April Events and my one year blog anniversary

My very first post was on April 30, 2008. It was the end of the month and I had been very busy that month so I just started with my monthly events and that is how I got started doing a monthly events post at the end of each month. I started with just the Photography By Leedra blog and then later exported that blog to Leedra's Photos For Fun. At that time I stopped posting every day to Photography By Leedra blog, but continued posting a minimum of one post a day to Leedra's Photos For Fun. At Leedra's Photos For Fun I have posted a total of 723 post, counting the ones exported. Since making the change I have also posted an additional 50 post at Photography By Leedra blog, with almost 21,000 visitors there. So far since exporting to Leedra's Photos For Fun I have had 7550 visitors here. I want to thank all of you that have helped me along the way to make my blogging adventure so enjoyable. I have made so many friends with the same interest as I have.

The first weekend in April was beautiful spring weather. Jimmy and I worked out in the yard all day on Saturday. We even transplanted some fruit trees from a church friend's yard to our yard. Couple of peach and old fashioned plum trees. The friend had been mowing around them for a year and we all decided it was warm enough weather to move them. First of the next week we had temperatures in the 20s with snow. The dogwoods were beginning to bloom and we should have thought about 'dogwood winter' as it is called in east Tennessee. It does appear that 2 of them might not make it, but we have a least one of each type he gave us.

Because of the snow I took off for the smokies to get some photos. Had a nice time photographing the deer, wild turkey, pileated woodpeckers and old cabins in Cades Cove. I had to head home so I could go to work that evening and on the way home I found some wildflowers just beginning to bloom. I was excited about that. Last year I went to the Wildflower Pilgrimage in the GSMNP. I really enjoyed it, and learned so much about the wildflowers, but I was not able to attend this year. I could not plan ahead enough to register for 2 reasons. First Wendy pregnant with her first child. Second, I am management with AT&T and we have been put on restrictive vacation due the possibility of an employee strike. We were told last year that we were not allowed to make any vacation plans after April 1 of this year unless it could be cancelled. That is the main reason we took 3 weeks vacation in February.

When I saw those wildflowers then I wanted to see what all I could find. The next weekend Jimmy and I went to Panther Creek State Park (late Easter Sunday evening) and the following day I returned to the GSMNP to visit some of the trails I went on last year during the wildflower pilgrimage. The following weekend Jimmy and I went back to the GSMNP in search of wildflowers, we were not disappointed. I have been sharing some of the wildflower photos on the blog, but still have lots more to go through.

Somewhere in the middle of all that a friend at work ordered some cards using photos from my blogs. When I brought them in everybody started picking out Mother's Day cards, and from there it just kind of took off. In 2 different offices across town from each I sold 131 cards and 2 8x10 photographs during April. There have been over 1100 visitors to Leedra's Greeting Cards blog.

I also have been working on my web site, with the new software I am using it is so much more 'user friendly' for finding the right photos for my cards. I still have a long way to go in getting all the photos loaded that I need to, but I am beginning to be happy with the result. Please click here to go straight to the nature photograph home page, which has a list of my photos. Now that I have this software that I can do more with, I am considering adding the greeting cards to the web site too.

We have been on baby watch all month. With false labor a couple of times. Any day now we are going to have us a new grand baby. To follow Wendy's blog, please click here. Her original due date was May 6, but there had been some indication that he might arrive early. That date has come and gone, still no baby. So I guess we are now waiting on the due date they told Wendy to begin with. She really wants to have him before Mother's Day, for obvious reasons.

March Events

The first week of March I was still trying to catch up with the blogs I missed while I was gone, and getting new post going for my own blog. It just almost was too much. I did finally get caught up, and then I started going back to Rockwood part time. For new comers to my blog, Rockwood is where my husband is during the week. It is 85 miles from home, and is 54 miles from my work, so I only try to go a couple of times during the work week. The plant Jimmy works at is 92 miles from home, that is the reason we bought the house in Rockwood. Hopefully, he will be retiring in 5 years.

