Through My Eyes

Another Operation Love Reunited session

2009-05-01T14:50:00.000-05:00

I think about this couple each and every day. He deployed to Iraq in early April. Hope you are safe Captain.

Amos Lee

2009-05-01T14:26:00.000-05:00

Kaydie's send off

2009-05-01T14:23:00.001-05:00

We bade farewell to sweet Kaydie on a chilly early spring day by the lake at sunset. The balloon launch was my friend Marion's idea and gift. It was a special and fitting memorial for such a sweet soul. As soon as the balloons were out of sight, the sun poked out from behind the clouds to give us a glorious finale.

Tiny fingers, perfect toes, angel face

2009-02-18T06:57:00.004-05:00

I love this little girl so much.

Another Operation Love Session

2009-02-18T06:45:00.002-05:00

I had the honor of meeting this fantastic group of servicemen and women just after Christmas for a photo session. A mom of 4 had just returned from deployment and a young lady getting ready for her first deployment. I truly enjoyed this session and seeing the wonderful family bonds. I just love the mother daughter shot below. Actually love all of these!

Sweet little Kaydance Michelle

2009-02-04T06:45:00.000-05:00

Our family has suddenly grown larger. My son Andy is father to beautiful little Kaydance. She clocked in at 7 pounds 9 ounces, 19-1/2 inches on Februrary 3. She is in the NICU due to a congenital heart defect that will require surgery in a week to two, but she is very stable and doing quite well so far. She is going to be a tough little fighter of a girl and very much loved.

Meet Marley

2009-01-27T07:10:00.002-05:00

Our newest family member, little Miss Marley Mae. I found little Miss Marley through an animal rescue organization. She is a bit shy but so loving and smart. I am going to savor every moment of her sweet puppyhood.

Thanks for all you do...

2008-12-08T07:51:00.001-05:00

I was so honored to be able to do my first Operation Love Reunited session with this lovely family, just before Dad's deployment to Afganistan. Just want to say how thankful I am for all the sacrifices you and your family make. Stay safe!

Big brown eyes

2008-11-24T13:46:00.001-05:00

What can I say, they make me melt! I had the pleasure of spending a really fun couple of hours with this lovely family on Saturday. This is just a very small sample of what is to come guys. You have a beautiful family. I cannot wait for you to see the whole session!

Just trying out a little vintage finish on the photo above.

Beautiful baby Bella

2008-11-22T20:21:00.003-05:00

The white stuff

2008-11-19T06:45:00.001-05:00

It's back! We had our first major snow event yesterday. Woke up to a beautiful world covered in white. Of course, Baxter and I had to have a play date as soon as the sun came up. Just one of the advantages of living in Northeast Ohio that I take for granted, snow!

Yes We Did!

2008-11-06T15:21:00.006-05:00

The last few days have been a whirl of early days, late nights, lots of walking, knocking, calling and emotions. What a fun and wild ride! I would do it again in a heartbeat. I am really going to miss all the incredibly devoted people I got to work with over the last weeks. You are all very special!

Nick at 5 a.m. (sorry about the camera in your face, but it is a real addiction).

From a couple days prior, generally Baxter was a good enough alarm clock that I did not have to do this.

Speaking of Baxter, Mike is his new best friend.

Part of our little campaign headquarters.

Mark, momentarily not cracking his whip and relaxing. (And just for the record, I think you did a completely amazing job!)

Some of my fab Election Day volunteers

2008-11-06T14:57:00.005-05:00

These are some of the wonderful people who helped us on Election Day. They did an awesome job of keeping up with all my demands and hitting door after door. We could not have done this without you! (Hope you still love me and don't have too many blisters.)

HallOween

2008-11-06T13:42:00.003-05:00

My O-pumpkins

Working for change

2008-10-24T12:45:00.005-05:00

I checked my blog this morning and realized it has been a month since I have posted anything. Figured I better let my faithful readers (all 10 of you) know what has been going on in my life. At the end of August this very polite and enthusiastic young man from the Obama for America campaign called and asked me to volunteer. Of course, without hesitation, I said yes. Over the ensuing weeks we have assembled a small army of volunteers in our community. Some days I am completely awestruck by the devotion and passion of these people. I have a handful of wonderful new friends who I may have not known otherwise and bring a smile to my face on a daily basis.

