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  2. Daily Photos

My Best Daily Shots

Thanks for stopping by to view my daily photo! I will post a new photo each day to this gallery. Typically, I will post early morning, and the photo will have been taken the day before. Sometimes the photo may be from sometime earlier in the week, but all the pictures posted will be relatively new. I hope you see something that makes you smile. Feel free to leave professionally appropriate comments. Here's a link to the SmugMug Daily Community.
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06/28/11 - Enter If You Dare<br /> <br /> Just a house long since abandoned and for sale near Albemarle, NC on Hwy. 52. I've also been studying this spot for the past several trips to/from dad's house trying to decide if I should stop and take pics or not. Sunday was the day. I was attracted to the peeling paint and the view through a view of the glass on this porch area.<br /> <br /> A wider view processed similarly showing the whole porch area:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1358623461_tPQJfk6">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1358623461_tPQJfk6</a><br /> <br /> No change with my dad...<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments on my glowing tree from yesterday. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
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06/28/11 - Enter If You Dare

Just a house long since abandoned and for sale near Albemarle, NC on Hwy. 52. I've also been studying this spot for the past several trips to/from dad's house trying to decide if I should stop and take pics or not. Sunday was the day. I was attracted to the peeling paint and the view through a view of the glass on this porch area.

A wider view processed similarly showing the whole porch area:

http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1358623461_tPQJfk6

No change with my dad...

Thanks for all your comments on my glowing tree from yesterday.

