Last of the bridge pics...

.

More pics of the bridge...

(another post with bridge pics coming soon)

One of my favorite spots....

I wanted to share a couple of pictures from one of my favorite spots in my hometown. There is a beautiful nature trail on one of the mountains that just screams to be photographed. My family often goes up there to fish or have a picnic (but only seniors and children can fish the lake). I can remember as a child running the trails... feeding the fish... and having an adventure or two in the old houses and buildings along the trail. I have to say, however, that as an adult and photographer the coolest bit of the trail is the old covered bridge that spans a narrow section of the lake.












.

Today's Random Pic...

Yours truly at the Brave's game....




(Picture taken by my nephew Dustin)


.

A few pics from the game...

.

Things missed...

I am asked (almost) on daily basis what I miss from America. Beyond any doubt missing family (and old friends) is at the top of the list.... having said this, there are a lot of little things that I do miss. These other little things are not anything that I can't live without... but when I get to have them I really enjoy every bit of them. So... (from time to time ) I am going to start sharing them in no particular order.


BASEBALL

I have often talked with Irish friends about this wonderful sport, but unfortunately it is one of those things that can't be truly appreciated or learn about on the TV. The TV never really captures the speed of the ball... the sound of a bat cracking... the taste of sunflower seeds... the cheer of the crowd... the warmth of a summer's breeze... or the distance the ball travels for a home run. Watching baseball on TV is like reading about love... you have to really experience it first hand to really appreciate it.

When we first moved to Ireland I had some baseball withdrawals. It was just strange to not know what was going on, and to not even realize that the world series was going on... There was one particular day, however, during our first summer when I thought that I had made an amazing discovery. We had the 'North American Sports Channel'! It was a beautiful summer's day... we had all of our windows open... I was wearing shorts... and I even had some sunflower seeds! I settled into our little two seater couch.... propped my feet up on the coffee table and started to watch the game! I can't tell you how excited I was! That is.......... until the end of the first inning when the 'free view' ended and the channel turned off.

Since that time I have really had to let go of baseball. I know that I could pay to watch it online... or I could pay for the channel and watch live games at 2 am.... but it just wouldn't be the same... and I just wouldn't have any other baseball fans around to talk about it with.... :(

Wipe the tear from your eye... I have survived without baseball. In fact, I have adapted and found a love for other sports (rugby, soccer and the gaelic sports).

This summer, however, I really have fallen back in love with the game. I have gotten to see my nephew play a few games (in fact we are going to one tonight), and while in Atlanta last weekend I was able to go to my first Braves' game (but more about that later)!



My nephew (Brandon) saving the game by striking out the last batter of the game while the bases were loaded!




My niece (Brooke) on her tippy toes watching the action! She is a baseball fan in the making!


.

Today's Random Pic...

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.... not really....







.

Happy Birthday - Mom!!!

Just a quick note to wish my mom a happy Birthday! I'm so glad that I get to celebrate and spend the day with you! I love you!





.

Fishing with dad...

I had a great time fishing with Dad on Thursday evening. We went to his favorite little spot down on the Tennessee River. This rocky bend in the river is a sacred spot to my family. It is where my dad's uncle would take him when he was a child…





Each summer (from about the age of 8 onward) my dad would ride the bus from the inner city Birmingham up to a little town for a week of county life with his extended family. My dad has told me many stories about these yearly adventures into the countryside of Alabama, but I think the most meaningful moments were the evenings he spent on the river.






My dad has passed down his love of fishing this little bend of the river to me and now also to a couple of my nephews. There is something amazing about sitting there on a rock… cane pole in your hand… several fish in the basket… watching the cork dance on the waves as they reflect the pink skies… I only wish that I could go more often.



.

The results:

Dad with his prize fish...







.

Happy B - day!

Just a quick note to wish my dad a Happy Birthday! We are going to head to his favorite spot on the Tennessee River and fish away his birthday... hopefully I'll have some pics of big fish!






.

Pulling the camera back...

Several months ago I posted a little post where I pulled the camera back and showed you what was going on beside me... I thought that I would do it again.



The other day I stopped on the side of the road to take some pictures... many of which I absolutely love! There was hardly a whisper of wind and the heat of the summer's day had not really set in yet. I walked along the road admiring the wildflowers and chasing the butterflies that were clumsily going from flower to flower. Tn the end I feel like the pictures that I took really capture the peace and beauty of that summer's day.




Here is the picture that I took:


.





This is what was continuously going on right behind me:






.

Birthday...

Thank you to everyone that sent me an E-card or email wishing me a happy birthday. My family surprised me (and my mom and dad) on Sunday with a birthday pool party. We had a great afternoon of playing Marko Pollo, hanging out together, and eating cookie cake. I can't believe that I have turned another year older.... but the sting was lessened by being able to celebrate with my family!




Here is a picture of me with three of my nieces (and my dad getting in on the picture)






This is Gracie... she was not invited to the pool party...





.

Today's Random Pic...

.

Today is not the day of days....

As a kid I always dreaded that fateful day when summer would come to an end and I would be forced to go back to school. I remember that strange nervous feeling that seemed to grow in the pit of my stomach as the day crept closer and closer.... Well... believe it or not, public schools started back this week (in my hometown). As a child, I can remember thinking how great it would be when I would not have to go to school... now that I am well on the other side of adulthood I need to say that not going to school is far better than I had ever imagined!

Having said this... I am sad to see the schools reopen. In a way I feel like summer is coming to an end. We are going to be going to see my family again soon and it is going to be a bit sad to have all my nieces and nephews in school all day.

Fair play to Walmart…

Many of you know that I am not a fan of Walmart… actually I despise Walmart. I hate it’s “take over the world put out the little guy” mentality. I am repulsed by it’s cold warehouse feeling… and yes, I detest the way every store looks exactly the same!

But… like a moth to the flame or like a dog returns to it’s vomit I am always drawn in by the lethal combination of convenience and low prices. Inevitably I hang my head in shame and end up “running to Walmart”. The sting of going to this leviathan of shops was lessened a bit this week when I noticed that they are replacing some of the rarely recycled plastic bags with cloth reusable bags! All of Ireland made this change several years ago by taxing the customer for each plastic bag used. The change was amazing… Less rubbish on the side of the roads… and less non-biodegradable rubbish to deal with.

So... this morning I am a step closer to liking Walmart!

.

Here are a few of my favorites... (candids)

My mom and dad





Mom and Dad after the photo shoot...





Girls under the age of 18....
We had a few picture crashers join the group!





My beautiful niece (Bailey)
I love this candid shot because I think it makes her look very model-like.


.

Ok... a few more...

Dad and my niece Brooke





My nieces Lauren and Lydia





The women





The men (pic by Dee)