Um, maybe a little over the top with the cookies, but they tasted quite good.

Two of our very devoted local field organizers, Mark and Corey.

Julie and Betty, who will pull up a piece of floor anywhere to contact voters.

Magnificent Mornings

2008-09-22T20:49:00.001-05:00

I have so many amazing pictures of my morning walks in the Outer Banks this year that I just have to share, before summer fades to fall and we move on to a whole new set of colors. (The house in the middle picture is the actual house from the film Nights in Rodanthe that is to be released in theaters soon. I have close ups, beautiful old beach house that I have admired for years.)

Grace and Garrett

2008-09-12T17:10:00.001-05:00

This was supposed to be Grace's photo session, but Garrett really wanted to get his picture taken. He was fine once he stopped choking his sister. I heart these kids!

Allie

2008-09-12T11:49:00.002-05:00

My beautiful niece has grown into such a sweet young lady. We drug her out of bed quite early for this little impromptu modeling session.

College Man Dan

2008-09-09T06:59:00.003-05:00

We did not even have time to unpack from our beach vacation before we had to pack Dan up and take him to college at the University of Toledo. As a mom, you are never ready for the day when your last baby leaves the nest; but I am so excited for him! Two weeks into his adventure he is thriving and having such a great time.

His response to this picture was, "Mom, do you have to do this?" Silly question.

Two of his buddies from high school helped him move in.

What a comfortable spot!

There he goes, off to his new life.

Remembering...

2008-09-02T08:09:00.002-05:00

Two people very dear to me left us this weekend; my mother-in-law, Barbara Whaley, and my dear friend and neighbor, Bill Griffith. Just a little picture tribute below to celebrate the beauty of these two wonderful lives. I love you both.

Barb

2008-09-02T08:07:00.000-05:00

Bill

2008-09-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

The yellow house

2008-08-27T07:27:00.000-05:00

This was our home away from home for the week and the beautiful view from the deck I got every morning with my coffee.

Mimosa Monday

2008-08-20T07:45:00.004-05:00

Things that make me smile: Seeing all 3 of my kids together and champagne on the beach on beautiful Monday morning. Cheers!

I have been beached!

2008-08-18T18:23:00.000-05:00

Just had to share a couple images from the first part of the week. We are having a blast and so lucky to be able to spend time with so many people we love in these beautiful surroundings. More to come later!

Dan's big party day

2008-07-26T17:16:00.004-05:00

We did it!

Three kids through school and graduated. Just a couple of pictures from the big party we had a couple of weeks ago.

Dan looking happy about the day.

Loved coming down the road and seeing the big sign.

The food was delicious and the presentation amazing.

Skylar practicing for the future.

Almost the big day

2008-07-10T07:50:00.009-05:00

If you have noticed my absence or missed my posts, it is because it is that time of year; between graduation and off to college for my youngest son, Dan. What a bittersweet time. I have been furiously party planning for his big graduation bash on Sunday, which of course means going through tons of pictures and memorabilia. So just thought I would share a little portion of the slide show I made (only 3 minutes of the 27-minute original). Lots of these pictures are from my sister-in-law Debi, a wonderful photographer who supplied so many beautiful pics from when my kids were very small.

Happy Father's Day

2008-06-15T11:37:00.001-05:00

Some of the old pictures I pulled out of the vault and framed for my hubs for Father's Day this year. These were just all really special pictures for various reasons. The first one is my kiddos 4 years ago.

What a great father-son moment.

Last summer at Tahoe.

Class of....

2008-06-03T07:45:00.007-05:00

My youngest son, Dan, graduated from high school Sunday. It was a day full of emotion but mostly pride and joy. He has worked hard and accomplished a lot in his high-school career. And I was completely fine until I pulled this tassel out of the package. It made it all so real that he is moving on to a new life, my baby! Hard to believe that the little guy that did not want to leave me alone to go to first grade, the little guy who would run up to hug me on the playground when all the other kids thought it was uncool, the little guy who made an unassisted triple play his first year of baseball is a (sniff) man. The years really flew by.