I kind of think of Rockwood as my Lynne's Hasty Brook, the property that she has a camper on. There is no internet service at the house in Rockwood, which means before I go to Rockwood for a couple of days I have to prepare my blog post. But there are birds there, more than at my home. The house is coming along, not quite camping like Lynne does at Hasty Brook, but it was not livable when we first bought it. Jimmy could live with the bare basics, and he moved in 2 months after we bought it. I am trying to make it our 2nd home for the duration. The birds are more plentiful there than at home, that is probably because of all the mature trees on the property. I don't have a lot to do there (and I can't get on the computer) so I don't feel guilty when I just set up the photographer's blind and sit until the birds decide to pay me a visit. The first Saturday I sat in it off and on all day. In between times in the blind I knitted on the baby blanket for the grandbaby we are waiting on.

This month in my backyard at Rockwood I saw

Brown Headed Nuthatch

Northern Cardinal

Eastern Bluebird

Purple Finch (new lifer for me)

White Throated Sparrow (new lifer for me)

Downy Woodpecker

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Mockingbird

Carolina Chickadee

Titmouse

Flycatcher (not id'd yet, may be a new lifer)

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Mourning Dove

Pine Siskin

Cedar Waxwing (only one day)

Jimmy has described another bird, but I have not seen it yet. Can't even figure out what it is by his description, so I will be on the lookout for it this week. Birding is so much fun!

Wendy is to the point of "are you sure he is not due until early May?" I remember those last weeks of pregnancy and thinking that every morning when I got up. Wendy's baby shower was the 2nd weekend in the month, so she has gotten her nursery ready this month. You can see her nursery on her post, here. I finished her 2nd baby blanket Sunday evening.

Early in the month I messed up my website REALLY bad. So since I had already made a mess of i Wendy suggested I convert my part to the same software she had used for Heirloom Goods. The picture is Wendy trying to straighten out all that mess for me. She has her husband on the phone. We didn't succeed, we had to wait for Lukas to get home from work. He is the software genious in the family. He did wonders with my Vista computer and this software. I have been working every since trying to get my web site back in order, it is going much better now, but I have lots of nature photographs to load to it.

February Events

Well you all know I went on vacation for 3 weeks at the beginning of February. I posted the beginning of the trip yesterday, and I have lots more to post. Since I took 4053 photos I will be sorting through them for a while yet. We arrived back home Saturday evening the 21st. We woke up to snow the next morning and I couldn't get out of the photographing mode so off we went to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I have already shared those photographs this week, because I figured (hopefully) we are going to be out the cold weather real soon and won’t be wanting to look at snow photos.

The good news when we both returned to work on Monday was we both do still have our jobs. The bad news was they are still so far apart from each other. Jimmy's job still being 92 miles from home. The 2nd home bought for that reason (in Rockwood) is progressing. Jimmy finished the kitchen floor this week.

Do you know how long it takes to do the laundry after a 3 week vacation? Neither do I, because I am not done yet.

I really enjoyed all the comments from everybody visiting while I was gone. Before I left on vacation I promised when I returned that I would catch up with all of you to see what you had been doing while I was gone. I did not think about how time consuming looking at all the blogs for the last month would be. So please be patient with me, I have been working on it a little each day and try to post to my own blog. I am glad I decided to do this because I have seen some real interesting post since I returned.

After that cold welcome home it has been fairly nice this week, with Thursday feeling like spring outside. I did wander around the yard and take a few daffodil photos on that day. The only ones blooming here are on the bank at the front of our property, the sun hits that bank so direct that they always bloom first. I have lots of daffodils so you will be seeing them soon. Jimmy arrived home early Friday afternoon and it was another pretty day so as I left to go to work he cleaned out my flowerbeds. So now they will be ready for photography when the blooms start. I have not been to Rockwood since we returned (too much to do here) but Jimmy says the daffodils are in bloom all over the property there. That is probably what got him in the mood to cleanup the flowerbeds here. I hope to get to Rockwood next week to see and photograph them along with my birds I have missed the last month. The photo above was taken at Rockwood, in the backyard.

I am not a winter person so it was great to be close to the equator during winter, just so hard to come back to 17 degrees the first night. I am ready for spring.

January Monthly Summary

We started January with a family breakfast. John and Lindsey went to a church function on New Year’s Eve and I had to work, so Papa Jimmy had Mason to himself. I am sure it was the first of many times to come. They spent the night at our house so we had us a big breakfast, and spent most of the day together. A great way to begin the new year.