HAGD,
Maryann

8400tinteddarkerstraighterMoreCropped8X10EdgeBurn

  • 07/08/11 - Friends at Navarre Park<br /> <br /> I took this shot at Navarre Park yesterday. There was a great blue heron hiding in the vegetation and lots of other turtles and ducks too in their medium-sized pond.. I guess this is an Egret although he was smaller than I'm used to seeing. You'll appreciate that I circled the boardwalk around the pond several times trying to get the best picture of him and hoping the heron would come out in the open more.<br /> <br /> The kids had a great time at the splash park there:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1373815046_TZqgnzH">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1373815046_TZqgnzH</a><br /> <br /> And, I got a nice pano shot across the sound to the Navarre Beach area:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1373716516_TbLmhTW">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1373716516_TbLmhTW</a><br /> <br /> There was also a small butterfly house there:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1373714827_jVfqqJb">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1373714827_jVfqqJb</a><br /> <br /> We also went onto the Air Force base at Hurlburt Air Field in the morning and saw planes like this:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1373817496_chF7wWd">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1373817496_chF7wWd</a><br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on our canoeing trip collage.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3428">http://www.hurlburt.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3428</a>
  • 07/07/11 - Blackwater River State Park<br /> <br /> We went to Blackwater River State Park yesterday for a 1/2 day 4 mile canoe trip. <br /> <br /> From Wikipedia:<br /> A blackwater river is a river with a deep, slow-moving channel that flows through forested swamps and wetlands. As vegetation decays in the water, tannins are leached out, resulting in transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon River system and the Southern United States. <br /> <br /> As you can see, the kids had a blast (and so did the moms). This river bottom is sand with some trees. There were lots of sandbars to stop on to get out and swim. The water was 2-3' in most places with just a few deeper spots. On a hot day, it felt great to just sit out in the water and cool off. The kids all took turns paddling in the front while the moms steered from the back. I guess we were on the water about 4 hours total mostly swimming and just hanging out. No critters on the trip except a few huge spiders on a tree trunk that were the size of my palm:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1372185333_RbgqZN6">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1372185333_RbgqZN6</a><br /> <br /> The sky was absolutely gorgeous! Carolina blue;-) <br /> <br /> Most of these pics were taken with a new Kodak Easy Sport C123 that's a 12MP camera with a very fixed lens. It's waterproof to 10' (3m). In most shots it did a good job. I'm satisfied for the money with having it as a back-up water day camera. I also bought an Olympus X-560 waterproof camera. It was malfunctioning on the first use. It would lock up, and we'd have to pull the battery to get it back going. It did not leak water...yet. I like the Kodak better. <br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on my lighthouse pics.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/06/11 - Pensacola Lighthouse<br /> <br /> We went onto the Pensacola Naval Air Station base yesterday to see the Pensacola Lighthouse and the National Naval Aviation Museum and had a fantastic time. The two are virtually side-by-side. It's 177 steps to the top of the lighthouse, and all the kids made it without too much fuss. This lighthouse is still operational, so the mechanics of the lens were moving, and we had to be careful not to bump into it as we went out on the observation deck. The view out on the observation deck was awesome. The pano in this collage is a 14 shot stitch:-) That's the Santa Rosa sound out there best as I understand. Reminded me of Ocracoke where the ships pass through the channel on their way out to sea.<br /> <br /> I borrowed my girlfriend Patricia's sign shot for this collage. Mine was too crooked to fix. Thanks! I wish the sign was a bit smaller real estate wise in this collage, but with the two other long shots that's just how it worked out.<br /> <br /> I have a collage of my best lighthouse shots here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370430355_K48WPmb">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370430355_K48WPmb</a><br /> <br /> There's a pano of the other side here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370383177_nV5bC2d">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370383177_nV5bC2d</a><br /> but unfortunately I missed part of two images and it has two bad seams. <br /> <br /> Near the red water towers you can see two of the Blue Angels planes and their Fat Albert support aircraft:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370397620_qdPG4Hz">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370397620_qdPG4Hz</a><br /> <br /> The National Naval Aviation Museum is celebrating 100 years of Naval Aviation, and the museum has recently doubled in size/exhibits. Wow! Hard to show you those shots in a collage, but one of the ones I liked is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370501411_CJg9MDw">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1370501411_CJg9MDw</a><br /> <br /> Today it's going to be canoeing.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> My girlfriend Patricia's blog:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://vollmerdp.blogspot.com/2011/07/florida-discoveries-13-pensacola.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">http://vollmerdp.blogspot.com/2011/07/florida-discoveries-13-pensacola.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter</a>
