LIFE CAN BE CRAZY SOMETIMES

I'm still around and I'm still checking my blog for comments, but I've had a lot going on this past month and I haven't really had much time to post anything. I'll try and get a new post up sometime this weekend with some new photos. I've got a lot to talk about so I hope you'll stay tuned. It's kind of a public service announcement that you should look out for. I had to learn something the hard way, so I thought I would pass that lesson on to everyone else.

Stay tuned! And thanks for visiting!

Portraits - My First Wedding Shoot

These photos are of the first wedding I ever photographed. The bride is the niece of my husband's co-worker. They were doing the wedding on a budget and needed someone to take photos for them. I offered to do it for free just for the experience (although my husband's co-worker did give me some money anyway). On the day of the wedding, I was sooo nervous. What if the photos didn't turn out? What if the bride didn't like them? I was probably more nervous than the bride and groom!

The day of the wedding, Hurricane Ike came to Kentucky. There were winds of up to 100 mph. The wedding was supposed to take place outdoors, but had to be moved indoors because of the wind. The wedding took place at the Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. Later that afternoon, after the winds died down a little, we were able to go outside and get a few photos. The groom was pretty reluctant to get photographed so it was difficult to get him to smile for the photos. Overall, it was a great learning experience.

On a side note, I want to say Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Cameron. Happy Birthday honey!

Sharing Sweet Nothings

The Bride & Groom

Waiting for the Groom

The Wedding Dress

Almost Time

Wedding Day

Portraits

Most of the photos I post on my blog are nature photos. I don't normally post any of the portraits that I've taken (with exception of my niece and nephew). I thought I would change it up a bit. I've recently starting doing some portraits for family and friends. I'm not a professional photographer and I still haven't mastered my photo editing software, but I love to take photographs of people. Despite my inexperience, a few people have allowed me to take photographs for them. My next few blog posts will be some of my favorite portraits.

These photos are of Abigail. Abby is about 12 years old (I think). She is the cousin of my brother-in-law. These photos were taken at Abby's aunt's house in Henderson, Kentucky. The house sits on a large piece of land with a barn-style garage and lots of greenery in the back yard and a little wooden bridge crossing a creek. It was a beautiful place to take photos. Abby is into dance and gymnastics, so I got a few action shots of her doing flips and cartwheels. These photos were taken in April of this year. It was a beautiful day in the upper 60s. I was suffering with a sinus infection that weekend, but I don't let anything stop me from taking photos. (In December, I took some photos for a friend and I was also extremely sick, again with a sinus infection - it happens to me every time the seasons change.)

I will add some more portraits in my next post.

Let me know what you think of these photos. I love to see your comments and of course I'm always open to advice from experienced photographers. And, as always, thanks for stopping by!

Defying Gravity

Jump for Joy

Spring Beauties

Abigail

Pretty in Pink

Country Girl

Are You Still With Me?

I know, I know. I've been slacking. I really do enjoy getting comments on my blog posts, but you can't keep commenting on the same post forever, right? I'm sorry. I've just gotten so caught up in day-to-day nonsense that I'm not taking the time to do the things I truly enjoy, like spilling my thoughts out for all of the world to read (or least the 5 or 6 of you who actually read my blog. By the way, thanks for reading.).

There has been a personal problem weighing on my mind pretty heavily within the past few weeks and I'm seeking some advice. I'd love to hear from someone who has some experience with this kind of issue. Let me explain....

I have (or possibly had, the jury is still out on this one) a friend. Lets call her "Jane" because I certainly wouldn't want to violate her privacy or hurt her feelings by discussing this with all of you. Jane and I met at work in 2001. We became friends and started going to lunch a few times a week. A couple of years later I left that job, but Jane and I remained friends. We would go to lunch or shopping about once a week, sometimes more often than that. I really enjoyed her company. Over time, Jane and I became close friends. We talked about just about everything. I learned that Jane struggles from depression and bi-polar disorder. I struggled with depression when I was a teenager so I can understand that. However, I don't know much about bi-polar disorder.

