tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88416872359813639242012-01-20T18:34:32.354-08:00Miminoreply@blogger.comBlogger331100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-18005131873356009572011-12-17T11:41:00.000-08:002011-12-17T11:41:44.268-08:00

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!

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-4928496486992271952010-04-05T16:16:00.000-07:002012-01-20T11:15:07.053-08:00

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

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-50499342505502628102010-03-17T08:13:00.000-07:002011-11-26T21:35:54.842-08:00

My two sisters, mother and I try to get away every few months or so for a little trip.  We love the Great Smoky Mountains, so this is where we usually go.  We knew before we left that both Cades Cove Motor Trail and Roaring Fork roads would be closed.  Janice did some internet searching and planned for us to visit Parrot Mountain and Gardens in Pigeon Forge.  She chose well!  We had a great time

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-75981739339602267852010-03-03T08:01:00.000-08:002010-03-05T07:03:56.667-08:00

On Sunday, February 28, 2010, Janice and I joined other members of the North Alabama Photographers Guild for a photo walk through the old plant where years ago pig iron was made.  The property is packed with photography opportunities.  There are huge steel pipes, iron furnaces, dark & wet tunnels, turbines, and all sorts of equipment.  See for Yourself Texture is everywhere.  We found plenty of

Miminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-55552111913097476072010-02-24T08:03:00.000-08:002012-01-20T11:15:46.172-08:00

Susannah was born on February 15, 2006.  Time spent with her is full of discovery as she puts the pieces of life together.  When she awakened on her birthday morning, she ran to the mirror to see how much she had grown and reminded us throughout the day that she is four now. What a day!

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-62390728474099648842010-02-18T21:25:00.000-08:002012-01-20T11:31:23.680-08:00

Just discovered this site called Wordle when I visited ShadowHouse Creations. It was fun to see the wordy creations that could be made from words already present in my blog! Visit http://www.wordle.net/ Word collage created by Wordle I didn't have to sign in, just selected the create option.  There are several ways to create a wordle.  I chose to copy and paste my blog URL and

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-11756118621548144752010-02-16T15:54:00.000-08:002010-02-16T16:50:22.137-08:00

Cutest little puff ball.  I love birds.  I love watching and photographing birds.  I don't know all their names.  It's the same for me in the human world, too, especially with actors.  I have a good many favorites, but I could not tell you their names.  For me, it just doesn't matter.  I do want to learn the birds' names, though.  So here we have a Pine Warbler.  I thought it was an American

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-60750845018099595962010-02-14T11:02:00.000-08:002010-02-14T12:33:12.200-08:00

Many of us in Northeast Alabama just roll our eyes when an exurberant weather forecaster tells us about the snow headed our way. As odd as it seems, middle to southern Alabama usually gets more snow than we do, if it snows at all, because of the moisture coming up from the Gulf of Mexico. Again we rolled our eyes with the news of the approaching snow. It was predicted that the middle to

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-3836516143693050452010-01-31T21:53:00.000-08:002010-02-10T07:28:17.912-08:00

Today, hubby and I set out for adventure.  We were told about Amicalola Falls last year when we camped at Cloudland Canyon in Northwest Georgia.  So, we set out.  Amicalola Falls State Park with the tallest cascading waterfall east of the Mississippi river is located in Dawsonville, Georgia, only 3 1/2 hours drive from our home.  Yes, I'm smiling.   We had bright blue skies, a full tank of gas

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-53286206436585117262010-01-25T21:02:00.000-08:002010-01-26T07:19:27.710-08:00

You all know by now that Susannah is my honeybiscuit.  She's the "go-juice" that keeps me going.  Her smile is infectious and her tender voice can melt me like nothing else.  Her grandmother who lives in Eufaula, AL gave her a doll and a Susannah sized outfit to match the doll.  Susannah named her "daughter" Sarah.  In July, she met a distant cousin named Sarah who lives in Kansas.  Ever since

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-81284037915636246132010-01-20T20:49:00.000-08:002010-01-20T20:54:19.828-08:00

So, business was slow today.  I had extra time on my hands and began to think about hiking again.  I've fully recovered from last week's adventure in the rainy Sipsey Wilderness.  I planned to clean my boots, but then it came to my mind to shoot them instead.  Out came the camera and tripod and together with my boots we went out into the yard for a boot shoot. Processed using Photoshop

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-67084251238241714762010-01-20T11:58:00.000-08:002010-01-20T20:06:30.133-08:00

I finished knitting Susannah's scarf last night.  Next, I'll knit one for her doll, Sarah.  She'll be beside herself to have matching scarves for herself and her "daughter".

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-3231122054996688522010-01-17T09:12:00.000-08:002010-01-17T09:15:14.021-08:00

The tales are legendary.  Rough terrain.  Snakes.  Ticks.  Wild boars.  Sipsey swamp.  Live or die in Sipsey.  Well, yea, I stretched that a bit.  I think it's live or die in Dixie.  Anyway, it's rough.  Real rough. From the tales alone I know that I'll never hike there in the spring, summer or fall.  In fact, January and February will be my Sipsey months, as long as I'm in the good company of

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-69376769485294306602010-01-15T11:12:00.000-08:002010-01-15T11:16:50.573-08:00

I tried to learn to knit about 30 years ago and failed.  It has bugged me.  Not enough to keep trying, but enough to occasionally come to mind. I started trying again just before Christmas.  Probably not the best time to start something new.  After many attempts and much frustration, I turned to my friend Meagan.  I didn't know that she knitted until she gave me a handknitted scarf for Christmas

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-54169210195483630502010-01-14T21:14:00.000-08:002010-01-15T11:18:52.178-08:00

I used actions by Rita of CoffeeShop and Johnna plus some selections of my own to create this treatment of an image that I made last year of Susannah.  I love the sweetness of the vintage and tea party actions.