We received our passports the 2nd, and started making plans for a trip to the Panama Canal. We leave tomorrow morning to Florida to board the ship on Tuesday. The cruise will last 10 days, then we will go to our time share in St Pete Beach for a week.

I started my new blog this month and am still working on cleaning up my original blog. I want to make it easier to find photographs worthy of framing and using in my greeting cards. So I first used bloggers new export/import tool and sent the whole blog to my new blog (the one you are on) and then started removing some of the post from the original blog. All of the post are staying on the Photos For Fun blog. I have also prepared post for the 3 weeks we will be gone, so I hope all of you will visit and leave comments while I am gone. I will catch up with your blogs when I return.

This month Shelley has given us all a big scare about our photos stored on our computers. I have gotten all my photographs transferred to the external hard drive. That was quite a job, even with the majority of them already there. Just hope it doesn't crash. Now I am thinking maybe I need two external hard drives, surely they wouldn't both crash at the same time.

The house in Rockwood is finally livable, Jimmy spent his first night there on the 12th. The following weekend we spent most of the weekend there. On Saturday Jimmy and I went to Ozone Falls, which is located between Betsy and George and our house in Rockwood. Come spring we will have to meet them there one day. I was surprised as cold as it was the little parking area was full of vehicles when we left. Guess everybody was like us, they wanted to see Ozone with some water tumbling over. Came home late Saturday evening so we could go to church on Sunday. After an afternoon with the family we went back to Rockwood.

I have seen lots of birds at Rockwood, it may turn out to be my bird haven.
So far I have seen and photographed…
American Goldfinch
Brown Headed Nuthatch
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Bluebird
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Chickadee
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Mourning Dove
Cedar Waxwing
Pine Siskin
Carolina Wren
Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
The last 4 are new birds to my lifer list.

So this month has been a very exciting birding month.

I did some photography assignment work 3 different days for

Safe n’ Sound Creative Technologies.

This afternoon we will be celebrating Mason's first birthday with a family party.

He was sick on his birthday, but has improved enough that we all plan on having a great time. He has been taking a few steps by himself, maybe he will take off today!

December Events

I went to Cades Cove on the 2nd because it snowed a little and wanted to capture some photographs of that snow. I have posted lots of photographs from that trip.

On the 4th Mason (10 month old grandson) had minor surgery. I was worried way too much, I know God is in control. Mason did great, slept a lot that afternoon, but after that couldn't even tell he had anything done. God is great, and I need to remember that at all times.

The 2nd weekend we had all my husband's siblings and their spouses for Christmas (there are 9 siblings). We had a great time.

Middle of the month Wendy and Lukas found out their baby is a boy. Wendy has a blog and currently she doesn't post much else, she (they) are so excited about this baby. You can visit her at http://www.articulateonpaper.blogspot.com/ to see her latest photographs. The baby is due early May 2009.

The weekend before Christmas we went to Georgia for my family Christmas, and as always there was a large crowd. We love seeing the little ones opening the packages. My nephew, Trip, always gets so excited about his John Deere item I always get him. You would think it is his first John Deere tractor or wagon, etc. I get him something John Deere every year because it is so much fun seeing how excited he gets. Someday I am sure he will outgrow it, but we will still have these memories. The other children all enjoy theirs too, but Trip is so excited that it excites us all.

Christmas is always great, and this year was no exception. With Mason's first Christmas we were all excited, and Jimmy and I were at their house when Mason got his Santa gifts too. Just think what it will be like next year with 2 grandsons.

For Mason's first Christmas they had to have Christmas cards with a family photo. You can click here to see their family portrait I took for them to use. The day I took these portrait shots Mason was just beginning to stand without holding on.

I asked for a photographer's blind for Christmas. I got a 2 seater, hunters blind. Told Jimmy since he bought a 2 seater he has to go and sit with me and be quiet. Not going to happen! He doesn't know how to sit still. In time when I learn enough about the proper place to be with it, and I get a lot of activity he might be willing to go with me beacuse he can see the birds so good and doesn't have to use binoculars. Until then, I am sure I am on my own. I have already been trying it out, the photographs shown here were taken from the blind. The blind was sitting in the middle of my deck, because I haven't trained the birds where I want them to be. Working on that one.