  • 07/05/11 - Fireworks Over Navarre Beach Florida<br /> <br /> We had a great time on Navarre Beach yesterday afternoon in the white sand and emerald green waters. The kids shared a few tubes and seemed to have a lot of fun with them. We made sandwiches on the beach and then moved a short ways to get ready for the fireworks display. Around 9PM they went off and continued for over 20 minutes. It was a very nice display and we had a good view, so I was able to get some nice fireworks shots.<br /> <br /> A collage of the 9 best is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368673316_c5sPHR9">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368673316_c5sPHR9</a><br /> <br /> I bought a Kodak Easy Sport underwater camera. Neat! I didn't get any great shots with it yet, but I'm working on it;-)<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368664151_FN65QP8">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368664151_FN65QP8</a><br /> <br /> Pano coming onto the beach that really shows the emerald waters:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368582389_5Jm5pwK">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1368582389_5Jm5pwK</a><br /> <br /> I think we're going to an aviation museum and the Pensacola Lighthouse today. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/04/11 - First Time Air Traveler<br /> <br /> We're in Navarre, FL for the week. That's about 25 miles east of Pensacola. We're staying with our friends the Vollmer Family. <br /> <br /> This is Johnny at the new terminal at RDU (Raleigh airport). We didn't have to get on the moving walkway but of course Johnny wanted to check out all the features of the airport. This trip is the first time Joey and Johnny were up in a commercial plane, and they did great. <br /> <br /> A collage of more flight shots is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1367244939_Nqfmd2L">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1367244939_Nqfmd2L</a><br /> <br /> The front side of the backpack you ask? Lightning McQueen of course:-)<br /> <br /> Have a safe and happy 4th of July!<br /> Maryann
  • 07/03/11 - Variegated Fritillary<br /> <br /> I took this and several other butterfly shots at Yates Mill yesterday. Many of the flowers in the butterfly garden are now past their prime (coneflowers for example), but there were still lots of beautiful flowers near the park office and visitor center to attract insects and me and my camera.<br /> <br /> We enjoyed, well I enjoyed, walking the mile hike around the mill pond. I took lots of pics of the mill area itself and created a collage here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1365831179_bLTtx7H">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/July-2011/17840800_GC3pFH#1365831179_bLTtx7H</a><br /> <br /> Hope you have a great Sunday!<br /> Maryann
  • 07/02/11 - Bee Balm and Writing Spider<br /> <br /> We had a great time at Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh yesterday. They have a really nice children's garden outside, and I always go out there and try to take a few flower pics. It was alive with colors and plants yesterday, and I thought the red bee balm looked nice set against the other flowers. I saw the neat writing spider down amongst the stems and thought he was pretty neat too. Going back and forth this morning trying to decide I just couldn't, so I combined them:-)<br /> <br /> Cars 2 was AWESOME! It exceeded my expectations. I loved Michael Caine as Finn McMissile. The kids thought the movie was fantastic too. Many times we were laughing outloud during the show at something Larry the Cable Guy Mater was doing. <br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on Madi's wet Blaze dog picture and on my beettle shot. Papamugger says probably a longhorn beetle. The name sure seems to fit!<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/01/11 - The Pollinator<br /> <br /> I went out in my front yard yesterday afternoon to take pics of these pretty lilies:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1363067494_Xc2g8fL">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk/1330566540_W3nMWwF/1330566540_W3nMWwF#1363067494_Xc2g8fL</a><br /> <br /> and there were several interesting bugs on them. I think from the top view that this guy looked like a cucumber beetle, but I'm not positive. At any point, I thought his antennas were humorous, and the details of the pollen in his mouth are pretty cool. For my 'bug' interested SmugMug friends... <br /> <br /> Yesterday was the last day of schools for the kids. We are headed to the much anticipated Cars 2 today. It's good to laugh inbetween the tears... <br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on Madi in the ice cream:-)<br /> <br /> Madi's POTD:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1363069907_MwRjHQj">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/LightningFastJoeys-POTD/11187845_dd7pS#1363069907_MwRjHQj</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/30/11 - Ice Cream!<br /> <br /> Madi remembers the shot I did of Johnny last year 'in the ice cream', and she has been asking for a few weeks for me to put her in the ice cream. Here you go! Chocolate cherry chip:-) The kids had soccer last night, and we usually stop for ice cream afterward.<br /> <br /> Johnny's ice cream shot:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#944559588_D6PWR">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq#944559588_D6PWR</a><br /> Now of course Joey is asking too:-)<br /> <br /> My heart is warmed by all your kind words about my dad... My manager has given me some time off from work, and all the paperwork that needs to be attended to is helping me to stay calm and purposeful along with my friends. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann<br /> <br /> Taken at Porter Farms and Nursery<br /> <br /> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Porter-Farms-and-Nursery/142977167259">https://www.facebook.com/pages/Porter-Farms-and-Nursery/142977167259</a><br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.porterfarmsandnursery.com/">http://www.porterfarmsandnursery.com/</a>
  • 06/29/11 - A Passion for Plants<br /> <br /> This is a picture of my dad, Irv, taken around 1980. We had just moved from NJ to NC, and dad was out in the yard planting. I suspect I took this photo although I don't remember it specifically. Dad loved to work in the yard. When dad built the house in NJ in 1964, it was an acre with a sole sycamore tree on it. When we left in 79, it was covered in plants including dogwood, blue spruce, peony, and ginkgo. In NC, dad knew he wanted trees, and the new house was built on an acre covered in oaks. Still, dad set out to plant azaleas, camellias, magnolias. Although the yard is a shell of what it once was, most that knew dad will in some way remember his love of plants.<br /> <br /> Dad died yesterday. I know I owe much of what I turned out to be to him. His patience, kindness, love, and support will always be remembered. <br /> <br /> Irving Engel 2/15/37 - 6/28/11<br /> <br /> Thank you for your comments on my B&W door from yesterday...