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-73840253340105241682010-01-14T20:50:00.000-08:002010-01-14T20:50:27.511-08:00

Bless these 3 wonderful ladies for sharing so much to help us with our photography, processing and blogs.  They are fantastic.  With their help, I have managed to eliminate the blogger navbar, resize my blog, add blog wrapper and printed background, disable right click and more. BIG ♥♥♥♥♥s to you all!!!!!

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-81696517280520065622010-01-10T13:21:00.000-08:002010-01-10T13:22:53.149-08:00

When I awakened this morning, it was 21 degrees outside.  I didn't want to brave the frigid temperatures, but I wanted to shoot.  So here ya go.  I shot my breakfast! I love peanut butter with honey on whole wheat for breakfast.  It's fast to make, and I feel full for several hours.  Using my "nifty-fifty" @ f1.8 allowed me to shoot this scene with natural light, but I wanted more.  I chose to

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-64577563394398888752009-12-29T09:23:00.000-08:002009-12-29T09:23:49.032-08:00

It was a busy year with a mixture of fun, thrills, new experiences and losses. 

Miminoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-7536034232207249462009-12-10T08:48:00.000-08:002009-12-17T17:03:58.843-08:00

Christmas decorations are all around in my neighborhood.  Houses are lighted beautifully, some in blue, some in clear, some in multi-colors.   A night drive through Rollingwood subdivision is a delight.  My granddaughter exclaims with excitement that the Pruitt's blue-lit home is "Cinderella's Castle." 

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-21934342616369158892009-12-08T19:44:00.000-08:002009-12-08T19:44:01.980-08:00

On Thanksgiving morning the flock of bluebirds returned and, as before, a few cedar waxwings were among them. I quickly set up to get a shot before they flew off to their next feast down the road.

Miminoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-27840507806998148172009-11-22T20:35:00.001-08:002009-12-08T19:56:07.172-08:00

On Saturday, November 21, 2009, we had a flock of bluebirds land in the trees and on the deck in our backyard. They feasted on the dogwood and holly berries, drank from the birdbath on the deck and flew about from branch to branch. I quickly set the camera up on my tripod and began shooting. Traveling with the bluebirds were cedar waxwings, but I did not capture them with my camera. It was the

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-57621097632643753372009-05-23T19:19:00.000-07:002009-12-08T20:11:10.295-08:00

From the Cape Royal trailhead, we walked a short distance to this view of Angels Window.  Through it, we could see the Colorado River.  

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-9764404538105484052009-05-23T19:17:00.001-07:002009-12-08T20:16:39.911-08:00

We stayed at the Grand Canyon Lodge located on the North Rim.  This is the view from the outside dining area.   I actually lost my breath for a moment.  The immensity of the canyon was too much to take in so suddenly.  We sat at this spot for about an hour.  Not talking.  Just living.

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-80397463594805328892009-05-23T18:55:00.000-07:002009-12-08T20:23:07.769-08:00

 The day after we landed in Las Vegas, we took a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon.  It was a fantastic experience.  The flight over the desert to the Canyon was great.  We landed on a plateau to enjoy some photography and exploration time.  We were served a delicious snack of fruit and cheese.  

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-74184328961313760152009-05-07T07:33:00.000-07:002009-12-08T21:08:40.837-08:00

I planted three rhododendrons in April 2006. One died the first year. One is still struggling. One is growing beautifully!  

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-46414108165459837222009-04-26T20:48:00.000-07:002009-12-09T21:35:18.629-08:00

Susannah had a lot of fun blowing bubbles and chasing them. I had a great time standing back and shooting pics of my sweet honeybiscuit!                    

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-37332563368206982082009-04-02T10:18:00.000-07:002009-12-10T18:34:51.952-08:00

We see the red-bellied woodpeckers almost everyday. This female made several stops at the suet today.

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-62651708148979412812009-03-30T20:23:00.000-07:002009-04-02T10:23:07.192-07:00

Mama squirrel was shivering on this branch just outside my home-office. I couldn't help but think she was saying, "Please sir, can you spare some nuts?"

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-32430757234065790122009-03-30T20:19:00.000-07:002009-03-30T20:22:50.883-07:00

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-24026261188018077292009-03-29T21:28:00.001-07:002009-03-29T21:30:52.129-07:00

The Pine Siskins drink from the bath, eat lots of thistle seeds and sometimes nibble at the suet.

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-32850165776475660612009-03-24T20:03:00.001-07:002009-04-03T06:02:53.506-07:00

The above pictured male Downy Woodpecker is common to our yard. We see both males and females through all seasons. They like the peanut butter suet that Mark places in the feeders.Here, a Tufted Titmouse joins a female Downy for a quick nibble.Another frequent visitor is the White-breasted Nuthatch. They are the only bird that creeps headfirst down the tree trunks. They eat suet and sunflower

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-10415749403464844522009-03-09T21:15:00.001-07:002009-03-09T21:17:17.583-07:00

Mark and I were eating breakfast on the deck today and spotted our first Yellow-bellied Sap Sucker of the year. She stayed on the same tree for about 15 minutes: eating, pecking and grooming.

Miminoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8841687235981363924.post-30479396171056141762009-02-10T20:40:00.000-08:002009-02-10T20:45:37.977-08:00

After several days of flooding rain, I visited Noccalula Falls in Gadsden.

Miminoreply@blogger.com1