Indian Cigars

Indian Cigars, a photo by Mimi Mia Photography on Flickr.

Recently, my husband and I walked a few miles along the Chief Ladiga Trail in Piedmont, Alabama.

He was excited to find these Catalpa trees aka Catawba trees aka Indian Cigar trees growing along Nance's Creek near the 12 1/2 mile marker of the trail.

He has some vivid memories of taking these "cigars" into their good friend's club house and trying to smoke them. As he says, "That was not a good idea"!

A little later in the Summer, many caterpillars will be chewing on the leaves of the catalpa tree. According to some, the caterpillars make some might fine bait for catching catfish. In fact, one of the nicknames for the catalpa worm is "catfish candy."

My guess is if we return when the tree is heavy with caterpillars, the creek will have plenty of catfish.

Have any of you had experiences with Indian cigars or catfish candy?

My Darlings

This year we were blessed with the birth of our second grandchild, Samantha June Frederick.  With Christmas approaching, I decided to make a slideshow featuring some images of our first granddaughter Susannah, our son Sam, daughter-in-law Jenny and our newbie Samantha.

To my darlings . . . Merry Christmas!

"But I don't like polka dots. This dress is for babies!"

Our 4 years old Susannah thinks she's just about grown.  Now all of the usual exclamations like "Oh, that's so cute" or "Come on over here, baby" send her into teacher mode where she lets us know that the word "cute" is for babies.  She is not a baby.  She is 4 years old. 

In her opinion, her Easter dress was cute.  It is pink with white polka dots and it's cute.  Cute is for babies.  She did not want her picture taken while wearing the cute dress.  After much persuasion, she put on a smiley face, her new almost high-heeled wedge sandals and her cute Easter dress.  She quickly wanted out of the model business to go play.   I finally convinced her to let me make more pictures (since I need 25 or more to be sure that half a dozen or so are keepers).

After a lot of funny faces, weird poses and typical stick-your-tongue-out-at-the-photographer shenanigans, Susannah stepped up for some super shots when I told her that I'd do what I could to get her picture on a magazine cover.  WHAT had I just promised her?  WAS I out of my mind?  WILL I stop at nothing to get a few good pictures for all of us to show our friends and anyone else who will stay still long enough for me to whip out my little photo book?

So here ya go.  Take a look at our Easter photo session.