When Jane first met me in 2001, I would consider myself a "ride the fence" kind of Christian. I believed in God, but I didn't really have any strong convictions about my religious beliefs or what the Bible says. When I was in elementary school, I attended church fairly often, but as I got older I quit going and I didn't read the Bible much. Within the last few years I've felt the Lord working in my life, drawing me closer to Him. I started attending church regularly, I got Baptized, and I joined a Bible study group. The more I learn about God and his Word, the more passionate I've become about having a relationship with Him. I've also become more passionate about the things I believe. I'm a lot more firm in my beliefs these days. I'm not judging anyone, because we are all sinners. However, I'm not afraid to call sin for what it is, sin, even when it is my own sin.

Over the past year or so, Jane and I have had a few times when our friendship has been on rocky ground. These situations usually arise from an email. One day we are shopping and lunching together and she tells me what a great friend I am and how I am like a sister to her. The next day, I mention something in an email conversation, like abortion or politics, and the next thing I know she's telling me that I'm trying to tell everyone how to live their lives. (This isn't the case, by the way. I don't tell anyone how to live their life.) I know that email isn't always the best way to communicate because the written word cannot always accurately reflect the tone of the writer. However, I never considered this to be an issue I had to worry about with a close friend. Friends understand what you mean, right? Jane will turn something innocently said between friends into something hateful and judgmental. Usually, when this happens, after a few days of me explain what I was trying to say, she'll understand what I was saying and that I wasn't being judgemental. I was just having a conversation with my friend. One of the last times this happened, she told me she tends to overreact sometimes and that I needed to call her on it when she did.

Of course I want to bring others to Christ, but I can't do that on my own. God has to call them to Himself. I don't shove my beliefs down people's throat. As a matter of fact, I don't even discuss my beliefs in casual conversation unless the person I'm conversing with brings it up first. However, Jane and I have known each other for 8 years. I've always thought that with a good friend, you can discuss anything, without fear of being judged. Friends don't have to agree on every issue in order to be friends. I have lots of friends and family that have differing opinions. I don't get angry if their opinion is different from mine. They are my friends and family regardless of their religious or political beliefs. My best friend, Angie (real name), and I have been friends since we were 11 years old. There is nothing that she and I don't (and haven't) talked about. Even though we agree on most things, we don't agree on everything. That hasn't stopped us from being friends. It also hasn't stopped us from discussing the things we disagree on without worrying about getting angry at one another. I thought those rules were understood between friends. Am I wrong about this?

So, several weeks ago I got an email from Jane. She was talking about a co-worker/friend of hers that had told her that she thought God had placed Jane in her life for a reason. Jane said she thought it was wonderful to see God working in her life. I was at work when I got the email, so I just quickly replied back that God is always working in our lives and every once in a while we will actually get to see that. Then I mentioned that I had done a Bible study called, "Experiencing God" that had really helped me to learn to see God working in my life and had deepened my relationship with Christ. I said "I know you said you attend a Bible study group at church, may I suggest the Experiencing God series for your group." That was all that was said.

I get a reply from her talking about how everyone needs to live their lives as they see fit and that was okay. I agreed with this statement. I didn't understand where it was coming from, but I do agree that everyone has to live their own lives. She also said she would recommend the series to her group. I replied that I found the course to be very therapeutic and it really helped me search my soul and grow closer to God.

The next thing I know, I get this email accusing me of calling her a liar about the fact that she attends Bible study because I said, "I know you said you attend Bible study at church." She took the "I know you said" as some sort of affront to her honesty. That I didn't actually believe she attended Bible study. Then she went on to tell me that I'm judgemental. I tried to respond logically, reassuring her that I had no reason to doubt the fact that she attends a Bible study group, I was only following a train of thought. I also tried to reassure her that I was not judging her. I was only recommending this series because she said she enjoyed seeing God working in her life and this series helped me to better see Him working in my life. So why wouldn't I suggest this series to my friend? Well, the conversation went downhill from there.

I sent a couple of emails trying to figure out how all of a sudden I was a terrible friend when just a couple of days before she was telling me I was a great friend, that I was like a sister to her. I also reminded her that she told me to bring it to her attention if I thought she was over-reacting to something. Of course, that went over like a ton of bricks.