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/28/11 - Enter If You Dare<br /> <br /> Just a house long since abandoned and for sale near Albemarle, NC on Hwy. 52. I've also been studying this spot for the past several trips to/from dad's house trying to decide if I should stop and take pics or not. Sunday was the day. I was attracted to the peeling paint and the view through a view of the glass on this porch area.<br /> <br /> A wider view processed similarly showing the whole porch area:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1358623461_tPQJfk6">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Inspirations/Inspirations/10386893_s5msk#1358623461_tPQJfk6</a><br /> <br /> No change with my dad...<br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments on my glowing tree from yesterday. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/27/11 - Into the Distance - The Gatekeeper - A Composition in Blue and Gold - Field of Freedom<br /> <br /> I've been studying this tree to/from my dad's house for a couple of years now. It's on NC 200, and you see it just as you round a curve. It was a rough trip home yesterday. I got so upset at the hospital that I felt drained of every bit of energy I had. I ended up making several stops to take pics in an effort to refresh myself, and this was one of them. <br /> <br /> The original shot which I have done tons of stuff to is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1356216196_HtB9tdX">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1356216196_HtB9tdX</a><br /> <br /> I realize the colors are over the top but I liked the surreal result. Maybe someone's dreams...<br /> <br /> HDR to start with then Picasa graduated tint to blue up sky then saturated and auto contrast. Cropped to 8X10.<br /> <br /> I was told that my dad isn't going to pull out of this one...<br /> <br /> Thanks for your comments on my red flower from yesterday. I'm sorry that I wasn't able to reciprocate. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/26/11 - Hope Springs Eternal<br /> <br /> A shot from last week taken in the Kidd Family Garden that I cropped to maximum 8X10, ran a noise filter on, and got rid of one distracting petal from another flower near the top center. I used Picasa to add a thick red and then thin green border (grid collage two times). I also added the text with Picasa. <br /> <br /> Things with my dad are about the same. I'll visit him one more time this morning and then head back home to the boys. Thanks so much for your support yesterday. It was a tough and emotional day. <br /> <br /> My high school 25th reunion happened to be last night. I really needed to be around some people, so I went. It was nice to see old classmates and lose myself for a bit taking some pics to capture the event. <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/25/11 - Orange Daylily<br /> <br /> Just a quick shot I took in the Kidd Family Garden yesterday on our way to Madi's award ceremony at school. She had her moment of glory for the year:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1353221473_DL5gNdq">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1353221473_DL5gNdq</a><br /> <br /> Thank you all for your comments on my butterfly picture and for your well wishes and prayers for me and my dad. Dad is still in the CCU, and I'll see him later today.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/24/111 - Sulphur on Butterfly Bush<br /> <br /> I captured this last week and cleaned it up for presentation this AM. I removed a green leaf from lower left that I felt was distracting, cropped to 8X10, and ran a noise filter on it. <br /> <br /> I did take a minute to try to determine the type of sulphur but am not sure. <br /> <br /> Yesterday was a day of ups and downs. I attended the boys' end of year school awards ceremony. They both received several awards, and I am very proud of them. A collage of that event is here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1351940918_N3tBKsF">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1351940918_N3tBKsF</a><br /> Madi has her awards ceremony today, and I am sure that she will do well too.<br /> <br /> But, I found out my dad had to be taken to the hospital. It's serious. He's in the CCU (Coronary or Cardiac Care Unit). I'll be traveling to see him over the weekend.<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/23/11 - Crepe Myrtle Blossoms by the Curb<br /> <br /> I ran into BJs Wholesale Club yesterday, and this was the scene at the curb out front of the store. The gold tones of the leaves caught my attention along with the yellow curb paint. I thought they made a nice backdrop for the pink crepe myrtle petals that had fallen to the ground. A different shot but what I thought was the best I took yesterday. <br /> <br /> I ran a portrait filter on it and did an SCurve adjust. I was trying to soften the curbside dirty feel and pop the colors a tad. <br /> <br /> I guess this reminds me of weddings when folks through flower petals. Somehow, though, I was sad yesterday and each petal seemed to represent a tear too.<br /> <br /> I had a sad event happen to me late yesterday. I opened the garage door and piled the kids and I into my minivan for soccer and backed out just like usual. My driveway slopes up on the way out, so I was pointing down and looking back into the garage. I noticed a king snake in the middle of the garage floor right under the center of where the van had been. I got excited (in a positive way) and grabbed my cell phone and camera and hopped out. Johnny and Joey followed. He didn't seem right. I couldn't tell if he was playing opossum or injured or what. I was able to gently scoot him out of the garage with a broom handle. I watched him for a few and figured he'd scurry off after we left. Unfortunately, I must have run over him, and he died while we were at soccer:-( King snakes can kill a copperhead and are just a really cool snake and I sure didn't mean to hurt him. Here's a picture:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1350291841_7LKVDwn">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1350291841_7LKVDwn</a><br /> Thanks for listening... <br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/22/11 - Smiles with the Chick-fil-A Cow<br /> <br /> The only pictures I took yesterday were at Chick-fil-A (CFA). The kids are super crazy over the cow, and this particular cow comes with a lot of character. I liked the enthusiasm of the kids in this shot which was snapped quickly while I was ordering. The background was a bit busy, so I thought I'd try to pull the kids out of the background. That's always easier said than done, and I'm sure some of you could have done it better. <br /> <br /> Original:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1348697450_fVpZrpN">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1348697450_fVpZrpN</a><br /> <br /> Collage of the best CFA shots:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1348698005_hmN9Hjs">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1348698005_hmN9Hjs</a><br /> My second favorite shot is definitely Joey smiling with the cow. <br /> <br /> Thanks for all your comments yesterday on both my daily and shots in my staging gallery and older shots too...