Out and about… again

Saturday was glorious! My first real photo hike in weeks and I took full advantage of the weather and my freedom. I drove out to South Walton County and traipsed around in the woods at Flatwood Trail near Grayton Beach State Park, then ambled down the road to Deer Lake State Park and its practically deserted beach (read:pristine and secluded) for some sun and sand time. I just stood in the surf and let the cool waves wash over my legs. Ahh….

If I had brought my suit, I would’ve parked my arse in the sand and soaked in more of the summer sun. Maybe next weekend?

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Backyard garden: flora edition

A combination of intermittent rain, traveling menfolk and unpredictable dogs, kept me close to home again this weekend. When a break in the weather gave me a small window of opportunity, I snuck out and took some pix of the shower drenched flora in my yard. The Girls, Hershey and Asta, followed me around, helping me decide what to photograph. They have a good eye…

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Old downtown

The fam is visiting our daughter this weekend in advance of her graduation next week. The College Kid will receive her master’s degree on Monday, and we couldn’t be more proud.

Saturday we met up for a brunch of chicken and waffles (sorry, no pix, we ate a little too fast), then took a walk around downtown checking out all the vintage, and antique stores.

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Backyard garden: iPhone edition

On Monday, The Boy and I roadtripped to Auburn University with Asta. She was seen by a team (yeah, a team) of veterinary students and the orthopedic vet she saw previously in Pensacola. They were trying to determine the next course of action in her treatment. The migrating pin in her leg was causing more pain and discomfort than was originally thought, but despite our efforts to help her rehabilitation, the bone had not knitted as well as hoped.

After more X-rays and more exams, and a heartfelt plea from me about selling a kidney to pay for any additional surgery if needed, they decided to just remove the pin. To give her the best possible chance to avoid more surgery, Asta was also ordered on strict confinement/rest for four weeks.

We recently sold our large travel kennel, so once home, I had to improvise by penning her behind several ottomans. It wasn’t the optimal plan, but so far it’s worked well. After the first day home, Asta was already walking better, putting her foot down and using her injured leg.

Because I didn’t feel comfortable leaving her alone at home in her makeshift cell, and because my menfolk had other plans on Saturday, I stayed with Asta, letting her roam around the yard with me on my photo hike.

My meager garden has begun blooming and has the promise of a harvest soon. I have jalapeños, strawberries and tomatoes ripening. My jasmine is in blossom (the scent is intoxicating) and Gerber daisies adding much needed color to my front yard.

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Musical Echoes

This weekend I attended a Native American music festival, taking in the beauty and majesty of the culture…. as well as enjoying great food.

Throughout the day exceptionally talented flutists performed, some bringing a dozen or more different instruments on stage during their session. The songs were moving and achingly beautiful.

Each performer would also offer stories about their music, either telling folktales about the first flutes, or about what the songs were saying. A few of the performers also sang in their native language… it was amazing.

Seems that I can’t find enough superlatives to describe the event, but suffice to say I stayed the whole day.

And the dancers, in full regalia… I was literally on the edge of my chair watching.

One of the dancers explained that their regalia was like a family photo album. With different pieces handed down through generations or given as gifts from friends. He said that the dances also told a story.

The Hoop Dance, performed by two different dancers, using anywhere from one to 24 hoops, showed the connection between every one and every thing. We all play an integral part in this world, he said, and we have to work together to conquer hate.

Wearing a long skirt, adorned with 365 sliver cones, the Jingle Dancer performed a healing dance. Her movements adding a soft chiming sound to the music.

Traditional men and women’s dance were also performed, both somber and exciting to watch.

If you ever have a chance to attend such a festival, go! The dancers and musicians love sharing their talents and culture, and you will be richer for it.

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Oakland: forgotten cemetery

Before heading out for my weekly photo hike, I put out a question to my online friends, asking them where I should go… beach, woods, cemetery or backroads. The vote, overwhelmingly, was cemetery.

My friend Kath, suggested the venue first, saying a cemetery would be a good place to photograph, in honor of a short story I’m writing with fellow blogger Lance, he of “My Blog Can Beat Up Your Blog.”

(If you’re interested in the escapades of our heroines, Pauley and Vivian/Millicent, check out “Pauley” in the header nav bar.)

One of my favorite cemeteries to visit is St. Michael’s in Pensacola. It’s located near downtown and is steeped in regional history. After doing a little Google-recon, I found an old graveyard in Panama City to visit – Oakland Cemetery.

Where St. Michael’s is well-maintained and manicured, Oakland is…. sad. So many of the grave stones were toppled and broken. Ledger stones worn smooth over time. Sand and weeds obscuring any legible names or dates.

Many of the stones marked graves of Civil War soldiers, Union infantrymen from as far away as Michigan. One section of the cemetery, spanning almost the entire width of the park, two burial sites deep, was all children. Perhaps the devastating result of an epidemic.

Where St. Michael’s is garden-like, peaceful and serene. Oakland left me sorrowful and restless. Heartbroken that these graves had seemingly been forgotten.

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City

Juniper Lake

This week I headed back to one of my favorite stomping grounds - Blackwater River State Park near Holt, FL. Every time I hike there, I find something new.

Walking around Juniper Lake, I wandered off the trail (luckily, my smartphone has a compass and GPS), and found the abandoned pilings from an old boardwalk. The path was lost through the underbrush, but the trail head was still visible, and much too tempting to not go exploring. I had to wonder why the boardwalk was taken down… I need to concoct a story about it.

I will admit, I was also hunting for alligators, but was only able to scare up a couple of little green and brown lizards, and a fat, muddy swamp turtle. Better luck next time…

You can click on any image to see a larger photo, or the series as a slideshow.

(Photos shot with a Nikon D60, using an 18-55mm, 55-200mm, 20mm f/2.8 wide-angle, 50mm f/1.8 prime lens, Nikon CoolPix S205 and/or iPhone4)

For more photos, please visit my Flickr photostream.

Submitted to Unknown Mami’s Sundays in My City