I just wonder, is it the bi-polar disorder that is causing the problem? I don't think I said anything offensive, especially since Jane attends a Christian church and has a Bible study group.

I haven't heard from Jane in several weeks now. I really miss her, but this "friendship" has sometimes been difficult and caused me great turmoil and heartache. A couple of weeks ago I sent her a card just telling her that I missed her, that I was praying for blessings in her life, and to call if she ever needed me. I also left her a voicemail saying something similar. I've gotten no response from her.

It has totally left me brokenhearted. Someone I love and trusted, someone I considered a good friend, just turned on me. We lunched together, we shopped together, I drove her to and from hospital visits (for an unrelated medical condition) and spent 12 hours in an emergency room with her. I've been there anytime she needed to talk. I thought I was being a good friend. I thought that since she was a good friend, I could discuss anything with her without her taking it personally or as some sort of judgement on her life. However, in this case, I don't think I said anything that controversial. This whole situation has me completely confused. I know that God has this situation under control and I have to trust Him to work it out for His glory. I'm just trying to figure out what went wrong.

Is this something that happens with people who suffer from bi-polar disorder, or am I a bad friend, as Jane says? Maybe you can help me sort through this mess. Let me know what you think.

On to happier thoughts....

This past Sunday I went to the zoo with my sister, my mom, my nephew, and my niece. We had a lot of fun, and of course I had my camera. It was a nice day here in Kentucky on Sunday. It was in the 70s (when it usually in the upper 80s or lower 90s with 50-80% humidity). Since we were having such lovely weather, I thought a day at the zoo with the kids would be fun. Apparently, everyone else in the city thought it would be a good day to go to the zoo. I spent 20 minutes just trying to find a parking space! Despite the delay in the parking lot, we had a nice time. I got some nice photos of the kids and I took some photos of flowers (as seen below), which I am prone to do. I hope you enjoy and please feel free to comment on what I've discussed above or the photos below (or both). Thank you, loyal readers, for keeping me company.

Time to Collect the Pollen

Orange Beauty

White Bloom

Peppy

I have a dog named, Peppy. He is a Toy Poodle. He will be 13 years old in August. I have only owned 4 dogs in my life.

The first dog I had was Misty, another Poodle. My parents got her when I was just a baby. According to my parents, this dog was neurotic and also like to pee on things. They got frustrated with her and gave her to my aunt who gave her to my grandmother. She lived with my grandmother into old age until her untimely demise by my uncle's car. Apparently, Misty liked to chase cars but wasn't prepared for them to go in reverse. So sad.

My next dog was a Samoyed Spitz. His name was Bandit. I got him when I was around 6 years old. I remember the day I got Bandit. I had gone to church with my cousins and when we got off the bus at my aunt's house, my parents were waiting in the car. This beautiful white dog was in the car with them. I was so excited! When we got home my parents asked me what I wanted to name him. He was fond of stealing toys and having me chase him to get the toy. Since he liked to be chased, I called him Bandit like from the movie Smokey and the Bandit (which was one of my favorites at the time). Bandit was a great dog. Every day he would walk with me to the bus stop. When I got home from school he would be waiting for me. He followed me pretty much every where I went. One day, when I got home from school, Bandit wasn't there. I walked the neighborhood crying and calling for him for hours and hours. My parents finally had to drag me in when it got dark. Our next door neighbors had a Samoyed Spitz named Moe. A couple of weeks went by and one day our neighbor came home with her dog in the car. At least, I thought it was her dog. When she opened her car door to let the dog out, he came charging at me and tackled me and covered me with kisses. It was Bandit! She had seen him on her way to and from work a few times. Someone had stolen him and she stole him back for me. I was so happy to have my dog back. A year or so later, Bandit got hit by a car. It broke a few of his ribs and because the tire ran over his face, he went blind in one eye. The eye turned blue. My sister, Wendy, who was just a toddler at the time, was terrified of that blue eye. Anytime Bandit would come around her, she would scream bloody murder. This went on for weeks. Finally, my parents decided they had to find a new home for Bandit because there was no way to convince Wendy there was nothing to fear. I didn't take it well when they gave my dog away. I took it so badly, that my Dad wouldn't let me have another dog.

