Winter Vacation...

... for the kids anyway. It ended when they went back to school yesterday.


I remember winter break when I was a kid. I spent every odd winter and spring break and every summer break with my dad while I was in grade school and he lived in Idaho and later Wisconsin. COLD AND SNOWY!!!

I know I sound like a broken record, but you gotta love Florida!


From left to right: Lauren's left hand, Kevin filling Devin's bike tire with air, and Devin eagerly awaiting the return of her bicycle.




Devin:

The lot of them:

Remember how I want to make impressionist photos? I got close again. Especially on the second one.

1994 doesn't seem so long ago, really...

I was in a photography class when Misty and I met. This print was a composite of two negatives: one photo I took of a bear at the St. Louis Zoo and one she took of me leaning in the car window. It struck me one day that we were in the same pose, the bear and I, so I thought I'd play around a little. I liked it, how 'bout you?

Tree

Any Given Saturday the 13th of October 2007 (part1)

Siesta Key.

Devin at play:

Lauren at play:

beautiful day:

uhh... I dunno:

The mat I reposed upon:

Self portrait:

Water

Sixo (maybe a little late) de Mayo

Well, some of you will remember that I went to day shift just over a year ago. When I left night shift, I threw a little "last supper" beach barbecue. Well, at about the 13 month mark, we did it again. And here's the proof:

Lovebugs. They were bad this year. The picture really doesn't do it justice, they were like swarming mosquitos- the onslaught lasted a good 2 hours and then they went away.

We were tempted to cancel because of them, but we persevered!

There was sanitation, fire starter, mustard, and most importantly: homebrew. Yep, it's strapple.

Among the attendees: this squirrel. They were not shy in the least. I may post more on these guys just because there were so many pictures taken of them.

Metal work

a little something (about the size of a quarter) I made when I was in business for myself in St. Louis. Part-time, anyway. Laser-cut from 16ga. stainless steel.

Artsy Crap

Whatever miscellaneous stuff I come across in the next minute I will post forthwith.
Be right back, I have to browse through my photographs.


okay, I'm back. Here you go:

our youngest with sparklers

our next one up the age scale. also with sparklers.

All 3 kids playing at the beach.

our oldest, without sparklers. (just kidding, Kevin!)

I have lots of pictures to share seeing as I haven't posted much in the last 7 months.

"Fly me to the Moon"

...Let me play among the stars...

...Let me see what spring is like in Jupiter...Florida!

Misty's cousin Tammy was in the state, taking a vacation, so we headed over to the other coast where she was staying for a visit.

Snook and snapper, beware!

A lighthouse. It is closed on Sundays, unfortunately. The whole family wanted to check it out.

Flock of Pelicans. Seagulls are more prominant on our side of the state.

Don't ask me why the horizon is so chopped up, I just took the picture. Maybe an ocean expert will let us in on the secret someday.

"Chica" the Chihuahua was given to our daughter Lauren by Tammy the day we left St. Louis, so how were we to resist taking her along for the ride?

It's been a while since we've seen the Atlantic coast. What a difference! The sand is dirtier, the shells are broken up, but the waves, oh the breaking waves... (no, I really didn't get any pictures, but trust me, they are impressive.)



We ate at this little Italian place. It just so happens that while I was experiencing spring in Jupiter, I decided to try their "Chicken Sinatra". It was quite good (once I slid the mushrooms aside), but the service was awful and the prices were quite something to remember. Hopefully, if you eat there, you'll get a different waiter and you'll also understand how expensive Palm Beach County really is before you get the bill!

X-Mas

Our Home (no, it's not on fire!!!)

ChooChoo!

A rail bridge to the Keys.

"By Land or by Sea?"

Under-Sea World

At Misty's (she'd be "The Wife") suggestion, I pushed through the crowds and crouched down to get The Girls awe-ing over the dolphins. Turned out pretty good, I think- Thanks, wife!

This was, of course, earlier this summer at Sea World.

After Wilma

as can be seen at Ernie(notBert) , the boat's name is Windmachine... how ironic.

an ancient exercise

Taken on a field trip with my photography class just over 10 years ago... in Kimmswick, a run-down town south of St.Louis. Definitely a fixer-uper. I really enjoy the palm trees now that I have 4 of them at my own house.

"Kimmswick DayDreamer"

I call it:

"Umbrella in the Sand"

PhotoFriday- attractive

my first try at it