It has been fun watching these guys grow up.

Burns, Dan and Stewie.

Left to right: Back row: Ryan, Dan, Adam, Anthony, Rocco. Front row: Jake, Vinnie.

Just a little silliness...

Hanging out my shingle

2008-05-29T10:35:00.005-05:00

Finally, after what seems like an eternity, my photography business has it's very own home on the net! I am so thrilled, and hope you all enjoy it. My new site is www.shutterbugsphotog.com

Thanks to the people at bludomain for all their support in getting this off the ground and my husband (and Baxter) for bearing with me while I spent hours at the computer getting everything just right. Don't worry, the blog is part of this whole package too. It is not going anywhere any time soon.

Hope all my faithful fans will spread the word!

Water and sky

2008-05-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

I need to spend more time at the lake. Just one-half mile from home, I can find so many great displays of spectacular beauty, and it is just a good place to go wander around and clear my head. This night last week was particularly wonderful, warm temps and I found this adorable couple enjoying the sunset together.

Fetch

2008-05-12T07:48:00.000-05:00

The Baxter has become an unstoppable fetching machine. This is his very favorite game, and he is fast, hardly even missing a stride to scoop up the ball. These aren't the best action shots, because the camera fairy really needs to drop off a faster zoom lens for me, but I am working on it. You will notice how happy he looks in the last picture, grass-stained lower lip and all.

Princess

2008-05-10T11:28:00.001-05:00

What a very special day for a beautiful young lady. I am honored to have been able to document it.

Such a little man

2008-04-29T08:05:00.003-05:00

G has evolved from a cute chubby little preschooler to a long-legged little man seemingly overnight. Just messing around here, but he is a great subject and I love some of these shots.

Finally spring!

2008-04-28T13:28:00.002-05:00

Even though there is snow in the forecast tonight, spring has finally arrived. It seemed like everything sprouted in a matter of days. Love the early spring with the contrast of the vivid green grass, yellows of the daffodils and the still bare trees, though this magnolia tree was in full bloom and spectacular!

It just felt the Ohio countryside went on for infinity from this vantage point.

Little Mr. Blue Eyes

2008-04-19T10:39:00.003-05:00

These pictures are so long overdue. Just too much going on to actually get to the computer. This is my little grandnephew, B at 3 months, taken a few weeks ago. Love the way he already smiles with his eyes.

This picture is just so sweet, soft and cuddly, which he definitely is.

This one just cracked me up. I turned the flash on, and he was quite surprised!

Love his baby blues here and those eyelashes, oh my gosh! (I did not digitally alter his eyes, they really are this blue).

Saying goodbye to winter

2008-04-03T07:45:00.001-05:00

These are just a few pictures from my little winter adventure a couple weeks ago. This is my favorite park, Mill Creek. Being slightly south of us, they did not have the volume of snow we did, but it still was a lovely early spring day.

The suspension bridge above dates back to 1895 and just underwent a major renovation.

I like this view from the top of the falls.

Lanterman's Mill dates back to the 1850s and is still fully functional.

The ice crystals with the emerging buds just caught my eye.

More of my favorite twins

2008-03-23T06:12:00.000-05:00

The hardest thing going through the massive amount of photos I have of this little guy and girl is picking favorites. Unfortunately I don't have room on my blog to put the whole collection up, so I had to try for a few. These two are the most precious ever and already starting to show their own unique personalities. This was an amazing experience, photographing these sweethearts. Thanks mom and grandma!

Twice the sweetness

2008-03-14T21:06:00.001-05:00

Guess what I did today? Finally got to see these beautiful little twins, babies H & H. They are so precious and snugglers like you would not believe. The little princess is top in this picture and the little prince on the bottom.

Oh my gosh, aren't these 20 little toes the cutest?

This is one of my favorites. It is obvious how tiny they are by how big the hats fit on their heads.

Really not playing favorites, but this picture of the little princess yawning was just too precious.

Feeling nostalgic

2008-03-11T07:42:00.002-05:00

Just going through some old pictures I found recently and wanted to share a bit of my heritage...