When I was 16, a friend of mine, Dana, gave me a mutt at a present. She was a little, black, mixed-breed dog. I named her Boston, because I was into the New Kids on the Block at the time and they were from Boston. I only had Boston for about a week. My parents were working out of town at the time and when my Dad found out I had a dog, he went ballistic. He wouldn't let me keep it because he said dogs only caused heartache. They ran away, they got hit by cars, and they died. There was no convincing him that I was old enough to deal with these kinds of things. He still was remembering my reaction to losing Bandit. So, I had to give Boston back to Dana. It was a sad day.

In 1997, my grandfather called my Dad and asked him if my Mom wanted a dog. It seems my grandfather, who lives in Florida, had got himself the cutest Poodle puppy, formally named Pierre, but called Peppy. My grandfather loves to travel and drives every where he goes. Well, my grandfather quickly learned that his new puppy didn't like to travel in cars! He couldn't leave him in the kennel all of the time and he didn't want to traumatize the dog by making him ride in the car for hours and hours at a time. So, he called my Dad. My mom had been talking about getting a dog for a while, but my Dad had resisted the idea. Apparently, the whole Bandit fiasco traumatized him more than it did me! However, he relented and my grandfather brought Peppy to us. I was still living with my parents at the time while I was attending college.

Peppy and I bonded immediately. He slept in my bed, he followed me around. We played together, we sat together. Later that year, I decided to move to Arizona. I didn't feel like I could take Peppy with me, because technically he was my Mom's dog. So, I had to leave him. A couple of months later, my Mom called and said, "I'm sending your dog to you!" Apparently, Peppy wasn't too pleased that I moved out and started destroying things. He was chewing up shoes and shredding newspaper. He chewed the cord to the vacuum cleaner in half. He's lucky that it wasn't plugged in at the time! He would get on top of the coffee table and knock everything into the floor. He was acting out because I left. So, she put him on a plane and sent him to Arizona. He's been with me ever since.

I love this little dog so much! I don't have children, so my dog has become like my child. Every day when I get home, he is waiting by the door, sneezing and smiling (yes, he really smiles!). He still sleeps in my bed every night. All he wants is to love us and to be loved. His love is unconditional. He is so intelligent. He understands lots of words. He's a little spoiled, but is that really so bad?

Let me tell you about the smiling. Not long after we got Peppy, I noticed how excited he got when I would get home from work or school. He would be waiting by the door, sneezing and showing me his teeth. Also, if I would talk sweet to him, he would show me his teeth. Finally, I realized that he was smiling at me! He will smile whenever I talk sweet to him and he smiles when I get home. I can't help but laugh every time I see him doing it.

Peppy is about to turn 13. The average life span for a Toy Poodle is 12-15+ years. I know that someday within the next few years, my Peppy is going to leave me. I dread that day, but until then, I will enjoy every moment that he is with me. He is still in good health, but he is developing cataracts. So, at some point he may lose his sight. He is such a sweet dog. He loves to be pet and will sit right next to or in your lap for hours and hours. He loves to run and play in the back yard and he is particularly fond of chasing squirrels. He has never caught one, though. He loves to play with kids, but he is very nervous around babies and toddlers. They have a tendency to pull his years and poke his eyes. He doesn't like taking baths or going to the groomer, but he doesn't fight you on it. After his grooming appointment, he will prance around showing everyone how pretty he is. If you tell him how pretty he looks, that will get him prancing around even more. I believe that Peppy thinks he is a human. He has absolutely no interest in other dogs. He'd rather hang out with people. Whenever we have company, he expects that they will pet him. He has no concept that some people don't like dogs (weirdos). That is probably because he doesn't realize that he is a dog. Now that he is getting older, he is a little more grouchy. He has never bitten anyone, and I don't think he ever will. But he will growl to let you know that you are bothering him in some way. Especially if you move him or shift him while he is sleeping. We can forgive him for that since he is about 91 years old. I think we may all be pretty grouchy when we get to be that age.

I love dogs and I think they make the greatest pets. Peppy is more than just a pet, he is a member of the family. Any true animal lover, especially dog owners, know what I'm talking about.