The day after Christmas Jimmy and I applied for passports, and both gave blood at the local blood bank. If we are going to leave the country we figured we should give blood before we go, so while it was on our minds and we had some time off we went on over to the blood bank. More about that if the trip does happen. Still waiting for Jimmy's time off approval, which hopefully will happen on Monday when his boss returns to work.

And of course the work on the home 'away from home' is progressing. This month we got wiring redone, public water and gas to the house, indoor plumbing , including a hot water heater,toilet (YES!), and bathroom sink, roof, gutters, a heat unit installed. It is becoming more than a COLD shell of a house. Not quite livable yet, but it is getting real close. Did I say toilet? Oh yeah, already said that. I have been checking out the bird population and am happy to say it looks like I will be keeping my camera at ready.

While Jimmy was working on the house I finally went through the photographs I took at Perry's Water Lily Farm on July 4th. Have posted some to help us through this dreary looking December. And will probably be posting some more shortly.

This is my 548th post for 2008, and my last. Not bad since I started in late April. I hope I have added some joy to your blogging adventure this year, and hope to see all of you in 2009.

Happy New Year to all!!!

November Events

Well, so much has happened this month is seems I should have kept a journal so I could even remember it all.

We left Florida coming home on the first. Hated to leave beautiful Florida but work calls us back.

On the first Friday we closed on our 'new' home. I think I have confused some people about this, so I will take this opportunity to explain the situation. If not interested, it is not required reading. No test later. It is only our home away from home. Jimmy works 92 miles from home, so we needed a place for him to live the next 5 or 6 years until retirement age. His company does not plan on keeping him on expense forever. They would have bought our house and moved us, but we did not want to give up our home we just custom built 2 years ago. At the time we built we didn't know job would be moving. He will only spend the night Monday-Thursday (as he has now been doing for a year). He will be at home during the weekends. I will live at home, except on the occassion I go and spend a night or two during the week. We still don't have it ready to live in. We bought it with no water lines, water heater, heat, gas lines, gutters, and not much of a roof. The only think usable in the kitchen are the cabinets (have to be refinished), but the counter tops and floor will be totally replaced. The dishwasher was even missing. Jimmy's employer has been great they said no rush. He can still stay in the motel until it is livable. We did find out the gas heat unit had been supplied by propane (tank gone), and the water must have been well (although no signs of one anywhere on the property). So we are having public pipelines installed for natural gas and public water. The roofers have still not shown up, hopefully soon. Been working on the outside trim wood, some has to be replaced, then all has to be painted before gutters. Gutters will be after the roof is completed. Best part of the house is the main bathroom. It is tile, and I have not found a cracked tile yet. It is early 60's tile, but these colors are back in, pink and brown. The whole thing sounds terrible, but the house really is a solid built, full brick house. Jimmy is the greatest handy man, so he is doing a lot of the work. Click here for the post with photos. 1.68 acres of land, trees with that heavy mast crop this year of acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, buckeyes, and probably some more we don't even know about yet. Lots of birds just hanging around for me and my camera. Already seen a woodpecker, can't wait to get some feeders out and see what comes out of those woods.

I had a birthday this month, no biggie. Did some Christmas shopping that day.

Thanksgiving day Jimmy was at the home away from home working, as it was a beautiful day in this part of the world.

Thanksgiving at our house was on Friday instead of Thursday. The children, spouses and grandchild came for the day. Had a great time with them, as we always enjoy them coming. They brought a Wii game and we all had fun playing tennis, boxing and bowling.

The photo of the squirrel at the top was taken late last month at Lake Seminole Park in Seminole, Florida.

October Events --- Happy Halloween

The funny part, is I took this photograph in August, in Spring City, Tennessee. I also got caught at it by the home owner. Oh, well!

I started October the same way I ended September, with the computer blues. It has gotten better. I was tagged this month, and I reluctantly played this game. I was ganged up on by 3 of my blogging buddies. I have to admit, once I finally found the time to sit down and prepare everything I did enjoy it. But I still did not pass it along. If you want to play you can retrieve it from here and play. I was suppose to pass it to 7 people, so don't be bashful.