This is my favorite picture of my dad in his later years. He was 85 when this was taken.

My mom in her late teens/early 20s. This was back in the 1940s. She was so hot and fashionable. Check out the shoes. This was my dad's favorite picture of her.

Sparkley

2008-03-07T07:53:00.001-05:00

This early morning light show is what had me running around outside in my bare feet in 30-degree weather yesterday morning. The sun coming up through the lightly ice-glazed trees was just dazzling. I was afraid I would miss it. It was worth the chilly toes.

Then and now

2008-02-26T07:55:00.002-05:00

Our four Bulldog seniors have a long history together on the court. The first pictures are from their first glorious moments after winning the 5th grade tournament, memories that I am sure will stay with them for a long time, as well as their parents. It has been so much fun watching these guys over the years. I can't believe the wild ride is almost over.

A couple more favorites

2008-02-23T08:29:00.001-05:00

Finally got through all my pictures of my little model, Baby B, and family. These are just a couple more that I love.

This is such a tender, contemplative moment between mother and son.

This little guy has the cutest grin and shows it quite often. I think he knows that life is good!

Lunar eclipse

2008-02-21T20:09:00.002-05:00

Wednesday night I braved the single digit temps and set my tripod up in the front yard to watch the lunar eclipse. It was a great show of nature, watching the earth's umbral shadow slowly overtake the bright moon. Plus it gave me some ideas for must-have photographic equipment for the next time around in 2010.

Approximately 9 p.m. you can see the shadow just starting.

At 9:20 it started to cloud up and covered the moon entirely for a period.

Around 9:40, more than half covered in shadow. Love the lens flare I got here.

Finally, 10 p.m. and nearly complete coverage.

Strange doggie rituals

2008-02-20T19:56:00.003-05:00

I came down from my office this morning to find this. I have heard of dogs arranging things in concentric shapes, and actually it is a common herding trait, but I have never seen it. I found it interesting that Bax used all his bones out of his toy box, when he had the choice of a dozen or so other rubber toys and stuffed animals. And why the torn up toy in the center? Was this just coincidence or a purposeful thing? Am I going to find my underwear in the center next time? Or maybe me? So many questions. I think I need to search the net for doggie psychologists.

Hangin with my peeps

2008-02-14T07:53:00.001-05:00

This is how I spent my evening last night after a particularly grueling day yesterday.

Baby B, part II

2008-02-13T18:39:00.001-05:00

The thing that I love the most about photographing families is the ability to capture a moment in time that will never be again. When I talked to this family about doing newborn pictures, having known them for many years, I told them I absolutely wanted pictures with great grandma, especially since she is undergoing chemotherapy right now for stage III cancer. This first picture is the exact moment I wanted to capture. It tells such a wonderful story about experience, hope, and the beauty of life.

I am so in love with his little pouty mouth here. More to come!

The elusive Mr. Z

2008-01-28T07:57:00.000-05:00

This is my great nephew (Christine's son) from a family wedding back in December. He was having fun hiding from the camera. First he pretty much wouldn't come out from under the table (love the bare feet in the middle of winter).

A napkin worked as good cover for a while.

Finally got a little peek.

And then the shot of all of his little boy cuteness.

Vacation, pictures and Christmas trees.

2008-01-24T13:40:00.000-05:00

I have taken the last three days as a much-needed vacation from my real job. I didn't do anything exotic or particularly fun. I just spent pretty much three solid days watching it snow, glued to my computer, and focusing on photography and post processing. I have gone through hundreds of pictures. I am down to just under 200 basketball pictures left to proof. I am making great progress. Hey, I even got my Christmas tree down, and it is only January 24th. I would say it was a pretty successful three days off.

Just wanted to share this shot, which is one of my favorite photos so far from the basketball season.

Instant family

2008-01-23T14:29:00.000-05:00

These are the parents of the soon-to-be-born twins. Talk about photogenic! They are going to have some beautiful babies.

Daddy love

2008-01-23T08:32:00.000-05:00

Is there anything more tender than a tiny newborn cradled in his daddy's strong arms?

