Iggy Pop

Ygal was an alumni of The University of South Carolina!  One of his most favorite things about Columbia was a small little restaurant called The Salty Nut Cafe. He LOVED the place! At least one year that I can remember he lived in an apartment right across the street. The picture for this week was taken during that year. I really like this picture ~ it makes me happy that I got to enjoy one of Ygal's favorite places with him on a number of occasions. And I'm glad we have it memorialized in this photo.....

I am just so thankful for this photograph.

The Wisdom of Kids

Just recently I was reminded that kids are much wiser than we give them credit for.

While we were vacationing at Ocean Isle last month, I took a stroll by myself on the beach at dusk.  It was so peaceful and beautiful. But something disturbed me....

There was a lot of trash. And suddenly my heart felt heavy. I will never understand people who leave their trash on the sand when they're at the ocean.  No one is that important or that busy that they can't take a few extra moments to make sure they've left the beach as they found it!!!  I must've seen at least ten of those fluorescent spoon/straw thingies on my very short walk. This is the type of thing that weighs heavily on my mind and my heart. I'm not the type of person who can leave it and then not think about it anymore. If I've seen it and done nothing, then I am just as guilty.

The next morning was our last day at the beach. Sophie was playing in the water. I took a trash bag to the beach and collected Sophie and told her we had some important work to do. She was excited! We started walking and I pointed out all the trash and explained that we were going to clean it up.  Why us, she asked me, when we didn't put it there?  Well, Sophie, the beach gives us so, so many things. We have a lifetime of beautiful memories from our times spent at the beach. Sand and saltwater seem to cure just about any ailment, physical or  mental. The sun gives us loads of Vitamin D. The beach is a home to all kinds of creatures....the sand dollars that Mommy loves so much, the amazing dolphins that we're always searching out, the lovely birds of which we take so many pictures.  The beach gives us many things....isn't it about time we give something back???  Don't you think the beach will be a happier place with less trash?  It didn't take long and she was on a mission....searching out every bottle top, straw, umbrella tag, drink bottle, etc that she could possibly find.

A while later, we approached an area that was crowded with people, beach chairs and umbrellas.  I started to turn back. Sophie said we needed to walk further. I said to her, "Soph, there are a lot people here....I don't want to make them uncomfortable by picking up trash all around them."  And do you know what she said to me?  

"Mommy, that's silly, if there are more people, there's more trash."

The wisdom of that statement stopped me dead in my tracks. Those words came out of my little Sophie's mouth ~ words that I'd never uttered but she'd figured out on her own. It made me happy but also sad. You best believe we then cleaned up all around those people. As Sophie pointed out to me, maybe it's a good thing if they're uncomfortable ~ maybe they'll actually clean up their trash! I can honestly say that was one of my proudest parenting moments. It made me feel that I must be doing something right. 

For as long as I can remember, I've been searching and searching for people like me, with similar interests......possible vegetarians, earth-minded folks, gardeners, animal lovers, etc.  Just as I'd given up trying, I found a little someone....walking right beside me....that little gal who calls me Mom.

V.I.P. in the Neighborhood!

It's been a very exciting week around these parts.  You see, President Obama & Michelle were staying right down the street during the Democratic National Convention.

Over the past week, there was a lot of this...

On the news this morning I heard that the Obamas would be leaving for the airport at around 10 AM.  As it turns out, I just happened to be near the hotel at around that time and I noticed that people were standing on both sides of the road.  I checked my clock and it was 9:37.  I had to pull over. How many times in a life do you get to see a Presidential Motorcade?  I didn't want to miss it.

There were people everywhere.

The main road was closed off completely and there wasn't a car in sight.

You could see snipers on some of the office rooftops.

You could feel the excitement in the air.

People were walking out of nearby office buildings to watch.

There were police cars everywhere you looked and people too, sporting phones and cameras.

I was SO HAPPY to have my camera on hand. I taped the procession and here it is....

It was really wild. No matter what side of the fence you're on, being that close to the President is exciting.

Who knows how long it will be until we see that kind of excitement around these parts again!!!! 

Iggy Pop

When Alain and I first moved to Charlotte, Ygal was in college just over an hour away.  We were lucky to get to spend a little more time with him those couple of years.  Today I wanted to share one of my favorite memories.....

One weekend we were hanging out at home when there was a knock on the door. Imagine our surprise when we opened the door and there stood Ygal!!!!  It was such a great surprise!  He told us that he had borrowed a friend's car to "run some errands"....but then drove to Charlotte to visit us.  HA!  Hopefully she wasn't too familiar with the mileage on her car.  In typical college fashion, we then let him borrow some money to refill the gas tank before he drove back to school.  It was a short visit but we had a great time. Of course, nowadays I am extremely happy that we decided to take some pictures together.  I'm really happy to be able to share them here today....

We were all in good moods that day.  Clearly.

That's not a beer above but cream soda that Ygal is drinking, one of his favorite drinks.  We always had it stocked in the fridge for when he came to visit!

Alain told us to "look sexy" for this shot.  Um yeah, not so much. 

Such a gorgeous photo!

I am such a Bird Lover. Really. Big. Bird. Lover.

One of my most favorite places to see and photograph birds is at the Sea Pines Forest Preserve on Hilton Head Island.  I've posted about it before. We were there on Monday and I managed to get a few shots that I really like. Our purpose was to look for gators (Sophie's Kindergarten class mascot!) but it was much too hot and I think they were all at the bottom of the lake. We saw not a one and we usually see several. Anyway, it must be my antisocial side but nature and wildlife are my favorite subjects to photograph. I get so excited.  But these birds.....oh, these birds....they literally take my breath away.  Who gets to be THIS gorgeous???  

My camera is a simple point and shoot. Clearly. But I've already warned my family that, once I save up enough for a Canon EOS, they will have to set me free for several hours just so I can go to the Forest Preserve and take pictures of birds.  Doesn't that sound just heavenly?

Here are a few other shots from today that I like.....the non-bird ones....I'm not an artist or a painter but these images seem to me to be the type that would inspire someone to paint a lovely scene....

Hilton Head is just beautiful.  Of course. On Labor Day weekend, it's full of people. For me, the Forest Preserve is the quietest and most serene place on the island.  Yet, when we go, we're usually the only people there.  Am I the only one who finds that odd?  Am I really so different?  Are we? These are the kinds of questions I ask myself.

A Top Bucket List Item

I don't actually have a Bucket List although I often ask myself what I would put on mine if I did.  Without a doubt, hanging out on a sand bar would be near the top!!! 

For the Love of Pelicans

What is it about them that makes me love them so?

Note:

I tried to get a shot of a pelican swallowing their catch and I managed to get the two below. Not perfect but you can at least tell what's happening.  Bon Appetit!

PS ~ I have to give Alain credit for the photo of the pelican on the posts. He took the picture even though I did ask him to (wink wink).