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/21/11 - Yum!<br /> <br /> I didn't have time yesterday to do any serious picture taking, but I was enthusiastic about cooking a healthy meal with the kids and taking some shots along the way. This is a modified chicken cacciatore dish from a an older Hunt's cookbook. First we diced sweet bell pepper, onion, mushroom, and eggplant and sauteed them in olive oil adding in chicken tenderloins. Then we added in basil, white wine, oregano, minced garlic, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes...oh and tricolor rotini. Simmer for about 25 minutes. Top with mozzarella cheese and enjoy! <br /> <br /> Joey is my usual chef helper, but he was content to sit this one out and let Madi have a turn which worked out great because I really only have counter space for two helpers (one on each side of the stove) at a time. No fingers were lost in the making of this dish:-) <br /> <br /> After dinner, I had some super heroes visit the house!<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1347054956_gvH2r5t">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Nature/June-2011/17389966_Qt2vxj#1347054956_gvH2r5t</a><br /> Nothing like a little mid-year Halloween fun. But, oops, some of the costumes are getting a bit small!<br /> <br /> Thanks as always for taking a bit of time out of your day to take a look at my dailies...<br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 06/20/11 - Teamwork<br /> <br /> As we were enjoying the view and cool water at Lanier Falls at Raven Rock State Park, another group of people showed up. An older married couple and either their son and his girlfriend or their daughter and her boyfriend. This is the younger couple walking across part of the falls to get to the big rock outcrop. The only time of year it's probably safe to go across here is in the summer when the water level is down. Still, there was a pretty good current flowing here. I held onto Madi very tightly as we ventured across. And after considering leaving my camera behind, I did take it with me to get shots like this:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343969411_HbFq6Cv">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343969411_HbFq6Cv</a><br /> <br /> I loved watching the chocolate lab cross in this canoe:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343971796_T7dCqQL">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343971796_T7dCqQL</a><br /> <br /> Here's their video crossing:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi_DOjPsb5A">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xi_DOjPsb5A</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann
  • 07/19/11 - Pano of Lanier Falls at Raven Rock State Park<br /> <br /> This one is for Art...been a long time coming me posting a pano. <br /> <br /> Happy Father's Day!<br /> <br /> Christine, Madi, and I made the trek over to Raven Rock State Park in Lillington yesterday. We did not go to 'the rock'. Instead, we took the Campbell Creek Loop trail over to Lanier Falls. It's about a 6 mile hike with the falls being at the halfway point. We left early, so the hike to the falls wasn't too bad. There's nice mix of flat, uphill, and downhill on the path. We saw mushrooms, ferns, and lots of neat-shaped trees in the woods. Coming up to the falls was a refreshing site. The water is down this time of year, so we were able to cross over to the big rocks out in the middle of the Cape Fear River and walk around and get our feet wet. We got to see about 10 canoes come up to the rocks and figure out how to pass over. One canoe tried to pass at the wrong spot IMO and tipped. Some of the other boaters came over to help. Of course I took my fair share of pics including a bunch of damselflies. We ate our snack and started back on the loop trail continuing in the direction we had been headed (we did not double back on the loop). The last 1/2 mile is all up hill, and at that point, we were tired and it was in the mid 90s. Ugh. Well worth the walk, though, to go to that great water spot in warm weather. We hope to canoe it ourselves soon or at least have bathing suits and life vests so we can venture in the water a bit more. AC and drinks were a welcome treat once we were back in the car. <br /> <br /> I featured a new gallery of all the shots taken at Raven Rock yesterday here:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343966112_t6GTDL2">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/RavenRockStatePark/Raven-Rock-061811/17632653_RQCSnH#1343966112_t6GTDL2</a><br /> <br /> It was fun shooting Christine and Madi as mom and daughter, and I created a collage of the best of those pics too:<br /> <br /> <a href="http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq/1338480084_zMTHGMk#1343996164_hxDSZ2B">http://fotomom.smugmug.com/Daily-Photos/My-Best-Daily-Shots/8520201_U76qq/1338480084_zMTHGMk#1343996164_hxDSZ2B</a><br /> <br /> HAGD,<br /> Maryann

  • Ilene Samowitz

    on January 5, 2014

    Interesting!

  • Rick Willis

    on January 5, 2014

    Wonderful Image.
    Great Texture...

  • fotoeffects

    on January 5, 2014

    Loved this long ago and it is still a fabulous shot!

  • Art Kirdel

    on January 4, 2014

    Great!

  • Kathy Launer

    on October 19, 2012

    One of my favorite subjects to shoot are doors. Luv this one...lighting and texture are superb

  • Arnold Dubin

    on December 19, 2011

    Excellent B&W photo! Great contrast and texture. ADubin

  • Chris Images

    on November 26, 2011

    Wonderful!

  • frank mckenna

    on October 8, 2011

    you made the right choice by stopping, you got a great photo out of it...

  • 4camfam

    on October 8, 2011

    Very nice!

  • frozenpixels

    on October 8, 2011

    nice capture of this house's decay. That open door would be too hard for me to resist

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