Just loved this last picture and his "froggy" position.

Room for two

2008-01-20T09:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, there are twins in there! This is from yesterday's session. Mom-to-be is absolutely beautiful! What a lovely, sweet family. I want to adopt grandma. Thanks guys, I enjoyed spending time with you! I can't wait to see the babies.

Baby B and family

2008-01-18T14:34:00.000-05:00

I just love these guys so much! These first two pictures leave me speechless. I love the way father and son are gazing into each other's eyes. Too precious!

These little baby blue jeans were just too cute. This little guy has more clothes than I do!

He is even adorable when he is wailing.

It IS basketball season

2008-01-16T13:47:00.000-05:00

I know you are probably looking for photos of pregnant bellies and sweet little babies, but we are in the midst of basketball season. Dan was looking at my pictures the other night and asked; "Do you have any cool pictures of me on here?" Well only about a zillion, but I think he was feeling neglected so this one is for him.

Oh, baby!

2008-01-14T07:43:00.000-05:00

Meet Baby B! This is our baby makes three baby. He is four days brand new and oh so sweet. One of the best things about doing this is I get to snuggle all these sweet little babies. How the heck did I get so lucky?

The new Mr. and Mrs. D!

2008-01-12T10:33:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe that my niece Sheri Lyn (affectionately named after yours truly) is a Mrs! These two are such a happy couple. Wishing both of you a long and wonderful life together.

Sheri, I know you probably don't want to hear it, but I think you are just as adorable as you were at 3.

The beaming groom, Mike. (I look at this picture and think teddy bear.)

Family ghosts

2008-01-10T13:14:00.000-05:00

This technically was such a bad shot, but it moved me nearly to tears. This is my niece and her daughter. I look at this picture, and it could very well have been taken 40 some odd years ago of my mother holding her daughter in her lap. I have seen glimpses of my mother in Christine over the years, but never so much as in this picture. She has my mother's eyes, her grin. I look at Taylor, who looks so much like her mom, and can imagine what my mother must have looked like as a child. It is a special thing to get these glimpses of the past to keep those that we love close to our hearts forever.

Eleven days new

2008-01-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

He is just so sweet! Perfect in every way. I had the honor of sharing in the joy of this new family yesterday (my nephew, his wife and brand new baby boy) and documenting the freshness of this little guy. It was a fun learning experience. Babies squirm a lot and pee when you are least expecting it! I just had to put one little picture up today and let mom, dad and baby know how much I adore them all.

Winter wonders

2008-01-04T14:28:00.000-05:00

Just a couple interesting little things outside my house.

The frozen spider webs underneath my deck were pretty unique.

I looked up under the eaves to find this cool scalloped snow. I guess winter can be okay.

Why every mom needs a son

2008-01-04T14:19:00.000-05:00

This is the inscription that my sweet son wrote in the book he got me for Christmas, Why A Son Needs A Mom. Good read. I recommend it to every mother. It makes you realize how important your job is.

Oh, can't forget my favorite

2008-01-03T14:45:00.000-05:00

S and D and baby make three

2008-01-03T14:37:00.000-05:00

My first maternity shoot. Baby boy should be here next week. Aren't these two just glowing?

My baby has a brand new blog

2008-01-02T06:47:00.001-05:00

My one and only favorite dear daughter Michelle has a brand new photo blog. She is a wonderful, creative photographer and played a big part in fostering my love of photography. I thought you all might enjoy checking it out.

My new baby

2007-12-31T10:45:00.000-05:00

Isn't she sweet? I knew she was meant for me the moment I held her in my hands. She wasn't going to let me leave the store without her. It was useless to try to fight it. It was love at first sight.

Christmas, part deuce

2007-12-25T21:38:00.000-05:00

Great minds. We all got each other iTunes cards.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a whole lot of mess.

Pleease let me lick your face.

Christmas, part I

2007-12-25T20:55:00.001-05:00

What a completely wonderful day! The only thing missing was Chelle. Hope these pictures help make you feel the love.

The crew enjoying brunch. (attractive, Andy.)

The kids. Again you see Dan is too cool to actually look at the camera.

The tongues sticking out are too funny.