At the beginning of the month, not only were gas prices still sky high, but there was fear of not being able to get gas. So the first week I only went to Spring City to be with Jimmy one night. Spring City is twice as far from work as my home is, and is in the opposite direction. The rest of the month I went 2 nights each week. Gas prices did go down, but so did the stock market.

Was able to go to Duck, Duck, Goose with my daughter in anticipation of the baby to be. Didn't think I could let the Monthly events go by without mentioning we have our 2nd grandchild on the way did you?

October isn't October in East Tennessee unless you make it the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to see the colors. I went the first Monday morning, was a little disappointed, but not to be put off. I went the next Monday and Tuesday. You have been seeing those photographs throughout October. I even went one more time the last week before we left on vacation. I have not even begun to go through those photographs. Know all the colors will be gone by the time I return.

We left to St Pete on Friday, October 24. Before we got out of Spring City our realtor called to tell us the offer we had made on a house had been accepted. We ended out leaving later than we had planned due to faxing back and forth. We stopped in Atlanta to get Mama. Hope you have been enjoying my beach photographs taken in June. Decided I better go through those, in hopes of coming home with lots more of the birds at the beach and Lake Seminole Park. And I have, so far 2 different Osprey, Black and White Warbler, Broad Winged Hawk (I think), White Ibis, several different Herons and Egrets, Cormorant and Anhinga, male and female Red Bellied Woodpecker. Keep looking for the Spoonbill, but so far have not seen any.

Whoops, forgot Mason. How could I forget Mason? He is special, we love spending time with him. They say all grandchildren are special for different reasons, he is because he came first. The next one will be because he/she will be 2nd. And so on!

September Events

We started September with a visit to Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park on Labor Day. There I photographed the scenery, deer, Copperheads, dragonflies, butterflies and turkey. We had a great time that day, enjoyed being together.

On the first Saturday we went to a part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park we had never been to before. It is Cataloochee Cove, in NC. We went to see the elk, and had a great time. If you have been following this blog you saw numerous photos of the elk at the cove. If you are new to my blog you might want to look back for the Elk photos.

On Sunday afternoon we went to Panther Creek State Park, close to home. Didn't get alot of photographs, but we had a good time wondering around the park.

The next weekend gas prices had hit a high, and we stayed home. It was my husband's birthday and we celebrated with family. We also had something else to celebrate, but you probably know this too, if you have been following my blog. Wendy (daughter) is pregnant, this event had been a long time getting here. We are all so excited for her. I still get teary EVERY time I think about it. You can see her announcement of this, here. And then another announcement the next week here of the twins.

The last weekend of the month we went to the Balloon Festival in Knoxville. I was greatly disappointed. I think it might have been due to the weather, but they didn't make me believe it. They never did take off, they just stayed on the ground. Said there was not enough wind. They had a "Balloon Glow" at 8:15pm, but after waiting 4 hours for that it was a big disappointment. I will share photographs later, but there won't be near as many as I had hoped.

We ended out NOT putting our house on the market, as I mentioned in the August news. We will wait and see what happens with Jimmy's company before making the major decision. I have been going to Spring City some during the month to be with Jimmy. I get to spend the mornings photographing when there, no house duties. Then go to my paying job in the evenings. The photograph is Jimmy's home away from home (and mine 2 days a week). Brand new motel in Spring City. The town is so small it is the only motel in town. I think it is full every night during the week, with General Shale employees or other men working on building this brick plant.

I also got ADSL this month, finally! But I also got a new computer, with Vista, against advise from my son. And I should have listened, it has been awful. He sent me to the computer store I bought it from, and they talked me into the Vista software. Said all the kinks are out of it. But that is not my problem, I just don't like the photography side of Vista. Then on top of that it is a laptop, but that WAS my son's advise, so I can blame that one on him. But the Vista is SO different than XP. I am in that awful learning curve and not doing well with it all. I am too old and have too much else on my mind to try to learn this, but too late now. It would be easy just to say I am going to use the old computer (what a waste of money that would be!!!!). But I promised the old computer to my daughter-in-law, so I have already disconnected it to give to her.

Maybe by next month I will be over the computer blues....we will see. At least I have something else on my mind other than the decision about moving.

August Events

I started the month with a visit to James Snodderly's farm. He was absolutely thrilled when I took him his prints. We had a great time, and made a new friend.

