The Family

Since I haven't posted in awhile, I thought I at least try to get some pics up from my latest visit. Johnny is now 11 months old and is just a sweetie! He always seems to have this huge smile on his face, and he has found his tongue... he sticks it out when that smile pops!

Kaylee is 14 now and a typical teenager... bored with everything and everyone! She is staying with Mom and Dad and (trying)patiently to wait for her Mom to come up. She thinks I am old and outdated, but I think I surprised her with my music tastes...I may not know all the music she likes, but I showed her I can pick a good song or two, also! She likes EMO... I bet she didn't think I knew what that was! HAHAHA!

Katie is the best Mom. She takes very good care of lil' Johnny, and she and I get along very well. JD picked a good one!

JD is a wonderful father, too. Johnny has JD wrapped around his little finger! They even have matching cowboy hats!

Dad is very busy in his huge garden. He works from sun-up to sun-down out there..I helped plant some corn while I was visiting... he also put in beans and raspberries, too! I know he has waited for the nice weather to return so he could play in the dirt again!

Mom is busy with D U P.... (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers) She is even an officer in her "camp"... that is what they call their groups. I think she really enjoys it... she was telling me that she would be going up to SLC to an all-day event with all the other "camps"... sounds interesting, huh!

Greetings from the Moon!

These are photos I took of the lunar eclipse taken 2/20/08.... they really aren't as good as I had hoped they would be.....there were clouds moving in and a storm was a 'brewin'.... but I did the best I could and I can at least say I did it! Full moon rising

Shadow of earth beginning to move across the moon. almost half- way there!
Getting darker!

Showing signs of the reddish-orange eclipse!
Camera is struggling to capture the moon now....
I swear I was using a tripod!
Best pic I have of the full eclipse!
oooops! Did the moon move? Or is it just "mooning" me....???

Well, so much for my astrology lesson in photos.... At least I can say I was there and now I can prove it!

Heeeeeeeeere's Johnny!

As promised, here are some pics of li'l Johnny. As his auntie Stacey, I am obligated to brag and say how very handsome he is and that he is smart as a whip, cute as a button, and is as sweet as Southern sweet tea! But in reality, he is all that and alot more!!! heeheehee He has stolen my heart, as well as all his grandparents, aunts and uncles, and, of course, his mommy and daddys'!!! Just look at that smile! ^ I know y'all haven't seen a sweeter expression than this one! Bless his little heart!
This is one of my favorite pics... he is looking at, and might I add, talking to the Christmas tree!

He loves my camera, and my camera loves him, too!
Mommys are simply the best!
Look mommy! I can put my entire fist into my mouth! ( such talent... and so young, too!)

Sorry, but I have to brag on l'il Johnny! He is my l'il pumpkin!!!

Welcome to the new year!

Christmas was a blast... I surprised Mom and Dad and came "home" for a visit! Mom cried, of course, and Dad was glad to see me. I enjoyed my trip, but didn't have time to go see all my friends. (Mona is kinda a long way from anywhere) JD and Katie and I all drove down Christmas Eve and we were able to spend a few days hangin' out.

I took family pics and we had them framed for Mom and Dad's present. Li'l Johnny is now 6 months old and is as cute as a button! JD is just about the best Dad I've seen... he does bathtime and dirty diapers, too! Katie is a great Mom and gives him just the right amount of love!

Me, I just enjoyed being where I could finally have a WHITE CHRISTMAS for a change! I just couldn't get enough of that blissful white stuff! I know, I know.... just give it a winter or two of it, and I'll be sick of it, right???? But I tell you, it sure makes for some great photo ops!

We had some time to take pics of Mom and Dad, too. They have both been dieting for the last year and are now waifs. Not me, though, so you won't get to see my fat butt today! lol.... Dad also shaved his beard and has a goatie now! He really looks great, I think!

It was nice to be around family this year and makes me think about how much I've missed the last 21 years living here in the South. Don't get me wrong, I do love Georgia, but I am at a point in my life now where I am thinking I need to be closer to my parents. Rogers parents are both gone now, and I don't want to have any regrets about not having been closer if ( God forbid) anything should happen. Roger is wanting to move to Utah, too, but I am not pushing him this time. It will have to be at his own pace and when he is ready it will happen.

In the meantime, I took these pics to help him to long for the country! This isn't far from Mom and Dad's place... it is Mount Nebo. They don't see this view from the house, but they do see it from a different angle standing on there back porch.

This one was taken up Salt Creek Canyon on the Nebo Loop. It was very cold this day, but I was all smiles!

This is another view in Salt Creek Canyon.

I will post more pics of the baby in a few days. I took a TON of him! Of course, by the next time I see him, I am sure he won't look a thing like he did at Christmas time! DANGIT!

Merry Christmas Friends and Family! I always think of the wonderful times I have had on Christmas, and the "little things" that bring me such joy during this season. I often look around to find the smallest reminders that it isn't what I receive or give as a gift, but the gifts that are all around me in sights, sounds and smells. Like the tree, for instance. Just the smell of a Christmas tree can trigger such good thoughts and remembrances of the past. Christmas carols and songs are playing at my home pretty much 24/7. I know Roger gets bored with it, but I sure don't! I love jingle bells, twinkling lights, red bows, green garland, icicles, flannel sheets, baking cookies, the smell of nutmeg and cinnamon and clove, singing to the music playing in the background, wrapping presents, a crackling fire, making pinecone treats for the birds, and A WHITE CHRISTMAS !!!! ( which is pretty hard to get around Atlanta!)

Bandit wants a live squirrel, cat, or bunny for Christmas this year. He thinks if he is a good boy, Santa will leave him one! ( yeah, right!)

From our home to yours, we wish y'all the very best time this Christmas and a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Happy Thanksgiving Y'all !!!

Thought you might enjoy a few of my recent pics.... Although we have had one of the driest seasons on record, we have had one of the most colorful fall seasons I can remember since I moved here 21... (ugh!) years ago! Yeah, I said it. 21 years..... I hope not to make it to 22, though.

Oak leaves ^

Sugar Maples outside our office building.... and I have a huge window to look at them, too!

Artsy angle photography!

Color color color! How do you name this one? Orange? Red? Orangy-reddish-pinky-yellow?

I liked the leaves on this maple.... yellow with broun edges! Nice contrast, I think.

As they say here in the Ol'e South.....

Please Pass the cornbread dressin' and some of that there Sweet Potatoe Souffle' honey-chile'...oh! and would ya pass them thar beans 'n greens? They are smack-yo'-mama good!

Boy, am I thirsty!!

So, as most of you have heard, we here down in the South are in a big drought. But what most of you may not know, is how serious of a drought it really is. Our lakes are nearly empty, and we hear daily that the supply may be gone in less than three months. ( that is IF the Army Corp of Engineers continues to release the amounts of water they have been releasing from our dams.)
I took my camera and found some areas very close to me that were shocking to say the least.
This photo shows both the lake and the sign that shows the park closed sign due to low water. This park has a boat ramp that hasn't been used since early this summer. This photo shows how the levels of the water have changed. I could wade through this if I wanted to.

This pic was taken from the top of a boat ramp overlooking Lake Allatoona .

this view shows the dry lakebed. Sad, huh!

Fun in the summer sun? If you like hiking to the waters edge! Not to mention the dead fish stench in the air!

Long story short: Please help us by praying for rain! Even our Gov. Sonny Perdue has called for prayer causing trouble from all the athiests! Let's show them who is really in charge!