Precious package

2007-12-23T08:55:00.000-05:00

This was from my first maternity session on Saturday. I just love this couple. They are so overflowing with love! Just had to share this shot because it is definitely in the holiday spirit. More to come later.

Visions of sugarplums

2007-12-21T13:43:00.000-05:00

Wish I could take credit for this design, but no. Have to give that to Sam's Club. These were just too cute too pass up. Thirty cupcakes, ten boys; going, going, gone!

Frosty

2007-12-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

I think the snow frosting on my pampas grass looks so pretty!

A truly beautiful moment

2007-12-17T07:26:00.000-05:00

The music and picture say it all.

Merry Mutt

2007-12-11T13:32:00.000-05:00

My husband didn't think I could get the Baxter to pose in front of the tree for a picture. Piece of cake, and I didn't even have to use a treat. The dog LOVES the camera.

Tis the season

2007-12-10T12:27:00.000-05:00

It's all about Christmas for the next 2 weeks. I am going to add a new Christmas song to the blog every day. I can't promise a new holiday-themed picture every day, but I am going to try my darnedest.

This is so not right

2007-12-09T10:38:00.000-05:00

So this is what happens when I just start snapping pictures and not paying attention to my subjects and what is going on. This was too funny of a mistake not to save. I have to wonder what they were REALLY talking about, though.

Anyone want to join me by the pool?

2007-12-05T13:11:00.000-05:00

Goodbye summer, hello winter

2007-12-04T14:14:00.000-05:00

I woke up to our first significant snow fall of the season this morning. I guess my days of wearing flip flops and sipping cold drinks on the deck or going to be a distant memory for a while. I think it is finally time to put the deck furniture away for the season. Sigh.

(I went out to the garden and actually managed to find some mint still growing at least for this picture.)

Shiny new blue shoes, $79.99. Being a part of the team, priceless.

2007-12-03T08:18:00.000-05:00

I love basketball season! It is so much fun to watch my son, Dan, play his heart out and come off the court with a huge smile. He has made so many good friends through his involvement with the team over the years, and it has been such a joy to watch these boys grow into young men.

The guys get to pick their own team shoes. This year they went for the bright blue, patent leather look. When I opened the box in Dick's, the day I went to pick them up, I was nearly blinded. He should have warned me to bring my sunglasses. I guess they have to make a fashion statement on the court.

By the way, the first game was a win!

Finally, sound on my Blogger site!

2007-12-02T08:51:00.000-05:00

Daisies in December are a little odd, but they go with the music I added (plus they remind that spring will be back soon). Don't be surprised if I change up my music selections frequently. I have a limitless supply that I love.

This has to make you smile!

2007-11-26T12:40:00.000-05:00

Just finishing up the last bit of editing on B's pictures, and I keep coming back to this one and giggling. What personality!

Future model?

2007-11-22T11:49:00.000-05:00

Miss C really is magic in front of the camera. She liked the modeling thing a lot, but I think she should go for her medical degree first. I have been sorting through her photos for hours, and I just can't even begin to pick a favorite of all the photos I took. This is a sneak peek because I know Mom and Grandma are dying to see, but I still have some more editing to do.

Her family is very special. She and Mom have endured a lot together. I really admire both of them. With this little sweetheart, they have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

The Baxter

2007-11-21T06:32:00.000-05:00

I have had some requests for some updated Baxter pictures, so here they are. I was playing around with my flash yesterday so I figured he would be a good subject. He is now about 10 months old. I think he has pretty much reached his full size at close to 50 pounds. Note the curly tail. His eyes have changed from green to amber. I am pretty sure he has some husky in him somewhere down the line because at times he likes to "talk" like a husky. All and all a wonderful dog so far.

My new best friend, Miss B

2007-11-16T18:39:00.000-05:00

This is a sneak peek for Mom (and Auntie and Uncle) of some of the photos I took yesterday during my first official unofficial session. This little cutie has so much personality and presence. She was just full of hugs and really loved the camera, literally. Watch out mom, I think you may have a future camera bug on your hands. Thanks to Mom, Auntie and Uncle for letting me use her as a model. She was just a joy to photograph. (Oh, Mom, wait till you see all the great shots I got.)