The following weekend we had the Sunday School picinic at Wayne and Ruby's house. They live at Douglas Lake so that included a boat ride close to sunset, but not quite. I really enjoyed that and took lots of photos. Used some for my first ever Skywatch Friday post on August 29.

The 3rd weekend of the month my Mother came for a visit (from Stone Mountain, Georgia). John and Lindsey brought Mason up for the weekend and it was the first time she saw Mason. Wendy and Lukas also came up on Sunday afternoon. A weekend with my grandson is always GOOD. But this one was especially good since everybody was here. And of course I made lots of photos that weekend too.

The last week I took off one day and went to Spring City to be with Jimmy. He is now back in Tennessee, but he is still 90 miles away, in Spring City. We looked around to see which area we want to move to, now that he is in his new permanent location with his company. We were suppose to list the house with our realtor yesterday. She had a family emergency and had to fly to Canada. Anybody want to move to beautiful East Tennessee?

Of course I go out daily to photograph whatever is in my yard. With Jimmy not here during the week I don't cook any. Spend my time with camera in hand or blogging....when not at my paying job, it being evening shift helps with the morning photos.

I did work on a new stain glass this month to replace one Jimmy does not want to leave behind when we sale the house. The photograph here is it after it was installed above the pantry door in my kitchen. Jimmy wanted to keep the daffodil stained glass that was there. My favorite that we are leaving are the 3 iris pieces that make up the transom between the dining room and the living room. Jimmy and I made it together, Jimmy does not work on stained glass anymore. He has decided he didn't enjoy it as much as woodworking. Unfortunately, we haven't quite figured out how to take that one out. And naturally the restoration is staying, it was installed before the house was bricked, and it would be MAJOR to take out. That one is not quite as sentimental as the others.

As for the birds, August was not as eventful as July with newbees, but I did have some new ones. The Black and White Warbler, Northern Cardinal, and the Chickadee were all new to my yard in August.

July Events

I started out the month by taking a trip to North Carolina on July 4th. The trip was planned to go to Perry's Water Gardens to photograph the water lilies. We also visited the waterfalls between Franklin, NC and Highland, NC. Went onto Cashiers, and found a neat little park there. We just went for the day.

On the 5th we had a July 4th family get together, and I had a blast photographing the great nieces in the swimming pool.

On the 11th I started a roll to the point I was not sure what new thing I would see next when I walked out my back door. It started with my first EVER Monarch, and it was in my own front yard. Then the very next day I got to enjoy an American Painted Lady in the same spot. Then I saw an Indigo Bunting, don't see these often in East Tennessee, got a few photos, but not great ones. The same afternoon a Bald Eagle flew over. No camera in my hand. He was traveling like he was on a mission, so no time to grab the camera. He was so intend of his travels that we all discussed the possibility of him having been in the release programs and was headed back where he had been in captivity. (Don't even know if that is a possibility.) The next 2 days I saw a bird I had a hard time identifing. Luckily I had camera in hand both days. I knew he was some type of Flycatcher, with the help of my visiting bloggers it has been determined it is an Eastern Kingbird. Then the next day mixed in with the Orange Sulphurs was another Sulphur I had never seen before, and the following day the Barn Swallows showed up in my yard for the first time.The butterflies are out doing themselves this year, and the zinnia are just getting started.

On the 10th I met with Ashlei for pre-wedding day photos of her in her wedding gown. And then Brad & Ashlei's wedding was the 19th. The week following the wedding I spent a lot of hours in front of the computer viewing photos, and making a proof book for Brad & Ashlei, but I got it done before they got home from their honeymoon. I sure was glad too, because I was having withdrawals from not getting out to photograph all God's nature around me.

On the 26th we took a short trip (92 miles one way) to Spring City, where my husband's job is moving to beginning August 11th. We still are not sure what this will mean to us about our housing and church situation. While in Spring City we visited a small park adjacent to Watts Bar Lake, enjoyed and photographed the wildlife there, so we did get some enjoyment out of the trip.

The blackberry photos are because it has been a blackberry month. The bottom photo was right before I picked and ate the blackberries.

Naturally, all month we have spent time with our grandson, who is now 6 months old. He has his 1st cold right now, but it hasn't been too bad. He has 1week old twin 1st cousins (on his mother's side) that also contacted this same cold. Grayson (the girl) has been admitted to the hospital. Please pray for this family.