If you have a great dog, please drop a line and tell me about him/her.

Peppy Running in the Back Yard

Yes, I'm Still Alive

You know how life sometimes can get so hectic that you forget to wash the conditioner out of your hair in the morning because you are so distracted? Well, that is how the last month or so has been for me. There has been so much going on that I haven't had the time to catch up on my favorite blogs or even put up a new post myself.

I really enjoy reading my favorite blogs. I'm sorry that I haven't been reading your blogs. I promise to get back on track this week and pick-up where I left off. So, be looking for my comments on your blog in the next few days.

Although I haven't been putting up posts, I have been taking photos. Here are a few I took in May of my Dogwood tree. I just love these blooms.

Thanks for reading my blog. I miss you guys!

Pink Bloom

Lovely Branches

Pink & White Beauty

The Booming Begins

No, I'm Not Lost

No, I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I've just had a very busy, very stressful couple of weeks. I will be posting some new photos this weekend, so please stay tuned!

You Capture Challenge - Letters

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, http://www.ishouldbefoldinglaundry.com/category/you-capture, and the author of the blog has a weekly photography challenge, called "You Capture." The object is to get us photography nuts out and about with our cameras. The challenge for this week was letters. So, I kept thinking about what letters would be most interesting to photograph over the weekend. During that time I went to my nephew, Connor's, first t-ball game. And then I realized the answer was right in front of my face! Here are some of my favorite letters:

Connor at Bat

Waiting in the Dugout

Future Baseball Star

This was Connor's first official t-ball game. He spent most of the time in the outfield walking in circles, playing in the dirt, and occasionally watching to see what was happening in the game. He's only four years old, so his attention span is short (hence his position in the outfield). He does well when he is at bat, but he doesn't run as quickly as the other team throws.

His baseball jersey and pants are too big, but it turns out you can only get them so small.

I had great fun getting these photos and I can't wait for next weeks challenge!

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day. It is a day where everyone is encouraged to take steps to help save and protect our planet. God has created all things in the universe and we are instructed to care for the things he has provided for us. I was reading a new post by Alice and she had a cute drawing from Rick (see below) who so graciously allows us bloggers to copy and share his drawings. Thanks Rick!

I am trying to do my part to protect the Earth; I use energy efficient bulbs and appliances, I try to make sure lights are turned off when I'm not in rooms, my husband and I carpool, and I plant trees in my yard. However, my favorite way to show my appreciation for this gift God has given is to photograph the Earth's beauty. What an amazing and beautiful creation this world is!

Mother Goose

White Hydrangea

Bumble Bee

Courtesy of Rick Green

The Joy of a Child

In 2000 I got pregnant. I had been married for two years. We were trying to get pregnant and it only took two months after I stopped taking the pill. I was so excited and also terrified at the same time. My mother had three miscarriages; one before I was born, one after I was born, and one after my sister was born. My sister had one miscarriage when she was 17. I knew a miscarriage was a possibility, but I just wanted to relish the joy of the situation.

The same week I discovered I was pregnant, a co-worker/friend also discovered she was pregnant. We were excited that we would share this experience together. Two weeks later while at work I had a weird feeling that something wasn't right, it felt as though maybe I was starting my period, but I knew that couldn't be right. I went to the bathroom and I WAS bleeding. My husband and I worked together and I went to him in hysterics. After several hours in an emergency room all they could tell me was that I was "probably" going to miscarry and I would have to come back for another blood test the next day. I was at home alone when I got the call confirming what I already knew in my heart. My baby was gone. I have never hurt so badly. I had barely gotten used to the idea that I was pregnant and it was over already.

My husband was sad that the baby was gone, but I don't think he has ever truly understood the depth of the pain the loss caused me. It wounded me down to my very soul. My co-worker/friend had a wonderful pregnancy. No problems. She had a beautiful baby girl the same week I also should have been delivering my child. I don't think anyone ever understood how painful it was to watch her get everything I dreamed about. It's been almost 9 years now, but the pain is still so raw. I was happy for her, but her happiness reminded me that I should be experiencing the same joy. It was like a slap in the face.