Lake Flotsam

2007-11-02T10:15:00.000-05:00

Just a few things that caught my eye while walking the lake shore. The fish skeleton hanging in the tree was particularly interesting.

Game Night Ritual

2007-11-02T09:37:00.000-05:00

Dan and friends were the ultimate football fans this year. Pretty much every Friday night they would journey to the craft store to stock up on paint, bare their chests and paint up; hot, cold, rain or shine, it didn't matter, they were there to support their team in living color.

This Is My Happy Place

2007-10-31T13:29:00.000-05:00

These are my favorite pictures from Lake Tahoe. Taken at the same place from 2 different vantage points, I can just get lost in the serenity of the sky, the mountains and the water.

Michelle and PJ

2007-10-31T09:49:00.000-05:00

I loved meeting and getting to know my daughter's new friends. PJ is a big part of Michelle's life and seems to make her very happy. I think they make an adorable couple, and seeing them together makes me smile.

Even The Ducks Are Friendlier in California

2007-10-30T12:34:00.000-05:00

Ohio ducks are snobs. They just turn tail and swim away. I like California ducks much better.

Sand Harbor

2007-10-30T10:36:00.000-05:00

Sand Harbor on Lake Tahoe is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever experienced. More rock than sand, the shoreline is rugged with clusters of huge boulders just dumped haphazardly around.

Look! A giant crack!

Emerald Bay

2007-10-29T12:29:00.000-05:00

An October Sunday at Mosquito Lake

2007-10-28T19:40:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite places to go and walk is at the lake. Usually I stay on the trails, but this day I decided to just walk around the shoreline. It was a beautiful 80-degree October day. I sometimes forget how lucky I am to have this lake so close by.

Watching these seagulls scavange along the shoreline almost made me feel like I was at the beach.

I love the colors in these leaves.

There is something so striking about golden leaves against a clear blue sky. One of my favorite parts of fall!

Just Say No to Bees

2007-10-10T13:22:00.000-05:00

Silly dog. This is what happened when he just couldn't resist swallowing a bee. He has not learned his lesson. He is still eating bugs.

Majestic Visitors

2007-10-06T13:24:00.000-05:00

It takes my breath away every time I see this pair of bucks making their evening treck out from the woods and through the neighborhood.

Blue

2007-10-06T13:19:00.000-05:00

Sailboat on Lake Tahoe at sunset (July 2007)

Are you sure these two are related?

2007-10-06T13:13:00.000-05:00

Andy and his uncle Dan. Wow, the gene pool is all over the place here!

Sweat Pea

2007-10-06T13:08:00.000-05:00

Summer is over, but these delicate sweat peas still thrive on in the unseasonably warm Ohio fall.

Chelle

2007-10-06T13:03:00.000-05:00

This is Michelle, thriving in her new home in Lake Tahoe. Top to bottom: Michelle and boyfriend, PJ; being domestic in her very own kitchen; and Michelle and brother, Dan.

Dan and Michael

2007-07-25T11:01:00.000-05:00

It was so wonderful to spend time with my brother-in-law Dan and his family. This was my first time to meet my nephew, Michael. He is just the sweetest thing ever.

The View at 8000 Feet

2007-07-25T10:46:00.000-05:00

This was overlooking the valley below standing on the side of a mountain. (Did I mention I am scared of heights?) I only made it to about 8000 feet and then had to turn back. Rough hiking for an Ohio girl in that high altitude.

Andy's Hawk

2007-07-25T10:39:00.000-05:00

I found out on our trip that my son, Andy, has quite a nice eye. He had fun taking over my camera and snapping pictures. I think he did a nice job with this hawk.

Rock Climbing

2007-07-24T10:49:00.000-05:00

During our camping adventure in the Sierras, our RV was backed right up to the this huge rock wall. The guys really enjoyed the challenge of climbing to the top. The view from the top was worth the climb. Andy took the great picture of his brother at the top.

Snowy Peak

2007-07-23T15:56:00.000-05:00

This was the view at a stop along route 395 driving from Nevada to California.