the woodpeckers will go without it. However, looking at it closer in this photo, I guess it's time to get someone that knows what they are doing to come take the tree down before it falls and takes out our goat pen.

This beautiful mimosa tree stands right next to the woodpecker-infested rotten one. What a contrast they are to each other.

One Last Thing Today

These are some photos I took at a birthday party yesterday. Our friends have a beautiful yard with gorgeous landscaping. While the kids played games outdoors, I shot these photos. I've had my camera maybe a month now and I think I am understanding how it works a little better each time I use it. Time to get my manual out and see what else I can do with it :)

A Practice Photo Shoot

This afternoon, Kali and I did a practice photo shoot in our front yard. In a few days I am going to shoot senior pictures for a home school friend of ours and I figured I needed some practice before I actually went to do that. The first one is my favorite from the group I shot. There is a lot of shade in our yard, which helped with the photos. Out of the 40 or so shots I took, I believe these were some of the best ones. I know I have a lot to learn; I just had fun trying.

Geneva Jungle

Yesterday, my daughter and I took our cameras and headed to the local city park, which happens to be on a lake. We had fun shooting from various angles and vantage points. Neither one of us really know what we are doing, but are having fun trying out various viewpoints. I shot about 50 pictures. These are my favorites. Hopefully you can tell what they represent. I especially like the different trees. The view was incredible...but it was so hot! When we left, we went straight to McDonald's for ice cream and milk shakes :)

My Mom

This is my mom and my daughter. My mom currently lives in an assisted living facility. She has her own room and she has really turned it into a "home". When she moved in, we brought her own furniture from her house and many of the things she loved, so she would feel like this room was truly her "new home". She has filled it with dolls, crocheted pieces, and knick knacks that she loves. She likes to sit the doll on her walker and stroll through the facility, sharing her doll with the many friends she has made there. Quite a few of them are doll collectors like she is :) . The flower plaque hangs on the wall in her hallway. It is something that I really like there. I think it's beautiful.

A Few Photos

The top photo is of a strange caterpillar Jason found on our porch. I thought he was cool looking. He didn't like me though, so he rolled up into a ball. The second picture is of another one I found at a different time. I found the wing on Mark's fish-cleaning table. And, the last picture is one of our kittens - all ready for a new home ... somewhere else :)

A Rainy Afternoon

It rained today. It has been so dry and we really needed the rain. We live in the fire range and two of the last three years we had to evacuate because of the fires. So, when we need rain - we need rain. Thankfully, God has blessed us several days in the past week with an afternoon rain. Today I went out and took the pictures above. Of course, I took about 20 in order to get the 3 you see here :) My learning seems to be a slow process, but I am steadily working on it.

Lastly for today, this is a picture that Pam took with my camera - part of her birthday flowers :) . I edited the photo of the entire bouquet into these two photos. Happy birthday, Pam!

Go Tell - Toccoa Falls, Georgia

For the past week, many of the students at our church have been away for Go Tell Camp at Toccoa Falls, Georgia. They just got home last night and my daughter showed me the photographs she took. I have posted my favorite ones here. There were a lot of decisions made at camp. The first photo is of our youth pastor, sitting by the beautiful lake doing his morning devotions. The best way to start any day. The next photo is of my daughter with Rev./Dr. Jimmy Scroggins. We met him at Boyce College when we went for a family preview weekend. When he saw Kali at Go Tell, he called her out by name - recognizing her from Boyce. We really, really like him :) Then there are a couple more photos of the lake and some beautiful flowers there - I believe they are hydrangeas. And, the last is a "mom" photo - because I always take pictures of what we had to eat - random, I know, and probably crazy, oh well...

A Few Random Shots

I went out of town for the day to visit my mother who lives in an assisted living complex. As we were walking around inside her building, we noticed this dove sitting on one of the bird feeders, looking for a way to get to the bird seed. The first picture I shot through the window. Then I got brave and opened the door a few inches. The dove didn't fly away, so I shot the second photo. Then as we continued walking through the building, we came across Tobey, the bird in the cage. Tobey belongs to one of the nurses. He comes to work with her each day and enjoys the residents, then goes home with the nurse each night. He really is a bright spot for many of the residents there. There is always someone talking to Tobey. Today he tried to eat my camera as I snapped pictures of him :)