About a year later I discovered that I have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It causes fertility issues. I have never been able to get pregnant again. I may never get pregnant again. And the pain is always with me.

I never held my child. I never even saw my child. I just knew that for a brief time it was there within me. And then it wasn't. My dream was gone. But my sorrow from the loss of my dream is real, and still just as intense nine years later.

In 2003 my sister Wendy gave birth to a daughter. Alexis was born 16-weeks premature and she only lived for three days. After Alexis, Wendy had another miscarriage. She was finally able to carry a son, Connor (4), and a daughter, Raelee (9 months), to full-term. Because of the loss she (and our family) suffered, Wendy has never taken one moment for granted with her children. She knows how lucky she is to have them and that the death of her daughter will never leave any of us (along with her two miscarriages).

It has also reminded me that the pain never goes away, it is still there, but we can still have joy in our lives. Maybe one day I will know the joy of my own child in my arms. If not, then I will be sad, but I will go on.

I write this post as a way to honor all of the mothers out there who have experienced the sorrow of losing a child. People like Wendy, and Heather, and Beth, and millions of other women out there.

Please donate to the March of Dimes. They are saving the lives of babies and the hearts of mothers every day.

Photo Tag - You're It!

The beautiful and witty Lauren tagged me in a fun photo game. Here are the rules:

Take a picture of yourself right now.
No primping or preparing.
Just snap a picture.
Load the picture onto your blog.
Tag some people to play along.

I'm at work on a break catching up on some of my favorite blogs right now. The only camera I have is my camera phone (which is only like 1.2 megapixels or something).

I don't like photos of myself, but here I am in my office at work for all the world (or the few wonderful people who read my blog) to see:

Now it's your turn!

Shelley

Leedra

Christy

Jenny

Have fun and no cheating!

Madeline Alice Spohr

Today I was catching up on some of my favorite blogs. One of my favorites is http://mooshinindy.com/. As I began reading some of her recent posts my heart began to break. A friend of Casey's (the author of the blog), Heather Spohr, lost her daughter, Madeline Alice Spohr. Madeline was born prematurely and because of that, her immune system was weak. Please take some time to read the posts at http://mooshinindy.com/ and also at http://www.remembermaddie.com/.

In remembrance of little Maddie, I have changed the color of some of my text to purple (I was trying to change the background color to purple, but since I'm not very good at this whole web design thing, I gave up because I don't know how).

I lost my niece, Alexis Leigh Fromme, in 2003. She was born 16 weeks premature. Alexis lived for 3 days. My sister, Wendy Fromme, and I have chosen to honor Alexis and other prematurely born babies (like Maddie) by walking for the March of Dimes every year.

Please take a moment and donate to the March of Dimes by clicking the link on the right-hand side of my blog. It only takes a moment. I know that economy is bad and times are tough all around, but even if you can only donate $1, every dollar helps.

Do this so families like the Spohrs and the Frommes don't have to know the pain of losing a child.

Alexis Leigh Fromme

Alexis

Alexis (1/21/03 - 1/24/03)

Happy Easter!

Today is an important day for all Christians. Today is the day that Jesus conquered death. Because of his death and Resurrection, we are able to spend eternity in paradise as long as we believe that Jesus is the Christ. It is a day for all Christians to rejoice and be thankful for all that Jesus has done for us. Our sins can be forgiven because of Him. What a wonderful gift we have been given.

Springtime and Easter go hand-in-hand. Last year around this time I took my nephew to the zoo (as I do several times a year). The zoo had planted hundreds of daffodils. The blooms were so beautiful! However, I was disheartened to see people picking the blooms. I was shocked that people just assumed that they could pick the flowers. I heard some of the zoo staff off to the side talking about how many hours the groundskeeping staff had spent planning the gardens and planting the bulbs. I haven't been to the zoo yet this spring, but if they chose to plant the daffodils again this year, I hope that installed signs that tell the guests not to pick the flowers. It is really sad that this would even be necessary, but people aren't teaching their children respect for anything anymore.

On behalf of all gardeners out there, I implore you, please don't pick the flowers! The flowers are there for everyone to enjoy, but if you pick the blooms, then no one can enjoy them.