June Events

June was a very busy month. We went to St Pete Beach for vacation at the beginning of the month. John, Lindsey and Mason (son, daughter-in-law and grandson) went with us. We had a great time, we went to John's Pass several times. We went on a sunset cruise, and that was where I shot the photos of the manatee. The next week I went with Jimmy to Virginia (where he is currently working) and explored while he was working. Jimmy and I visited the Settler's Museum of Southwest Virginia after he was done working one afternoon. I took lots of photos on both trips and have shared some of the photos, and will be sharing more as time permits. A friend invited me over to take photos in her yard, and had a great time there. Also, on the way home I stopped and made photos of the swallowtails at some thistle on the side of the road. I started working on a new website for my photography work, and I am close to putting it on the web, but it is still not quite ready. Mid month we had the Methodist Women's annual picnic at our house. I have been to Cherokee Lake twice, with better photo op luck on the first trip. Cherokee Lake is local, so I am sure I will be returning there. I have really enjoyed taking photographs in my own yard this month, there has been so much bird and butterfly activity, and the daylilies are at their peak of blooming. I went to the Oakes Daylilies Festival on Friday, and saw great new varieties of daylilies and other perennials. Spent Saturday planting the new plants. The bluebird above was dazed when I took the photo, (late Sunday evening) but he flew very soon after this photo. He had flown into the clear glass of my transom in my dining room.

May Events

May has been a great month for photography. What month isn't? I just walk outside and I find so much to photograph it is hard to go back inside to check out what I have captured on 'film'. I am so glad I am no longer using film. Partly due to such freedom of being able to shoot from all different angles to see what turns out best. Also partly due to cost, but I really like seeing the photo so quickly. I don't think I could ever go back to film, because of the limitions. Just think, I put off converting to digital until my Canon AE1 had seen it's last and I had no choice but to purchase a new camera.

It has been so much fun watching the Eastern Bluebirds, Goldfinch, Sparrows, Tree Swallows, Purple Martins. The first brood of bluebirds are already learning to fly.

The iris have just about stopped blooming. The lilies are beginning to bloom, and when they are gone the daylilies will be in full force. The daylilies will bloom until frost because I have so many different varieties.

During May I did some assignment photography with Safe n' Sound on location. I really enjoyed it, because it was different than my normal nature photography. I met with Brad and Ashlei for their engagement portraits, which we did on the river bank in Newport. I also had an outdoor outing for portrait photos with Lindsey and Mason. The attached photo is from Lindsey and Mason's outing. You can't see their faces, but it radiates her love for Mason. Although it was not my pick from the day it is Lindsey's favorite.

I went to Lake Junaluska with the Methodist Women from my local church. It was a great weekend of spiritual uplifting, and I also took some great photos there. My camera is with me everywhere I go.

We went over to Douglas Lake one evening just for fun photos.

I ended the month by joining the Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers. I look forward to upcoming events with this organization.

April Events

April has been a very busy month for me.

Early in the month I attended the Birding FotoFest in St. Augustine, Fla. It was a great experience and I left with several thousand photos. Took in some photo and birding classes, but was mostly in the field. Since I was in Florida I was naturally on the water alot. I also visited the Jacksonville Zoo and the St. Augustine Alligater Farm. Both of these had areas of migrating birds nesting in their natural environment. For any bird lover the St. Augustine Alligater Farm Wood Stork Rookery is a must see in April. It is unbelievable. I came away with hundreds of photos from that one afternoon. In the 4 days I was there I saw 7 Bald Eagles. This photo of a Little Blue Heron fighting a Egret for the same tree was taken at the Wood Stork Rookery in the St. Augustine Alligater Farm. I did walk away before a decision was made because I did not really care to see one hurt the other. Although I do like the photo.

Later in the month I attended the 58th annual Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Since my great photography love is macro photography I was in photography heaven. I just attended morning sessions because I still had to work at my 'day job' during the evenings. I actually saw a Yellow Morel mushroom 3 days in a row, on 3 different trails. The wildflowers are absolutely gorgeous, and I cannot begin to list everything I saw, but I have plenty of photos to show for the trip.