Below are some photos of the daffodil gardens at the Louisville Zoo.

Happy Easter and blessings to all!

Field of Daffodils

Yellow Bloom

Orange & Yellow Bloom

Northern Arizona

One of the most interesting things about driving through Arizona is that you never know what you are going to see next. As you drive north from Tucson, the scenery changes dramatically. As you crest each hillside or mountain top the view changes. When you start in Southern Arizona, you will find the typical desert views: cactus, mountains, and rocks. Once you get north of Phoenix, the scenery begins to change. Before you know it, you are in dense pine tree forests. As you get into Flagstaff the land levels out at about 5000 feet. Then you see a large peak (Humphreys Peak) and you are left wondering how tall that mountain must be if you are already at 5000 feet (and the answer is 12,562 feet). As you get north of Flagstaff the scenery is constantly changing. You see the Painted Desert, different mountain ranges, the Grand Canyon, cattle farms, Indian Reservations, and more. When my husband and I drove from Page, Arizona east to Monument Valley (about 100 miles), the scenery was continually changing. You never knew what breath-taking view lie ahead. It was spectacular and indescribable, especially for those who truly appreciate the beauty of nature in all of its forms.

The photos below were taken north of Flagstaff and south of Page. The photos of the canyons were taken from Antelope Pass just south of Page. If you ever have the time, I highly recommend a scenic drive through Arizona. It isn't something you will soon forget.

Humpreys Peak

Canyon View from Antelope Pass

Rocky Mountainside of Antelope Pass

Mountains South of Page, Arizona

Colorful Layers

I'm Still Here

For the few wonderful, beautiful, souls who read my blog, please continue to read. I will put up some new photos this evening. I've been quite busy and I have not had the time to post anything the past week or so.

More Arizona photos to come soon!

Thank you for reading my blog. I really enjoy your kind comments.

Monument Valley

While we were staying in Page, Arizona we decided we would take a drive through Monument Valley, which is about 100 miles east of Page. Monument Valley starts in a little town called Kayenta and goes north into Southern Utah. The sight of these unusual mountains is just amazing. It is something I won't soon forget.

Another New Post

New photos coming tonight - Monument Valley in Arizona and Utah.

Is anyone else besides myself disturbed by the fact that banks like AIG are giving their executives millions of dollars in bonuses with our tax money? Especially since the banks' predatory lending practices are what got the economy in such a mess. It is illogical for the government to give tax money to banks without setting any restrictions on how the money is to be used.

Anyway, that is my rant for the day. Photos coming this evening. Stay Tuned!

Lake Powell

This year during our trip to Tucson, my husband and I decided to drive to Northern Arizona to visit Lake Powell and Monument Valley. Lake Powell is just north of Page, Arizona. It is a beautiful area, but February is a little early for the tourist season, so there weren't too many activities on the lake. I did spend a few hours photographing Lake Powell.

I couldn't get a good frontal photograph of the Glen Canyon Dam because there was a chainlink fence on the bridge. Also, I was too petrified to walk out to the middle of the bridge and take some time to try and get a good shot. My husband finds this little quirk of mine quite funny. I'm not afraid to stand at the edge of a canyon on a rock, but I'm terrified of walking on man-made bridges, towers, scaffolding, etc. I'm okay in a tall building, but anything that is out in the open terrifies me. I managed to walk about 1/4 of the way out onto the bridge and snap two or three quick photos of the dam through the fence. By then my knees were about to buckle and my heart was racing so I bolted back to the safety of land and waited for my husband in the car.

Cameron is the opposite. He wasn't at all bothered about walking out to the middle of the bridge, but he gets nervous when I stand too close to the edge of a canyon. I trust the rock created by a Perfect God a lot more than I trust a bridge made by imperfect men. Cameron is of the opinion that you never know when there will be an earthquake or a landslide.

I guess we all have our little quirks.

Here are some photos of Lake Powell for your enjoyment.

Knee-Knocking Photo of Glen Canyon Dam

Sunset Over Lake Powell

Sunset Over Lake Powell Part Two

Rocky Reflection

Sunset Over Page

Glen Canyon Bridge